Surgery

My long awaited surgery is just over a week away. I have had 3 doctors tell me I need to have this surgery and I am finally doing it. This exploratory laparoscopic procedure is to look for and clean out endometriosis and any other problems they might find. It could help my chances to conceive but will also take away the excruciating pain I have every month. I am not sure how I am going to approach fertility treatments after the surgery. I don't know if I want to just see what happens over a couple of months or just go straight to the Clomid and/or IUI. More to report on this after next Thursday.

Great White Shark Breaks Through Divers Cage

This is nuts. Could you imagine?!?

Who I Am

Here are some more things that I love and make me who I am. Black and white prints, Madonna, and hummus. So random, I know.

Cool Christmas

This year's Christmas was a pretty good one. Everyone seemed happy and in a good mood and we all got some pretty cool stuff. It's hard not to list it all because it was all great, but below are some of the highlights this year.






Speaking of Christmas and materialism, I was watching the Today Show yesterday morning and they mentioned a way to keep the spirit of Christmas is to get each child only 3 presents because Jesus only got 3 presents from the Three Wise Men. I thought that was a great idea and when I have kids, I might actually go that route. I think it will also teach them to appreciate Christmas for what it truly is about.

We've Been Elfed!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Cozy Cozy Cozy

Tonight North Texas is at a low of 24 degrees...so I made a fire and baked some cookies. Tonight is officially the coziest night in the Kirk household this season!

Christmas with the Carvino's

My friends Kelli and Rich hosted a Christmas party last night and it was a good time as always. The big draw is always the gift exchange. Over the past few years, Frank and I have had a "theme" going. Every year, usually the day of the party, we make our yearly trip to the "adult" novelty store. This year, Frank's offering was something so disgusting...an anal trainer lol!!! My gift was something every dirty homeless man would A-DORE...a mixed bag of the finest street liquor that consisted of none other than Night Train, Thunderbird, Mad Dog 20/20 and Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill. All of which cost me less than $10 (for the full size bottle no less). Good times.

Who I Am

'Tis The Holiday Season

Christmas will be here in two shakes of a lambs tail. How do you roll? Take this quick survey and tell it like it is.

Click here to take the survey.

Shark Suicide by Slide

A shark at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas committed suicide by jumping over an 18 inch wide, 1 foot high wall into a pool at the bottom of a waterpark style slide. Seriously. Check out the article here.

I am really curious though as to what caused it to jump like that.

Inspiration: Who I Am.

My friend Shannon has inspired me to open myself up and share some of the things in life that make me happy. In picture form no less. These are things I either identify myself with or just like for whatever reason and make me...well, me. So as things come to mind, I will post them under the post title 'Who I Am?'. I would love to hear your comments...do you like these things too? Here are a few to start things off.

Christmas Party

I have had the hardest time finding something to wear to this years Christmas party for work. I bought a dress and returned it. Then I bought another dress, and returned it. So tonight I met a friend and we went to White House|Black Market and I found a super cute top that I can not only wear to the party, or this season, I can also wear it this summer to a nice dinner or something. But the cherry on top are the kick ass shoes I got. I am not a shoe person, but these were too perfect and just made the outfit. I was apprehensive about buying them because they are so outfit specific, but what the hell.

Cocktail Time

Try infusing vodka at home with fun flavors like ginger, herbs, fruit, or spices. Start with a good quality vodka (the kind you can drink solo), then choose your flavor, and wait! As with anything homemade, this will also taste much better than anything you can buy at the store. This can also make a fun holiday gift if you use a pretty jar paired with a couple of cute glasses.

Click here for some more guidelines and ideas!

I Must Be A Teenager At Heart

I must be a teenager at heart...

1. Saw Twilight and liked it? - Check
2. Think main guy from Twilight is a cutie pie? - Check
3. Check Perez Hilton website regularly? - Check
4. Watched the Britney Spears interview on MTV? - Check
5. Just bought the new Britney CD? - Check
6. Bought tickets to see Britney in concert in March? - Check

I am super excited about the concert because I am going with my good friend Shannon who is coming down from Wichita to go with me!

On the Twilight crush, I do admit that when I was younger I had it bad for the cute, quiet, brooding types. Oh, and does my movie crush make me a Cougar? Meow.

Cowboy Up

This weekend Frank and I got some cowboy boots. We have been wanting to get some for a while now so we went to several different boot shops and found that there is a lot more out there than just your run of the mill Justin brand boots. We found some pretty awesome rock star boots. If you are in the market for some vintage style western boots, check out the brands Old Gringo and Corral. They have a lot of character and look pretty bad ass. Frank actually found 2 pairs that were on sale and too good to pass up, so he got both.

These are Frank's boots


Here are my boots

Black Friday

Oh, it's on. It's time for some wal-mart trampling, wig-pulling, crowd pushing good times. That is if you’re in to that sort of thing. I am not one to get fired up about black Friday. Yes, I have done the whole wake up at 6:00AM to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving...once. That's all it took. Yes, there are deals to be had, but what I have noticed is that most of these deals last the entire holiday weekend and what stores run out of in the wee hours of the morning usually get re-stocked at some point during the day. I know there is more to it than just shopping good sales. To some, this is a tradition and the official kick-off to the holiday season. To me, it is a well needed day off and an opportunity to not participate in mayhem best described in the video below. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Follow Me

If you want to become a follower of my blog, check out the Followers of The State of Amanda box in the right sidebar.

Tavi - The New Girl In Town

My friend Shannon sent me a link to a blog called Style Rookie. The blog is written by a 12 year old. It is so well written and she has so much artistic talent, you wouldn't know she was only 12 if it were not in her profile (and minus the photos of her). She has so much style and such an interesting take on things. I predict she is going to go very far in life. I guess if you got it, you got it. You will have to check it out for yourself.

http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/

Palomino's

This past weekend Frank and I went to Palomino's in Dallas with our friends Todd, Kristi, Aaron and Tracie. We don't get to see them very often, but when we do, it is always a great time. In case you don't know, Todd and Kristi are our friends we met in Puerto Vallarta back in 2006. Aaron and Tracie are friends of Todd and Kristi that we met at their wedding in Tulum, Mexico. It's just too funny because we never meet friends local very often, let alone abroad, and we all hit it off so well.

Palominos was really good. I had a filet with cognac demi-sauce and a blue cheese risotto cake and for desert I had a Spanish coffee and crème brulee. At first I didn't like the Spanish coffee, but later that night and the next day I was actually craving it. I think it's normally served with coffee, but this one was just liquor served in a brandy style glass with a sugared rim. It consisted of Tia Maria, Bacardi 151, and Meyer's Rum. It was so strong, but so good.

Good times. Here are some pics. I wish I had got a picture of Aaron and Tracie together (sorry guys).

W...Represent'en

What What?

This Makes Me Giggle

My Workout Playlist

I finally found a good groove for the elliptical at the gym. Here is what gets me going.

01. Born Slippy - Underworld
02. Bambo Banga - M.I.A.
03. Boyz - M.I.A.
04. Jimmy - M.I.A.
05. XR2 - M.I.A.
06. Lovestoned (Tiesto Remix) - Justin Timberlake
07. Give it to me - Madonna
08. Legacy (Junkie XL Remix) - Paul Oakenfold
09. She's Hardcore (TV Rock Mix) - Sandra Collins
10. Beleive - The Chemical Brothers

Sharkwater

If you know me, then you know I love sharks. I have been fixated on them since 2nd grade when I checked a book out from the library about them and saw my first shark nature program on PBS. I don't scuba dive - I've tried, but too scared and not good at it. Also, as much as I love sharks, I wouldn't want to come face to face with one. I do know they are more scared of us than we are of them and the probability of being attacked is next to nothing. But I digress...

Last night I watched a new documentary called Sharkwater. It was very good, but very sad. I was actually crying by the end of it. The purpose of this movie was to bring attention to the soon to be extinct fish that have been around since the beginning of time. Sharks have survived multiple extinctions, but not for much longer if we don't do anything about it. The show focused on fisherman hunting sharks for their fins to sell. Shark fin soup is considered a luxury item and measure of status and wealth in China and other Asian countries. There is so much money in fins that only trafficking drugs rivals fins for profit. Sharks are vital to our existence on earth as human beings and without them, our oceans will die.

www.savingsharks.com

Garage Sale

Garage Sale...nothing screams middle America more. My Mom will usually have one at least once a year. The turnout is always good with a lot of traffic. This year was different though. Hardly anyone showed up and we didn't sell much. I fared better than both my Mom and Aunt combined. I had a bunch of kitchen items and winter clothes, so I am sure that helped. Normally we have some things left over from previous sales along with new items and we just repeat the cycle for the next go around. We broke the cycle today and took EVERYTHING to Goodwill. Hopefully it will be another 2 to 3 years before we have to have one again because let's face it...sitting at a garage sale sucks. The only good thing is getting to spend time with my Mom and Aunt.

Cocktail Time

Fall is in full swing and the holidays are almost upon us. So to help get you in the mood here is a cozy non-alcoholic beverage.

Ginger Spiced Hot Cocoa

8 ounces 1 percent low-fat milk
1/4-inch piece peeled, fresh ginger, sliced into 2 rounds
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons water
1/4 teaspoon dark chocolate shavings (about 1/8-ounce)
In a small saucepan heat the milk and ginger over a medium-low heat until scalding, about 4 minutes. While the milk is warming, put cocoa powder and sugar into a mug. Add the water to the mug and stir until the mixture has the consistency of a paste. Remove the ginger from the warmed milk. Add the chocolate mixture to the milk and whisk until slightly frothy. Pour the hot chocolate into the mug and top with chocolate shavings.

Is Anyone Suprised?

It's 10:07 CST. Is anyone surprised about who was just elected president just seconds ago? If you didn't see this one coming then you have been living under a rock or have no social awareness whatsoever. I am watching the news and people are going ape-shit. Pandemonium has ensued.

It's Just a Matter of Time

Are you ready for the election results?

Celebrities and Politics

In an article by Us Weekly, Carrie Underwood shares her opinion about celebrities and politics. I have always said Politics and Religion should be kept private...no matter who you are. It just causes so much tension and unrest. I agree with Carrie Underwood (well not the whole respect thing, but you get the idea).

Carrie Underwood: I "Lose All Respect" for Stars When They Back a Candidate"

"There is someone I do support, but I don't support publicly," she tells TV Guide, as excerpted by Just Jared. "I lose all respect for celebrities when they back a candidate.

"It's saying that the American public isn't smart enough to make their own decisions," she goes on. "I would never want anybody to vote for anything or anybody just because I told them to."

Perez Hilton posted on his blog that her statement was unfair. He says that this is America and she should appreciate how people express themselves politically. Well, Perez...this is her opinion on the subject. Is it not a right as an American for Carrie Underwood to express her opinion too? I know when I express my views on this matter, I generalize. I am not saying that EVERYONE is swayed by the media. Generalizing is the key word here. The one thing I do know is that our culture has become celebrity obsessed and with that being said, I can certainly see how they can sway anyone undecided or anyone who doesn't do their homework. Isn't that their motive in the first place?

Halloween Part Deux

Bill Burr on Population Control

Bill Burr - Animal Population

More Funny Videos
Comedians on Tour

Get Funny Ringtones
Stand-Up Comedy

People Suprise Me

Last night Frank and I went out to dinner and then for some drinks. We went to Chadra for dinner and the same waitress served us from the last time we went 2 weeks ago. She remembered us and remembered what we wanted to drink. I don't know why but that just surprised me. Later, we went to Milo's and they had a huge Halloween party going on with a lot of people. We dressed up, but just in "going out" clothes, not costumes. When we got in there, the bouncer joked that we were going as a normal couple for Halloween. We were there for about an hour and a half. While we were there, a fight broke out. Someone threw a beer bottle at the bar. Not sure if they were aiming for the bartender, but yikes. No punches were thrown, but it got very heated. So after things cooled down, we went to leave the bar. Even after all of that drama that the bouncer was involved with, he shook Frank's hand and said "Good Night Mr. Kirk" and then patted me on the back and said "Good Night Amanda". Who remembers people's names when hundreds of people are coming and going and drama going on? I was impressed. That is why I say people surprise me.

On a side note, at Milo's, I sat down on a stool across from the bar and waited on Frank to get our drinks. Some dude actually tried to pick me up...lol! The sad part was that he was , by far, the nerdiest person in the bar (and he wasn't even in costume). Ha! Later, Frank went to the restroom and another guy, who can best be described as Cedrick the Entertainer’s twin brother, hit on me. Freaking hilarious. So yeah...

Dancin' Pug

Kitty Sneakin' Up on You

X-Rated Fusion

I found a great girly drink that is an easy choice at parties, X-Rated Fusion. Simply mix with sprite (zero) and ice and voila! It's a blood orange flavored French vodka liqueur. It's sweet without being overly sweet. If you are in the mood to try something new, check this out. It's really good!

Elizabeth Hasselbeck

I was thinking back on the past year and all the fights that have been brought to the forefront on The View. I actually feel bad for Elizabeth Hasselbeck. Poor girl tries to speak her mind and voice her opinion, but she gets viciously shut down by the other women on the show. Everyone is entiled to their opinion and just because she is the only right wing person on the show doesn't mean she doesn't deserve respect. I know the other women feel strongly about their opinions, but how is that different from EH feeling strongly about hers? Is it ok for the other women to gang up on her and make it seem like she is 100% wrong for speaking her mind? They don't have to agree with her, but to bully her like they do is wrong. I know a lot of you reading this might not agree with my "view" about this, and that's ok with me. This was just on my mind and I felt like speaking my opinion. This is also why I hate politics. It can get so heated and personal.

What's For Dinner?

I am in a dinner rut. I feel like I always cook the same thing. I am looking for ideas online and on Food Network, but nothing really appeals to me. What do you cook for dinner?

Leave a comment and tell me what your dnner menu looks like for normal week!

Halloween Part 1