Project Runway

Project Runway season 5 is almost over and down to it's final 4 designers...



Who are you rooting for? Korto, Kenley, Jarell, or Leanne (personally, I am loving Jarell!)

Health Update

My family Doctor has referred me to a specialist. I made my appointment today and I go in couple of weeks. At that time, they will schedule my...sigh...colonoscopy. Uggg. I feel like I am too young for this, you know? I just wish I could get it over sooner than later. I hate having to wait, let alone for something I don't want to do.

My Tummy Hurts

I have been having some stomach issues off and on for a couple of weeks now. About 2weeks ago, I was in pain from about an hour after I woke up until the next day. My stomach was cramping above my bellybutton but under my ribs pretty badly so I went to the Urgent Care facility down the street Friday night. They tested me for an ulcer (which came back negative) and basically told me to schedule an appointment with my family doctor and go buy some Maalox. Since then, I have had problems off and on, not as severe though. So today I went to see the doctor and he thinks I might have a small case of diverticulitis. He prescribed some antibiotics and wants me to schedule a "procedure" within the next couple weeks...let's just say my other option is a colonoscopy and THAT sounds better than this. With the colonoscopy, at least I would be sedated. That is all I know right now. I don't know which test I will have to do or when I have to do it. I just know that I have 2 weeks of this medication and I need to modify my diet. My doctor did tell me some foods to avoid and ones to eat. So, bye-bye salad, salsa, seeds, corn, broccoli...sigh...I am sure there are a lot more foods, so off to the web I go.

Fuerza Bruta Show

I was just reading Perez Hilton and he has a post about a show he went to in NYC called Fuerza Bruta. I watched the clip of it and it looks like a truely mind blowing experience. Perez describes the show as Cirque du Soleil meets a Rave. SHUT UP! My peeps...if the show ever comes to Dallas WE MUST GO!!!

Click here to check out the video.

The Cho Show

Is anyone watching the The Cho Show on VH1? Well, I am L-O-V-I-N-G it! She is so wrong, but so funny. If you haven't checked it out yet, you must.

Click here to watch full episodes.

Cocktail Time

Mexican Mixer

3 fresh mint leaves
Crushed ice
1/2 lime, juiced
1 shot tequila blanco
1 bottle beer (recommended: Corona)
Fresh mint sprig, for garnish
Place mint leaves in bottom of highball glass. Fill with crushed ice. Add lime juice, stir, then add the tequila and beer. Garnish with mint sprig.

Hole in the Wall - Has Anyone Seen This?

Has anyone seen this show on Fox called "Hole in the Wall"? The premise is just that. You have to get through a hole in a wall. Holy crap it's funny.

Fork In The Garbage Disposal - Christian Summer Camp Style

The "Yes" dance is huge, so huge it appears strait dudes at Christian Summer Camps are remaking it. If you haven't see the orignal, check it out below. It will make this much more funny.



"Here...have a pizza bagel"...LOL!

Click here to see the original!

Congratulations to Jason and Catie!

Congratulations to Jason and Catie on the birth of their baby girl, Olivia!!! More info to come...

10 Tips for Organizing Your Closet

A good guide to organizing your closet from

1. Divide the closet into zones, and use three short rods rather than a single long one. Hang dresses, robes, and coats from one high rod; hang blouses and short items from another high rod, and skirts and folded slacks from a low rod below.

2. Group clothes by color.

3. Stack cubbies across the closet floor to create space for shoes.

4. Make sure shelves are adjustable, and line them with smooth vinyl matting, usually used to protect drafting tables. Cut the matting to fit each shelf, and fasten it with double-sided tape.

5. Clean garments before storing them for the season. Sugar stains, like wine, can set and spread over time. View our stain chart for information about treating stains.

6. Remove dry-cleaning bags, which trap moisture; use fabric bags instead. And don't store wool or silk in airtight containers -- they need to breathe.

7. Line very light garments with acid-free tissue. (Does anyone actually do this?)

8. Fibers can dry out if the closet temperature is consistently above 75 degrees.

9. Never let mothballs touch clothing; hang them in old socks or hosiery. If you suspect moth infestation, dry-clean the clothes, and wash the closet with mild soap and water.

10. Before storing heavy coats, stuff the arms with acid-free tissue. (If anyone can tell me where this stuff can be bought, that would be great. Actually, I would probably only take the effort if I owned a coat that cost over $200!)

Spot On!

Tina Fey was spot on with her Sarah Palin last night. In case you missed it, here it is.



(oh, and did anyone notice how pregnant Amy Poehler is looking?)

Amen Kid Rock (I know, weird. Right?)

One of the reasons I hate politics is exactly what Kid Rock talks about below. I am not a fan of Kid Rock, and I love me some Oprah, but I am so on board with the general statement he makes below:



"I truly believe that people like myself, who are in a position of entertainers in the limelight, should keep their mouth shut on politics. Because at the end of the day, let me tell you what I 'm good at: I'm good at writing songs and singing. What I'm not educated in is the field of political science. And so for me to be sharing my views and influencing people of who I think they should be voting for … I think would be very irresponsible on my part. So I'll just keep my mouth shut on that. I think celebrity endorsements hurt politicians. Because as soon as somebody comes out for a politician, especially in Hollywood, when they all go, 'I'm voting for this guy!' — I go, 'That's not who I'm voting for!' … As soon as Oprah Winfrey pops up and goes 'Ha-la-la-la-la,' I'm like, 'I love Barrack Obama. I hate Oprah Winfrey.' I don't hate her. I just don't believe in her, so I don't want any part of any of that. I think celebrities hurt politicians."

- Kid Rock tells CMT Insider
(courtesy: perezhilton.com)

Two Words...Meat Batter

I'm a nerd and I enjoy watching shows like "How it's made" on Discovery Channel. I think after tonight's episode I will never eat another hot dog again...ever.

The Bumble Bee Story

I am truly blessed to be surrounded with the friends I have. I saw a quote online that said "A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself." That could not have rang more true for me last night. I met my friend Catie for dinner and she showed up with a very unexpected gift for me. She said she saw it and it made her think of me and there was a story behind it. I opened the James Avery bag to find a sterling silver bracelet with a Bumble Bee charm. She asked if I had heard of the Bumble Bee story, and I had not. The Bumble Bee story goes as follows:

Bees are the symbol of fertility and sexuality.
Its honeycomb, a hexagon, is the symbol of the heart and
represents the sweetness of life found within our own heart.
It is also the symbol of the sun and all its energies.

The bee reminds us to extract the honey of life
and to make our lives fertile (productive) while the sun shines.
No matter how great the dream is, there is the promise of fulfillment
if we pursue our dreams.

If a Bee has shown up in your life, examine your own productivity.
Are you doing all you can to make your life more fertile?
Are you busy enough?
Are you making time to savor the honey of life and not becoming a workaholic?

The Bee is the symbol of accomplishing the impossible.
Aerodynamically, its body is too large for its wings and should not be able to fly.
Although now we understand how it does fly (high rate of wing movement),
the Bee remains a symbol of accomplishing anything you put your mind to.

In Hinduism, the Bee relates to Vishnu, Krishna or Kama, the God of Love.
In Egypt, the Bee symbolized royalty.
In Greece, it was the symbol of the Eleusinian Mysteries.
The Celts associated the Bee with hidden wisdom.

Catie is pregnant with her first child, a baby girl. She is due in a month and I couldn't be more ecstatic for her!

Nobody Knows...Tha Trouble I Seen

OK, Frank took the funniest picture this morning of Todd after he put him in his crate. Poor little thing looks like he is in prison hanging onto the bars of the cell. If he only had a tin mug to drag against the bars. LOL!

Lucy's Recovery

Lucy is still recovering from her back surgery 2 weeks ago, but she is doing GREAT! We still have to crate her, but when we do let her out to go potty, she tries to play. She has a lot of energy and I stopped her pain meds a few days ago. She is still wobbly and she has a hard time with her back footing. Last night, we let her go into the kitchen to "vacuum" up some cheese Frank dropped on the floor and she nearly flipped right over! It looked like she was flipping over her handle bars. I caught her before she finished the flip thank goodness. The Vet says it was probably because of her back legs not being 100%. She goes for her surgery follow up visit on the 23rd, so hopefully after that, we can stop crating her when we are home.

If You Like Bagles...

...and hate the idea of how many calories are in them, use this simple trick. Cut your bagel in half as normal, then hollow out the insides (making a canal or sorts). Add in your fillings whatever they may be (cream cheese, lox, lunch meat, etc). It will save you tons of calories! I have to give Adrianne props for this one. She is the 22 year old I work with who keeps me young and in touch...LOL!

Good Restaurant

This weekend Frank and I went to a place called Chadra Mezza. Chadra is a small, neighborhood Mediterranean restaurant by TCU on Park Place off Forest Park. I was really impressed. They have a nice patio out back and have Doggy Happy Hour on Wednesdays from 4-7 where you can bring your dog and enjoy drinks on the patio. They even provide treats for your pups!

We started off with the humus. Then I got the eggplant lasagna and Frank got the steak kabobs and Greek salad with shrimp. For drinks, Frank got a really good Mediterranean type margarita and I got a pomegranate cosmo.

Politics Are Frustrating

The more I think about this election, the more it makes me cringe. It seems like today people are either way left or way right. What about those who are in the middle? Why can't there be a candidate that represents the good aspects from both parties? Stuck in the middle...normally that's a good, neutral place to be. However, it makes voting really hard. Uggg...politics.

Make Your Own Official Seal

Yes, you can make your own official seal too!

http://www.says-it.com/seal/

Día de Declutter

We are all so busy these days, and I know for me, there is little time to devote to housework. I don't even have children and our house isn't really big, but believe me, it's easy to get too busy. So in an effort to become more "Martha Stewart-y", I thought giving out tips on my blog would be a good reminder to myself to actually do these things and not just talk about them. So check back from time to time and I will have some good tips and ideas to share (and make use of!).



Once a month, put a "declutter day" on your calendar. Use this day for cleaning clutter off surfaces, putting things away, and re-organizing the laundry room, kitchen drawers, closets, etc.

Use a laundry basket and trash bag. Walk around with the basket, putting things in the basket that are out of place or are just plain cluttered and using the trash bag for items you no longer need. Go back through the basket and put things where they belong.

Some of my favorite websites for organization and inspiration are:

www.organize.com

www.marthastewart.com

Cocktail Time

The weekend is upon us so why not treat yourself to a fabulous cocktail! Try this one on for size:

Cosmo-Rita

Ice
1 shot tequila
Splash lime juice
2 shots cranberry juice
Lime wheel, for garnish
To a martini shaker filled with ice, add all ingredients. Shake and strain into martini glass. Garnish with lime wheel.

I think Carrie Bradshaw would approve!

So Official I Am

I registered myself a domain name today. From now on you can access my blog by typing in www.thestateofamanda.com!

Tina Fey for VP?

I am not a very political person, and honestly, I probably won't even vote this go around (I know...so un-American...yada yada yada). However, Sarah Palin is just great! I like the fact that she presents herself as a real person. It is nice to see a nominee not be all about business. I like how Sarah Palin put herself out there as a hard working family person who most everyone can relate to. Her teenage daughter is pregnant and the media has had a field day with it. Really, all families have hard times and hurdles to overcome. The media should not make it such an issue and I don't think that is fair.

Sarah Palin's speech was fantastic. Being a sister of a special needs child, her speech really touched me when she stated that the parents for special needs children will have an advocate in the White House. How often do you hear politicians mention anything other than political issues, economy issues, or healthcare? Yes, you can lump in the special needs children with healthcare, but for her to address it like she did was great. I like that. I like Sarah Palin. Plus Tina Fey is going to have a good gig with SNL this fall because of her!

Home Sweet Home

I returned from Shannon's this afternoon and was very happy to see my little Lucy Pie (and Toddler and Frank too!). Lucy is doing really well. She will stay in her crate for the next 3 to 4 weeks, but gets to go outside to potty with us having to carry her to the yard. We have her crate out in the living room so she can be with the rest of the family. She doesn't mind being in there as long as she can see us. She is getting a lot of much needed rest also.

Here is a picture of our little Frankenlucy (it's hard to see the staples down the middle of her back. She looks like a little football.)