RAISE A PINT

Subtitle: I'm a FEMALE!






















This morning I was walking into work from the parking lot and I passed a big, looming red cross bus parked out front. We all know what that means. Blood donation time! I didn't sign up but knew they would not turn me away so into the bus I hopped.
Now, mind you, I don't wear a lot of makeup, and lately I've been letting my hair air dry so I lack that polished, put together, feminine essence. But I'm still a girl. I wear jewelry and heals and lip gloss. So I was surprised when the nurse asked me my gender...at three different times. I started to get a little paranoid that I looked man-ish. I had to shrug that off because having a needle jabbed into my vein is way too important to get distracted by questionable gender.
There was a time when needles and blood and finger pricks didn't bother me. And they still don't; if it's on TV I'm fine. But the moment a real live person starts toward me with a sharp object (needle, knife, pencil, temper) I get woozy. Similar to getting sick on amusement park rides, this is an aversion that started later in life.
Anyway, I gave my pint, in less than 6 minutes. I felt pretty accomplished while I ate my fig newton and chatted up a bleeding co-worker. But as other people where being prepped, I knew I had to make it out of that bus. I felt great most of the day. And I skipped lunch on accident.
Fast forward to my commute home from work; it's a 40 minute drive. Those 40 minutes were some of the most uncomfortable I've had in a while. I felt at once an anxiety attack coming on AND a fainting spell. Once I got home I pulled on my sweats and languished on the couch making the Rockstar serve me food and fetch me important things like water with ice.
I'm glad donating blood makes me feel this way. It helps me realize how important blood is, and how ridiculous it is that I don't donate more often. I'm disappointed that I don't jump into all the red cross vans I see idling at the curb. I mean, if I feel this depleted with one pint missing, how must someone feel that is actually in need?

I THINK I WANT A GNOME

There are a lot of gnomes out there. But I happen to like him best. He would be perfect wandering around our yard, patrolling the garden and keeping our tomatoes safe from thieves. He's on my must-have list for spring.

BABY, YOU ROCK!

Subtitle: Happy Day Rockstar























It's Nate's birthday today. He's 33. This morning I wanted to slow down just a bit and spend some time with him; I will be late for work for anyone who is looking for me.
Last night I made dark chocolate cupcakes and added semi-sweet chocolate chunks for extra rich chocolatey flavor. Topped off with vanilla icing, I think the cakes-on-the-go will be perfect for our hectic lifestyle. After Nate went to bed I hung up the birthday garland that Dayna made for me, wrapped his presents, and tidied up the living room. {sorry, my camera is still broken so you'll have to use your imagination}
This morning Nate opened his presents. BBQ accessories from his family, and a music-themed birthday from me. He got tickets to see Franz Ferdinand tonight at The Great Saltair {one of his favorite live shows}, a double guitar stand to accommodate his acoustic and electric guitars, a custom designed, earth friendly guitar strap {looks like this} from Souldier Straps {check out her Etsy store} for his new Fender Jaguar, music magazines for pleasure reading, and a London Moleskin journal for our trip there in July to see Blur. I also found a nearby guitar shop that gives reasonably priced guitar lessons so it's just a matter of finding an open slot in his busy calendar.
Happy birthday to the music-lovin' birthday dood. Baby, you ROCK!

HAPPY DAY HUGO!

It's Hugo's birthday today. He's lucky to share his birthday with the Rockstar {pictured together on their birthday in 2008}! Hugs and kisses to Hugo...hope your day is full of trucks, trucks, and trucks!

Love, Aunt Tonia

A CHAT FROM NATE

While I was at work on Friday I wasn't signed into gmail for most of the day. But at home, I was. At some point that afternoon, Nate was trying to get the sound on his laptop to work and using gmail chat as a testing ground. When I came home from work, this is the chat I saw from Nate sitting on my desk top.

NO SHOES: REPORT

I did it. I went the entire day barefoot in support of the TOMS day without shoes. Here's a report out in the form of a haiku.

Feet on cold cement
It's for a cause I tell them
Off come their shoes, too.


















{photo from getty}

DEAR BO

Dear Bo, the new "First Dog".
How is it possible that you get a Breaking News banner on CNN? Are you more important than people losing jobs or the weather report? How is it that Anderson Cooper spent valuable time from his life covering the story of you and the Obama's making friends and running together on the white house lawn. Just asking.

Your pal,
Tonia

p.s. Yes You Can!!!

GRAFFITI: LEAVE YOUR MARK

Salt Lake City has had some trouble with graffiti lately. I've noticed it on exit signs which can be particularly dangerous if you don't know your way around. It's so irritating to see a city employee suspended above the freeway to clean off a sign that has been covered with someone's spray painted mark.

I read about these badass knitting graffiti groups in Handmade Nation and LOVED the idea. Nothing they tag is damaged, nothing requires fixing, it looks pretty and it's hard to look at and NOT consider someone's loving hands making it. I wish this kind of group would swarm into SLC and give us some covered tree trunks, street signs, and park benches. They can start at my house.

AND I LOVE HIM

Nate and I had a great day today. We had a nice morning, gave one another modest Easter basket goodies, spent a few hours in church, took a long nap, and snuggled on the couch. Tonight he spent about 30 minutes practicing Anarchy in the UK {Sex Pistols} on his new Fender and he's now listening to the new Depeche Mode album.
I'm very lucky. He's brilliant to look at, his mind intrigues me, he's one of the silliest people I know and he shares his grand laugh with everyone. With Nate, I know life will challenge and bless me. I'm glad I have someone so perfectly suited to me; finding him has been a perfectly timed discovery. And I love him.

HAIR COWARD

This weekend I had a hair appointment and I was determined to do something different. I've grown bored with my appearance and I wanted to give myself a new look. I decided to get bangs. Not just any bangs, thick, eyelash grazing, blunt cut bangs. Bangs like Lily Allen or Naomi {from Rockstar Diaries}. By the way, don't they look alike?
















I printed out photos of each beautiful girl and walked into the salon with casual confidence. But then I got worried as we discussed the procedure. While I think they look super fabulous on others, I wasn't sure I loved them on me. My face suddenly gained about 20 pounds when simulated bangs were added.
If bangs were out, what could I do to spice things up? Destiny, my stylist, suggested I play with color. We toyed with the idea of dark chocolate brown and I almost went for it until I held a swatch of color against my face. It just didn't work with my skin tone. Reluctantly, I concluded that I'd get the same cut and the same color.
Destiny, knowing me well, threw out one last idea. It's nothing big, and certainly won't start any trends, but I now have two random blond chunks of hair hidden at the nape of my neck. You can't really see them unless my hair is pulled up {which means they will always be visible since 1/2 my life is spent in a pony tail}.
I guess I'll need to learn a new hobby or language if I want to spice up myself. For the next six weeks, bangs are off the table. I'd show a photo, but I haven't replaced my broken camera yet.

OH. THE. SHAME.

Subtitle: It's a good thing we aren't parents.





























It's Easter. I've known Easter was coming for weeks now; it's hard to overlook a holiday ushered in by lots of chocolate candy lining the shelves at the grocery store. Nate and I had just waved our friends goodbye this morning and had just hunkered down on the couch to relax for a bit when I remembered, "IT'S EASTER". Luckily I had purchased a few measly things to put in a basket for Nate and he had managed to do the same for me.
With the realization that Easter was upon us, we turned our back to one another, assembled the baskets, and then turned in surprise. Later at church, I realized that I hadn't purchased anything special to make for Easter Sunday dinner. At home, Nate dug into some leftovers and I nibbled on chips and salsa.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, It's a good thing we aren't parents.

p.s. Our camera broke. Just one day it decided it was done performing and broke right there in my hands. So until we replace it with a new one, you'll have to enjoy stuff I find in google images.

GO WITHOUT SHOES FOR ONE DAY

I LOVE Tom's Shoes. I like their message, I like their effort, I love the simplicity of the one-for-one concept {we donate a pair of shoes for every pair you buy}. If I could I'd mandate that everyone buy one pair just for the simple fact that it would mean so many little feet would have something to wear.
They have a challenge coming up. April 16, leave your shoes by the door; go without. It's just a way to remind us of how important, how imperative, it is to have a pair of shoes to wear from here to there. Especially if your here to there is miles and miles and it's the only way you get food and water.
This challenge brings up a lot of old memories for me. Nothing as spectacular or philanthropic. When I was 20 I got a tattoo on my foot. I was told it wouldn't be guaranteed if I wore shoes {all the rubbing could cause the colors to bleed or fade quickly} for about a month. No shoes for a month? Well, I could have worn flip flops but it was January so it didn't make much more sense than going barefoot.
So I went barefoot. On campus at Utah State University the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy wasn't enforced. I tell people you could wear a gold lame bikini to school there and no one would say a thing. After a few weeks with no shoes my feet became very tough. They braved cold weather, different surfaces, things being dropped on them. By the time a month had passed and I could wear shoes again, I just didn't feel like it. Minus a few occasions, I figure I spent about a year shoeless, toe rings and all.
But that was my choice. And I didn't have to walk miles in volcanic soil just to take a sip of water. Come April 16, I'm going shoeless. I may have to warn people at work so I don't get called into HR for some dress code violation. If you are in a position to go shoeless on April 16, join me.

TODAY I FEEL BAD

I woke up having this kind of day today. Listening to Jaymay seemed to help. Here's to a better tomorrow.
{Image via Swiss Miss via for me, for you}

IT JUST FELT RIGHT AGAIN

July 3, 2009, Hyde Park London, Blur. Get ready UK, Nate and I are coming to get our Rock Star on; good and proper.

THIS WEEKEND

Nate and I took care of my niece and nephew this weekend. I had a fun day all planned out that included playing, going to the lake and feeding the birds, movies, Easter egg hunting...
Here is a little video of Adelia and Nate throwing bread to the birds. If you could hear the real audio it would be incredibly loud and all bird noises! Enjoy.