Perfect.

 

I’m very lucky that the boyfriend is crafty. Not in the needle and thread kind of way, but in the experimenting with food and wood. Not usually together, but ironically today that is different, because he is out in the garage building me a big ol’ garden box from scratch. Like the one he built me here, but better.

I decided to go out and visit for a little bit, and brave through the flying sawdust and 70% humidity. As I was sitting there watching him saw away, he overcut through a piece of wood and thought his project was officially screwed up. Then he dropped his beverage. I thought, oh boy – now he is going to give up and his day is going to be ruined. But instead he stepped outside the area, lit up a cigarette, paced back and forth and finally said “We’ll work around it, it just won’t be perfect.

Oh how true that statement is.

Rad.

A wine in Washington, courtesy of my friend Bryan at ubersurf 
(sorry, I cant figure out how to get them dots over the u!)

Snobbery

I can’t believe the words I’m about to type are true.

I AM A BEER SNOB.

I’m not talking drinking a Newcastle, or sipping on a glass of Guiness. I mean developing a habit of “drinking those $9 beers that come with their own cork” kind of snob. The kind with the higher alcohol content. The ones you can only find when you take a trip to your local BevMo. Before I get ahead of myself, I need to make it clear I don’t have a beer problem. Im not on the verge of becoming an alcoholic. I just have a serious taste for good beers. And I have my boyfriend to blame.
I remember the days when my stepmom used to come home and literally crave a cold beer after a long, hot day. I was also underage at the time, and though beer smelled like armpit. Flash forward a few years, when I came to realize:

A – beer is cheaper
B – beer wasn’t so bad after all

I used to be a bud light girl. Nothing tasted better to me than a cold, refreshing bud light. But then I met the boy, who introduced me to the tasty Newcastle. A little heavier than my norm, and it took some getting used to, but then I realized “Lauren likes it!” And then came a few guinesses, which I called dessert beer because it was so thick, sweet and creamy to me – at the time. I was blind to the fact that he knew what he was doing. He was slowly turning his girlfriend into someone who loves a good, pretentious beer. Gone are the days of drinking “yard work beer.” My palette craved the good stuff, the craft beer, the stuffy, snobby, German imports. La Fin Du Monde, Rogue, Lagunitas, Stone Arrogant Bastard. Suddenly the 45 minutes spent at BevMo that used to test my patience became an exciting afternoon activity. What can we try today? Which labels do I like the most? Should I go for something flavored, or stick with a chocolate porter –oh the chocolate porter. With its creamy aftertaste, its hints of actual chocolate. What’s a girl to do!

One night I opened the beer fridge and only saw 2 bottles of Guiness and a Keystone Light, and I actually made a sour face. I popped open the Guiness, filled my frosty glass and took a sip – and it tasted like water. The beer I had once thought was rich and creamy just a few months earlier was now so mundane. It was official. I was a snob.

I will still look at a six pack of Bud and remember fondly the times we had together (and how it was easier on my wallet). And I’m sure there will come a hot, sweaty day where a bud is the only thing to drink, because it’s as close to water as you can get. But nothing makes this girl happier than a beer that requires uncorking. And if I’m going to be a snob about something, beer is the way to go.

photo source

How To Fail As A Girlfriend

Yesterday was my "pseudo"versary. Its like my anniversary, but The Boyfriend and I got off to an awkward dating start, so we really dont know what our technical anniversary is. Not that it matters, I think anniversaries are really worth celebrating when you are married, and his past girlfriends always made a HUGE deal about remembering the dates of everything, so I always just never really planned on making a big deal out of it.

Whoops.

So last night I come home from work to this

And this...

yep, he is wearing my rooster apron

I cant forget to mention that he even FOLDED the paper napkins

He doesn't cook, he grills. So to come home to him cooking me spicy meatballs FROM SCRATCH, and making spicy tomato sauce FROM SCRATCH, and pasta and garlic bread and my favorite champagne? Its pretty monumental.

I walked in with nothing.

GIRLFRIEND FAIL.

Reason #2,346

As to why I love my boyfriend.

I came home last night from work to a sparkling clean house. He even got on his hands and knees and scrubbed the kitchen floor. But the best part?

He actually scrubbed the toilet.

Nuff said.

How I Spent A Thursday Evening

I left work last Thursday, grabbed a bucket of KFC, my beach chair and a camera and met the boyfriend at the beach....

 

 

Right when I think life is rough, I am given a fantastic early evening like this one was. 

And I really need to take more pictures.

Damn You, Theraflu

I was all prepared to come back to work today and write some fantastical blog about my Christmas break, and New Years resolutions, and looking back at my past decade. I so thoroughly enjoyed all of yours. But I woke up with the cold Ive been fighting for 2 weeks (of course it waited until I was BACK at work) and my brain is now full of nothing but Theraflu goodness. You know, that feeling you get when the meds kick in and you almost feel like you are floating? I had to go back and read two pages of my book again, that’s how high I am.

So rather than talking about resolutions (I have none) or my wonderful vacation (I slept a lot) or rambling on about things that are random, I decided to dedicate this post to The Boyfriend since it is, in fact, his birthday today. (and this might be where I lose a few readers). 

Here is hoping he doesnt mind that Im doing this.

So I present you with 10 reasons why my guy rocks....

1. He made me a "mixed cd" for Christmas (among other presents), said it took a month to narrow it down to 11 songs, and that in reality he had about 3 cds worth to give me. It will forever top any present he gives me in the future.
   
2.  I can wake up with some serious bedhead. He manages to look past it (and last nights makeup smeared all over) and say Im beautiful.
3.  He received a replacement body pillow from his parents for Christmas that he has been dying for, and turned to me and said "Dont worry, its for nights when you arent with me." But I knew then that I had totally been replaced. (and last night, he brought the pillow to bed, and I have been replaced). But its ok, because seeing him hug a giant pillow might be the cutest thing ever.
4. He lets me say he is adorable, as long as ruggedly is said as well.
5. He knows my favorite Starbucks drink (Im one of those complicated orders) sidenote - he DOES work there, so he has an advantage.
   
6. He has decided to give up Del Taco with me for Skinnuary. Although Im pretty sure he will cheat, and thats ok
7.  He texts me in the middle of a boys night to tell me he misses me (possibly alcohol induced)
8. He bought me a fishing license, so he can teach me what he loves
9. He insisted on buying MY coffee on HIS birthday this morning.
10. He found the most pukeinyourmouth romantical way to tell me he loved me for the first time, this past Christmas day.

I could go on and on and on - but no one would enjoy it as much as I would. Bottom line - he rocks.

Happy Birthday Mister.

  

Rain.

Here in So Cal when it rains, every news channel has an update on “Storm Watch 2009!” Its almost pathetic, but not as pathetic as the people who suddenly forget how to drive the second the first raindrop hits their windshield. Ill admit, I drive a little more cautiously as well, but I don’t turn into an idiot. Im sitting here thinking “man my toes are cold” (duh, Im wearing thin flats) while reading things from my friends like V braving the first winter snow in Chicago, my sister waiting for the ice to melt on her windshield in North Carolina, or Dyanee glad she got her errands done yesterday because today its -12 outside in Montana. And yet, I still kinda want to move there.

Today is a slow day at work (when isn’t it for me, I know) but I just cant seem to open up my book and read, I keep staring out the window and daydreaming. Im feeling very grateful for random things. I know, we just celebrated a holiday filled with this sort of thing, but the Christmas music playing on my laptop and the cold nipping at my toes is just getting me in that kind of mood. I started to think of all the random stuff I appreciate that never would be something I would put on a list of things Im thankful for. Mostly they are things that make me happy, even if its just for a moment….

• My BFF/roommate likes to whistle and sing when he is alone, even when Im sure he has had a bad day. I bet he has no idea it always makes me pause and smile
• Kim’s laugh
• My nephews voice when he says “see you later” which sounds more like “see you waiter”
• The fact that The Boy always runs warm, whereas I always  run cold, and how he knows to warm my feet without me even asking
• Also when he kisses the palm of my hand
• When my dad calls me with a dirty joke
• Gatorade after a night of drinking
• A good glass of red wine
• Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese. Everyone must love this one.

And last but not lease (drumroll please)…the sound of the rain.

Hope everyone is having a good winter! What are your random thoughts of happy?