Excuse Me For Partying

I'm singing the winter song. Literally, it's called "Winter Song" by The Head and the Heart. It's part of my "2012 - A New Year" playlist. I realized as I was listening to it for the fifth time in an hour (I don't have a lot of songs on my new playlist yet), that the summer is over! I've been so busy with the holidays, dogs and trips that I failed to give "The Summer of Erin" an appropriate goodbye.

Okay, you got me - that's not entirely true. Yes, I have been busy, but that is not the only reason I have yet to honor the main event of 2011, aka "The Summer of Erin". The truth is the main event is... not over! (I can hear my husband's head falling on to a keyboard somewhere)



"Excuse Me for Partying" was on a t-shirt I read one time. I remember thinking after I read it, "yeah, sorrrrry for having a good time - world!" Now that the summer and holidays are over and my husband is back to school and work, I feel as though I need to apologize for still being on a break. And by break I mean not working at a job where I get paid.



Here's the truth about taking a break from the old humdrum.

• First comes guilt
• Then an overwhelming feeling of what to do with your time
• After an extensive google search you have literally hundreds of ideas for trips
• Too stupid to figure out the "point system" on Southwest Airlines you decide to narrow down the trip ideas
• You start working out more
• Then somehow you become even more busy than when you were working, with trips, projects and plans, that you need a break from your break
• You stop working out

The other truth about taking a break from working is that it can be GREAT!



Not working usually means freedom to do as you please - but I found this to only be true if I allowed it. The biggest lesson I learned from "The Summer of Erin" is that freedom is ALWAYS a state of mind. When I let go of judgements, more importantly my own judgements, it left room to truly be myself. I've come to realize that wherever I am in life, the biggest obstacle between myself and my freedom is myself, and more specifically my worries... and also reality TV. Damn you Bachelor Ben!

While I know we are in the thick of winter and I can't technically say it is still "The Summer of Erin", in my mind it is still going strong. This is not because I have not found a job yet or I still get the occasional spray tan, but because of what "The Summer of Erin" represented - freedom to be myself.

Here is finally an appropriate goodbye to "The Summer of Erin" - which is still going on, but not technically. Thank you to all who helped me let go and enjoy this time! This is in honor of you cool people!

Year

Alright! A New Year! What's first, Year?



Well, I went on "The Carb Lovers Diet". It was working, but then Brent and I ran to 7-11 last night to buy donuts, cookies and Snickers (not in the diet.) Even on a carb-only diet, it's hard. Not giving up though.

I'm also being responsible this year and scheduling all my doctors appointments. Almost all. My dentist doesn't have a website so I need to drive over there to schedule that one. Wonder if he takes walk-ins? Now that I see what I just wrote I realize those aren't good signs. Add "find new dentist" to to-do list.

I'm keeping up with social activities this year. I've joined Instagram, Dice with Buddies (I'm under Gryffindore if you want to play me, but beware, kidding, but seriously) and I'm on a waiting list for Pinterest. How in the world does that website work? Apparently I'm asking for an invitation? Kind of feels like an un-vitation if you ask me. I'm also being humanly socially active. Thanks to my cousin I joined a bunco group. We had our first match last night...



... but I didn't go because of the snow. Looking forward to the next bunco match and meeting my new friends.

Since I was not playing bunco with my new friends last night I thought I would make a new soundtrack for the year. I like to do this every year starting……last year. Last year I accumulated 165 favorite songs. I was feeling pretty cool about knowing 165 songs. However, as I was trying to start a new list for 2012 I realized I was not one of "those" people... and by “those" people I’m referring to ones that wear belts, use the word "album", know the history of obscure music and how to hold a tambourine.

This is me holding a tambourine at my wedding. It is very tough on your wrist to hold upside down.



Here's the truth:
My first concert - Amy Grant
First cd - C+C Music Factory
Go-to karaoke song - Stay by Lisa Lobe
Again by Janet Jackson - Just thought I'd mention that one
The song I sang to my crush as I rolled around the skating rink - You're Never Gonna Get It by En Vogue
First romantic song with a boy - Brick by Ben Folds Five (we clearly did not know the meaning of that song)

The good news is that I have a lot of "those" cool friends and family! I may be borrowing some of my songs from last year, but I'm borrowing all the songs from my hip friends. I think this is a good start to the song list "2012 a New Year". Feel free to borrow.



Down In The Valley - The Head and the Heart
Scenic World - Beirut
Rasputin - Boney M
She Said No - TAB The Band
Shed - Ingrid Gerdes
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
Lonely Boy - The Black Keys
Shake it Out - Florence + The Machine
Can You Tell - Ra Ra Riot
Blood - The Middle East
Jolene - Dolly Parton

Here's to a new year of trail and era, good health, staying socially active in the community, laughing at myself and borrowing other peoples cool ideas. I have a feeling 2012 is going to be a good year!

Willow

Oh the holidays... soooo close to having a tearless holiday this year.

This year I...

• shared eggnog with old friends
• played cards with the cousins
• ate with the Grandparents
• watched movies with the family
• went to church with both sets of parents
• played a mean game of Tripoley with the in-laws
• saw Mission Impossible in IMAX
• watched my husband eat in bliss at Jack Stack BBQ
• tried a new hairstyle with the curling iron and nailed it
• exchanged gifts, laughs and stories
• celebrated the engagement of my cousin
• went to a beautiful/ killer wedding on NYE of our dear friends' Kelly and Lucas
• tried a new chili recipe

and also...

• bought a puppy
• had problems with the puppy
• returned the puppy

I almost made it through a holiday season without tears or Pepto Bismol, but after returning home last week with the new addition to our family, Willow the puppy, we had to pull out the Imodium. I know what I am about to share does not make us the most popular household in America, but I feel the lessons I learned are worth the raised eyebrows.


Here is Willow

She just so happens to be the cutest puppy on the face of the planet. I almost didn't choose her because I thought she was too cool for Brent and I to own. Upon our arrival home, Brent and I took every measure to ensure Willow's transition went smoothly. Besides the house three doors down catching on fire and fire truck sirens blaring down our street, I'd say we did rather well. However, as the week progressed there were some red flags that Brent and I could not ignore.

In the dog breeding world, Willow has what is called "socialization" problems. When I first heard about this I thought, "Hey, I went to high school, I know all about that!" Apparently this kind of problem is hard for dogs to overcome. Then I thought, "Well yeah, high school was hard." After many times of watching Willow cry when I got up or left the room and then scramble to get out of my husband’s arms who was doing everything he could to sooth her, I decided it was time to make a very tough decision.

In the end the decision to return Willow to the breeder was mine and probably one of the most difficult things I have had to do. While I am still trying to make sense of the experience and deal with the guilt, I know in my heart I made the right choice for us.


If I was on Oprah's Lifeclass this is what I would say to America:

• "Well Oprah, in hindsight we probably would not have bought a puppy during the winter months while living on a busy street in the heart of Chicago.
• I realized that Brent and I wanted to start a family NOW and not allow things to happen as they are supposed to.
• We weren't appreciating our time alone... but we are now!
• Yes Oprah, you could say I was looking for a purpose.
• Well, we named her Willow because she whipped her hair back and forth (Oprah laughs), but in the end we called her Weeping Willow because she cried a lot. (Oprah cries)
• I didn't listen to my intuition from the beginning. When Willow hid behind the fridge at the breeder’s home I should have known she wasn't playing hide and seek.
• You can't pick something just because it is the prettiest... I mean we've all seen The Bachelor, am I right? (laughter)
• It is okay to admit that you can't do something. It doesn't mean you are a failure.
• For the record we bring our own bags to the grocery store instead of using plastic... we aren't bad people Oprah.
• Even though the dog was scared of my husband he would have let me keep her. My husband would jump through hoops to make me happy and I am the most luckiest woman to have him.
• I hope I can do the same for him."

This was a hard lesson to learn and something that will take time to heal. We pray for Willow everyday to find a better fit and also kind of call the breeder... everyday. She's playing with her bros and sistas right now, fyi.

Here's to a new year of growth, appreciation and lots of LOVIN... and hopefully no more BIG lessons for awhile. Drama! Happy New Year!

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Freak Flag

Sarah Jessica Parker: I would have slept on the couch!
Luke Wilson: Maybe you should stop. Just stop... stop trying. It's exhausting trying to keep that lid on so tight. Just uh, you know, relax………..Ahhhh.
Sarah Jessica Parker: I'm not comfortable.
Luke Wilson: Okay. Here's the thing Meredith, you have a freak flag, you just don't fly it.



Family Stone, still a great Christmas flick circa 2005. I had it on the other day while I was trying to figure out how to cook parsnips. I stopped trying after that scene and made a bean burrito. Best bean burrito I ever had!

I'm getting the sense from my friends, husband, gyno and characters on my television that I've been trying too hard lately. I'm not surprised. Here are the things that typically go through my mind this time of year:

• If I workout out now I can have Nakato Japanese Steakhouse twice when I'm home!
• But I should eat this cottage cheese or it will go bad while we are away.
• Will I have enough time to see everyone at Christmas?
• Did I get everyone the right gifts?
• OMG those are cute shoes I should have asked for those.
• Are my flight times okay? Should I change them AGAIN?
• What movies should I see and with who?
• Who is going out what nights and what will I wear?
• Is Brent recording Glee for me?
• What will I do when the holidays are over?

Last week my long time friend, Hilliary, stayed with us. We made plans for shopping trips on Michigan avenue, brunch at the trendy hotspot, dinner at the trendy hotspot, drinks at the trendy hotspot and lunch at the new KU sports bar. While these moments were fun...


Here we are looking trendy after our trendy dinner.

... my most memorable moments of the week were UNPLANNED!

• Last-minute homemade lentil soup
• Curling up on the couch
• Getting denied at the trendy new hotspot and laughing about it
• Determining if the woman dressed as Mrs. Claus standing motionless outside the jewelry store was a human or a mannequin.... human!
• Finding our "oldie but goodie" bar pretty much empty, but dancing until close while the first snow of the season fell outside.

As we enter the holidays I will remind myself of this: Don't be afraid to...

• end up somewhere unexpected
• stay in
• relax
• feel fat
• be outta the loop
• be trendy
• say no or disappoint
• take a bad facebook pic
• raise a freak flag
• stop trying so hard

Enjoy your holidays and the end of the year! There is still time to relax and raise your Freak Flag! Merry Christmas Freaks!

Example of a freak flag being raised...

Thankful Thanksgiving

All I have to report is spilt fro-yo on my slipper, fat-free deviled eggs and lines at DISNEYLAND. Thanksgiving this year was good... a little too good!



This Thanksgiving, the Jowett family gathered in Pasadena, California to give thanks to the new member of our family, Decker August Jowett.


Just Look at Him!!!!!!

For all of us to fit in one house Carissa's parents graciously offered their home, along with their finest china, while they were away. Our family ran all up and down their house with dog, baby and camera... and turkey, grandma's jello and pizza... and McDonald’s breakfast. We are so thankful to the Jones’s family for allowing us to be under the same roof! In fact, I don't know if it was that act, the excitement of having a new baby in our midst or Bossy's fuller body...


Oh baby, there is a whole lot more to love now!

...but I dare say the Jowett family finally understood the meaning of THANKSgiving this year.

• There were no sore losers over card games and not because we didn't play any, but because with a baby or a dog's butt in your lap it just doesn't matter.
• There was no last minute side dish prepared for Brent's picky eating, because it didn't give me the same gratification to point out how well I know Brent. I think Brent's just thankful to have one meal without me talking about his taste-buds.
• There were no fights about what to do next, what to eat or what to watch... well the boys did complain after Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray and Elf, but that's kind of understandable. Oh and Carissa and I did have a Harry Potter debate, but it turns out we were BOTH right about Malfoy's wand.

And if things couldn't get any better the Jowett boys along with Brent and I had VIP passes to Disneyland thanks to my dad's work. Now if only the "fast-pass bouncers" would have honored our VIP card. I thought we were in for a second when Dad confidently flashed his VIP card to the fast-pass guy at the Indiana Jones ride. Maybe if the bouncer would have been a girl. We averaged a ride every hour and a half, but luckily Brian had Yahtzee on his phone while we waited in line... and luckily Dad sucks at Yahtzee.

I guess the moral of the story is having a baby really does solve all your problems. At least it reminds you what's important. Decker is truly a miracle. Even though he was only three weeks old I think Decker knew who we all were... either that or he was concentrating on a good poop, but either way he is already looking smart. He has his parents rich blue eyes and of course his father's mouth. I would recognize that lower lip quiver at the start of a cry anywhere.



The other part of the miracle was watching Brian and Carissa as parents. With little to no sleep, sore muscles (Decker likes to be rocked and not like rock n'roll, but lifted up and down) and a dog running around their feet, Brian and Carissa were happy. And knowing that keeps the rest of us happy until we get to see Decker again... or for at least two weeks, whichever comes first.

Here's to ALL we have to be thankful for this year and new perspectives! And also to hearing my hubbie scream louder than me on a roller coaster. Happy Holidays!

I'm Thankful For

I'm thankful to be an Auntie to a very beautiful baby boy, Decker August Jowett... and for chocolate cream pie, my $50 gift card to Anthropologie and my hairstylists, oh and for my family and Brent.... but mostly for Decker!



I haven't met Decker yet, but tomorrow night Brent and I will arrive in Costa Mesa, California and Decker will finally meet his Aunt Erin and Uncle Brent. I'm visualizing a crying baby waiting for us at the airport. Then upon collecting my suitcase (you gotta watch your luggage these days) I glide over to Decker, gently swoop him up in my arms and to everyone’s amazement the cries stop. He then giggles and finally has his first word, "Auntie Erin I love you." Awe! I can't wait.

I'm also imagining how impressed the family will be with my new photography skillz! I finally used a Groupon I bought last year for a compact digital photography class at Chicago Photography Academy last Sunday. I took 20 pages of notes over a span of seven hours. Those little cameras have so many tricks to them, I feel like James Bond with a new toy. I am really looking forward to taking some REAL nice pictures of Decker. Expect a future blog post filled with artistic pictures of gravy next to a baby laying in turkey. I'm bringing my tripod.

Here are the pictures of Decker so far and his story of coming into this world.



Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you have little miracles around you this season... even if it is just chocolate cream pie! ummmmm!

One Louder

Happy Veterans Day! Today we honor all those that have gone over and above to serve our country.



And what a coincidence that today's date happens to be 11.11.11! As we all know, thanks to Nigel Tufnel in the movie This Is Spinal Tap, eleven is one louder. So... I guess you could say the number eleven goes over and above just like our Veterans... ONE over.



Yahoo News (where I get all my news) challenged readers to be one louder today in honor of this holiday. Well, so far I tooted at the in line at the pharmacy and I didn't try to mask it... I went to eleven.



Happy Veterans Day! Be ONE louder today in honor of our Veterans!

Halloweenie Weekend

Growing up my parents would choose either Thanksgiving or Christmas to go ALL out. Whatever holiday was chosen we called "on season". This year was "on season" for Halloween at the Newcomb house! With my friend's, Ingrid and Alberto, flying in from Boston and Spain it was crucial that everything be perfect! I had kind of rocky start when I picked up Ingrid in the wrong terminal with my slippers on... but thanks to Ingrid I now know that my moccasins ARE house slippers and not street shoes.

I prepared for Halloween weekend by first having my mom mail all her 80's Halloween decor. I then laid out a bowl of squash and apples that I didn't plan on cooking. I finally put together costumes for everyone in the picture below besides Ingrid... she's a Valkyrie Goddess.... don't worry I was not sure what that was at first either, but it looks pretty.


I'm sure you have figured it out, but Alberto and I are Garth & Kat the singing duo from SNL, Brent is city correspondent Stefon also from SNL and Allison is a mail-order-bride from China who is actually wearing an authentic wedding gown made in China. Yes, that is my eBay wedding gown from China folks.

While I marched around all weekend with my Halloween clipboard I have to admit that it was our guests that made the weekend "on season".


I woke up from a nap to find that Ingrid carved our albino pumpkin and was roasting the pumpkin seeds.


Determined to dress up on Friday night, Alberto went scavenging in our dumpsters and made himself a robot/ sex machine costume within an hour. And even though Alberto couldn't fit in a cab or sit down, he had a good time.... on a side note, hipsters don't like robots or cardboard boxes.


It turns out Ingrid has the perfect head for a wig montage.


And she's also good with a makeup brush.... I'm a butterfly!

There was a brief moment however, when Alberto and I were practicing our Garth and Kat impressions, that I got nervous. I don't know if it was a cultural barrier or if we were just bad, but the only thing Alberto and I could get in sync was our clapping. I was even more discouraged when we arrived to the party and people thought I was a school teacher. When Alberto asked me, "Do people know who we are supposed to be?" I responded, "only the cool people," trying to boost our egos. Surprisingly enough we won the costume contest. Alberto assumed there was a lot of cool people in the crowd, which there were!


Alberto and I on the other hand, should probably not have climbed on the bar stool to sing our acceptance speech. I don't think our practice paid off and knocking over a table of drinks when climbing down was NOT cool, but I must say fun!

Here's to an awesome Halloween "on season"! Special thanks to Ingrid and Alberto for traveling all the way to celebrate, to Thi and Ingrid for screaming loud during the costume voting, to Alberto for finding my phone, credit card and ID on the bar floor and to my husband for dressing up, leaving us spare keys and allowing me to keep my costume closet/ immaturity.

Happy Halloweenie!

Excitement Build Up

I got excitement build-up! So you're gonna see a lot of exclamation points in this post.


It started with the turning of the leaves!


Then came the seasonal fare and entertainment... in my case hot dogs & Harry Potter!


Last week was a reunion at my fav wig store, D & S Yo Yo. If I would have had my camera you'd be seeing a ten minute wig montage right now. We had a ball in our hairnets!

I came home that same day to show my husband the wig he would be sporting on Halloween AND he agreed to wear it!

I spent hours over the weekend at Target with my friend Thi having fun and helping our economy!

This week I've been getting the house ready for our Halloween guests, Ingrid and Alberto. Ingrid is traveling all the way from Boston and Alberto traveled over the Atlantic! He's European.

Now I am waiting in anticipation not only for our guests to arrive and watch them eat one of my pigs n' a blanket, BUT for the arrival of my FIRST EVER NEPHEW!



My brother and sister-in-law, Brian & Carissa, are expecting the arrival of their firstborn very soon. The expected due date is Halloween! I will admit, I thought for a minute about dressing up as their newborn baby for Halloween. I was going to have Brent dress as Carissa and attach a rope/ umbilical cord between us. Then I thought... Inappropriate! I am just so excited for his arrival whatever day that might be. Actually, one of my best friends and also my mother-in-law were born around and on Halloween and I love them! Not to mention Brian was born early November! If this baby boy is anything like his father he is going to be pretty amazing and I'm certain he will be.

So while you are eating candy, sitting on hay and putting fake eyelashes on over the weekend please keep Carissa, Brian and baby in the back of your mind.

Since I don't have footage of my nephew YET, here is footage of his baby showers from this summer. Carissa along with her family and friends are some very talented women! Here is just some of their hard work come to life.





Happy Halloween BABY!

I Got Sick

When you get a cold, the general rule is to drink lots of liquids and get lots of rest. After getting over a cold for the past two weeks I can tell you this statement makes just as much sense to me as when my 5th grade teacher told me to look up a word in the dictionary for spelling. Um... how am I supposed to look up the word if I can't spell it?! Likewise, if you drink lots of liquids it is hard to get lots of rest when you are urinating every 5 minutes.

Since I am very dramatic I spent my time in bed trying to figure out WHO gave me this cold. For awhile I thought the culprit was all the traveling I did during the Summer of Erin. Then I started to blame the change in weather. I eventually settled on the fact that Brent wouldn't let me buy this one leather coat making me very ill-prepared for our most recent trip to Denver.

Thankfully before the mucus started Brent and I got to visit Brent's siblings and nieces in Denver.


As you can tell our nieces were very excited to see us! Here is Siena and Macy having fun sitting on Aunt Erin's and Uncle Brent's lap. It was probably a good thing their parents were sitting right next to us.


Brent and I got to meet his sister's new boyfriend. Here is Matt and Emily who seem to be doing a little better with the girls.


We later won the approval of the girls with presents! They had so much fun in their Tinkerbell costumes and high-heels. I told Brent he should look at getting peed on as a good thing. Macy was just excited!


I also got to show off my new sweater to some of my best girlfriends who live in Denver. We caught up and laughed our sweaters off.

Unfortunately the mucus set in before my next trip. Upon returning from Denver I traveled back home to Springfield, Missouri to begin my first work week. Mom and I had major plans to clean out and sell all the wedding props still sitting in my parent's basement. I should have known my body would retaliate before work week. Surprisingly Mom and I still managed to get things organized and ready to sell. We also managed to watch some Oprah, eat pizza and take a road trip to Kansas City. Throw in a few "Judy and Erin" moments in there and I was spent.



The best had to be the moment Mom and I ran into Joann’s Fabric frantically looking for a pattern on how to make a vest after failing to find a vest for my Halloween costume. I later found an already made vest at a uniform store.

While it feels good to finally be rid of my cold I have to admit there were a few moments during it that made me smile. Hearing my husband repeat a "Judy and Erin" phrase like, "You're sick because the universe is telling you to slow down," was one of them. I had to remind him of that when he caught my cold last week...

Here's to being healthy!