20 Something in LA LA land...

Keeping busy

C is someone that tries to make the most of his time.  I mean, not always, as many days he is found sitting on the couch watching football, playing online poker, or playing his Xbox until ungodly hours of the morning (maybe he thinks it's more productive than sleeping?).  But if he has extra time in his schedule, he usually tries to fill it with something meaningful.

Like in April, when he had exactly 4 weeks off work for a hiatus, and he planned a three week trip to visit his college friends.  Meanwhile, the week he came back I was off for approximately 20 gazillion years and I spent my days going to the gym and reading blogs. For what seemed like years.

When the strike started, we knew that at some point we would both be off work.  Since that also meant that the money wouldn't be a'flowin, we couldn't take any trips other than the trip to visit his family next week.

So C came up with a plan for each of us to think of approx. 5 things each that we have never done or seen here in LA and want to.  Genius, right?  I know, he's good.

I love that kind of shit.  I spend my free time online, reading websites about my city's new museums and galleries and shops and restaurants and markets and festivals and events.  I'm always wanting to check stuff out, but don't want to do it alone and usually our weekends are so filled with other stuff that we never get around to it.

C is now officially off work.  Friday was his last day.  It sucks, but for him, right now, it's for the better because he was saying it was more depressing being in an office that was hit so hard due to the circumstances. 

Yesterday, after C got home from playing basketball and we ate some lunch, we decided that we would do one thing on my list.  He was curious what I chose and I was embarrassed to tell him what the Number 1 thing in LA I wanted to do was.  Because of all the things in this amazing city, all I cared about was seeing the new Whole Foods in Pasadena that I have seen pictures of, read about and have been obsessed over.

Wouldn't you know my number 1 was related to food?

Why C is great?  He figured that would be it.  I mean, obviously, he said.  SO after seeing what could easily be the best movie of the year, Juno, C and I made the trek to Pasadena (about 20 minutes away).  After hitting up the WRONG Whole Foods (yes, we drove 10 miles longer than needed), we pulled into the  parking lot, walked in the store and were amazed.

Two floors, each section was 3 times larger than normal Whole Foods.  There was a seafood section, with a seafood restaurant and seafood bar attached.  There was a rotisserie and carving station, with tables and seats, where you could easily bring your family for Sunday night dinner.  The cheese section OH MY GOD the cheese section was ORGASMIC.  So big, with samples galore.  And next to that?  The wine and tapas bar, where you could actually sit down and have wine tastings with cheese pairings.  There were couples and friends sitting at the bar and the couches just enjoying their evening at Whole Foods as if it were your neighborhood pub.  And DO NOT get me started on the dessert section, and honestly, can you say no when you are offered samples of donuts and pumpkin pie???

All in all, it was worth the drive and I will definitely go back.  And C?  I know he loved it too.

And today C is already gone, went to Big Bear to help a friend build a cabin until tomorrow night.  See?  Only a couple days off and he's already traveling :)  Can't he learn to just be lazy like me?

Food glorious food!

Today is day 2 of being on a budget.

I know this will sound strange, but in my 26 years on this planet, I have never before really been on a budget.  Sure, there were tight days and weeks where I would curb my shopping for clothes and getting manicures and beauty products, but never before where I've felt like I needed to change my lifestyle temporarily.

Now is that time.

The number one without a doubt way that I spend my money is on FOOD.  Yeah, I know - horrible.  But it is.  I am not a cook by nature, however, I love to cook and LOVE to look up recipes and LOVE to eat something good that I created, but for whatever reason, may it be long days at work or lack of energy, I don't cook as often as I like.  The days that C and I decide to actually cook instead of going out for dinner?  We end up spending WAY more at the grocery store than we would have at a restaurant.

I also have a shopping problem with food at various grocery stores.  I literally cannot walk into a grocery store without buying snacks, whether it be chips or cookies or chocolate or all three, some expensive cheese products, gourmet foods, sushi, etc.  The majority of it ends up filling up my kitchen and cupboards.  At first I don't mind the expensive bills because I feel like it's food, and we'll eat it.  But the truth is, most of the time we don't, and it ends up just sitting there and going bad.  Yesterday, in an effort to "clean" out our kitchen, we three away THREE trash bags of stuff.  Open bags of chips, cookies, candy, veggies, turkey, cheeses, condiments, cereals, etc.  It was RIDICULOUS.  I usually only want one bite of anything I buy so after that, it goes to waste.  Do you guys watch Oprah?  Did you SEE the episodes about the woman who is a hoarder and buys everything she sees and has NOWHERE to put it in her house???  I need to watch it because seriously?  I could be a closet food hoarder.  Although, I have to say that it's better that it's sit in the cupboard uneaten rather than in my tummy.

C and I also have schedules where we eat out more than average.  Mondays and Tuesdays, he is at work late and eats there, so I'll usually just pick something up for myself = $15 each meal at least (Oh yeah, I should add that I hardly ever get fast food, so there isn't an option for me to get a 99 cent gordito or whatever's on the market).  At least 1 and sometimes 2 nights a week,  I am out with a friend or a family member for dinner so there's more money spent and more reason not to go food shopping.  Friday and Saturday nights C and I usually eat out, and Sunday night we tend to order in.  You see where the problem is?

I have a few friends that set schedules for their dinners.  They sit down on Sunday, figure out what they're going to eat every night that week, go shopping for all of those ingredients, and cook accordingly.  At first, C and I quietly snickered because how "planned" and "boring" and absolutely no spontaneity...  But yesterday?  We became one of those couples.

It actually was a lot of fun going to the grocery store together, walking up and down the aisles slowly looking for the items on sale, checking prices and crossing off a list.  (Except going to the grocery store the week of Thanksgiving is a BIG no-no.  Do not do it unless you HAVE to.  These people are RUTHLESS!!!)  We came home last night, cooked my famous turkey chili, and enjoyed a nice healthy dinner. 

Today, I went to Costco and various other stores to get some more ingredients.  I ended up buying bulk chicken and salmon, which I separated and individually froze, large amounts of veggies and fruit which I already cut up and put into tupperware, and some extra things we need. 

So we are stocked.  Thanksgiving will be at my mom's, but other than that, every single meal for the next week will be cooked here in the house by me!  I guess there is a perk to being unemployed after all!  Tonight we are making this really great BBQ chicken recipe with corn and onions and peppers.  Tomorrow is homemade pizza on wheat dough with tons of veggies.  And Friday (if not T-giving leftovers) is salmon with veggies and brown rice.

If you guys have any easy healthy dinner ideas pass them my way!

Bulletpoint post

Only because that's what seems to be going through my mind today.  Enjoy!

• I am SO anxious to start working already.  Our deal is closed but the project isn't official yet, so until then, all we can do is mentally prepare ourselves for the "hell" that will be ahead of us.  I secretly can't wait to be busy out of my mind, I just hope that it happens soon before all the wind leaves our sails...

• Obviously, you know today is 9/11.  It was the first thought I had when I woke up.  I still have such vivid memories of that day - I can only imagine what it was like to be in NYC during that day. 

• My dream was insane - there were Macbooks, beaches, margaritas, an ocean, and last but not least, Heidi and Spencer getting married in a "Snow White" theme.  I'm not kidding.  SO STRANGE.  Oh yeah, Justin Bobby was there too.  WTF?

• The friend I told you about yesterday called me last night.  I think we both knew that we hadn't talked since Friday for a reason, and she was all "Yo" when I answered.  I mean, seriously?  WHO DOES THAT?  Do I look like Ms. Wild 'n Out?  She was acting so strange, just asking me about the bridal shower and luckily, I had to go shortly after that.  I seriously couldn't handle it.

• I woke us today feeling SO sick of my unemployed routine that I could scream.  NO, I dont want to go to the gym today.  NO, I don't want to come home and eat lunch and watch reality TV.  And NO, I don't want to find something to fill my afternoon time that includes spending money, which is like, IMPOSSIBLE.  I CANNOT WAIT TO START WORK!!!

OK, that's all. Sorry if that was the lamest post ever.  But today is just one of those days :)

Mental breakdown

Last night, I had a bit of a breakdown.  It hit me sometime after "The Starter Wife" but before C started watching Sportcenter.  I had been meaning to go to bed by 11, since I haven't been sleeping all that well for the last week or so.  Said breakdown kept me up way past midnight.

Now, the reason for the breakdown is nothing new.  In fact, I've been dealing with this issue for as long as I can remember.  The issue is: WHAT THE HELL AM I GONNA DO WITH MY LIFE??????? 

Sound familiar?

The only reason I ask is because I find that the majority of twenty-somethings that I talk to on a consistent basis have the same problem in their lives.  So I guess it's normal.  However, I am a HUGE neurotic and overthinker, and being on a hiatus from work does NOT help the situation. 

Lets put it this way: I LOVE to work.  I already told you guys about it and I know that sounds crazy but I do.  I LOVE to multitask, LOVE to be busy.  Because when I'm busy, oddly enough, I make sure to get every little minor task in my life accomplished.  It's when I have all the free time is when I can't make it to the laundromat or can't sweep my floor because goddamnit, I HAVE to watch Little People, Big World RIGHT NOW!  Nevermind that I have it on Tivo. 

It's more than that too.  Being 26 and not being 100 percent sure of what I want to do and how to get there scares me.  I guess I just always envisioned me being something greater than I am (not that I don't think my job is super-cool and love it).  I just think that no hard-working person should spend two-plus months off each year (unless they are a teacher or student and DESERVE it).  Making any sense yet?

Thankfully, I have a very incredible man in my life who will talk to me while spooning before bed about my options, and how I'm not stuck, and how I am great, and how one day I'll be SOOO successful.  And I am so grateful for that.  But he's working right now.  Working hard and many hours a day.  And he has completely moved up the ladder (fast) in the four years we have been dating.  So even though he says these things to me, I still feel like, "how can he possibly know how I feel". 

Either way, after an hour and a few tears, I finally drifted off.  And woke up to a text from C giving me 10 careers that I can pursue and love and be successful at.  That's why I'm lucky. 

Now if only I could learn how to give myself that motivation without help?

I may need a TuTu...

I'll start by saying that I love to workout.  I know, I know, sounds INSANE but it's actually true!  Well, I should rephrase it by saying that I don't particularly like waking up, putting my workout gear (who am I kidding? gear? more like old navy sweats) on and getting in my car to drive to the gym, but nothing (almost nothing) beats the feeling that I get when I am done.  Sometimes, its so good I feel like screaming out on to the street "I WORKED OUT AND YOU DIDN'T!!! HA!!".  Except I'm not that mean :)

Working in television, at least my particular job, means that you are basically freelance and are hired project by project. Every year, around the end of April, our office goes on a "hiatus", where we are off anywhere from 2-4 months.  Last year during the hiatus, I decided to get a short job on another project to keep myself busy (and employed).

This year, for whatever god-forsaken reason, I had no interest in looking for other employment.  Why?  Because by the end of April, I felt like I NEEDED the vacay.  Work had been so crazy and I just wanted and looked forward to the break.  Um, big mistake... hello???

Sure, I LOVED my trip to Hawaii with my boyfriend C (more details on him in another post) and New York was so much fun over Memorial Day weekend... but the rest of my time has been spent watching tv, shopping (very, very bad for an unemployed girl), getting manis and pedis, reading books, etc... Sure its all fine and dandy but my personality LOVES to be busy. LOVES to multi-task!  LOVES to pick up phones and write appointments down in her calendar!  SO all the free time, me no likey...

What has saved me partially from complete boredom, depression, and going insane-dom?  Working out, moving, sweating... and yesterday, I attempted the long-awaited first ballet class.  I shouldn't bore you with the hilarious details of how stupid I looked in every position (don't even ask about  the grand plie) but when I drove home last night, I felt GREAT.  It's amazing what a little movement can do for you - or me.