7 things that drive me absolutely crazy

While I'm typically the kind of gal whose glass is half full, there are a handful of things that drive me completely and totally batty. I pre-apologize if your pet peeves list includes bloggers' pet peeves lists. Mine includes:

1. Anything (or anyone) that stands in my way of being on time
I absolutely hate being late for meetings, appointments, events, etc. Even worse, I hate when being late is completely out of my control. For example, if I'm getting a ride from a friend to a birthday party and she shows up late, making both of us late to the party... %&#$@ Beware, you will feel my wrath.

2. People who are rude to bus drivers
This morning, I witnessed a man yell profanities at my bus driver for no apparent reason. I don't care if your wife just left you, if you just went bankrupt, or your March Madness bracket is busted--don't take it out on people who are simply doing their job.

3. These absurd "Got Vitamin D?" ads
These ads are in virtually every ladies room at every bar in downtown Portland. It's also currently on the billboard I have to walk past in order to get to the gym.

Stop trying to tell me that tanning is healthy. Because it's not. Just stop.

4. The words "We'll find out...... After the break."
I'm looking at you Chris Harrison. I cancelled my cable recently, so I missed the bulk of the most recent season of The Bachelor, but is it REALLY necessary to have that show go on for TWO HOURS?! No. Stop dragging it out. Just send the girl home.

 

5. #hashtags
Sorry folks. I don't like them. #sorryimnotsorry

6. Blogs that have so many ads on the sidebar that it takes 20 minutes to load
I came here to read your content, but now I can't, so I'll catch you later (or not).

7. When people cancel at the last minute
Saving the best for last. I think my all-time biggest pet peeve is when people cancel on me at the last minute. I'm like the dentist - I need 24 hours notice or I'm still going to send you the bill.

What drives you crazy?

27 things you may or may not know about me

Tomorrow is my 27th birthday! Instead of complaining about how old I'm getting (which I know drives anyone who is older than I am crazy), I decided to compile a list of fun facts to give you a better sense of who I am when I'm not blogging about skin cancer and sunscreen. Enjoy!


1. I've been blogging (and making online "zines") since AOL dial-up.

2. I was a vegetarian for 12 years and just started eating red meat again a year ago.

3. I interned at two magazines in NYC the summer I turned 21.

The House Beautiful intern cubicle. I remember talking this photo on my 21st
birthday because my mom had the flowers delivered to the office.

4. When I was a senior in high school, I didn't apply to college anywhere in my home state.

5. I ended up at Lehigh University where I majored in English and journalism.

College graduation in 2008.

6. I attended an all-girls, Catholic high school.

7. I love cats - lions, tigers, and the more domestic variety that you find on your lap and in YouTube videos.

8. I paint my nails about 2x per week before I go to bed. I own enough nail polish that I could probably open my own salon.

My fingertips on Sephora's nailspotting Pinterest board.

9. My favorite movie is Love Actually.

10. I learned how to drive on a 1995 Nissan Sentra and finally just upgraded last summer to a 2011 Nissan Rogue. It was the first car I've ever purchased in my own name without a co-signer.

My baby!

11. But I take public transportation to and from work every day.

12. I manage the Research Funding & Development Services program at Oregon Health & Science University. That means I help scientists find grant funding and do a lot of internal communication with faculty and other biomedical researchers. Part of my job includes editing a blog.

13. I fly several times a year and yet it is still one of the most terrifying things in the world to me.

This is how I fly.

14. I did professional theater when I was a kid. My favorite role was Lucy in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

15. I could eat cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My favorite foods include homemade macaroni and cheese and fondue.

16. Once upon a time, I knit a sweater. It look an entire year!

I knit this!

17. If I didn't have to work, I'm pretty sure I would be nocturnal.

18. I want children someday, but babies still kind of scare me.

19. I drink tea in the mornings, not coffee.

My beverage of choice.

20. I love befriending strangers, even if I know I'll never see them again.

21. My mom is my best friend in the entire world.

22. Places at the top of my travel bucket list include Egypt, Greece, and Bora Bora.

Dream vacation? Yes, please.

23. I rarely pay full price for anything.

24. I can't lie. You will know when I'm lying.

25. One of my biggest pet peeves is people who cancel at the last minute.

26. I read 33 books in 2012. If you're on Goodreads, please be my friend.

The Lovely Bones is one of my favorite books.

27. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a paleontologist.

Five things I'm loving this week

1. Shirtless Men
Simultaneously learn about UV radiation and sun protection, while undressing male athletes with your mouse at SunBlunders.com. Fun and educational. Thank you, Skin Cancer Foundation.

2. Farmers markets
During the summer, a giant farmers market pops up outside my office every Tuesday afternoon. I found these raspberries there this week, along with some other fresh produce. Raspberries = antioxidants, which are amazing for your skin.

3. Snapchat
I thought this photo sharing app was just for kids. I was very wrong. My friends and I have been using this app obsessively over the past two weeks. Loud-out-loud worthy.

4. Push ups
I don't know that I *love* pushups, but I've started doing them again at night before I go to bed so that my boyfriend stops making fun of my puny arms! So far, so good. My shoulders are a bit sore, but I love that pushups give you such a good workout without having to use weights or go to the gym.

5. Hangin' with my dude
Tim's out of town this week (sad!), but luckily I'm headed to the beach this weekend for a girlfriend's bachelorette/shower. This photo was taken last Thursday at Portland's Rose Festival carnival. The third item in the photo is a delicious cup of beer from Rogue, which just so happens to be one of my fave microbreweries in Oregon. If you ever visit Portland, you must try it. You won't be disappointed.

Pin it forward: Bridal shower edition

My "Pinspiration" for Liz's bridal shower.

If you use Pinterest like I do, you pin and pin and pin and pin but you rarely actually cook any of those recipes or re-organize your closet. On Sunday, I hosted a bridal shower for my friend Liz (with loads of help from Jessica), and I found the secret boards on Pinterest to be insanely helpful. We ended up choosing to do a dessert-themed shower that was pretty laid back because a large group of us are also heading to Sonoma later this month to do a wine country bachelorette party. Below are a couple photos from the shower. I wish I had taken more, but I was distracted by the mimosas.

Have a good weeekend!

Treats at Liz's "Love is Sweet" bridal shower.

Me and the bride-to-be.

Minty fresh

It's spring break here in Oregon for some, but I'm having one of those weeks where every time I look at my to-do list I get dizzy and want to take a nap! Ever since November, I knew March/April/May was going to be insane, but now I'm finally in the middle of it all. Sometimes a girl just needs a little down time. For me, this means a combination of crafting, shopping, and march madness.

Oh, and of course, Pinterest. Here are some of my favorites this week.

Source: modeets.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: pshiiit.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: thecolorfullivingproject.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: anthropologie.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Katie on Pinterest

Sweetheart VoxBox Review 2013

The 2013 Sweetheart VoxBox.

I'm a few weeks late sharing this, but I got another VoxBox from Influenster! Sometimes I feel obnoxious posting about these, but earlier this week, Erin from Melanoma in the City said that she's gotten hooked on some of the goodies I've blogged about, so I'll continue indulging in this guilty pleasure. Love that I got to test some skincare products this time (since, well, ya know).

Olay Fresh Effects {Va-Va-Vivid!} Powered Contour Cleansing System - $12.99
I'm a Clarisonic devotee. This doesn't even compare. The brush is made of rubber, so it's not as gentle on your face as the Clarisonic. Two thumbs down on this, unfortunately.

Olay Fresh Effects {Shine, Shine Go Away!} Shine Minimizing Cleanser - $6.99
I typically buy the anti-aging Olay skin care products. My skin is dry, so this cleanser obviously isn't a good match for my skin type. I tried it out of curiosity, and I do think this would be a good product for someone with oilier skin. It contains kaolin, which is an oil-absorbing clay. Seems like it was pretty effective at removing makeup, too.

Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response - $7.99
Before this came in the mail, I saw and ad for this on TV and thought to myself, "Wow, stress sweat, eh? This must be a marketing gimmick." I take it back. This stuff works better than my regular antiperspirant and it smells amazing. I would definitely purchase this again.

Skinnygirl Daily On-the-Go Bars: $9.99 for a box of 5
I love finding new protein bars that I can stash in my purse for snack emergencies. This tasted better than expected. More like a muffin than a diet bar. Would purchase again, but the price is higher than Luna bars.

Not Your Mother's Volumizing Hair Spray - $6.00 for full size
Some testers got sea salt spray in their boxes--which my absolute favorite--so I was a little bummed I got the hairspray. It works like a normal hairspray, but I didn't notice any extra volume when I sprayed at the roots.

Have you tried any of these products?

Disclaimer: I received these treats for free in exchange for providing reviews of the products. Opinions contained in this post are my own.

It's OK Thursday #2

It's been so long since I did my first It's OK Thursday post! Visit Amber's blog to read what everyone else is posting today - it's always entertaining.

It's OK...

• That it's February 21 and I still feel like celebrating Valentine's Day
• To take a mini blogger hiatus every now and again
• To say "no" when you already have too much on your plate (still working on that one...)
• To spend more time watching TV shows and reading US Weekly on your Kindle than reading actual books
• To buy spring clothing in the middle of winter
• To leave your bus pass at home and have to pay for the bus with cash

Your turn. Fess up! What have you been up to this week?

A little hump day pin-spiration

Source: media-cache3.pinterest.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: everythingfunny.org via Katie on Pinterest

Source: grasiemercedes.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net via Katie on Pinterest

Source: fancy-lifestyle.tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: 26.media.tumblr.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Katie on Pinterest

"It's OK" Thursday

Today I'm linking up with Amber and Neely for my first "It's OK Thursday." Here we go.

It's OK...

• That I've eaten at least 2 dozen Christmas cookies in the past week
• That I can't stop Christmas shopping for myself
• That I've been humming along to Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift
• That I watched the entire first season of HBO's Girls in less than 24 hours
• That I drove to work instead of taking the bus because it was snow/raining
• That I wore rain boots and big fuzzy socks to work (and then refused to put on "real shoes" because my toes were cold)

What kind of shenanigans have you been up to this week?

Cosmo VoxBox Review 2012

The 2012 Cosmo VoxBox.

This fall, I was selected to receive a VoxBox from Influenster. Basically, the premise is this: companies send you freebies in exchange for your feedback.  Instead of doing something productive on this chilly, Monday evening (laundry, working out, save the world, etc.), I thought I'd blog about my new goodies. I realize this has nothing to do with skin cancer, but sometimes a girl just needs a place to chill out and relax. This blog is my zen :)

FriXion by Pilot Pens - $4.50 for a three pack
I've been out of school for almost five years, but I still get excited about buying new pens and other office supplies every fall. Yes, I'm a nerd. I know. I'm probably going to use these for Christmas cards.

Gillette Venus Embrace & Venus Olay Razor Refill - $3.50 to $4.50 for blade refills
Is it just me or does dry skin make wintery white legs look even whiter? I'm excited to try these (especially the Olay one) because it seems like it's more moisturizing than a normal razor. We shall see.

Forever Red Eau de Parfume Spray from Bath & Body Works - $10 for small size, $44.50 for full size
I loved Bath & Body works when I was younger, but I don't think I've shopped there in years. Most of their scents are too fruity, etc. I didn't think I was going to like this fragrance at all, but this actually smells REALLY good. It's very rich and earthy and surprisingly sophisticated. This could easily become my new daytime scent.

Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Sea Chocolate Escape - $2.79
I hope I fooled you into thinking there is chocolate in this pretty little box--because I ate it already. Whoops! Salted chocolates are my absolute favorite right now. I would have preferred dark chocolate, but lets be real. Chocolate is chocolate. Yum!

Not too shabby of a haul right? If you're not member of Influenster yet, feel free to shoot me and email and I can give you an invite code.

Disclaimer: I received these treats for free in exchange for providing reviews of the products. Opinions contained in this post are my own.

My fingers are famous!

Creepy blog post title, I know. Sorry, guys! But how cool is this: My manicure is featured as Julep's Nail of the Day. This pale girl is rockin' it! Happy Monday, all :)

DIY Peplum Top

I had one of those "ah-ha" moments the other day that was too good not to share. I've owned this shirt for about a year now, but I've never been able to wear it with a pair of pants. Because it's so billowy, I've always paired it with a pencil skirt--something I could tuck it into. By simply adding a belt, I was finally able to wear the blouse with a pair of pants. Plus, the silhouette morphs into a trendy peplum shape. I dig it.

Start with a loose-fitting blouse like this
one by Daniel Rainn.

Add a thin belt just below your natural
waist. And voila!