AnythingButAli

MOVED!!!

anythingbutali — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:31:32 +0000

I have moved… please visit my new blog at: http://anythingbutali.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Moving…

anythingbutali — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:21:52 +0000

I am contemplating moving my blog to blogger. I already have my page address over there… just need to do it.

Why? Because I dont like the limited customizability on WordPress. So sadly, I might say buh-bye to it and start at blogger. It will be mostly painless and of course, I’ll keep you posted.

Weekend Goals

anythingbutali — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:08:51 +0000

Well, here it is another weekend and I am completely exhausted. I woke up on Friday morning with horrendous stomach pains–yep, another gallbladder “attack.” No good. I woke up at 330 and was sick until about 545, at which point I believe I fell asleep perched in “about to be sick” position hanging off the edge of my bed. Lovely. A lot of blood vessels around my eys burst in the process so now I have some new purple freckles until they go away.

I am also working this weekend at Brandon Woods, taking photos from Delta Chi and AGD at KU (Pancakes to Fight Parkinsons), and I have a ton of other things I’d like to get done before the weekend is over but I dont know if that will happen.

Here are my goals:
–get my oil changed
–finishing paiting the dining room and bathroom
–hang all my art/pictures on the walls
–start some headbands (new project)
–go bra shopping (in desperate need)
–clean my apt
–laundry
–start/finish my headboard project (super SUPER excited about this one!!! I am making a padded headboard like they do on all of the DIY shows–dont think it needs to be padded for any other reason that aesthetics people… my life isnt that exciting:))

Good luck to me, I guess. : )

Tagged: chores, DIY projects, gallbladder issues, things to do, weekend goals

Surrounded by Creativity

anythingbutali — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:23:00 +0000

Ive heard from many different people that in order to be successful you must surround yourself with successful people. I think the same is true with creativity–in order to be creative, or more creative, you must surround yourself with creative people. Luckily, I have some awesome friends who inspire me and make me want to be more creative in many different areas.

My friend/co-worker Megan is an amazing graphic designer. She just started a blog to showcase her talents–go check it out and keep checking back (since she just started it) and see if there is something that either inspires you to get creative or to hire her to create something fabulous for you! Megan is an amazing person all-around. She won our company’s MVP award for 2009 and completely deserved it. She is also getting the “Big of the Year” award for Big Brothers Big Sisters. An MVP in all areas!

Another one of Megan's creations/ideas--our Halloween Costumes!

I often talk about “The J’s” and most of my readers know who they are…but if not, I will tell you right now. The J’s are two friends who I love dearly–Joey, who I met while working at Target, and his wife, Jen. I’ve been lucky enough to get to know them even more over the years and share in their special moments, including their wedding and birth of their first child, Baby Jae (Jaelynn). Jen just started a 365-Blog where she will document every day for a year in photos. Its great because a lot of the pictures are of the baby and I just cant get enough of her. Jen is also using the blog to learn more about and perfect her photography hobby. So, check it out and fall in love with her pictures!!! (and Baby J)

one of my favorites!

how can you NOT love this?!

Oh…my Holiday Party date and one of my favorite people, Mike Lemon, is amazing! He inspires me to be a better person and tap into my talents to succeed in the things I do. Check out his website and watch his videos! He is using his talents to help others find their talents to steer their lives in a positive direction. So GO WATCH!! (his blog is also in my blogroll, so check that out, too)

We cant help how hot we are I'm not taller than him...maybe I'm sitting on his lap Love you, Azrael.

Over Christmas I was lucky enough to meet a friend of a friend of my best friend, Chris. Ryan teaches at Cowley County Community College and has a MFA. Even though I’ve known him for less than a month…he has totally inspired me to get back into the writing groove. Its no secret that I want to write a book and it just so happens that Ryan has a book published–buy it here. Its about the Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, etc…) I love them, as well, so if you do–buy the book.

These are just a few of the very creative and inspiring people I am lucky enough to know (more later)–Getting back to my idea for a book– I need your help, dear readers and friends. If there are any stories or strange/odd/funny situations we have been in together please leave them in a comment. I’m trying to put together a book of short stories that are, of course, funny because, asyou know if you are a friend of mine, A LOT of hilarious, strange, and otherwise amusing things happen to me. Oh, and I am planning on segmenting the book into Middle/High School, College, Post-College, and Work.

I have some good ones in the works… the first of which is the “Just Touch It” incident. I am planning on posting a sample chapter on here for comments, but Im not sure Im ready for that step just yet. So–pretty please help me remember all the good/strange/amusing times

Tagged: betterbecauseofyou, creativity, design, friends, inspiring people, jen ford, megan meyers, mike lemon, ryan doom, the brothers coen

…The Nitty Gritty…

anythingbutali — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:40:10 +0000

You know that saying, “Let’s get down to the nitty gritty?” (or something like that) Well, it’s that time for me. As many of you know (if you dont, you’re about to find out) that I am a participant in the Biggest Loser Challenge at my company. There are 6 participants; 4 men and 2 women. Currently I am in second place overall, having lost 4.33% of my body weight since the challenge began on November 13.

Not too shabby, eh? Well, second place definitely wont work for me. The leader is just about 2% higher than I am and I am DETERMINED to catch up and beat him before the end of the competition, which is February 13–so just over a month to kick his ass I am pretty happy that, as a female, I am keeping up with the guys! But, keeping up just wont do, I really want to win. I’m not going to lie–I could REALLY use the prize money (the entry fee was $50 and the winner gets the whole pot–you do the math)–by the time the challenge is over, and if I kick it into high gear, I will need the money to buy some new clothes, but mostly I’d like to use to money to help me get my car fixed. (big hole in my bumper thanks to someone in a not so awesome Ford Tempo)

So… here’s the plan. I am going to get up in the mornings and do the 30-day shred (part of my New Year’s goal anyway) and then get ready for work, after which I will head to the gym for at least an hour. I havent decided if I want to alternate what I do at the gym but I will probably do cardio on M-W-F and weights on Tu-Th. Although, our awesome company team, the Gold Diggers, starts volleyball on Friday. We are in the “power 3″ coed league, which Im guessing means we are going to get our asses kicked.

I know my plan seems extreme, and it kind of is, but really, its only for a month and I really do want to beat the guys

Yep, my shirt says "SWAT" but it should say SWEAT! (after the gym this evening)

Wish me luck! I’ll, of course, keep you posted! Wednesdays are my weigh in days and I try to wear my “weigh-in pants” but they are really getting to be too baggy without my belt. I do wear a belt with the pants, I just take it off to weigh in cause the buckle is kind of heavy–cant have it throwing off my numbers!

Tagged: baggy pants, beating the guys, biggest loser challenge, new clothes, Weight loss, winning, women vs. men