Ode to my Sweet Wild Orange

You KNOW I love my coffee. But coffee has some competition now.

Yes, I am just as shocked as you are!!

I am now obsessed with the Tazo Sweet Wild Orange tea. Like 10-cups-a-day obsessed. Like I-have-one-cup-of-coffee-in-the-morning-and-that's-it obsessed. That is UNHEARD OF.

I first tried it at the coffee bar in the lobby here at work. My friend Julie drank it all the time and I thought I'd give it a whirl. It was really good. I turned my "partner at work" Debbie onto it as well. Then Julie found it on sale at Ukrop's and bought several boxes and gave me a whole box. I thought that was nice and great but that it would last me 2 years like the other teas that are in my cabinet at home. To make a long story short, the box was gone that weekend. I got quicky addicted!

So I went on a search to buy myself more but can't find it anywhere. I tried "my" Ukrops and also Kroger....

And now it might seem like I am changing the subject but I swear this will come full circle.

So, I did not get the job.

I've over it. I had a pity party last weekend but now I'm ok. I'm NOT ok with how it was all handled and I feel rather disheartened - but I'm not going to rehash it, I'm just movin' on!

The manager of the department that I interviewed with is one of my boss' direct reports and I see him all the time. He is in charge of the food service in the building - amoung many other things. I asked him about the tea and if they were ever going to sell it by the box here in the store we have. He said to shoot him an e-mail with my request. That was Tuesday.

Today, I get a call from the Chef and he says "I have 3 cases of some Tazo Orange tea down here..." I guess the guilt of the whole "job situation"........... anyway, I'm not even going to say it. Atleast I got some tea out of the whole debacle!!!

So Debbie, Julie, and I bought all three cases! The tea is normally $4.59 at the store and they sold it to us here for $3.50.

What does it mean when some sweet orange tea is the highlight of your week?

It means: GET A LIFE.

Go buy some tea.

Uncle Donnie

I met Donnie in 1995 (right? Good Lord I am old...) when he was a freshman and I was a sophomore at Lees-McRae. We hit it off instantly and our friendship grew and grew over the years at school - and beyond. He is currently a designer for William Ivey Long - the famed Broadway designer. (You may have heard of these little plays like "The Producers" and "Hairspray" - haha!) Anyway, I stay with Donnie when I go up to NYC which is not nearly enough!! He has not met Stella yet because the man works 8 days a week. Literally. He barely gets home to S.C. to see his family on holidays. What is amazing to me, is that in his busy life, he finds the time to pick out amazing gifts for her during his time in NYC and on his work travels. They are always addressed to "Stella O." and from "Uncle Donnie."

I have decided to document all of the cards and presents that my friend Donnie sends to Stella.

He started this before she was born...and has created such an amazing tradition that we ALL treasure. I will post as they come...but for this post, it will be a catch-up.

The first gift was sent to me and Toby before Stella was born...

Dear Stephanie and Toby,
I found this little vintage 1930's infant gown while I was out shopping and thought Stella O'Dell could use this. As you can tell from the inconsistencies in the smocking and pin tucking, it is handmade, most likely American. I do hope you like it. Sweet and Classy, just like your Stella will be.
Much love,
Donnie


Right after she was born....

For Darling Stella O,
The sweetest flowers in all the world - a baby's hands.
Love,
Your Uncle Donnie


(**This one earned him the name of RICH Uncle Donnie. LOL! And S.O.C. is engraved on the side of the rattle...)

October 2006:

Darling Stella O,
I hope that this little fall treat isn't too small for you, sweet pumpkin. All my love to you and your parents and the rest of your family,
Love,
Uncle Donnie


Feb 2007:

Darling Stella,
I found this little Victorian hanger (English, circa 1886) and thought it could be the perfect way to hang your winter jacket. Thinking of you more often now that your Mom and Dad have sent your beautiful photos. I promise to get down to Virginia to see you very soon. Much love to you Stella O!!
Love,
Uncle Donnie


(**I hung the Victorian Dress from it and it's hanging on her wall in her room...)

September 2007

Dear Stella,
I was working at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, North Carolina this weekend and saw this in the gift shop - I thought you might enjoy. Now I know that it's a little large, but thought you could grow into it. Thinking of you!
With much love,
Uncle Donnie


(This is a Hokey Pokey Skirt and it plays the song! And check out Rocky Balboa! Lord the bruises!!!)

December 2007:

Dearest Stella,
I love my Opening Night ornament! How very thoughtful! Please find enclosed a small New Year's Gift. It is an elephant bank that used to belong to me. My relatives would fill it with change (and dollars when I was lucky) and every January my Dad and I would go down to the bank and deposit the money into a saving account for my college fund. It took eighteen years, but I had a very nice nest egg when I started college as a result of saving - I hope you will do the same. All my love to you dear Stella O!!
Uncle Donnie
P.S. "PNB" stands for People's National Bank - they were doing a promotion in the Christmastime of 1968. The bank first belonged to my father.

(**Note from Stephanie: Just the thought of him giving this family heirloom to MY daughter makes me cry!! PNB 1968 is engraved on the side - but you can't see it in the photo.)



January 2008:

Darling Stella O,
I was working out of town in Asheville, North Carolina, very near where your mother and I went to school together. I found a little doll, handmade by a local woman, and I fell in love with it. It is 2 of my favorite characters, Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion. You may be too young to red the story of the Wizard of Oz, but you are never too young for a little Judy Garland!!
All of my love to you,
Uncle Donnie


And then flip the doll over and.....


February 2008:

Darling Stella,
I have just returned from Manteo, North Carolina where I was working on the costumes for "The Lost Colony." It is an outdoor drama about Sir Walter Raleigh's colony that disappeared long ago before America even existed. I picked up a few treats for you while I was there. When you are old enough, we will go see the show, but in the meantime, enjoy the dolls and learn about the story.
Much love,
Uncle Donnie




And here she is playing with the dolls last night. Under STRICT supervision. LOL! They are now on a HIGH shelf until we get a bit older....

Kissing them...

Amazing

The coolest girl on the planet, Beth Raebel, drew a picture of my Stella and just e-mailed it to me. Like out of the blue. How cool is that? I could cry!

Beth is the "Merch Girl" for Motion City Soundtrack. She travels with them and set up, tears down, and sells all of the merchandise (t-shirts, etc) before, during, and after the shows. She has been with them from the very beginning.

And she really is one of my favorite people on the planet. She is multi-talented and uber-interesting. She is an amazing artist (obviously), she makes all of her own clothes, she makes curtains and shelves out of comic books, she made a LIFESIZE rice krispie treat person one day because she and her friends were bored, she has amazing tattoos, she is nice to everyone...She is just cool all-around.

Here is her MySpace page so you can see all of her pictures.

She's so talented - and not to mention gorgeous.

I want to be Beth when I grow up.

The Greatest Show on Earth

I didn't get any actual CIRCUS pictures.

But I got pictures of US at the circus.

And we came home empty handed. I forgot to take out a LOAN to buy the $15 program and the $22 light up princess wand.

But Stella had a great time - she was enthralled. And that's all that matters!!!!

Giving JP a run for his glasses money....

I like 'em! I feel hip!



Well, except for the pasty white face, non-existent eyebrows, no lipstick, and hair from hell. Atleast my Geoffrey Beene glasses match my sweater. Booyah!

So, how are things?

Life around these parts of ok. Toby has been sick. So, sick man = oh, just draw your own conclusions. I just wish he would GO TO THE DAMN DOCTOR but since he apparently went to a secret medical school in his spare time he is perfectly capable of diagnosing himself and who am I to question it? I'm just giving up...and buying ear plugs.

Speaking of ear plugs - I bought these for Stella for a future MCS show:



Now, what's the chance of ME looking like Gwyneth at the show? Now wouldn't that be a nice side effect of the purchase?

I put them on Stella for practice and she cried when I took them off. I think she liked the sound of the world all muffled.

Do you think anyone would mind if I wore them in my cube everyday at work?

Speaking of work, NO I HAVE NOT HEARD YET. It's just incredible..............

We are leaving for the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus at 2:45 today. We might be home by 3:30 if Stella doesn't like it... I have no clue how she'll react. I think she'll love it, but we all know how kids can surprise us.....

Speaking of surprises, here is the biggest one of all...........

I am now an official JAZZERCISER!

This is not my class but it looks very much like it...



Ya'll, I feel like I found something. I have had SUCH a hard time losing a pound for years... And I was going to the gym - but with no consistency. And even when I was there, I was so BORED I wasn't pushing myself.

I got a postcard in the mail last weekend telling me about the new Jazzercise center (less than 1 mile from my house - between work and home even!) and they needed 25 women to sign up for the new 12-week "Forever Fit" program. All you pay is the monthly dues - and you get all kind of stuff for free - body assessments, a personal training session, four nutrition seminars, etc... I felt like GOD sent me that postcard. So I called and SIGNED MY FAT ASS UP!

And I am so incredibly glad I did.

My first class was at 5:45 pm last Wednesday. I was nervous because I have never done a group class before. Well, the music started and that was it. I had a BLAST!!!! It's all shapes and sizes and ages of women... dance moves... pilates...yoga... strength training... and I was flailing all around like a fish out of water - and LOVED EVERY MINUTE. I never even looked at the clock for the whole hour.

My second class was on Saturday and I had just as much fun. I go again tomorrow and I am actually looking very forward to it. I can't believe I am looking forward to exercise.

So, LOOK OUT! A few more classes and this might be me!



But don't forget to add the HIP new glasses.

Happy Valentine's Day From Stella - Then and Now

Now:




One year ago:

I need to start from the start.

Previously on Stephanie's Addiction:

I was getting ready for a job interview for a big promotion here at my current company. I did not mention it for fear of jinxing myself. I decided not to really tell a lot of people. I would rather just update them with an "I GOT THE JOB" phone call or e-mail or post.... and skip the whole agonizing applying/interviewing/waiting part. Wellllll....... Apparently, I jinxed myself.

It has now been over two weeks and I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD IF I GOT IT OR NOT. My interview was on a Tuesday and I was told I would hear by the end of the week. I understand (through the corporate grapevine) that there is some political issues involved - and I am certainly not shocked at that - but just deeply disappointed and disheartened. Which has caused me to LOSE MY F'IN MIND for the last 2 weeks. And I still might get it! But it's not looking good. Ya'll. Can I just say this would be INCREDIBLE for me and my family. It would be a large raise financially - but it would more importantly be a great career opportunity for me - and would open doors for a successful future here. Once I got this job (and off my current admin track) I could be very successful.

So I am struggling with the whole "THINK POSITIVE!" thing. Reading my Joel Osteen calendar over and over like I was Rainman. Watching Oprah's episode of "The Secret Behind the Secret" more than any human being should..... I am THIS close to making a vision board.

All the while trying to work, take care of a house, husband, daughter (including the ol' "Cry It Out" bedtime routine that is NOT WORKING, PEOPLE!), exercise and train for the 10K that is LOOMING, eat right and lose weight (HAHAHAHAHA!) and be in bed by 8:30 pm because I am an OLD LADY. It has not been pretty.

Other things in my life besides that DAMN JOB:

- Stella turned 18 months old and had her Well-Check with the Pediatrician last week. She did not cry one peep! She usually busts my eardrums when he lays her back to look in her ears... She was as good as gold this time. She even got 2 shots and didn't peep. I was SO proud of my girl! The doc said she is perfect and thriving - direct quote, sort of. She is SO SMART. I can't stand it. Every day she shocks me with new words or faces or expressions or actions. Now if we could JUST get this bedtime thing behind us. I will say, it's getting better. Some nights are worse than others..... but we've got our bath/books/bed routine down....it's just a matter of sticking to it. AND WE HAVE! It's been OVER 2 weeks now and she is crying less... I was hoping after 2 weeks though - I could just plop her in the crib and she'd lay down and start snoring. Not quite. Maybe in THREE weeks.

- I had my first shopping/returning experience at Nordstrom's and let me just say = I LOVE THEM. I finally got myself a pair of Uggs. If you do not have a pair yet, please stop reading. Get in your car. Go to the mall. Buy a pair. Put them on. And THANK ME. They are like clouds of cotton candy around your feet. Ugly as hell, but CLOUDS. So, I was so excited when I got them. And I deserve an Oscar for my performance of "calm, cool, collected" when they told me the total $ and I handed over my credit card. "Oh, NO problem. Here you go. No sweat." But really on the inside? Stroke. But I QUICKLY felt better when I realized how in love I was....and I wore them out of the store. Threw the receipt in the trash can on the way to the car. Left the box with the sales girl because I could just not be bothered with it..... So 2 days later, I realize they are too big. They were slipping off my heels and I was clunking around. I was CRUSHED. I decided that I would sell them on Ebay for a little less than what I paid...and then use that money to buy a new pair because GOD KNOWS no one takes back worn shoes with NO box and NO receipt. Well, guess what? Nordies does. I exchanged them for a Chocolate pair that I love even MORE. And if you decide to go get some, remember; they run big.

- I am training for the 10K. And by training I mean "not working out and fretting as each day passes and gets closer to the race." I hate myself sometimes. WHOOPS!!! I mean, I LOVE MYSELF! (Positive thinking.) I signed up to train with the YMCA at 8am for the next 10 Saturdays. I went to the first one and had a brisk 1 mile walk with my buddy Leslie. It was great and I felt invigorated.... and have yet to make it back. Last Saturday it was dang 20 some degrees so we skipped and walked on our own at other times. I really did walk with Stella that Sunday - 1.5 miles. And last week I worked out 4 times. But this week, I have not even graced the doors of the fitness center here. A lot has to do with this damn job again - it's ruining my life!! (I mean, I LOVE IT! AND I'M GOING TO GET IT!) I just feel like I can't leave my desk because they might call and give me an answer. So I run downstairs to grab a salad for lunch and run back up and eat here at my desk. And every day passes and I didn't workout and I didn't hear an answer either.... DAY AFTER DAY! It's really killing me. I really want them to call me and tell me the job is MINE so I can get on my with life.

- Last Sunday, my college friend Lisa and her man Vinnie stopped by for a couple hours on their way up to Maryland from their trip to NC. That was LOVELY!! Us girls snuck off to the garage for some quick girl talk which really was theraputic for me - and I hope her too. :) We had a nice little catch-up conversation and we must do that MORE OFTEN! I hope to schedule a "meet you halfway" day in Northern Virginia one day soon.... any NoVA girls want another Potomac Mills/IKEA trip? :)

- I had an eye doctor appointment this past Monday at 4pm (Which KILLED me because I KNEW that would be when they would call about the job....but alas. It wasn't. SHOCK!) The poor doc had the WORST BREATH EVER and he was a mouth-breather. And was ALL UP IN MY GRILL. But God bless him, he got my contact prescription right! The lunatic I went to last year screwed me up and I have not been able to see for a year. The best part of my eye doctor story is that after the appt I was walking to my car and my heel fell in a hole and I twisted my ankle and all 600 pounds of me landed on my right knee. AWESOME. I don't think anyone saw me. I hope no one HEARD me. After it was all said and done, I thought back and realized as I was going down, I yelled "Whoa!" and when I hit I yelled "DANG!" Apparently when I fall, I turn into Napoleon Dynamite.

So I got some new contacts and a new pair of glasses - which is always a production since they are as thick as glass ashtrays. (Please see THIS POST.) So the lady has convinced me to get these really trendy and "chic" frames. Dear God I am going to look like Justin Pierre and my husband will leave me. (I love you, Justin!)

My new glasses - only the sides on mine are burgandy

Justin Pierre - famed singer of Motion City Soundtrack

- I found an ad on Craigslist for a girl who cleans houses - and it was the cutest ad - so I contacted her. She came to the house this past weekend and quoted me $55 to clean. HELLO?!?!?! At this point, I would pay $550 for someone other than me to clean....so i am SUPER pleased. She was scheduled to come tomorrow for the first time...but Toby just called me and said he was headed home early because he is sick. DANG! :) The CLEANING GODS are against me, I swear!!! So, I'll need to reschedule. What's one more day living in filth and ground up orange goldfish crackers in the carpet?

- Our THREE YEAR anniversary is Tuesday. THREE GLORIOUS INCREDIBLE PERFECT YEARS. Yeah, just kidding. Marriage is the hardest thing I have ever done. When it's good it's great...when it's bad it's ANNOYING and FRUSTRATING. But it's all worth it, for sure. I wouldn't trade my family for all the tea in China. Or even this DAMN NEW JOB.

HELL NO

I am not pregnant.

Just wanted to clear that up.