I feel the need to make a confession.

I’m a magazine hoarder.

I (we) currently have 11 subscriptions to the following publications: Sunset, Marie Claire, Fast Company, Time, Real Simple, Travel & Leisure, Budget Travel, Sactown, AFAR, Money and Self. In case you’re wondering, it’s rare that I read through all of them but Sunset, Marie Claire, and Real Simple usually take priority. My mom just gave me Self for Christmas and that will likely join the queue of must reads.

I tell myself this addiction is okay, especially because many of the magazines are a result of having too few air miles to use on a trip, but too many to let go to waste. Thus, magazine addiction.

However, I’m also a blog addict. Like, I read a lot of blogs. So many that I can’t even admit the number.

Do you subscribe to magazines, or is that soooo 1999? If so, which ones? Or, have blogs captured your attention instead? What are your favorites?

image source

There’s really no other way to start this post other than to be blunt and to the point.

On Friday I peed my pants in the Target parking lot.

Some of you could really care less about how this incident happened. I don’t blame you. You’re totally grossed out. I get it. So am I. A few others are skimming ahead, salivating for the full story. I don’t blame you either. For crying out loud- I’m 29 years old and I was wearing skinny jeans. Surely you are thinking, “HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!?” I know. I know.

Here’s the background. On Friday I was sick with an infection. I don’t think I need to go into the type of infection–this is a family show after all. (Hi DAD!) I had waited about 24 hours to get into my doctor who confirmed my worst suspicions- this girl needed antibiotics. STAT. I was bummed and worried about the baby, and pictured her fussing up her little face inside my belly. Surely she felt as uncomfortable as I did. Sorry, little one.

Anyway, as soon as I got the prescription, I drove to Target. As luck would have it the pharmacist was on her lunch break. With this type of infection I needed to use the restroom quite frequently so I plopped down at a table next to the employee restroom, and dug my Trader Joe’s salad out of my purse. No shame here. I picnicked in Target as if I had not a care in the world, although I had plenty. 

I love Target. It’s like a land flowing with milk and honey…and beautiful kitchen items, stationary, shoes and makeup. There I was on a Friday afternoon, with 25 free minutes left until the pharmacist was back on duty. I could have sat near the restroom and read a magazine. Against my better judgement I decided to limp around the store looking for important necessities like Tylenol, a bottle of water, a Snickers bar (protein!), Q-tips and a living room rug.

As luck wouldn’t have it- I found the rug I’d been searching for. A brown and sandy shag masterpiece at only $94.00. I couldn’t walk away from it, literally and figuratively. Who, in their right mind, decides to actually haul a huge rug out of Target when she’s sick and pregnant? ME. I awkwardly plopped the rug into my cart, and after ripping open my Tylenol, marched (not-so-confidently) back to the pharmacy where I picked up my pills and paid. Then I hobbled to the exit only to discover it had started to rain.

The scene: Umbrella in left hand. Right hand on cart handle. Hair flying. Rug getting wet. Bladder not so happy.

…you know where this is going…

Of course the cart wouldn’t stay in one place when I reached the car. Of course the rug wouldn’t fit in the back seat so I had to put the rear seats down. Of course I was worried the precious rug was getting soaked. And, of course I had to pee…that’s why I was at Target in the first place.

And that’s when it happened…right then and there…my pants as wet as a toddler’s. All I could do was scan the parking lot. Who was watching this incident unfold?

I found it humiliating. And hilarious. After hurling my shopping bags into the car, and then shoving the cart as hard as I could, I crawled into the front seat where I sat on top of my nice wool coat. I pulled out my Snickers bar. I pulled out my antibiotics. And I started to laugh. I muttered over and over… “I cannot believe that just happened. I really cannot believe that just happened.”

But it did happen, and I hope it never happens again. It’s a good story though, right? Yup.

p.s. I was really nervous to post this. I mean, my co-workers read this. Surely they will think I’m odd…but then again they work with me so they already know I am. I sent a draft to my mom and girlfriends to read first. They told me to post it. One of them admitted she once peed her pants in Walmart. All of a sudden, I feel so much better. At least I was outside…

It’s 9:30pm on Halloween night. Most of the knocking and doorbell ringing has stopped. We’re cozied up at home, filling out our ballots for Tuesday’s election. As the night comes to a close, I thought I’d offer my reflections on the evening.

Things I loved about Halloween night:

• An excuse to make squash soup, turn on candles and stay at home on the couch eating candy.
• Bumblebee babies, ladybugs, lions, pumpkins and the pudgy little boy who waddled up in a fireman’s uniform.
• Our neighbor’s front yard Haunted House, which is straight out of this week’s episode of Modern Family. Love that show.
• The idea that for one night, people are nice enough to open up their homes and hand out gifts to strangers.

If I could post a sign on my door right now, it might say:

• Please say, “Trick-or-Treat” followed by, “Thank you!”
• If it’s after 9pm, your two year old should be home in bed, not knocking on my door.
• A naughty nurse costume is never appropriate, especially if you’re 14.
• Yes my lights are out. Yes I ran out of candy two hours ago. Yes I can hear you when you say to your child, “Pee on their front door.”

What were your favorite costumes tonight?

It’s Wednesday. Need a mid-week pick-me-up? Check out a few things inspiring me today:

This adorable Fail Better letterpress is so cute and creative. Doesn’t it make you want to work harder, fail more often, and take bigger risks?

Little Daisy Love is beating cancer- what could be more inspiring than that?

Fall means it’s time to bake sweet, cinnamony goodies like pumpkin bread and apple butter. Sometimes I write blog posts for clients. You can check out a few of my favorite fall kitchen finds here.

Baby Sofia came home to a very loving East Sac family earlier this summer. A month ago, after reading her mom’s blog for the past six months, I ran into the family on a walk. I love watching their story unfold!

Joy and Michele, are two intelligent and loving women who write about things that really matter. I am blessed to call them friends. If your brain is having one of those mush days, spend a few minutes on their blogs. If that doesn’t work, check out Nicholas Kristof’s blog about globalization and human rights. (Good recommendation, Sharon!)

Have I ever shared my book list with you? If you’re looking for book ideas, I am in love with Good Reads. I’m a girl who loves lists and books. This site combines both. It’s fantastic.

If all else fails, you can join me in lusting after these boots, these black skinny jeans, and this jacket.

I am happy because long walks on Saturday mornings under still green trees are a rare and sacred thing, indeed.

I am happy because Bittersweet spoke to my heart all weekend long. I took it from the couch to my bed to my porch.

I am happy when friends show up for dinner without an invite, and I happen to have enough food…and a great bottle of wine.

I am happy because I finally got to watch Brothers, and it was just as good as people said it would be.

I am happy because I got to hang out with giggly, happy Claire at Pinkberry. She wants to go to Westmont. Yup. That makes me happy.

I am happy because I wrote all afternoon. Even when it was tough, I kept going.

I am happy for hot summer days, even though its no longer summer, and even though I’m ready to wear my boots again.

I am happy Brothers and Sisters comes back on TV in 35 minutes.

Really, it’s the little things that make me happy. What’s making you happy tonight?

Guess who got which fortune tonight at Simon’s?

“You have a strong instinct to take care of people you love.”

“Your flamboyant personality will soon bring you to a new hobby.”

Question: Do you save fortunes from your cookies? Do you have a favorite one?

{Here’s one from my friend Kelly.}

photo credit: disneymike

Glee’s Thong Song scene. Squash season. Michelle’s new blog. Blustery fall days. My brown Roxy beanie. Safeway Fudge Mint cookies-just like Thin Mints but bigger! Twitter lists. Etsy Christmas shopping. Pumpkin pancakes with banana/brownsugar/walnuts by Jonathan. Sunset on Laguna’s Rooftop Lounge with my family. Reading Time Magazine in bed. Night time walks through quiet neighborhood streets. An extra hour of sleep. Roxie sandwich picnic. Potato, Leek and Feta Tart.

photo credit to: sassyradish

Last post too serious for you? Never fear. I have a new website that might keep me (and you) entertained for hours. (FOR FREE!!)

I love a good prank. Not the nasty, mean-spirited ones, but the good old fashioned kind. In high school and college, I witnessed plenty, and participated in more than a few. Almost every weekend in high school I would drive around with my girlfriends in Seeca’s big blue van as we determined which boy in our love circle who would fall victim to our Charmin’ TP charm. In college, all of us girls in Page woke up one morning to find our toilet seats missing, which obviously led to a year long war between the floors.