good idea. bad idea.

Lately, I have been feeling a little crafty. It might be the constant roaming and stalking on blogs... and seeing everyone's little ideas. There have been a few projects that I am very proud of and one in particular that I have deemed as a FAILURE.
One weekend, Ani and I decided to paint the frames of our mirrors. Ani, being the smarter Van Buskirk sister decided to go with her favorite color of all time, butter yellow. This color also matches her room decor. I on the other hand think I am really artsy and daring decided to go with my favorite color of the season ORANGE... Actually, I believe the actual color name is "Poppy Orange."
AHEM: BAD IDEA
Now, I have my fair share of POPPY ORANGE in my closet. I Guess it looks better ON me than on my wall... Considering the fact that my room has the tranquil colors of mint green and teals, this ORANGE mirror was a BIG mistake. What was I thinking? The world may never know. I guess I was trying to give my room a face-lift if you will - A more modern spin of bright and wacky colors... Shoot.
You may ask, "Well Alix, what are some of the good ideas and projects you have done?"
Well, my fine friends, I am very proud to show you some of my best work. POST-ORANGE-DRAMA.
1. The MousePad Makeover:
I just purchased a plain mouse pad from one of my trips to IKEA. Seriously folks, these babies are ONE DOLLA. Then I went to the local fabric store and bought fabric adhesive and ironed on the fabric! VOILA! BEAUTISIMO! What a lovely accent next to my workspace. It surely brightens up my day.
2. The old Frame rev-up:




All I did was find some cheap old frames at the local thrift store and some acrylic paint at the craft store... and a nice little addition to my oh-so plain room appeared. I love this color too... ( as you can see on my shelves - I have a blue picture frame and blue boxes.) I really don't think you can get enough of this color. Seriously. I am a huge fan of painting things that are just looking a little dull or plain. If you just add some color and artistic flair - or maybe just a paintbrush, you can make seemingly ordinary - even UGLY things, into beautiful accents to a room.

'Tis the season...

'Tis the season to feel slightly blue.

I don't know if anyone knows this, but the season has come. Summer is officially over. Summer is now a haze of golden-yellow memories. It really is. The nice weather. The knock on the door to come out and PLAY. The to-do list that consisted of: overdosing on vitamin D and UV rays, driving with the windows down - let a little wind in the hair, BBQ's, drive-in movies OH THE MAGIC of indoor activities moved to the great outdoors.

When will those golden-yellow feelings return?

Slightly Bored...

Although I was not tagged for this little questionaire, I found it intriguing. Thank you Brittany!
One Word Answers:
Where is your cell phone? HAND
Where is your significant other? HIDING.
Your hair? BUN
Your mother? ZESTY
Your father? DUTCH
Your favorite thing? SEXINESS
Your dream last night? NIGHTMARE
Your dream/goal? HAPPINESS
The room you're in? MAZDA
Your hobby? COOKING
Your fear? LONELY
Where do you want to be in 6 years? EAST (COAST)
Where were you last night? MALL
What you are not? CONTENT
One of your wish list items? $$$
Where you grew up? SAMMAMISH
The last thing you did? STARE
What are you wearing? GREEN
Your TV? ADDICTED
Your pet? SOMEDAY
Your computer? PEARLY
What do you think of tags like this? AWESOME.
Your mood? LUST
Missing someone? INDEED
Where would you rather be? ROMANCED
Something you're not wearing? NAILPOLISH
Favorite store? ANTHROPOLOGIE
Your summer? LAZY
Love someone? LUST - HAHA
Your favorite color? YELLOW
When was the last time you laughed? WORK
Who will participate? HEATHER L.


Maybe this was AWESOME or maybe it was lame. But it gave me something to do! Enjoy.

not.

"I'm sorry you feel that way."

First of all, how can one be SORRY for the way another FEELS internally.
"I'm hungry."
"I'm sorry you feel hungry."
Makes absolutely no sense.

Usually, when ONE says that to another, it is usually in a rather tense debate or argument. It is generally used to calm the other down and to make them FEEL like you understand why they are upset or angry. When, in REALITY, it is a lie. It just means to me, "I'm sorry you are sitting in wrongland all angry while I'm here in RIGHT-land perfectly RIGHT and fine."

COOL.

slight addiction

Ok, beside the obvious addiction to diet coke, chipotle, carrabbas, chips and salsa... (you get the idea.) Lately, I have been absolutely content with spending countless hours wasted by watching TELEVISION.
I especially love watching seasons of TV shows in succession. So far, I have fulfilled my deep void in my life of The Office... (my new favorite show ever... aside from Friends.) and I have just started falling in love with the comedic drama - House. Oh, it's sooo incredibly enthralling.
John and Kate PLUS Eight. A reality show on TLC that exhibits a REAL family in a lot of circumstances that may not always be perfect. I LOVE IT!
I also enjoy watching anything and ALMOST everything on the Food Network and um... call me a lame wannabe girly girl, but I cannot miss an episode of the Hills. I live vicariously through them, which translates to, I WISH I WAS THEM.
Now, I could almost guarantee that some therapist would tell me that I am trying to escape from my reality... this could be true because HELLO! Television is so much more beautiful... everything is much more GLORIOUS!

There is no cure.

TWEAKS MY MELON

Alright, Heather said I need to update my blog so here I am... Updating my blog.
Now, I vowed to make my blog a fun and enjoyable experience for those of you who would like insight in my life. However, SOMETIMES life is full of stuff that REALLY REALLY gets to you... you know? For example, I know that it can be very annoying when people never call you back... for months and months and months - and let me tell you, I am completely and 100% guilty of that charge. (Seriously, I have probably lost a few friends and jobs because of it.)
But, let me tell you what I HATE! My pet peeves if you will.
In no particular order:
1. When people you think are really awesome smoke... And this may be a shallow pet peeve but, common, who smokes anymore? I thought we weren't in the 1990's anymore.

2. When people have a problem with you and decide not to tell you about it and then you hear from some totally irrelevant person about the problem. For example, at work the other day I got in trouble for spending too much time talking to my dear coworker and friend, Heather. WHO SAID IT!?!?! I don't know. Apparently I'm still in high school. AWESOME. Grow a pair managers... grow a pair. (No, I am not bitter, I'm just a free spirit who HAS to work to maintain a lifestyle which does not include homeless.)

3. When people take FOREVER to text back. I understand a few minutes or hours if there is some sort of emergency, but if you are in a texting conversation (so to speak) I think it is RUDE to just stop. Let a sista KNOW!

4. When people think they know me and try to talk to me about my personal life. You don't KNOW ME!

5. When people are irrationally mean and unkind.

Does it seem like I am talking about specific outbreaks of these annoyances? Well, that's because I am. I am at my wit's end with these things. It's time to grow up people and face your problems like adults. Because that is what we are, after all.

I work with a bunch of 9th graders.

i want....

A KITCHEN AID!
There are a few things that I really really really want... I know it is sinful to covet and desire such worldly items but, common... I am human.
These days I would enjoy a nice kitchen aid. I am currently setting money aside so I can purchase my very own BEAUTIFULLY colorful Kitchen Aid so I can mix and bake my very own confections which includes but is not limited to my DELICIOUS chocolate chip cookies... mmMMMmmm...

These are some colors and styles that I am thinking about. Buying a Kitchen aid is definitely an investment. I want to make sure it is something that I would like to have on my kitchen counter for a while. I don't want a black, silver, white or red one. I need a splash of color... one of these is a retro chic version... I just love these things!

Thoughts?

Thanks Ramon... Thanks.

No, I am NOT pregnant.
I am only SLIGHTLY offended.
Last summer I bought this charcoal/brownish shirt from Banana Republic. I fell absolutely in love with it because it accented all of my favorite features while hiding my least favorites (namely, my stomach.) I went on this huge shopping craze last summer and consuming most of my money was Banana Republic. Actually, that really doesn't relate to the story at all.
ANYWAY, I decided to wear this shirt to work today with black pants and a pair of black flat shoes. I thought I looked pretty dang good... If I do say so myself. The shirt however, hugs my chest region while kind of bubbling around my stomach. I THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE!
Then, it happened. I was walking around down by the sales area at work and a salesman, RAMON, spanish young man, asked me if I was pregnant. WHAT.
Ok, FIRST of all, I'm not even MARRIED... which apparently doesn't really matter to ANYONE these days... all these celebrites having the baby first and then getting married. Or even excusing the whole marriage option altogether. HOWEVER, I am not like that. As much as I wish I could be famous, I'm not. And therefore, do not follow the crowds of Hollywood.
Maybe, I thought, there was some sort of language barrier that affected the outcome of his question... Either way, SOMETHING provoked this.
"No, I am NOT pregnant. " I told Ramon.
"But, thanks for noticing my really cute shirt."
Ramon replied, "No, I mean, I don't think you're fat. You are just really blessed with that area..." (pointing to his own chest.)
"HAHAHA! Thanks Ramon... now go sell a car or something."

I am never wearing this shirt again. Unless I am 20 pounds lighter and can NEVER NEVER EVER be confused for pregnant.

Does anyone want a new shirt?

One of my MANY weaknesses...

One of my FAVORITE restaurants of all time is this great Italian place called "Carrabbas." It's delicious menu and rather romantic atmostphere makes me feel like I am actually dining in a quaint little town in Italy.
While enjoying our weekly Pollo Rosa Maria (only the very best thing on the menu EVER... especially if you get the fried zucchini appetizer.) our waiter came by to converse with Kirk and I. Normally, I would prefer not to be bothered while I eat my delicious food, and savor every single bite of my tasty chicken stuffed with fontina cheese and prosciutto; grilled to perfection and topped with lemon butter sauce and basil.... (My mouth waters just THINKING about it. Not to mention they have the best diet coke this side of the Mississippi. Seriously... I highly recommend this place.) Anyway, Kirk, being the social butterfly that he is, had sparked a conversation with our waiter who goes by the name Regan and has divulged information about his life such as BUT, not limited to, his marriage, midgets, and why he works at the heavenly restaurant. After our absolutely exquisite meal, Regan let us know that next time we come in we should ask for him and he will get us a FREE appetizer - namely the fried zucchini.
Excited we were when we left with the belief that we would get a free appetizer upon our next visit! haha...
So the story continues...

On Friday night, I was craving Carrabbas. Kirk and I decided it was time to go and we invited Ani and Nate to join us. When we got there I remembered that we could possibly recieve a free appetizer and that we should get Regan to come to talk to us. Kirk was slightly nervous because he thought that Regan needed to be our current waiter in order to get the deal. But, Ani assured him that it was not so and proceeded to ask our waitress to retrieve Regan for us. Once he came to our table, Kirk had worked himself into an awkard state of uncomfortableness and it took all he could do to ask for this free appetizer. While he spoke, I realized how awkward this situation really was. Regan explained to us that he was supposed to ask for Regan to be our WAITER and then he would get the good tips and so on and so forth. But, he said he would talk to our waitress and see what she could do.

Then our waitress came over and she became very short and on edge with us.

"How do you want this to be done? Do you want it to be just a free appetizer or would you like me to use an appetizer card for you... Either way you'll get a free order of fried zucchini."

AWKWARD!

Needless to say, we got our fried zucchini but it could not be fully enjoyed soley because we felt so cheap and out of place. Note to self: never ask for free stuff unless you know EXACTLY how to do it... especially at a restaurant.

HOWEVER, Carrabbas will still and always be my absolute FAVORITE Italian Restaurant or, dare I say, favorite restaurant altogether.

the clear bra scandal.

Today was my last day...
Receptioning that is. I work at the Legacy Mazda dealership in Orem and I am moving up (in this world!) to accounting where I will be fully in charge of licensing, registering and maybe a few other things. I mean, I get my own extension number and cubical I can decorate and EVERYTHING! This is very exciting.
Well, on this my last evening, a scruffy (probably homeless) old man came through the front doors and asked for a sales person. When he realized he wasn't going to win anything let alone, BUY A CAR, he left with these last words:
"Are you the one who models for this Clear Bra?"
Ok, this may be slightly confusing for those of you who do not know what a "clear bra" is... ESPECIALLY in the car business. A clear bra is a plastic spandex-y liner that can be placed on the front of your car so you can't see it, but it will protect your paint from any damage from bugs, scratches etc. We offer it at Mazda.
So this poor, unfortunate old man tried to make a play on words (I'm assuming) and quite honestly, all I could do is laugh.I am perfectly aware that I am blessed with a sizeable chest AREA but common! The jokes are a little old... I have halted the wear and fashion of my nametag because every day someone manages to comment on my name...
"Oh! Van Buskirk... I never knew that was your last name... A-L-I-X? Wow, very original."
Same to you BUDDY! haha I'm not even that mad. I find it SLIGHTLY entertaining. Good or bad?
Conclusion: I definitely have a future career in the modeling industry.