Trying New Things: Days 17-20

Wednesday, October 17th

This new thing was inspired by Beth & Mindy.  I was sitting in a meeting with Beth on Monday, noticing the color of her (always impeccable) nails.  As is typical for this time of year, they were Raiders' colors.  (Don't ask me why she roots for the Raiders...I have no idea.  But she is a super-fan).  So, like I said... Raiders' colors.  With an "s."  8 of her 10 fingers were painted black (not a dark, goth-type black, but more of a slightly-sparkly charcoal-ish black.  It looked good... trust me) and the other two fingers (her ring fingers) were silver.  Interesting.


Then I go upstairs and talk to Mindy, and lo-and-behold her nails are lookin' awesome, too!  Brown on 8 fingers, gold on the other two (her index fingers).  I complement her on how great her nails look, and ask her if having one finger on each hand a different color is some kind of "new thing."  She informs me that, indeed, it is.  I'm so glad to have friends like Mindy that I can ask about trends...

The next day, Mindy shows me she has changed her nail colors to red on 8, silver on 2.  LOVE IT!!!!!  SO Christmas Spirity! (side note: anybody else listening to Christmas music every day, not just Christmas Spirit Days?  No?  Oh...me either...)

So, Wednesday I bust out my vast collection of nail polish (NOT) and try the 8 and 2 thing. (Please note: I never paint my own finger nails, because I'm not very good at it, so please don't judge the chipping and scuff marks.)

My nail polish collection consists of 3 colors: pink, pink-ish/muavish, and red-ish.  There's a reason that I am trying new things for a month...I tend to play it safe.  I think silver will be the next color I buy, since Mindy's nails looked so amazing.

Thursday, October 18th

Remember that one day I backed into a basketball hoop?  Well I was leaving someone's house, because we had spent the afternoon sewing together.  Or, more correctly, she competed an adorable table runner while I did battle with my sewing machine.

Thursday I sat down to try to finish sewing the table runner I was making, and the battle continued.  So here are the new things I tried:

• reading the instruction manual
• following the instructions
• reading ALL of the instructions
• following ALL of the instructions
• asking my husband to fix my sewing machine (ok... maybe this wasn't the first time that happened)

My husband did wonders, and I made some more progress, but then things got tangled again.

New thing to try on Monday (because I didn't get around to it on Friday): visit the sewing machine center in town.

Friday, October 19th

This one really, really, really is out of my comfort zone.

I knew I needed to go to the store, but I really had no meal plan for the week ahead.  I knew there were a few things I needed to get, but I never got around to writing them down. Sooooooooo....

I went to the grocery store.
Without. A. List.

Whoah!  Crazytown!

Now, before you start thinking "You always have a list?  You must be so organized."  Let me set a few things straight.

1. I often make a list and leave it at home
2. I almost always forget to put something on my list
3. I almost always forget to get something that is on my list

So here's my review of this New Thing:

• I still probably forgot somethings (but that happens anyway)
• I still spent the same amount of money that I usually do
• It took me the same amount of time it usually does (granted...I shopped at Aldi, so there isn't a whole lot of store to run back and forth through anyway).

I think I might do this again.

Saturday, October 20th

Today I got Tim up at 8 am on a Saturday (not advisable), and we went to meet some new people (Anne's family... they're pretty great!) and go see a new place (Anne's new crib) because today we moved Anne.

Why, you ask, would I take the risk of waking my husband so early on a Saturday?  Because Anne is such a great friend to me, and of course we had to help her moved.  Seriously, Anne is one of those friends that is so good to me, there is no way I could ever pay her back for all of the ways she has encouraged me and blessed me.  

Exhibit A:

Do you see this purse?!

She MADE this for me!!!  Yes, MADE IT!!  She even put pockets in it!

It takes a really great friend to put that kind of work into something.

Anne's also the friend that when she saw a big eraser in a purple case at Target said "I have to get that for Stephanie."

Anne... thanks for being so great.  It was wonderful to meet your family!  I love you!

Ok guys... I haven't heard from you in awhile.  Is anyone trying new things besides me?  Do you have a friend that teaches you about trends?  Do you shop with a list or go free-style?  Who are your great friends?

ps-Thanks for reading.  It would really be a bummer to do all of this blogging and have no one reading it.  You're awesome!