Six Months to Three-Oh

I've officially passed my six-month mark for the big Dirty Thirty. I have 25 weeks and 6 days left in my twenties, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. When I was a teenager, the Ouija board told me that I would be married by the time I hit 25. It's actually a good thing I didn't because I was still discovering who I was and felt pretty lost in my life.

A few months before my 25th birthday I started my current occupation at Heather Moore Jewelry. Little did I know that my 'office assistant' position would turn into one that would have me jet-setting across the country for years. I loved my job, and I still do. Finding that component put a settling feeling in me and I was really happy with what I had going on.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Jaeda with the baby carriage.

I found my love when I turned 27... my Ouija board was a lying son-of-a-bitch. The thing with finding your love, the one you're going to marry, is that you're not stressed about it. I'm happy knowing that we will get married when the time is right. I'm not going anywhere, he's not going anywhere. But what if your biological clock is ticking?

To say I have had the baby fever since I was 25 is an understatement. My friends get a kick out of knowing when I'll be around a child. "Jaeda, don't steal the baby!" The thing is, I'm taking paths right now in my life that I know I'll be happy with and won't regret. There are things that you need to get out of your system, and with my heavy travel I will be able to look back one day and say "Yeah, I was a jet setter and got paid for it."

But when you start putting numbers (age) in your path, it puts some pressure on you. There are so many things that I thought I would have done by the time I turned 30. But, there are also so many things I HAVE done that never crossed my mind when I was mentally planning this out like every other girl in the world. Being surrounded by people on Facebook who are getting married and having children probably puts more pressure on me than I would like, but this is where we are today with society. Some people have a few more obstacles to overcome before they move on to the next chapter, and you just have to trust that it's going to be a really gripping, can't-put-it-down one.

Am I freaking out about my age? Sort of (yeah). I should probably just kiss my love (who is nine years older than me) and shut the hell up.

2012 Resolution: Talk More, Text Less

I've decided on a pretty stellar New Years resolution.

Every year as technology gets more advanced, we start talking less. First there was the invention of the internet and the succession of email, then instant messaging, then texting. Now you can speak your text into your phone and it will type it out for you. This is a great feature for the 'no texting while driving' law and I myself have used it on my phone a number of times. But it sort of hit me one day: If you're speaking the text, why not speak to the recipient?

I'm not against technology because I use all forms mentioned above in my everyday life (aside from instant messaging because honestly, who does that anymore unless you're using an online dating site?). One day I realized for my friends that I don't see on a daily / weekly basis, all I really know about their lives is based on a shallow and edited version via text or Facebook. I can't even remember the last time I just picked up the phone to chat about life... phone calls have been reserved for conversations that needed to accomplish or address something.

Technological advancements have created a virtual wall for me that has filtered out a more personal touch on my relationships. It made me sad to think about how I haven't heard some of my friends voices in months, yet I know they got a promotion because Facebook told me.

My New Years Resolution: Talk More, Text Less

I have vowed to have a shooting the shit phone conversation with a friend each week. I know to some people this may seem ridiculous because they do it everyday, but my current life status has forced me to settle for the text more often that I had ever wanted. And SO FAR SO GOOD! I had a fabulous conversation with a friend yesterday that I haven't seen in months and it made me feel great to connect with her again.

If anyone else out there has the same habits I do with this topic, I encourage you to try this out. Life is in fast motion.

And now I will leave you with this old quote that I love (featured on a Heather Moore charm = shameless plug): Good friends are like stars, you can't always see them but you know they're always there.

Breaking my Attention Span: Part One

So I'm not embarrassed to admit I read the whole Twightlight series and absolutely loved them all (except for the second book... couldn't wait to get through it). I read the books before I started seeing the movies and thank God because they don't do the novels an ounce justice. I thought the first movie was 'ok'. The second one was awful just like the book. The third one was 'better'. I just got back from "Breaking Dawn: Part 1" and I'm going against the crowd here....

IT WAS AWFUL!!!!

That is $10.50 and two hours that I will never get back. Literally, the first hour of the movie was devoted to the wedding, honeymoon, and Bella making stupid faces. Imagine Kristen Stewart cocking her head down and to the left, mouth part open with a mild quiver, and gaze shooting from left to right and you just watched the first hour.

Kristen Stewart you are a worthless actress.

I understand what they're trying to do by dragging on the last book into two movies to make billions five times instead of four. Their marketing is spot on and it's pulling in everyone from the emotional teenager to the curious reader like myself. But Stephanie Meyer should be aggrivated for how poorly her creativity has been conveyed in this sad attempt at a movie.

Come to think of it, Stephanie Meyer probably couldn't care less. She is probably rolling around in a swimming pool full of $100 bills in hysterical laughter shouting "Team Edward ain't got shit on Team Me! Me Me Mine Myself Mine!"

only a few of my friends will get that last statement

17 31707 1

The other day I was at lunch with some fellow co-workers and completely 'dated' myself in a conversation about cell phones. I didn't receive one until I went away to college and it was purely to call home without a calling card. (This was also the time when cell phones were just becoming a big deal to have.) The three years prior to this I was using a pager. Some of the girls looked at me like I had a unicorn popping out of my forehead when I was talking about it... how my friends and I had certain 'codes' so you knew who was paging you... how my boyfriend and I would page "17 31707 1" because upside down that said "I love you".

22378008. That was "boobless".

But having a pager with 3 different alerts was a BIG deal. If your pager had more than two buttons and a colorful case, that was a big deal. I remember my first cell phone looking very similar to a remote control. It was large, flat, and grey with illuminated green keys. It was super cool. I didn't even carry it around with me and I'm pretty sure it was off most of the time. Anytime I needed to call a friend or DP Dough to order my late night calzone I used the landline. Our quad had two of them and one had a cord.

But now the minute you realize you left your phone at home you feel your stomach drop into your butt. The feeling is utterly uncomfortable and extremely anxiety provoking. You don't feel "whole" like a small part of you, say your pants, are still sitting at home in your bedroom instead of being where they belong on your body.

The gals at lunch thought it was "soooo weird" that I used a pager as means of communication in high school and rarely used my phone during my first two years in college. It made me feel old. I see kids with cell phones and it boggles my mind. I honestly don't see the point of a kid having a phone until they start driving. If anytime before, it will be one of those limited "for emergency use only" ones. I'm not going to inadvertently promote my child to 'sext' or even give them the chance to send a nudie picture to that super cute quarter back.

I say all this now, but who knows. By the time I have kids we could be teleporting ourselves across town or driving auto-pilot bubbles. We could have robot hands, that come out of our hologram cell phones that are implanted into our heads, that help move our jaws up and down so we don't have to chew our meal pellets on our own. We are so lazy.

Too Late Too Bad

Three hours.

That’s how long I have to kill before my rebooked flight home from LAX. Three hours may be a small part of the day for some people, but when you’re already losing another three flying east it becomes a lost day. I was supposed to get home to catch the end of the Browns game. I was supposed to lounge around in my pajamas with my dogs, checking my fantasy football team and catnapping on the couch until Daryn got home. Instead I’ll arrive when it’s already dark out which will in turn mildly depress me. Wah.

So here I sit in Ruby’s Diner with my paper cup coffee in one of the shittiest terminals I’ve seen at LAX. Half under construction with very sub-par eateries, this place is just making me even angrier that I was literally 6 minutes late to check my bag and therefor couldn’t fly home on my original flight. Even though I was there, standing in front of the gate as they are calling for boarding, they would not let me fly without my bag. I’m adding this to my list of traveling pet peeves.

I think I’m going to start documenting my aggravating airport experiences with photos and turn it into a coffee table book one day and make millions… THERE’S the lemonade.

Coach Blues

(Written on October 19th at 10am)

I am currently seated some 30,000 miles above the world sipping a black coffee (below average blend) and trying desperately do kick this slow approaching headache. My job requires a good amount of travel, and my finicky body mixed with a wicked caffeine habit and changing cabin pressure usually leave me with a dull and stubborn headache starting around 9am. Now, it’s past the point of no return and I’m sure to have this constant pounding through the rest of the day. Damn.

I’m traveling Continental and because I’m now a First Class snob, I get very upset when I’m not upgraded on a cross-country flight. I took a trip two days ago that should have knocked me into gold status, but for whatever reason (I blame the merge) the status update hasn’t taken effect and I’m left in coach with my silver rank. I peer through that sheer curtain and watch the First Classers clank their real silverware on their ceramic plates and drink their coffee out of actual mugs as I drink mine from Styrofoam. My breakfast consisted of a yogurt parfait (not bad) and a bag of mini bite cinnamon roles (that I paid for). I work up the courage to read the nutritional facts on the back of the bag and see 110 calories per serving. “Ok not bad” I thought until I read Servings Per Container: 3. Really? Boo. Good thing I drink my coffee black.

This adorable elderly woman in the seat next to me brings out an entire gallon zip lock full of various treats from apple slices to a mini yogurt to a turkey sandwich. I made a comment about how prepared she seemed. We got on the topic of how America likes to tell us how obese and overweight the general population is, yet the snacks they offer children at the community pool consist of nachos and reheated pizza. She voiced how it bothers her and how it’s almost impossible to eat right when you’re traveling. I looked down at my empty bag of cinnamon bites and said “Yeah… clearly.” To justify, I made a joke about how if my bag were lighter I would do the same thing.

So I have another four hours to kill back here in my non-spacious seat without a Direct TV screen in front of me. I’m on an older plane that has the TVs that drop from the ceiling and you’re left to watch whatever they tell you to watch. Yeah, that’s another snobby comment. Luckily aside from my seat neighbor being sweet, I think I have hands down the MOST pleasant flight attendant I’ve had… ever. She is just bursting with upbeat energy, and not even in the annoying way how some of them are so hopped up on caffeine you just want to punt them out the window. I couldn’t help but think how this woman may single handedly affect the outcome of a lot of people’s days because of her positive light in the beginning of it. I’m a firm believer in what you put out in the world is what you’ll get back. So I’d like to raise my Styrofoam cup full of stale coffee and toast you, Ms. Amazingly Awesome Flight Attendant, for putting a smile on my face so early in the morning. Everything happens for a reason, and if I were sitting in first class I wouldn’t have had a chance to experience your kindness. Cheers.

My Permanent Wardrobe Fixtures

I had a post on my old myspace page that went over my top five must-haves in my closet. I don't have it saved anywhere, but I think it was based around statement t-shirts, mini skirts, and chunky necklaces. Since I started with Heather Moore Jewelry, my sense of style has taken a turn for the better as I've read chapters out of my boss's fashion book. So I'm going to take another stab at my Fashion Must-Haves and who knows... in five years I could look back on this and say "Ew... wow really??!"

1. THE BOOTS

I remember buying my first pair of "all the time" boots during my second or third New York International Gift Show with the company. Michelle and I wandered into the Steve Madden in Soho (which is BY FAR the BEST Steven Madden I've shopped in) and we both walked out with a pair of knee-high boots. I wore mine for the entire rest of the trip and brought home some wicked blisters (New York = a LOT of walking). It was then that I started wearing boots with sundresses in the summer and sweater dresses and tights in the winter. I was "totally over" the stiletto trend because these were not only edgier but SO much more comfortable. I wasn't worried about gaining the 3-4 inches in height since I'm already 5'7". I'm pretty sure I would wear boots on my wedding day... blue ones (for something blue). After all, my boyfriend and I are about the same height, so tall heels are out of the question anyway. :)

2. THE AVIATORS

These have been around for soooo long that you might as well get a nice pair to last you awhile. For years I went the cheap route and bought countless pairs of sunglasses anywhere from Target to the thrift store. I would always break or lose them, but I didn't care I could shell out 10 bucks for a brand new pair. I caved and bought my first pair of Ray Bans last year, and I'm obsessed. I remember our family dog eating my father's Ray Bans when I was a kid, and this says a lot because I'm the first to admit I have a horrible memory. I had no idea what they were, but this memory probably stuck because it wasn't a silent discovery.

3. THE TIE DYE HAIR TIES

One of my accounts in St. Louis started carrying these in a bowl by their checkout counter. Every woman wears her hair tie on her wrist, so might as well attempt to make it fashionable. Every time I visit their store they send me home with the season's colors. One of the best parts about these is when they get stretched out, you can untie them, retie them, and cut off the extra material. I know I am sounding like an infomercial, but I've gotten a lot of gals in my office hooked on them. We'll find them when we travel and come back with handfuls for everyone. I've actually gotten to the point where when I'm presented with some to choose from, I'm choosing colors that I don't have like I'm filling in the gaps with my baseball card collection. I found this gal on etsy.com who has a great selection to choose from.

4. THE WHITE T-SHIRT

I know this seems simple and boring, but there are always multiples in my drawer. Actually, multiples are a must since this basic piece can get icky quite fast. And by icky I mean yellow armpit stains. I personally prefer a crew neck, although during my American Apparel employment I was a die hard deep v-neck fan. It's hard to look bad in a fitted white tee and some skinny jeans. But I can't do your basic Hanes... the Summer Shirt from American Apparel is the softest and most comfortable I've found. I've also taken a liking to Stem or Trouve from Nordstrom. When I don't' feel like shelling out $20 I hit up Target. Either way, it's my default when I don't know what to wear. I'll just throw one on with a blazer and I'm out the door. Leading me to my last staple...

5. THE BLAZER

My boyfriend hates when I wear my blazers, but I can't help but ADORE them. I'll wear my basic black with anything to help class it up. Daryn and I spent the night before a wedding in a casino in Canada and realized that we forgot my dress and his suit at home. Luckily we found a store that catered to both or needs, and that's when I became the owner of a cropped grey blazer. This summer: The seersucker. I travel frequently for work. so you'll always find one in my luggage. My first black blazer I owned was stolen out of my suitcase on a trip to Lewisburg, WV. Who knew flying to such a quaint and safe little town could end up mildly devastating?! I think I may try for a more high end, tailored one this year for my big girl job.

I'm pretty sure these staple items are classic enough to not go out of style (while I had the absolute wrong idea about the statement t-shirts). After reading through this, I guess this makes my style sound sort of androgynous. I'm definitely not girly since the color pink makes me want to vomit. Maybe one day if I keep blogging, this will find some fashionably challenged readers who will greatly appreciate it.