the perks of being a domestic wallflower

You know those days when you find a recipe you're super excited about, make it, and then throw it in the trash immediately after because it didn't turn out? 

Then you remedy the situation by making banana pancakes [mix out of a box] but the pancakes burn? 

That was my Sunday; those are often the types of days I have when I cook.

But you know what I realized? Us wallflowers are never alone.
If you're a lonely teen, maybe you find a quirky Emma Watson to love.
If you're a domestic wallflower, you find comfort in Domino's, frozen waffles, cereal, Del Taco, or like tonight - peanut butter toast and animal crackers.

So thank you fast and/or ready made food, I appreciate the friendship. So does my growling stomach.

RNC 2012

One of the coolest things about Mike's job was that he was able to work the Republican National Convention, and I was able to go!

We headed down to Tampa, Florida for a fun week. I had never been to Florida, so I was excited to cross another state off the list. Since Mike works in the finance department, he worked the donors suite so I got to hang out in there. There was a buffet and an open bar (i.e. all the diet coke I could want!) stocked all night.

This was the view from the donor suite. If you watched any of the Convention on TV, we were in between the two large debt clocks.

For conservative, political junkies this was their ideal "celeb spotting" trip. We saw Wolf Blitzer, Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich, Marco Rubio and others. You always knew someone important was coming by the size of their entourage, only problem was that I didn't know who they were without help from Mike... whoops. 

The ongoing joke was that I wished I was at the Democratic Convention so I could at least get a Jessica Alba sighting or better musical acts or something. I guess that's why I was so pumped when Clint Eastwood came out! 

During the day there were smaller events with speakers and at night everyone gathered into the center for speeches. The last night Mike got special credentials and took me onto the floor for Marco Rubio, Clint Eastwood, and Mitt Romney's speeches. It was incredible! We were about as close as you could get without a press badge. 

The Convention was so inspiring. Mitt did such a good job. He is such a good man and is so qualified. I am so anxious for Tuesday, I hope he wins!!

After the main event for the night was over, there were tons of after parties. The first night we went to a party Mike's department threw for the donors. The second night we went to a party where the Zac Brown Band performed and then headed over to another party to hear Journey play. It was such a blast!

After the Convention was over, we headed over to Clearwater, Florida for a weekend at the beach. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures but it was definitely fun to be back at the beach. The best part of the weekend was that they had a BJ's restaurant. Hello Pazookies!

Getting to go to the Republican National Convention, living in Boston, getting to hear about and experience the campaign from Mike has been such an incredible experience. I am grateful for it everyday. Hopefully Tuesday goes our way!

Don't forget to vote!

Stereotypes

Before moving to Boston, I didn't know much about the city and it's people... but I can confirm that Boston definitely lives up to it's stereotypes.

1. Crazy Sports fans.

Growing up with an Angels-obsessed brother, I was forced to hate the Red Sox if I wanted his love and respect. Too far? maybe, but just barely. He hates them - deeply. I had encountered Red Sox fans when the Angels played them and they were always the most obnoxious.

Did the stereotype live up? Yep.

I went to a game at Fenway Park; the fans were loud, the fans were drunk, and the fans cheered obnoxiously even when their team lost. And you know what? I kind of loved it. 

             Boston fans are crazy, but it's a craziness that is kind of fun to be a part of. Don't tell Brad. 

We want to go to a Bruins game (hockey), hopefully we have time to catch one.

please disregard the fact that I am tone-deaf. 

2. Extremely intelligent.

Harvard? MIT? yep. enough said. But, there's more. Everywhere you turn in this city there is another College. Emerson, Suffolk, Northeastern, Boston University, Boston College, UMass Boston, Leslie, Tufts.... the list goes on. It is insane.

3. Funny accents.

Being from California, I obbbbbvviouuslly don't have an accent. I speak how everyone should. Ok, I'm being facetious. My cousins from other states say Californians do have an accent. So I'll concede [even though I still think we speak the best :)]. Not everyone here has that true Boston accent, but when you hear it there is no mistaking it!

A Boston accent takes out the "r" in the middle of the word. "park the car" turns into "pAk the cAr."
But, I heard it said that Bostonians say "you need to die with the same amount of r's."
So when you take the "r" out of the middle of the word, you have to add an "r" to a word that ends in a vowel so "idea" turns into "idear" and "area" turns into "arear."

Given that I studied communication disorders in college, this has been an especially fun one.

4. Hyper-liberal

Although a few people in my office are fellow Romney supporters, they definitely drink the Blue kool-aid out here. The other day I passed a candle light vigil in government center for energy silence.

Despite the fact that I still have a thing for the Red kool-aid, I try not to stick out like an elephant either. Since moving here, I gave up on plastic grocery bags,

         - sidenote: you all should use reusable grocery bags, I've always kind of hated the plastic ones because they're such a waste. And I was the kid that fished them out of the water at the beach. You can hold about 3x more in the reusable kind, and they don't break, and you can carry them over your shoulder. It will change your life. Promise. 

I recycle more (something I've always done but hated that I would have actually had to pay money to get a recycling bin in my Utah apt, how lame is that?!), and I've even been spotted at a Farmer's market.

Don't worry I still shave my legs. Even though I've seen a few girls here who don't.

Although I've found these funny stereotypes to often be true, I had an experience today while sitting at the Prudential Center, eating Pinkberry, and people watching, that made me remember we shouldn't be so quick to judge negatively but should always try to give people a positive benefit of the doubt.

Happy weekend!

Home

I am currently laying in bed in my one room apartment in Boston - yes, one room, we're talking a cozy few hundred square feet that makes for our bedroom, kitchen, dining room, family room all in one - while Mike is off at a rally in Ohio and is about to ride in a private jet all weekend with some famous politicians (not Mitt, but some very cool people). 

I figured with the election happening on Tuesday (what???) I should write about what I've been up to when the outcome of this little adventure is still unknown.

Living in Boston has been incredible, for so many reasons. New England's charm has wriggled itself into a very big portion of my heart and I love calling this city home.

For instance, Mike and I were walking around Faneuil Hall last night and I looked down to find this.

Boston is full of hidden gems like this.

Living in a city has definitely called for some adjustments, but adjusting has been fun.

We decided not to have a car while living in Boston so we've been in 2-heel drive (catch that dad joke? sorry, I had to) and relying on the T for the past few months.

It's funny to think that when I was at home, walking to the end of my street seemed like punishment yet now I'll walk 2 and a half miles just for Pinkberry.

We've rented a lot of cars since we've been here. This one is my favorite. Mike hardly fit inside.

The closest full size grocery store is 2 1/2 miles away, 7 T (subway) stops. There are small, overpriced markets around, so I usually just end up doing my grocery shopping at CVS  - they have one on every corner.

Speaking of chain stores on every corner -- DUNKIN DONUTS. You would not believe the amount of Dunkin Donuts in this city. It's amazing how skinny this city stays despite all the donuts. I'm not the biggest fan of their donuts, but their Pumpkin Hot Chocolate is out of this world.

Boston's biggest charm is it's history. Amidst sky scrapers you can find the Old Statehouse where the Declaration of Independence was originally read or the oldest U.S. publishing house where The Scarlet Letter was published (now turned into a Chipotle). Although, this history means old brick and cobble stone roads, which means I trip. all. the. time. I've split 3 pairs of shoes since being here.

The fall here is so beautiful but when Boston is 40 degrees it's the coldest I've ever been in my life. The humidity just bites you. Missing the winter is the only bright spot about leaving Boston.

Here are just a few aspects of our life in the city. We've loved every minute.