Best Words with Friends Score Ever!

(Well at least for me!)

And it was against the formidable G. Sartin!

Happy Independence Day!

Feels good to celebrate it in Seattle.

First up - an Apricot Ale at the Pyramid Beer Garden. Ah, memories!

The beer reminds me of the summer I lived in Greenlake and my friend Angela suggested I try an Apricot Ale. I was like, Seriously? She said, Yes. God, I love this beer. The beer garden reminds me of many, many Seattle memories.

Also - how cute does LZ look preggers?!

Batter Up: Safeco Garlic French Fries!

Just as DELICIOUS as I remember them. I think I inhaled all them in under 10 minutes. An awesome micro Pacific Northwest brew to accompany them. If I can determine my version of heaven - both of these exist in it.

Good to See You Again Safeco:

Even Bailey had his stars on:

It's not the 4th in Seattle without Gasworks Parks Fireworks:

It was a great 4th.

Exactly What I Needed to Read

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”
                                                                                                                            ― Marilyn Monroe

I feel like I learned this the hard way, this confidence that says, I'm awesome and I deserve someone who will appreciate that. Sure, I'm not perfect. I get upset and I definitely have my moments of crazy, but they pass, and I'm worth it.

                                                                                                                           - Liz Norris

Via this post from Liz Norris.

I LOVE This Birthday Theme: Marc by Marc Jacobs

As per the request of my awesome parents, I waited to open my Endless box until my birthday. Although, I didn't promise the when on the day of my birth.

I decided that there was no way in hell that anyone or anything was going to ruin my birthday. I decided that I was going to do whatever I wanted when I wanted today.

My theme song today is Bulletproof by La Roux.

After I opened the office, I treated myself to opening up my long awaited and eagerly anticipated birthday gift. First thing in the morning. I can't think of a better way to start the day.

Hell yes!

It's a Marc by Marc Jacobs birthday:

Badass sunglasses. A straw tote with an awesome neon orange trim (details here). And the best: A PAIR OF MARC JACOBS MOUSE FLATS THAT I'VE WANTED FOR YEARS!

I put them on and did a happy dance all up and down the halls outside of my office. I immediately showed them to my work friends Nicole and Sabrina. 

Happy F-cking Birthday to Me!

Thanks M & D!

Links!

Caught in the act and frozen in time 50 million years. Two turtles copulating. (MSNBC)

I love this print: I black heart you. (Tim Jarosz)

Carrie Underwood makes me actually like her for supporting gay marriage. It's a nice change from her annoying me. (Celebitchy)

Go KStew and Cameron Diaz - highest paid actresses in La La Land. (Forbes)

My birthday is TOMORROW and it is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year and it looks like it's official on the east coast thanks to record high temps! I'm celebrating by laying out on my lunch break today. Seriously, I brought my swimsuit top to work to change into. (AP and The Weather Channel)

Pretty awesome retrospect of fug recoveries. I am highly entertained. (Go Fug Yourself)

I Love This Line

"The bottom line is I never had any business marrying anyone who wasn't you." - Plan B by Jonathan Tropper

Links!

In all likeliness, The Paperboy is a hot mess of the movie. The buzz is all about Nicole Kidman's golden shower. BUT my favorite part of the review, is the director's quote. (Vulture)

Okay, this doesn't sound real, more like a storyline from Grey's Anatomy. (CafeMom)

I hope Tom Hardy interviews never change. I laughed so hard and so loud. I really like him after this. (Vulture)

I am probably the only one that doesn't find this totally sick but actually pretty funny. (Harvey Nichols Summer Ad via Telegraph)

Which lead me to this hilarious and awesome Christmastime "Walk of Shame" commercial.(Guardian)

I do and do not agree with this woman's 20/20 take on casual sex. I think it comes down to motivation behind a person's action. (CNN)

The trailer for Perks of Being a Wallflower is really cute and captures those moments of high school youth. The sample chapters of the book didn't do it for unfortunately. (IMDB)

These look much cuter on H7. Also, I love what Posh is wearing. (Lainey Gossip)

I Feel Better

Thanks to Writer Man.

I finally bit the bullet about applying for an internship in my degree field - graphic design.

Lo and behold, I actually got the job!

Jumpy claps :). Actually, I had to read the email three times to believe it. Then I quietly ducked out of my office into the hallway to jump up and down as quietly as I could. There may have been some silent open mouthed screaming.

I've spent a lot of my life prioritizing making money over taking a job that may make me happy but knowing I would be financially unstable. I do value stability and a paycheck I can count on.

A part of it came from the insecurity that I wasn't good enough to get an internship. Another part of me was petrified that my unstable finances would make me CRAZY. It would always be an internship and a restaurant job. I do enjoy working at restaurants but some parts of working in the industry make me a little restless and it's not always the healthiest environment for me.

With some encouragement from my amazing mother and the realization that I need to do this for ME, I took the job of Graphic Design Intern at Maggy London.

At the age of pretty much 29, I am finally going to have a job that I will potentially love.

For the first time in my life.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

I'm tempted to beat myself up over the fact that it's taken me THIS LONG to do what I want. In fact, I have so many times already. There is an expectation, whether I put it on myself or it is a direct effect of societal ideals and pressures, that I should have it (life, work, love) much more figured out than I do. I've been so envious of my friends that are my age who have jobs that they love. Jobs that are careers. There is a difference.

What made me feel immeasurably better?

Writer Man told me that he didn't start writing until he was 29. Someone who I respect, have had a bit of hero worship towards and I admired isn't too different than me.

Turns out, the old saying of "better late than never" is all too true.   

Westside Highway Runner