25 By 25

"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination." Fitzhugh Dodson

It's good to have goals, but it's also easy to get bogged down by them. Recently I've found myself getting really overwhelmed by the big picture. Will I achieve what I want to in the next 5 years? When will I make time for grad school? When and where do I want to settle down and have a family?

Those are some big questions, and ones that I really don't know the answers to. Life throws curve balls at you all the time. You may leave port with a destination in mind, but sometimes the winds change direction and you just have to roll with it. That's why my new approach is to focus on specific, attainable short term goals. I was inspired by Kathy at Life as I Know It, and her commitment to the 101 in 1001 project. 1001 days is a little too far ahead for me to think right now, so here is my version:

25 by 25

25 goals I plan to complete by my 25th birthday. So 25 goals I will achieve by May 5th, 2012. Since I didn't decide to do this until over 3 months after my birthday, I'm going to include a few things I've accomplished in the past few months. I'll post an updated list once a month so you can see how I'm doing.

1. Get a new job. 
2. Visit 3 U.S. States I've never been to.
3. Post 50 blog entries between 5/5/11 and 5/5/12.  (This post will be #12)
4. Get 40 followers for Eating Feelings (I'm at 9 now, invite your friends!)
5. Put my feet in the Pacific Ocean.
6. Obtain a passport.
7. Visit Canada.
8. Cook with 5 ingredients I've never used.
9. Move into the city of Boston and out of the suburbs!
10. Read 10 books or plays.
11. See all of the 2012 Best Picture Oscar Nominees before the Oscars.
12. See a concert.
13. See a play.
14. Buy 3 things from Etsy.com 
Skindura Secret Shield
15. Go to the dentist for the first time in over 5 years.
16. Get back on the pill.
17. Participate in the 2012 AIDS Walk Boston and raise more than the $100 I raised in 2011.
18. Get two haircuts. (This may seem like a small task, but it's been over a year since my last one)
19. Take 4 day trips to places I can't get to on the subway.
20. Tour the Sam Adams Brewery.
21. Make tortillas from scratch.
22. Get my first tattoo.
23. Get a good pair of dressy winter boots.
24. Complete CPR and CPR Instructor certification.
25. Make a list of 26 goals to accomplish by my 26th birthday!

Rant-Worthy: Cat Calls and Unsolicited Flirting

Do you have things that people do that just get under your skin? Actions people take that push you toward the edge? Whether they be political, social or personal, we all have things to rant about on occasion. I pledge- right here, right now- to write about these everyday annoyances, instead of letting them get me down. Hell, maybe one of you will sympathize and feel compelled to share your own stories on the subject.

So, what has been getting me worked up lately? The topic of today's rant is:  

Cat Calls and Unsolicited Flirting
At least 3-4 times a week for the past few months I've been on the receiving end of some unsolicited flirting/ cat calls. We've all been there, right ladies? You're walking down the street/ in the parking lot/ on the bus,going about your business. You're grocery shopping, getting a cup of coffee, reading your morning paper, walking your dog when some guy struts by or sits next to you and decides to say hello. "Hey beautiful" "Hello sexy" "Looking fine today" "you look great today" etc, etc, etc.

Do people actually think this is going to work, that leading a conversation with a statement based totally on my looks is going to make me swoon?

So, you're probably thinking, "but T, what if I see someone I find interesting/ attractive that I'd like to engage in conversation/ potentially get some digits from"?

Well, there's no harm in starting conversation with a stranger, but you should probably lead with something a little more neutral. Perhaps a simple "Hello" or "How are you today?". Or maybe an observation "you think this rain will ever stop?". If you're feeling brave you could even ask for advice "This is my first time eating here, what's good?".

Signs the person you're pursuing isn't interested:
They aren't making eye contact with you.
They appear suddenly engrossed in their coffee, paper, crackberry, etc.
They are responding with one word answers.
They increase their walking speed, angle their body away from yours, roll their eyes. 
They ignore you all together.
They put in their headphones.

It really isn't rocket science!

Back to Basics

It has been almost a year since I started this blog, and I have to admit that I'm not thrilled with my progress. I started this blog with a mission of putting all of life's stresses into a constructive outlet, but also with a goal of loosing weight. I am embarassed to admit that I have not really suceeded in either of those goals. I was off to a good start, but then life kind of got in the way.

I've been reading some really inspiring blogs lately, and I recently had my annual phyiscal. I'm pleased to report that both of those things have reignited my enthusiasm for both loosing some weight, and for blogging my heart out. I still plan to include the fun stuff (i.e. the fashion stuff), but you can expect to see a lot more about food, and about issues/ topics that are eating at me.

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Fall Work Wear Wish-list

Time to get back on the blogging horse. I've been in my new apartment for almost a month, so no more excuses! I'll post some pictures of my new digs later.

Moving is expensive, so I haven't been able to do any shopping since I started my new job. I should be able to do a little shopping in September, just in time to start building my fall work wardrobe.  Here are some items I'm lusting after for the fall:

Girly Oxfords with a low, chunky heel.

Forever 21 $24.80

I look forward to wearing them with tights and a sweater dress or skirt!

Dr. Scholl's Inky in Navy $68.99 

Polka dots!

Avenue $29.90

  Apparently polka dots are a huge trend this fall. I already have a really awesome Polka Dot pencil skirt from Torrid that will transition nicely into fall, but you can never have enough polka dots in your wardrobe:)

Aldo $19.98 on sale

Forever 21 $27.80

Orange and Yellow bags.

Though I don't think I look good in saturated yellows or orange, I do embrace colorful accessories. Orange and Mustard are big colors for handbags this fall.

Michael Kors $198 @ Macy's

Forever 21 $19.80

Target $34.99

D&B $198 @ Macy's

DKNY $295 @ Macy's

Moving on up!

Hello blog world!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been super busy because...

I'M MOVING JULY 1ST!

I've been living in the Boston area for just about 18 months. When I moved here I got really lucky and found affordable, convenient housing in Malden, a suburb just north of the city. Malden is great because it is on the orange line, so it's an easy subway ride into the city, but since it is suburban it is a lot cheaper than living in Boston or Cambridge. However, there isn't a lot to do in Malden, and it takes me an hour to commute to my new job, which is in the South End neighborhood of the city.

So, I'm moving to Jamaica Plain, one of my favorite Boston neighborhoods. I was originally planning to move to JP in the fall, but things just fell into place for July 1st. I'm taking the room of a friend who is moving to Nashville for graduate school and moving in to an awesome 3 bedroom right in the central part of JP. I already know one of the roommates (we did Vagina Monologues together, so you know she's cool) and the other room is opening up September 1st, so I'll get to help pick my 2nd roommate.
 
For the next few weeks I'll be really busy packing, moving, and getting settled in, so expect my posts to continue to be sparse.

I'm really excited to live in Boston, and to cut a half hour off my commute, but I'm especially excited to live in JP! JP reminds me a lot of South Austin, or the Takoma Park area of DC in that it's really diverse, LGBT friendly, and has a lot of local businesses. I'll be able to find every thing I need within a 10 minute walk f my apartment! What's your favorite neighborhood of your city?

First Day at my new Grown-up Job!

Today was my first day as an human resources generalist at a Boston nonprofit. I mostly filled out paper work, met a lot of people and got oriented to the office. I have my own huge office with a desk, computer, printer, book shelf, table and chairs, and all the office supplies I could ever hope for! The office is a really awesome space. There are bright colors everywhere, cool art, and there are lots of retro safe sex/ HIV prevention posters on the walls! I even got to leave early... at 4:15! I think I'm going to be very happy there:)
This is what I wore on my first day (minus the sunglasses). 

Dress- Target, Belt/ Blazer- Forever 21, Shoes- DSW,  jewelry from street vendors in Boston.

  I got the shoes on clearance for $30 (30% off+$5 birthday coupon)! They're so comfortable!

Feeling Crabby: Foodie Friday

When I moved from Austin to Boston the one thing I was most excited for was the seafood. Austin is pretty inland, and therefore doesn't have the best selection when it comes to fresh seafood. Growing up in Corpus Christi, TX on the Gulf of Mexico and in Southern Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay, I've been spoiled with right off the boat, delicious seafood for most of my life.

I lived in Maryland for about 8 years. Unfortunately it took me about 6 years to realize that I love crab. At first I couldn't get past the smell. I later realized that it wasn't the smell of the actual crab meat that was deterring me from enjoying the delicious crustacean, but the smell of the Old Bay Seasoning that Marylanders love to coat their crab in. Don't get me wrong, I like Old Bay, but I'm not the type to douse everything in Old Bay. To me a little Chesapeake bay seasoning goes a long way. Long story short, I love crab, specifically crab cakes and crab dip. I'm not so in to picking whole crabs- too much work.

Since Boston is a seafood town, I thought I'd easily be able to devour not only clam chowder, lobster rolls, and fish and chips, but a delicious crab cake or two. Crab cakes, it turns out, are really easy to fuck up. You see, a good crab cake doesn't have a lot of extras. It should be just lump crab meat, a little bit of breading and seasonings, and maybe an herb or two. It shouldn't taste like corn bread with a little crab mixed in.

I've tried crab cakes at at least 6 or 7 different places in the bean, and I've come to one conclusion: in Boston restaurants like to add all sorts of crazy things to their crab cakes- corn, peppers, celery.
Honestly, the best crab cake I've had here was at Legal Seafoods of all places. But it was expensive, and I don't like eating at over-priced chain restaurants.

The second best crab cake I've found is at @Union Cafe, my favorite brunch spot near my beau's house in the Allston neighborhood of Boston. The have a crab cake sandwich that is pretty good. It has a little bit of diced bell pepper in it, and a little more breading than I like... but the remoulade they drizzle on it is delicious and it is pretty darn close to having the right crab to breading ratio. Here are some pics of it: