Why? Why? Manti?

If you have turned on a TV or picked up a newspaper recently, you've probably heard something about the Manti Te'o fake girlfriend issue. It is a bizarre story. Incredible, as in, hard to believe. And then these amazing people auto-tuned his interview with Katie Couric and I'm in love.

Monday

Mondays are the worst, and today was not really all that different. My computer monitor's drivers decided to act up, so I couldn't use my laptop or my monitor at work for a couple of hours. Not only that, whenever they flickered, I lost all of my changes to the presentation I'm working on.

Blah.

But I guess this evening was pretty good. Fiance and I made pasta with turkey Italian sausage and whole wheat penne, and it was amazing. Then we ate some of the cake I made yesterday, which is funfetti with homemade chocolate glaze.

The glaze was super easy and super fudgy! It's really simple, too:

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter

Bring to a boil, then add 1 tbs vanilla and a half cup of chocolate chips. Then STIR UNTIL COOL. This is very important. I added another splash of milk because mine started to get grainy because I wasn't beating until cool. But it is SO good. I don't think I'll ever buy frosting again.

Happy Monday. At least it's almost over! :o)

Friday Friday Friday!

It's Sunshines and Dark Clouds Friday, but today it's all Sunshines! YAY!

• My Ravens beat the Patriots handily on Sunday. GET ME SOME.
• It's my off-Friday! YAY!
• Fiance and I found the perfect, close-by place for us to take our dogs walking through the desert. They love it and so do we!
• Fiance bought me new tires for my car. He's such the best.
• I lost another pound this week. Only 15 away from my first goal weight :o)
• I just found out that Evita is on my comcast demand free list. Love it!
• My friend Dani is in town and coming to hang out with me tonight! I'm excited to see her again.
• I'm going to try a spinning class next week!

Happy Weekend!

I Believe!

So this past weekend was AWESOME.

It started on Saturday, with Fiance getting me new tires for my car. They are AMAZING! My tread was so gone on my old tires, so it's really, really nice having new ones! During that time, we went to lunch at Chili's and talked about football. It was great.

After that, we went to the mall and did a TON of shopping. I got my wedding shoes! I also got a fancy robe for Fiance for Valentine's Day, new Moroccan Oil for my hair, plus new mascara and eyeliner. I also paid off a video game for Thomas's birthday. Fiance bought a new watch, some new laces, and some amazing red glitter Toms for me for my Valentine's Day present (they make me look like a modern day Dorothy!).

After that, we took a long hike in the desert with my two dogs and then headed into a wonderful evening of watching Silver Linings Playbook with my fiance and our roommate Thomas :o)

Sunday, we went to breakfast with my parents and then... it was football time.




I was scared. But I was also excited. The first half was rough and we ended up down by 6... but I was happy with that for how many times it could have been worse.

The second half was INCREDIBLE. The defense found a rhythm and the Patriots, the best offense in the country, didn't score a single point against us. Plus we picked off Tom Brady twice (almost three times). He has more interceptions than touchdowns against us :o)

We ended up winning 28-13 and as the clock ticked down, I looked over at Fiance and said, "Oh my God... we're going to the Super Bowl." He just smiled and agreed, but it had just hit me. We make it to the playoffs every year (for the last five years, anyway), but we haven't been able to make it past the AFC Championship since 2000, when we won our last Super Bowl. Maybe this will be our year again :o)

My phone blew up during and after the game with friends commenting on the game and saying congratulations. It's a little strange, because I'm not playing or anything, but their congratulations was more of a "way to be faithful". Everyone knows I'm a Ravens fan. It started in 2005ish, when my cousin's roommate from UNM got drafted to Baltimore. We were all so excited for him that at that moment, I chose Baltimore as my professional team.

He unfortunately got dropped not long after, but I was already invested. By then, I had found how much I love defensive teams, how much I admired Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and Haloti Nata. How much fun it was watching my team play. Plus, their colors are purple and black. How fun is that?

I'm one of maybe 10 Baltimore fans in Las Cruces, so when we beat the Colts and the Broncos and the Patriots, most of my friends immediately thought of me... I'm no fair weather fan, so I'm happy people remembered that I have been a loyal fan for several years now. I have Ray Lewis's and Ed Reed's jerseys. I have two Victoria's Secret NFL clothing pieces. I am a real fan.

And I believe in this team. Wish the Ravens luck on February 3... we'll need it against the Niners, which is a great team!

Facts of Me

Today, I'm linking up with Whitney at I Wore Yoga Pants... she is hilarious and you should go visit her!

*I was born and raised in New Mexico. Yes, it's a state.

*I'm a writer. I write a column for the newspaper, and I'm a technical writer at a DoD contracting company. I write a lot.

*My two favorite foods are watermelon and french fries :o)

*I LOVE Diet Coke

*I'm getting married on June 8 to the love of my life

*I'm a Baltimore Ravens fan... and we are GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!

*My dog Shadow is the furry love of my life

*I only like sweet, non-dry wine, like champagne or mimbres white

*I love TOMS

*I HATE having things tight around my neck. Chokers and turtlenecks are the worst.

*I LOVE green chile. It's the best!

*I know more about football than the average girl

*I once did the weather for an El Paso news station in middle school. I was adorable.

*I'm really a homebody. I would rather stay home than go out to the bar.

*I was in a sorority in college, and I regret NOTHING. Pi Phi helped me network, make it through some SERIOUSLY hard classes with study buddies, and make life-long memories.

*Fiance and I are movie snobs :o)

*I have super pale skin and super dark hair. One time a hairdresser didn't believe it was my natural hair and told me my dye job was "really thorough", but that I "shouldn't go as dark unless I want to look like a vampire". I was like "Um... that's my natural hair color..." and she gave me that "uh-huh, whatever you say" look.

*I read every single day.

*I love puns!

*I would rather be hot than cold. My ideal temperature is between 85-90 degrees of full sun. I don't really like rain or snow.

*I have HORRIBLE circulation. My feet are always, always cold.

*I had braces for one year, but I never had to use rubber bands.

That's it for now. Happy Tuesday!

26 Before 26

Now that I'm (gulp) 25, I guess I should start thinking about my 26 Before 26 List for next November. I have just 11 months to finish this list... so wish me luck!

Jenna's 26 Before 26

1. Do something big for my career

2. Make homemade tortillas

3. Run two 10 minute miles in a row

4. Volunteer

5. Donate money to something

6. Try fancy champagne

7. Take a spin class

8. Get a spray tan (yikes)

9. Take two vacations this year

10. Save $5,000 for a house

11. Read five classic books

12. Complete five Pinterest projects

13. Clean out my closet and donate to Good Will

14. Buy an amazing black dress

15. Bake a multi-layer cake

16. Keep a more consistent schedule

17. Get my hair cut every 10 weeks

18. Get up to date with doctor checkups (teeth, eyes, annual, etc.)

19. Host a girls' night

20. Take Shadow to a new dog-friendly area

21. Wash my hair more than once a week (for real)

22. Print out photos for a photo wall

23. Drink less Diet Coke

24. Find the perfect daily perfume for me

25. Buy a bigger bed

26. Buy myself a nice piece of jewelry

Sunshines and Dark Clouds

It's Friday! Sunshines and Dark Clouds time!

Dark Clouds:

• Fiance is SICK SICK SICK... and I'm terrified that I'm going to get sick too.
• My grandfather is not doing well. I was supposed to go see him on Wednesday, but since I've been around Fiance (and his flu), I'm a potential carrier and he and my grandmother are vulnerable since, well, they are over 90.
• I haven't worked out in a while. Blah.
• I also haven't really cooked in a while. When did I get so lazy?

Sunshines:

• My RAVENS won their playoff game against Denver. Suck it, Peyton!
• I've really been feeling motivated when it comes to my columns. I have several really great ideas.
• I read Bossypants by Tina Fey... HILARIOUS. I laughed out loud several times. She is too funny.
• Part of my bridesmaid gifts came in, as well as the mother in law gift. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
• I might have a Groupon addiction. This is not a dark cloud (it might be a dark cloud), but I am starting to get packages of things I don't remember ordering. Not good. But the stuff I'm getting is boss.
• More football is on this weekend... I'm not ready for the season to be over. Then it's just another LONG seven months until the season kicks in again.

Have a great weekend!

Back to It

I'm back, for real this time. If you want to know what I have been doing over the past ten days, picture me laying around, watching football, and helping Fiance who has the flu.

The flu is the worst. He feels AWFUL. And I'm living in perpetual fear that I am going to be hit with it next since he has been within feet of me since he got sick.

Other than that, just lots of orange juice and tissues. Highlights:

• Got a haircut from my future aunt-in-law.
• Saw Valerie's new puppy... TOO ADORABLE.
• Ate pizza. So much pizza.
• Watched the Golden Globes... happy for Argo, sad for Zero Dark Thirty.
• OH! Saw Zero Dark Thirty. AMAZING. Can't wait to see it again.
• It was freeeeeezing here. Stayed inside.
• Worked. Two of three coworkers gone... lots of extra work.
• Watched 30 Rock like a fiend.

But I'm back, for better or worse. Fewer than five months until the big day! YAY!

The Scariest/Best Four Hours of My Life

Saturday was the game between my Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos, and it was the worst/best four hours of my life. If you do not like football, you can click out of this post right now, because the next few minutes are going to be me freaking out over the game.

IT WAS AWESOME.

Well, first, it was awful. We let TWO kicks/punts be returned for touchdowns. We let Peyton Manning & Co. march down the field on us.

But there were some incredible parts. Corey Graham returned an interception for a touchdown. Torrey Smith  took advantage of the new Colorado laws by smoking Champ Bailey all night long. Ray Rice RAN DOWN THE HOUSE.

And yet, we couldn't stop their press. And with a minute left, we had the ball and sixty yards to go, down by 7 points.

We've been here before... especially in the playoffs. Last year, we marched down the field, down by three, and were within ONE LEE EVANS FOOT away from beating the Patriots. Then, we were ONE BILLY CUNDIFF CHOKE away from going to the Super Bowl... which the Ravens players ended up watching from their couches the next weekend.

I digress.

We made a few plays, and then...then...

The Mile High Miracle happened.

And even though Jacoby Jones dropped a pass that would get us a first down, and then bumbled a punt return so we had to start in our own end zone... he totally made up for it with this:

A 70 YARD PASS FROM FLACCO TO JACOBY FOR A TOUCHDOWN AND THE TIE!

Then.... in overtime... COREY GRAHAM came back and got another interception in the second OVERTIME period. And then, another Ray Rice run later, our rookie Justin Tucker kicked a 47 yarder for the win.

It was glorious. I was literally screaming when we tied the game. I almost puked when Tucker was about to take his kick. My knees went weak when we won. It was incredible.

The best four hours ever. AFC Championship, here we come.

Late nights

It's been a long week of late nights for fiancé and long days for me, but my weekend is finally here.

Thank heaven.

SNOW!

via

SNOW has come to Las Cruces!

It all started on Wednesday. It was my first day back to work since the previous Thursday (thanks to our off-Friday, then New Year's Eve/Day), and it was busy. Very busy. My boss will be busy doing other things, so all of his normal project presentations for our CEO fell to our little office. One of my coworkers was in-processing to become a full time employee (she's new), and my other coworker was still out of town in LA.

We started getting emails about an incoming storm, and then weather notifications for that evening. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but I still had an uneasy feeling. I packed up a few things (copies of the presentation I was working on, plus a soft copy on a CD, and emailed some more materials to my home address), and then asked my boss if he was okay with me telecommuting in case of bad weather.

He approved it and thank goodness. By Thursday morning, the snow was falling steadily. Not a lot of other businesses shut down, but I have to go across a crazy mountain path (high altitude, small road, through the mountain) and it gets downright DANGEROUS. I decided not to risk it, and started working at home around 7:00 that morning, not worrying about heading to work.

By 1000, they closed the base down and the people that were already there had to go through El Paso to get home, which had even WORSE weather than we had.

The snow kept falling all day. Fiance was sick, so he stayed home and slept while I was incredibly productive. It was actually a blessing in disguise. The presentation I was working on (which we do semi-annually for our customers) is a HUGE deal and my boss usually works on it directly with our two company VPs and the company President/CEO. With him out of the state on business, it was all on my shoulders (especially with my coworkers out of the office before we could split it up). It usually takes 2-3 weeks to complete and they wanted to see a first draft by MONDAY. By working at home, I had 10 uninterrupted hours of work yesterday, and 8 uninterrupted hours today. I got SO MUCH DONE. I'm so relieved... I was worried I wouldn't get it all done with my boss out of the office and all of the interruptions that come into our day (such as photographs... I'm the only one with a camera badge, so everyone comes to me with photo opportunities and they usually need me RIGHT THIS SECOND so I have to drop everything for them).

We stayed in last night. Fiance and I hate the snow (Shadow does, too!), so we just watched movies and ate soup. It was really nice. They closed the base this morning too, so I got MORE time to work on finishing the presentation before our Monday first draft deadline.

And I also got to go to lunch with my mama!:

We went to get sushi while I took a break from work. It was weird... I work 30 minutes out of town, so my lunch breaks are usually either at the small bowling alley, or at my desk. I actually got to have lunch with someone during a work day! It was nice :o)

We had such a good time. Now I'm back and taking another small break before I get to the last few pages of the presentation, with Shadow napping at my feet and Adele on my iHome. I could get used to this.

Money

As I mentioned before, Fiance and I are (finally) in a place where we aren't constantly worried about money. We aren't rich (far from it), but we went from being college broke to being new-in-the-industry broke, and then while Fiance worked doggedly for a coveted position in his company (he would more than quadruple his monthly income, but it takes a while to get there so you just have to wait it out), I was paying all the bills on my "first job out of college" income.

But then all the stars aligned and Fiance sold his car (for a nice chunk of change) after he was given a truck from his grandpa (who is like a father to him), then got a few really nice checks from his new position. Around the same time, I got a 6% raise which is like WOW. So generous.

But then it all hit us around the same time and now, for the first time, I don't have to constantly think about which check of the month should be used to pay which bills, and worry about how much we should spend on fun on the weekends.

I always knew that by supporting us while Fiance finished college, got his certifications, and worked hard for that new position, I was helping our family get to a financially safe place. But I didn't think about how much fun it would be when we were almost there until Fiance surprised me with this:



I had admired the blue bag before, and then mentioned that I wanted a cross-body bag. They weren't that much, but they were more than we could have just frivolously spent as "because I love you" gifts.

He is the best. :o)