I promise that one of these days I’ll be back for good. I’m still enjoying my blogging break (and secretly working on a brand-spankin’ new design) but I wanted to help spread the word about an awesome blogger’s even awesomer (what? that’s a word) plan.

Bloggers, meet Phampants. I met Phampants almost a year ago and he’s quickly become one of my favorite Chicago buddies – Didja…didja see what I did there? He’s not JUST a blogger, he’s a buddy.

He puts up with and even encourages my randomness. He spent all summer helping me grow my postcard collection by traveling all over the world. Or Europe. He lets me gush about blog crushes and reminds me, often, that I’m a girl.  We even have a band! Sure, it’s focused around Beatles Rock Band, but I don’t know a more devoted drummer – plus, he didn’t make fun of my drunken singing voice.

The best part about Pham is that he doesn’t mind that I never call him by his real name. He’s Phampants in my phone and Pham during conversations. As far as I’m concerned, that IS his real name.

So why am I bragging about my awesome friend? Because he’s trying to do something amazing. Pham and his friend Karen are trying to become Ford Fiesta Agents so they can travel the U.S. and contribute to my growing postcard collection.

How can you help?

Pham is a pretty big deal in the vlogging world so check out his Ford Fiesta video below, comment and share it with your friends. Spread the word on your blog, Twitter or Facebook. See his post here.

Twitter suggestion: “I think John & Karen should be Fiesta agents so they can come to YOURCITY http://tr.im/MGQ3 @fordfiesta.  #fiestamovement”

The 20SBs are rocking 2010 so far, so lets try harness our social media powers and help two of our friends achieve great things! Do it for the postcards!!

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Sometimes I want to print out a picture of the universe, tape it to a dart board and throw away. And then sometimes the universe sends me something like this and the game has changed.

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What if funky, confusing, gray, lonely days were just part of a “system” that, in turn, created bright, rich, happy, friendly days?

What if they were just meant to give deeper elements of your creativity a rest?

What if they were deliberately crafted holidays, of a sort, devised by your inner psyche to relieve you from the pressure of artificial expectations?

Would you still bemoan them, wonder what’s wrong with you, or fear that they’ll never end? Or, would they kind of tickle you pink?

Giveaway is CLOSED. MinD is the winner!

I know, I know. What’s the point of a blogging break if I keep coming back? Don’t judge me man!

I’m popping in again to talk books. Not just ANY book, but a funny book. Who doesn’t love a funny book? I certainly love funny books. Just ask blog crush. I can spend hours in a book store searching through “Where’s Elvis” and laughing at Jesus riding a dinosaur. I’ve gotten off track haven’t I…?

Anyway, by now many of you have heard about textsfromlastnight.com, and if you haven’t, you’re missing out. Texts From Last Night is a website where the most inappropriate, hilarious, drunken texts live. The website was such a hit that the authors, Lauren Leto and Ben Bator, so awesomely put them in a book for us. I don’t know about you, but I happen to love leaving random books lying around the house for my guests*.

The book, Texts From Last Night: All the Texts that No One Remembers Sending, is better than a best friend. It’s your shoulder to cry on. Your pick-me-up when you’re down. It’s a great reminder that no matter what you’ve done, someone somewhere did much worse. And if one of your texts is in there, well, congrats?

A few of my favorites:

(540): what do you have against ST?
(1-540): DO NOT ABBREVIATE LIKE YOU AND STAR TREK ARE FRIENDS.

(901): I really wish I could go back in time to change the course of events that led to me sitting on the internet at 3 Googling ‘Traumatic masturbation’ while talking to you about failed dates, and running a virtual restaurant in a video game.

(508): I just woke up and my boobs have “fun police” written on them.

(760): I’m pretty sure the devil’s penis is california-shaped.

I’m pretty sure I could keep going, but I’d rather give you a chance to read some. I must warn you: It’s incredibly difficult to put it down once you pick it up. Be prepared to read the entire thing, laugh out loud no less than 19 times and possibly cry. Twice. Okay, four times.

You might be asking yourself, “Where can I pick up this mega awesome book?” Well reader, you’re in luck! I’m giving away a copy of Texts From Last Night here on the blogaroo!

To be entered, leave a comment on this post. You have until Wednesday, January 27th to enter. Because we’re all greedy, to get extra entries, you can blog or tweet about the giveaway (just be sure to come back and leave a link to your post/tweet in the comments.)

Good luck and I can’t wait to find out what your favorites are!

Texts From Last Night hits store bookshelves on January 26th – just in case you can’t wait.

* What? People visit me.

You might be scratching your head and frantically checking your calendar right now. Is it February already? Fret not my blogger friends. My blog doesn’t have access to any time-travel abilities. Sad right? Actually I’m back a bit early to bring you some exciting news!

As you know, I am quite addicted to my iPhone. I’ve had it a little over a year and it’s changed my life for the better (or worse, depending how you look at it.) I like to think it’s for the better because I can update my blog on-the-go with WordPress 2, learn the names of random songs playing at Starbucks with Shazam or waste hours playing Words With Friends.

My interest in iPhone apps started with Guidespot, but lately I’ve been sharing my reviews and recommendations at Appolicious.com.

Appolicious combines two of my favorite things: apps and people. Once you join, you can create an App Library of all the apps you currently have or have had. You can rate them and share your thoughts for other iPhone addicts and newbies.

Today Appolicious launched curated lists and I just so happened to create one. I highly recommend you iPhone users check it out because it is awesome. I am biased, but I’m sure you will agree.

Top 5 Must Have iPhone Apps for Bloggers

So check out the site, check out the list and let me know if you join! I’d love to follow you and see what apps you’re currently digging!

In only a couple of weeks my blog will turn three. As I tip-toe past toddler-status, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what this blog has meant to me.

Lately I’ve felt that in the past year I’ve spent way too much time marketing myself at Jenn from Free and Flawed rather than Jenn. I’ve lost sight of what this blog was supposed to be about. That doesn’t mean that I’m not grateful for the friendships and opportunities that I’ve been given because of it. It just means that it’s time to take a step back and re-evaluate some blogging goals.

I want to spend more time writing for me and I don’t feel like I can do that anymore at Free and Flawed. With marketers, bosses, family and real-life friends reading, I’m no longer comfortable sharing details of my life that I would have shared a year and a half ago. My blog has grown and so have I. I feel pressure to keep up with the awesome/funny/awkward posts when all I really want to do is gush about a boy, worry about a friend or dance and sing.

In an effort to start 2010 off right, I’m going to step back from Free and Flawed. I’ll spend the next month creating new goals, analyzing old ones and, ultimately, deciding if I will come back to this space that has been my shoulder to cry on, my stage, my bragging wall and my home.

That doesn’t mean I’m giving up blogging for good. The world isn’t coming to an end yet! If I do decide to leave Free and Flawed, you’ll know about it. And I’ll most definitely be popping up in a new place. It will be somewhere only we know.

I’ll still be reading and if you just HAVE to know what muscles I’m pulling or awkward situations I’m getting myself into, well, there’s always Twitter and Facebook.

Now who wants to bet that I’ll have a new blog post up by next week? I’m already thinking of two potential blog posts. Anyone? Bueller?

See last year’s survey here.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? I took an ESL class, I got nervous spoke in front of a crowd, I went to Pittsburgh, Seattle and Vegas, I worked for two start-ups (TPB & Border Stylo), I went to Universal Studios, I went to Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade, I met Chuck Bass, and I moved to California.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I never follow through with resolutions. I keep goals in mind throughout the year, but last year I didn’t make a list of tasks. My only resolution for 2009 was “Don’t Suck.” I’m quite happy with the way 2009 turned out, so I’d say I kept it. I have high hopes for 2010. So in addition to not sucking, I hope to laugh more and to inspire/be inspired.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friend Jen gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Lilia, in the spring.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Unfortunately there have been a couple of deaths this year.
5. What countries did you visit? Is California a country? No? Well then I guess I stayed in the U.S. in 2009. I’m hoping to change that in 2010 (Someone send me on a cruise!)
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? I’d LOVE to have more time and money to travel.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why? I guess that would be Halloween because of the move. Nothing else stands out because I’m bad with numbers.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I’m pretty happy about adding some new cities to the list of places I traveled in 2009 (San Francisco, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas, etc.) I’d also like to applaud myself for traveling 2,000+ miles in a car with my father without attempting to jump out or drive into a mountain.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not putting more effort into school and ultimately leaving UIC. I blame chemistry. I’ll be back!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nope, just my pulled psoas
11. What was the best thing you bought? My bookcase:

I finally have room for all of my books and have an excuse to buy more!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Phil and Nico! They were incredibly helpful and welcoming when I moved to LA. I still owe you guys drinks!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Same as last year, my dad. Surprised? Not really.
14. Where did most of your money go? A majority was spent on the move, books and Target.
15. What did you really, really, really get excited about? The 20SB meet-up in Chicago and the Nintendo Enthusiast dinner at BlogHer. Beatles LOVE. And I’m currently excited about a trip I’ll be taking in January (where am I going?!)
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti
17. Compared to this time last year are you:
Happier? Definitely.
Thinner? Definitely not.
Richer? So close.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I spent more time writing for myself instead of a job, saved more money, traveled more places, and held less grudges.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worry.
20. How did you spend Christmas? I flew home from LA on Christmas Eve and spent the evening with family. It was wonderful.
21. How will you be spending new years? Drunk. What?
22. Did you fall in love in 2009? I fell in love with experiences and friends.
23. How many one-night stands? Who made this survey?
24. What was your favorite TV program? Bones, Psych and Monk.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I’d like to add Brett Favre to that list.
26. What was the best book you read? GOOD question! I’m going to go with “Teasing Secrets from the Dead” by Emily Craig
27. What was your biggest musical discovery? I really got into the Beatles this year, but a new discovery was Coconut Records, Paolo Nutini and Pomplamoose.
28. What did you want and you got? A job I absolutely love.
29. What did you want and not get? My dad to stop being a d-bag.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? (500) Days of Summer
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn? I turned 25 and spent the evening with an amazing group of friends at Wilde.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Less moving. More traveling. A travel buddy.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Comfortable.
34. What kept you sane? My mom, my friends, my blog.
35. Which celebrity did you fancy the most? Not Taylor Lautner…
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Bailouts…
37. Who did you miss? Dan-o!
38. Who was the best new person you met? Phampants, Doni and Blog Crush.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: People are meant to live, not simply exist.
40. Quote or Song Lyric that sums up your year: A Personal Revolution

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I love guest blogging. Sure, I might complain when I have to do it, but it’s only because I see you high up on the blogger food chain (it exists) and I feel pressure to rock your blog like a hurricane. Why is it that when you’re asked to write on someone’s blog you can never think of something to write about? I don’t even know what to write about here half the time. Anyway, this post isn’t about my lack of inspiration or ability to turn your blog into a tropical storm. It’s about the awesome guest bloggers who rocked my blog like it was 1999.

Sometimes I will randomly hop on Twitter and tell whoever is watching that I will pay them $1 if they blog for me the following day. I’m pretty sure I owe someone some money. Uh, it’s in the mail…

Over the summer a lot of people answered that call and I wanted to share a handful of my favorites. So just in case you missed them, here they are:

Smile For The Camera by Phampants

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Blogcation Day 1 by Peter DeWolf

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Suck My Shell by Mom in real life

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Any Blogger Need An Agent? by Berg With Fries

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25 Years Ago Today, My Life Was Changed Forever by My Mom

Thank you to all of my guest bloggers who shared their words with me and my readers this year. It was much appreciated and hopefully we can swap again in 2010!

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You’re welcome Apple.

Why? Because my grandpa has come up with a new slogan for your MacBook Pros. This afternoon we were having a laptop show-and-tell. I encouraged him to touch the laptop because I enjoy touching things. I naturally assumed I got this quirk from him. As he slid his hand over the top of it, he said, “I’ve never felt anything so smooth, and I used to change YOUR diapers!”

I can only assume that my bottom was once the smoothest thing he’s ever touched. Unfortunately the MacBook Pro has bumped me out of first place.

So there you go. MacBook Pros: Smoother than Jenn’s baby-bottom.

It’s great to be home

My name is brandy. And I have a blog.

And a plea.

I use my blog to showcase the crazy I meet everyday, share the stories of the kids I teach and document my love for tequila, dairy products and the abdominal muscles of Ryan Reynolds. Rarely do I talk about personal issues on my blog- as personal as the dude that I adore (who I actually met through my blog- single ladies, let that be a very good reason to blog, the possibility of meeting someone as wonderful as my man), but I need your help. And it involves my dude.

He’s a guy who made math comics for my class, so they would love learning about addition. He’s the kinda guy who sends my friends gift cards when they are having hard times, who remembers every story I ever told him, who was the first person I celebrated with when I got a teaching job. He’s the guy who sent flowers to me at school- dozens of my favourite pink roses just because he loves me. He’s a guy who has spent a year patiently explaining (and re-explaining) everything there is to know about football during the important games when silence is preferred. He’s made me word puzzles and comics and stayed up late playing Scrabble with me (even though I beat him almost every time). He’s listened to me cry about school and family and jobs. He is everything I never knew I needed and everything I always knew I wanted.

The holidays have hit us hard. He’s recently been told he may have something called multiple myeloma- an incurable cancer, that gives a person an average of five years of continued life. Though this news has came as a shock, he continues to be exactly who has always been- spending his time worrying about me, rather than worrying about himself. He’s the most selfless individual I know- (he stayed late on Christmas Eve to work, so his co-workers could leave early) and a post like this would never be something that he would promote or encourage but when I’m overwhelmed and feeling helpless, the blogging community has always given me tremendous support and comfort, two things I desperately need at this time.

As I write this, the future is uncertain and we aren’t sure what’s happening. He’ll need to see an oncologist soon, to verify what’s going on in his body. My hope is that everyone who reads this think positive thoughts and if you are a person who prays, could you add him to your list? (You can refer to him as ‘brandy’s hot awesome dude’). If you don’t pray, please keep him in your heart.This cancer is only a possibility and I believe that the prayers and positive thoughts of people can make sure it never becomes a reality.

I want to give a big thank you to the blog owner who scraped their original blog plans and graciously put this up. My goal is to get as many people as possible to see and read this post. If you are reading this and want to help, copy and paste my plea into your blog or send a link through twitter, so more people can keep him in their thoughts. I would be so very grateful (even more grateful than I am to my friend who first showed me the picture of Ryan Reynolds on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. If you haven’t seen it, google it. You. Are. Welcome).

I realize this all sounds dramatic, a Lifetime movie in the making- but this is life. Right now. And I’m throwing away any hint of ego and am humbly asking for you to pray or think kind thoughts. If you are able to pass this on, thank you and if you know anything regarding MM- please email me (my email is on my blog). This isn’t a call for sympathy or a plea for pity. It’s just one girl hoping you can think positive thoughts for the person she adores. If my current heartache provides you with anything, let it be with the reminder that life is short, love is unbending and no one knows what could happen next. Maybe it is silly, but I really do believe that positive thoughts can make a huge difference. Thank you for reading this and if you haven’t already? Please tell someone you love them today.

I did.

So apparently Michael Bay took a break from ruining movies to create Victoria’s Secret commercials. Great, now he’s ruining my bra. Curiosity got the best of me so of course I had to watch the 1:30 commercial.

And now you can too! Merry Christmas.

I watched it with a co-worker and the entire time we were waiting for an explosion. It wouldn’t be a Michael Bay commercial without an explosion. Don’t you worry, it happens. I’m pretty sure this commercial, once again, is for the men as I’m very confused as to what they’re selling me. Exploding bras? Semi-nude chicks on pool tables? The possibilities are endless!

P.S. Whoever decided that another Karate Kid movie would be a great idea, you were greatly misinformed.

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