One of my biggest blogging quirks is that I tend to be on the anti-social side. Okay, I’m a super homebody. I don’t go anywhere during the week and I ditch out of events early on the weekends.

And then I start to miss my blogging friends and want to meat (I’m keeping this typo because I love that my subconscious ran with the BBQ theme) new people I’ve connected with online.

So, I had the (not so original) idea to round y’all up for some messy BBQ and BYOB. Here are the details:

Who: Bloggers and Tweeters from the Austin-area
When: Saturday, June 16th at 4:00
Where: The Salt Lick Driftwood

If anyone is interested, we can meet at my house (on the south-side) and drive together. Leave a comment if you can come and I’ll add you to the Austin Blogger BBQ Twitter list. And of course, we need a hashtag – #bloggerBBQ.

#bitchesgottaeat works, too.

Please come. Or it’ll just be me, an empty bottle of wine, and BBQ sauce all over my face. Which may make for a good blog post anyway.

Another great post from Oh Hey!

weiner dog treats for my weiner dog

Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Dog Treats

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup canned organic pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 3 tablespoons organic peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• water if needed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl or stand mixer. Sprinkle with water if needed to form ball. Roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into shapes. Bake until hard, about 30 minutes. Cool completely before serving.

Another great post from Oh Hey!

What are you reading? I never turn down a book recommendation.

This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decreptitude & More. For Young and Old Alike. by Augusten Burroughs – I love a good Augusten Burroughs book, but I’ve already been warned that this one is a far cry from his usual darkly jaunty stories.

Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor – Recommend as part of Sometimes Sweet’s summer reading list. There’s nothing like a sad sad memoir (with a pretty cover) to make you appreciate your own life.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green – Another tear-jerker. I’m pretty sure this is on just about everyone’s “to read” list this summer.

The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger – There are some harsh reviews for this book on Amazon and GoodReads. Which is kinda why I want to read it.I guess mail order brides can be quite polarizing.

An Uncommon Education by Elizabeth Percer – The description says that the book “captures the complicated ties of family, the bittersweet inevitability of loss, and the importance of learning to let go.” I, apparently, want to weep my way through my summer.

Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead – Finally! Some fluff!

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler - Because I’m curious what other explanation there could be besides “you’re a big fat jerk.”

Another great post from Oh Hey!

I’ve been the girl wearing a t-shirt in the pool. I’ve been the girl at the pool party that “forgot” her swimsuit. I’ve been the girl in a coverup on the beach (and not because of an itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini).

Shopping for a swimsuit? Almost unbearable. I’m perpetually looking for a swimsuit that meets my strict criteria (and I never ever try swimsuits on in store – those lights and mirrors can reduce damn near anyone to tears):

• Thick straps – but no halter tops. I’d like to be able to stand up straight.
• Molded cups – but no underwire. Uniboob is not pretty on anyone.
• Tankinis preferred – but they must to be tunic length. Ruching is good.
• Qualify fabric – to suck me in and push me up. While still allowing me to breath.
• Patterns and color are a must – no old lady/fat girl boring-ness.
• That certain something that makes me feel comfortable and confident and not running for a coverup.

It wasn’t until I discovered Lands’ End that I found a swimsuit that met all of my criteria. Every spring, I snatch up as many of their tunic tankinis as I can because I know they sell out quick (proving that most women aren’t twigs – though those women probably have swimsuit struggles of their own) and I know I won’t feel like myself in anything else.

So, I applaud Lands’ End and SELF Magazine for celebrating women of all shapes and sizes during National Swimsuit Confidence Week. Thank you. And please don’t ever stop making this tankini.

So confident I took pictures by the pool. While my neighbors watched like I'd lost my mind.

If Twitter parties are your thing, look for the #confidence hashtag every day this week from 12-1 pm CDST for a chance to win Lands’ End gift cards and show your swimsuit confidence.

The lovely people at Lands’ End asked me to participate in National Swimsuit Confidence Week. I’m wearing one of the many Lands’ End swimsuits that I purchased.

Another great post from Oh Hey!

Since we're talking about cash, I figured Johnny should join us.

Another week of being an adult. When does this self-imposed shopping sabbatical end? I want new shoes.

•  $33 gas
• $40 grocery
• $65 Costco
• $76 Apple (Don’t get excited. It’s just a car charger and a phone case.)
• $33 NewEgg (Again, nothing too exciting – a refurbished keyboard for my iPad)
• $183 memory foam mattress topper (I’m giving it one week, and if I still wake up crippled, it’s going back.)

And here’s what I spent on my trip to South Padre Island last weekend. Not bad for three days away.

• $36 gas
• $100 food
• $125 vet

Where’d you spend your money this week?

Another great post from Oh Hey!

This is my current go-to dinner. I like a 50-50 mix of veggies and rosamarina pasta. I often substitute zucchini squash for brussels sprouts and I use copious amounts of parmesan.

(And I can’t decide between brussel sprouts or brussels sprouts, so I’m going to use both with no rhyme or reason.)

Brussels Sprout Pasta

• brussels sprouts, as many as you like, chiffonaded (is that even a word?)
• pasta, as much as you like of any variety that you like
• butter
• olive oil
• good quality grated parmesan to taste
• coarse salt & ground pepper to taste

Toss brussel sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and broil until soft. Cook pasta per package directions. Combine brussel sprouts, pasta, butter, and parmesean cheese. Plate and sprinkle with more parm and a little coarse salt. Read a gossip magazine and eat with spoon.

The squash version. I can't decide which is my favorite.

Another great post from Oh Hey!

Never again will a road trip be complete without a stop at Buc-ees.

Though I could probably navigate the Texas Tropical Trail without two GPS systems and a fuzz buster.

I’m pretty sure you fall off the side of the earth when you reach the end of the island.

The view from our room at the Pearl Hotel was so lovely I don’t think anyone would believe it was Texas (no offense, Texas).

My first time though border patrol was exciting. I felt like Nancy Botwin. (Specifically, season 4 episode 2. Prius? Check. Iced coffee? Check. Broken tail light? The only thing missing.)

Oh, and a dog jumped through my car window.

Ever go somewhere you weren’t expecting to like but end up really liking it? Yeah. That.

Another great post from Oh Hey!

On our drive home from South Padre Island this weekend, we stopped at a Dairy Queen in the middle of nowhere. I rolled down the window, placed our order, and started to pull forward to pay when I spotted a big, friendly looking mutt outside the front door of the restaurant. Being the dog lover that I am, I said hello to the pup who cocked his head and perked up. I thought he must be waiting for his owner inside, but no; he wasn’t on a leash so he jauntily ran towards my open window. He jumped up to say hello and was as sweet as pie so I gave him a scratch behind the ears. He circled my car and came back to the my window where I gave him some more love and looked around for his owner.

That’s when he proceeded to launch himself through my open window and onto my lap.

Not a lap dog. But a damn good cuddler.

By the time he made it through the window I was in panic mode, hoping he was friendly as I judged him to be, when he places a paw on each of my shoulders like he was giving me a giant hug.

(At this point, I feel like I shared a bit of a moment with the pooch, so I’d like to refer to him as Herbert from here on out. Herb for short.)

Herb wasn’t a small dog and I honestly don’t know how he fit through the window in the first place, but when he did, he knocked my car into reverse, got tangled in the seat belt, and honked the horn with his tail. I was able to open the door while my friend got out, ran to the other side, and coaxed Herb off of my lap.

Thankfully, he just wanted to give me a hug and not maul my face off. Unfortunately, none of us had the wherewithal to snap a photo until after I regained control of the vehicle. And rolled up my window.

But now I can’t stop thinking about Herb.

He looked well taken care of and was clearly used to someone loving on him, but his collar had no tags, otherwise I would have contacted the owner and waited for them to come pick him up. Hell, I would have given Herb a lift home. I told the restaurant manager what happened and she said that he had walked in and out of the restaurant a few minutes earlier and they were calling the animal shelter for help finding his owner. When we pulled away, he was laying safely in the shade in the patio area.

Thanks for the memories, Herb. I hope you found your way home. Your owners will never know what a day you had.

xoxo

Another great post from Oh Hey!

I was so close to a no-spend-week (something I’ve been trying to attain since my very first paycheck) but the necessities are necessary. Veggies, toilet paper, mascara.

• $37 CVS
• $38 grocery
• $48 Target

Where’d you spend your money this week?

Another great post from Oh Hey!

• The Shops at Target are so cute and the Webster for Target line is adorable. Unfortunately, everything I ordered was elephant-size so it all had to go back. Shopping sabbatical saved.
• I really think people underestimate the  merits of crushed ice. It makes pop fizzier, homemade iced coffee perfect, and is infinitely useful in case of emergency.
• Fatkini. Work it.
• Raygun is where I bought my favorite Yay Cleavage tshirt (not only is it funny, the material is divine) and now I’m loving the I’m not a player I just blog a lot tshirt (even though it’s super cheesy).
• I just registered for another 5k. In New York City. If you’re going to BlogHer, run the BlogHer 5k (very very slowly) with me!
• I thought Casey Mulligan’s Met Gala dress was grand and I love that she listed it on ebay to benefit Oxfam. She’s even covering the shipping!
• Jalapeno popper grilled cheese. Then we all died of happiness. And a heart attack.
• I am beyond excited for a roadtrip to Buc-ees this weekend. Don’t judge me.

Another great post from Oh Hey!