mipmup.

how to live without dying.

do you ever have one of those days awakened by the stony face of your reality? like, this is my life. hello. good morning. can i die now?

for me, my weakness in the form of stress involves money. it always has. hearing about those with more of it makes my competitive spirit envious then sad. it's all so self-involved, but it's where i'm at right now.

today, i told myself upon waking and feeling the familiar heartbeat of my green friend: "be content. just be content." so on my walk, i kept repeating the phrase, "i am content." even if i don't feel it. my yoga instructor always says something about how we're supposed to envision what we want and hey! we've already created it. personally, i don't buy it, but i'm going with it today because the alternative of crawling back into bed and dying just ain't happening.

i repeated my new mantra even though i didn't feel it. i thought, maybe it's something that will "kick in" later in the day.

in the doctor's office later this morning, i'm reading one of those "historical novels" that i just can't rid myself of (seriously. what is the matter with me?) and one of the sagacious old characters says to her granddaughter, "the art of happiness is being content with what you have."

is this a conspiracy to stop me from being a sad sack or what?

now i sit here trying as hard as i can to just be content with what i have.

without dying.

ps i am, however, truly content with these peonies, my favorite flowers given to me by my better half.

pps i am also quite content to learn that dansko finally produced those vegan professional clogs i'd been eyeing for half a year. hooray!

i'm a hikin' machine!

mo photos from this week hiking adventure. highlights include: discovering hiking on a cloudy day is truly dreamy; finding out why this trail was closed recently; fresh mountain lion poop (didn't stop to document. you understand, don't you?); the swimmingest and not-so-swimmingest dogs there ever were; why we got our dogs rattlesnake vaccines. enjoy.

friday favorites.

here are my favorites for this week:

• prana pants. ok, my hiking buddy and i call it "prana butt" and it ain't pretty, but for lightness, durability and comfort, they can't be beat. (let's not talk about the fact that i had trouble figuring out that the buckles on the front actually serve a purpose, ok?) $60.

• superdark toenail polish. i've been wearing this on my toesies and i love it, especially because it's a tad unexpected in the spring. downside? it chipped within two weeks. that said, it could be all the walking and hiking i've been doing. (and it matches my blog! kidding.) $7.

• a pink thermos. i'm kind of into thermoses (thermosi?). maybe it reminds me of days of ol' when my mommy would pack my lunch and stick spaghettios into my trusty blue thermos. and they always stayed hot. it's a miracle ive made it thus far having eaten such crap. anyhooo, i like this one because a] it's cute and b] my better half wouldn't be tempted to take it from me. $16.99.

• pretty leatherman. since i'm all outdoorsy all of a sudden and needing to fend off things like mountain lions and stalkers, i found this little thang - that has been sitting in our junk drawer - handy. the only problem (and speaking of taking things that aren't yours) it belongs to my better half. sure, i can throw it in my pack and pretend it's mine, but until i really get one of my own, it just won't feel right. i know i had one a long time ago, but of course, i can't find it. and it's not orange like this one. $45 or so.

• aubrey organics hair stuff. i read that their blue green algae hair mask helps an itchy scalp (no, i don't have dandruff, my head just itches), so i thought i'd try it. i was going to try this other brand, but since i have no experience with them, i thought i'd go into the comfort zone (plus, aubrey is less expensive). i had to order it online since i couldn't find it anywhere and it rocks. it made my hair super shiny and soft. and it helped my scalp. i used it along with their scalp soothing shampoo and gpb conditioner (which i found out while applying isn't vegan since it contains milk protein). i like my hair. i really like my hair! i'm sort of spacey lately and i also bought their smoothing shampoo which i thought was smoothing conditioner. i kept it for when i don't itch, but frizz. all products around $10-15. [warning, their site nav is a little weird.]

photo credits: essie; leatherman; aubrey organics; prana; everythinghome.com.

is it a full moon?

things are a tad bit off today.

sighted:
a bum reclining on the beach casually leafing through a macy's memorial day flyer, flanked by her "found object" bike and her belongings.

peter brady (again).

heard:
"mipmup's a good housekeeper." 
— stated with love and pride by mipmup's dad (egads is this really my life?)

received:
ugly hippie shoes. (what they hell is going on with me? that said, they're incredibly comfortable.)\

[editor's note: um. apparently, it is.]

it's almost november, right?

this hp nerd can't wait.

clean-up on aisle 12.

i've never been a huge neat-freak. in fact, when i was a pre-teen, i may have been accused of being downright slovenly. as i've gotten older, i strive for cleanliness without zealotry, particularly in the kitchen. i'm still not a mise en place despot, but i am trying to be more orderly.

this goal, apparently, has not rubbed off on my better half.

we bought a grill yesterday because i love to bbq, maybe more so than my better half though i make him do all the work for some weird reason. i am excited about the grill that we purchased already assembled, which i now understand (after asking for a "floor model discount") is a good thing and saved us a $30 assembly charge. now i see why my better half was shushing me as i questioned the sales guy. normally, since the better half and i aren't generally mechanically-inclined (euphemism) the "at-home" assembly process would have resulted in some kind of swearing, sweating and scratching of the head for well over an hour.

as our inaugural meal, we planned to start with malibu rum and pineapple cocktails and an appetizer of toasted pepita dip from martha (thanks life begins @ 30 for sending the recipe since i've lost my book). note: i was proud and oddly confused having only one appetizer. we normally get too filled up, so we were strict with ourselves. our main menu included: grilled marinated skirt steak, salad of black beans, hearts of palm and corn, red rice (adapted from this recipe) and flour and whole wheat tortillas. our friends brought over edamame salad with baby beets, gazpacho and beer (of which we drank none). for dessert, we served vanilla ice cream with mango chunks and brown sugar, topped with a butter cookie. (and for the record, our meal could have easily served 10, not five.)

but all of this is just fluff.

the real problem is that my better half has become somewhat of a disaster in the kitchen. normally, i overlook this and utter a "oh honey," as i pass through the kitchen, but yesterday was a prime example. as he was grinding peppercorns for the marinade, he slipped (i think from pressing them too vigorously) and it was peppercorn snow all over the room. peppercorns by the dog bowl. peppercorns in the sink. peppercorns in the corner. peppercorns on the carpet (10 feet away). peppercorns peeping from the cookbook. this incident, coupled with the making of the marinade in the blender (all over his hands, the counter, outside of the blender), once again proves that he needs a bit of authority in the kitchen.

of course, once i figured out i needed to document this, i had already cleaned up much of it. but just trust me on this.

finally, i gently suggested that he might find some other things to do while i finished up. the dictator is in the house.

photo credit: rubbermaid.

yes, this is in la.

took a great hike yesterday. can you believe this is in la? more photographic evidence.

friday favorites.

here are my favorites for this week:

• new deodorant. does this go in the category of too much information? well, we're so close, who cares. this stuff works like a charm. i stopped using antiperspirant a while back for several reasons, mainly i don't think it's good to plug up the glands that excrete toxins. mind you, when wearing this, you will still sweat (which i think is a good thing), but you won't smell. $15.

• earrings. i'm kind of obsessed with stuff from bliss right now. skin stuff, make-up, accessories, clothes. i want it all. right now, i think i would like to have these earrings. normally, i'm not a gold person, but i think they look quite summery. $95 (they're real!).

• peony wreath. we just gave this wreath to one of dad's caregivers at the most recent hospital he was an inpatient. you know peonies are my favorite flower and i really just wanted it for myself. $34.30 (shoot, just went on sale!).

• orange trash can. can i get this because it matches my kitchenaid? lately, i've made a pact not to buy junky stuff anymore. goodbye rubbermaid trash can, hello sleek metal orange goddess of trash. i've also considered just buying a plain steel one from a medical supply company. you know you've gone off the deep end when you actually consider asking your father's physician for the name of his trash can supplier. at $48, maybe i'll just breakdown and order the darned thing.

• recycled wood frame. this too is something we ordered as a thank-you gift recently. i like this because it's made with recycled stuff, specifically recycled wood from old boats, houses, schools and buildings in thailand." i think that's a way cool way to support reuse and also, the thai people. plus, i just read this article in this month's organic style about raising children sustainably and it got me thinking about how much stuff we really don't need. if you buy it, at least your getting something old that's new again. $48.

photo credits: benedetta; bliss; hold everything; uncommon goods; smith & hawken.

it's all about me v.

threes.

three physical things you like about yourself.
my upper arms
my lips
my toenails when they're painted

three physical things you don't like about yourself.
my legs
my ears
the way that one part of my eyebrows refuses to grow in

three parts of your heritage.
mexican
polish
teensy bit of native american (who knew?)

three things that scare you.
birds (here's why, thanks life begins @ thirty.)
having children
dental work

three of your everyday essentials.
la natura mango shea butter lip balm
gossip pages
peet's chai tea with silk

three things you are wearing now.
a lot of j. crew stuff currently boycotting.
jean shirts
my ipod

three of your favorite bands or musical artists.
prince
black eyed peas
billie holiday

three things you want in a relationship.
affection
honesty
laughter

two truths and a lie (which is a lie?).
sometimes i nap in the middle of the day
i cook only with olive oil
i sucked my thumb until i was nine

three physical things that turn you on.
dark hair
shoulders
calf muscles

three of your favorite only hobbies.
blogging (duh)
yoga
purchasing way too much stationery

three things you want to do really badly right now.
find direction
organize this pile of papers next to my desk
become financially secure

three careers you are considering.
writer
some kind of natural medicine person
technical something or other

three places you want to go on vacation.
chaco canyon
italy
belize

three things you want to do before you die.
feel fulfilled
leave some kind of legacy
visit all the continents

three celebrity crushes.
tyson
martha stewart
orlando bloom (only in lotr though)

three people to which i say, "tag you're it."
debaucherous and dishevelled
justjenn rants and raves
naaley

thanks to frecklegirl for the inspiration.

a doctor's office primer.

my days are filled with visits to doctors' offices with my dad: physiatrist, orthopedist, neuropsychiatrist, cardiologist, dermatologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, dentist, neuro-optometrist, primary care physician (or, if you're like me, a total pro, "pcp"). i'm in these offices so much that apparently i'm beginning to fit in. the ortho asked me today if i was in the medical field. perhaps i should be. but until then, some pointers:

• don't bring food and drink. first, there are a lot of germs and gross people in doctors' offices. you don't want to ingest that stuff.
• order all of your records and bring them with you during your visit. this is especially important if you've been in a catastrophic accident. this means x-rays and labs, too. the nurse or doctor will inevitably ask you some obscure question. it is helpful to have this information because they will most likely forget to ask themselves.
• that myth about doctors' ego? true. just work it to your advantage ("yes, doctor. uh-huh? you don't say?")
• ask questions. you know you've read that in glamour or heard it before, but this is important. want to know why she's recommending that test? ask. and if you don't want it, don't take it.
• do research. i figured out that my dad's bloodwork may have been off because of an interaction between two drugs. and not while sitting in some research library - while i was waiting in line at the drugstore reading their branded drug information book that was on sale for about $4.
• keep everything. even though it's tempting to toss that drug information sheet that's given with your prescription, save it. i just needed one for a claim.
• take notes. you'll forget what the hell she just talked about.
• make friends with the office staff. they'll be your saving grace.
• be a hound. i am on the phone with dad's pcp office about once a day. they forget things, but you know that old saying about the squeaky wheel? it applies in the medical world more than anywhere i think.
• bring a sweater - or maybe a comforter. my dad's dentist's office is reminiscent of an artic oasis or perhaps a meat locker. whichever may be cooler on any given day.
• be gracious. a note of sincere appreciation goes a long way.