Go Ahead, I Dare You

Friday, January 13, 2012
Location: Wildfire - Oakbrook
Task #17 Take a Dare

So we sit down at dinner. Wildfire. Not the fanciest of places but it's still slightly embarrassing when it looks like you've peed on yourself after Jess spills her water all in your lap the minute you sit down. May I mention, too, that it was not exactly comfortable sitting through dinner slightly damp? But we made the most of it none the less. My boss had just given me $100 gift card for the restaurant so we were looking forward to having a feast.

On the way I told Jess and Julie that I still needed to take a dare. Julie thought it would be a good idea to dare me to pee in the snow. Well, seen as it looked like I peed on myself by dinner, I may as well have said  I took that dare, but I like to think I have a little more class than that (which you all know I do).  So after we ordered I was still dare-less.

The artichoke fondu appetizer came  - a little disappointing - and my sisters soup came, along with the standard bread. Julie again tried to dare me to eat the strange bread with raisins etc, and I, not catching on, was all, "Julie, I'm not eating the bread. I've had it before I don't feel like it." She rolled her eyes at me, and tried again.

"Jenny, I dare you to try Jess' soup!"

I looked at her bowl and made that face I make when I see food I don't like. And when I say
"food I don't like" I mean something I've never tried and just decided it must be terrible based solely on it's appearance and implied texture. So Julie knew she had me, and Jess jumped on board. I couldn't refuse or it would be a huge fail. Oh did I mention it was shrimp bisque soup?

Yea so I puckered up and slurped some shrimp bisque. Now, I like shrimp, soup, in general, not so much, but my lord this tasted fishy. It was chunky and lumpy and the after taste...ick! Maybe a taste ok, or even dipping bread or pita in it might be ok. But I could never eat a whole bowl of that. I still shutter thinking about it... Did I mention: ick!

Later, Julie regretted wasting her dare. After mentioning the waiter was cute, she tried to dare me to ask him out. "Oh, Julie! You should have held out for that dare!" Jess told her after she realized it was much better than the soup thing. I laughed a little smugly at my good fortune, avoiding further public humiliation. And at least now I can add a new item to the Food-I-Actually-Don't-Like List.  And for the rest of you, hoping to dare me to do something, sorry, too late!

I Wouldn't Have the Nerve

Friday, January 13, 2012

Location: Norstrom Rack

Task # 27 Buy an Outfit that "Isn't Me"

We thought we were heading to Wildfire to "see the stars", but were running a tad early, due to my ill-fated snowboarding plan. My sister was asking me which bucket list items I had left.  I mentioned at some point I would need to buy an outfit that "wasn't me", and that I would most likely need some help.

Jess had an excellent idea. We weren't far from Butterfield Rd, and still had 45 minutes until the stores closed. She suggested we go to Nordstrom Rack and see if we couldn't fulfill one of the goals.

I swear I have never shopped so fast, relying pretty much entirely on my sister's taste. I was surprised she didn't try to get me in something glitter, and was surprised how much I liked her suggestions. 

The funny thing is, it's not that the outfit is totally "un-me", it's that I never would have thought to put it together, and had I somehow come upon it on my own (aka saw it on a mannequin), I never would have had the nerve to buy it (or wear it). I realize I do enjoy the trendy more than I would have guessed, I just need someone with the right eye, a confidence booster in the risk department. And the more I think about it, the outfit I left with is me, the me I don't let out very often. Now the wearing it part still remains to be seen ( I promise a pic will go up soon), but I'm really looking forward to it!

Thanks, Jess, for bringing out the hipster in me!

Sianara Macy's Monthly Statements

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Location: Home

Task #20 Pay off Macy's Card

There's really not much to say about this one. I sucked it up and paid it off. That weekend I may not have gone out to an expensive dinner or bought a  fancy dress with heals I can't walk in, but it was money well spent. Now I have one less monthly payment to think about. And I'm looking forward to taking a more aggressive approach to getting out of debt!

Domesticated

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Location: Home

Task #12

I hate cooking. I still maintain that. And I'm not very crafty about it.  But I know that when push comes to shove I can call my mom and she'll tell me how to set the stove so I can make myself a meal. Or even something that is fit to serve others - just in case they would starve otherwise. 

I made steak and potatoes, which took all of 20 minutes to make - and that includes setting the table. 

Started with preparing the meat - trimming the fat, seasoning with garlic salt and oregano, and tossed them in the oven.  And I gladly took the cheat of baking the potatoes in the microwave after stabbing them over and over to make air holes.  And viola! Set the table, throw some bread out, some butter, and we had a meal. 

My mom thinks I'm going to make them dinner once a week... um... False.

All that work for the results of your efforts to be eaten and gone! It's really not hard, but I hate it.