What a difference time and growing up makes!

Anyway… Today’s Wayback Wednesday photo is me with BFF Shannon earlier in the night at the pre-party, before her metaphorical blood was shed.

Before it all went to hell...

Mmm... Chocolate.

Remember last night, when I posted that I’d spent the entire day feeling extraordinarily grouchy? Well, three things happened this morning that started me off in such a good mood that I’m still feeling cheery, despite the fact that the rest of my day has been decidedly average.

Pretty much the first thing I saw this morning, given that the notification was on my iPhone screen when I woke up, was a Twitter reply alerting me to the fact that Think Geek sells a blue canary nightlight, inspired by “Birdhouse in Your Soul.” I have never owned a nightlight in my entire adult life, but I could not get to their website fast enough to order one of my own. The mere thought of it in my bathroom – in the outlet by the light switch, natch – makes me a little bit giddy.

(Such is the amazing power of the Internet that a woman I’ve never met in real life, but expect that I would like, given our shared fondness for preservation, hockey, and They Might Be Giants, was able to make my day with a 140-character message. Modern life, FTW!)

Following shortly after that tweet, I got an email from my friend Liz, telling me the Girl Scout Cookies I ordered from her daughter had arrived. I was very glad to hear from her, because I thought I had been a little too casual in my cookie ordering, relying on Facebook comments and casual mentions in bars rather than the more traditional writing on the long, shiny-paper form. I should have known that Liz would never leave me hanging on something as critical as my Samoa stash. Of course, if everyone I ordered from comes through, I’ll have six boxes of Samoas, which might be overmuch… But better too many than too few!

And, completing this morning’s trifecta of awesome, a large amount of chocolate was delivered to the office, courtesy of the folks at Videri Chocolate Factory in Raleigh. (One of my colleagues interviewed them for a blog post last week.) We all already thought they were fabulous because they make organic, fair-trade chocolate in a rehabbed warehouse, but sending us samples of their extremely tasty wares sealed the deal. If you happen to find yourself in Raleigh, give them a visit, eat some yummy stuff, and see how they make the chocolate. Fun and deliciousness!

Is it any wonder that my morning left a smile on my face all day?

***

Oh, if any of you are lamenting an actual written post in the place of the usual Wayback Wednesday photoblog, do not despair – I’ll be posting it later. Two posts in one day… I must be happy!

Seriously, for more than 20 years, this song has been my happy place – I absolutely cannot stay grumpy while listening to it. This is partially due to the song itself, because it’s infectious and perky and goofy, but also because it reminds me of people from college whom I hold very dear and thinking of them makes me happy, too.

Tonight, however, I discovered an added bonus to listening to this once I decided to post it here on the blog, because I had forgotten what a totally weird-ass video it had. Ah, the 1990s.

(I am, by the way, assuming that this comes with the old “If money wasn’t an object…” caveat. It would be boring otherwise.)

First thing I’d do if I were redecorating is get new furniture. Most everything I have is either hand-me-downs or Ikea crap, and there’s little of it that I like or would miss. I’d keep a few pieces – the antiques, basically – but have them refinished nicely. Then, I’d build around them to make rooms that actually look like they go together. Oh, and I’d get a couch long enough for me to nap on and some kind of magical insomnia-curing bed.

After the furniture was all coordinated, I would finally decide what to do with my walls. Despite living in this place for nearly six years, I’ve hardly hung anything up. I might buy something cool, like the refurbished tin ceiling wall hangings they sell at Eastern Market, for the living room, but I’d also like to do something better with my travel photography. (I have one small area with pictures, but I haven’t updated them since I went to Thailand/Cambodia in 2006.)

Finally, I’d paint the entire kitchen – cabinets and all. It’s a super-small room, and the dark brown cabinets make it look even smaller. Because I rent, I can’t do anything with the configuration of the room, and I can’t do things like change the counters or flooring, so paint would be the only way to improve the room.

To be honest, with my place being as small as it is, “money is no object” probably isn’t even required. I could probably do all of this for $5000 or so… But alas, I don’t have that kind of cash laying around. I need to get a sponsor – “Sarah’s apartment brought to you by [Company X]” has a nice ring to it, yes?

Today’s main event was using my Groupon – which expires on Tuesday – at the Newseum. Unfortunately, it seems everyone who bought one saved it until this weekend, too, so the main exhibits were so crowded as to be impossible to see anything.

On the bright side, my friends Farin and Shereef, and their new baby Adam, were also among the Groupon-using hordes. So, rather than learning much about the history of news, I caught up with everything that’s been going on since Adam’s arrival – all in all, a very enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.

1. I know I mentioned this before, but getting carded twice on Monday was definitely the high point of the week.

2. My office closed early on Friday for the holiday weekend, and I used the free hours to go to an early happy hour with a friend/coworker who I don’t get to hang out with enough. It was good to catch up – and it was the first time in ages I’ve had a well-poured Guinness.

3. I’m starting to feel better from this cold and it was sunny and warm today – two things that make for a pretty excellent Saturday.

What’s been beautiful in your world this week?

Mmm... Guinness!

Oh, it’s a three-day weekend, and I could not be happier. (Believe me when I say it is so very, very needed.) Here’s what I’ve got planned:

• Finally kick this stupid cold out the door for good.
• Watch the Christmas/final season two episode of “Downtown Abbey.”
• Re-read The Hunger Games, which is my current book group selection.
• Use my Groupon at the Newseum before it expires.
• Read the eleventy-billion articles saved in my Instapaper queue.
• Cook up some tasty stuff for lunches/dinners next week.
• Finish watching the back episodes of “White Collar” that I started on Netflix last weekend.
• Write the guest blog post I owe Jenna. Yes, the one I was on deadline for like two weeks ago.
• Drink some Guinness. Oh, wait – that’s what I did tonight with the couple of extra hours afforded me by the early dismissal from work.

How will you be using your extra free time?

• At almost the exact same time my bad back got better – as determined by my ability to put my socks on without pain – I came down with an incredibly annoying cold. I’m not sick enough to count as legit sick, but I’m tired and sneezy and sniffly and grumpy. And so over feeling lousy.
• Related to the post linked above, some of the mouse poison in my apartment has been eaten – though I haven’t smelled the related dead mouse aroma my landlord said would accompany it. I’m assuming this just means my congestion has some value, though I hope it means the mouse went elsewhere to die.
• Despite feeling like hell, I got carded twice on Tuesday Monday. Without a doubt, this is the best thing that’s happened to me all week.
• I booked tickets to go see my sister in Houston next month. I now need to decide who we’re going to see at the rodeo – Zac Brown Band or Miranda Lambert… Or maybe both?
• It is Social Media Week, and DC is one of the host cities this year, so I’ve been trying to make it to at least one free session per day. The one I went to yesterday afternoon was hands-down the best one, so good, in fact, that it might get a blog post of its very own.
• This morning, I saw crocuses for the first time this year – quite pretty and cheerful, if rather early.

Me and my sweet ride, c. 1976.

This is one of my favorite pictures from childhood – new Big Wheel, heart-shaped sunglasses, and a big ol’ smile. I don’t know where I was heading (presumably not far) but when it’s a sunny day and you’re five years old, I suspect the destination didn’t matter a bit.

My current favorite: milk chocolate with sea salt and almonds.

It’s not hard to figure out that today’s 10 on Tuesday prompt, favorite chocolate treats, is inspired by Valentines Day, but (fortunately) it’s a topic that works for the single as well as the coupled. After all, chocolate-love transcends relationships – and the date on the calendar.

My list, in no particular order:

1. Cake. My favorite is my grandma’s chocolate mayonnaise cake, which I will actually get around to posting one of these days.

2. Cupcakes. Some might argue that this is pretty much the same as the one above, but I disagree. And don’t care what the haters (ahem, Wendy) say.

3. Brownies. I’ve said it before, but Baker’s One Bowl brownies are hands down the best – and easiest – scratch brownies on the planet.

4. Chocolate bars. I’m currently obsessed by the ones in the photo, but my go-to favorite is the Chocolove dark chocolate with chilies and cherries.

5. Ice cream. I’ve been in love with Ben & Jerry’s New York Superfudge Chunk since… oh, nearly forever, and while I like other chocolate ice creams, too, it will always be my number-one favorite.

6. Chocolate caramels. Kraft used to make these, but I haven’t seen them in ages. I loved them and would be so happy to find them again. (Note: these are actually chocolate-flavored caramels, not chocolate-covered ones, like Riesen.)

7. Mocha latte. I’m mostly a non-sweet coffee drinker (my gingerbread latte obsession aside) but when I need more pick-me-up than caffeine alone provides, this is my go-to beverage.

8. Chocolate-covered cherries. Or strawberries. Yum and yum.

9. Chocolate chip cookies. Preferably with walnuts. I don’t know why, but that makes them so much better.

10. Hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. One of the only exceptions to my no-milk-with-alcohol rule. Oddly enough, we drank this a lot in college, despite it being much more complicated than, say, beer.

What’s on your list? And what did I forget? (I wrote this list on the Metro this morning, so I know I have to have missed something obvious.)

Oh, and Happy Valentines Day! Yay, love!