The importance of being nice

This is my attempt at looking extra friendly. And meet my new favorite sweater! SO SOFT!

Life lessons from someone you probably don't take seriously! Ha ha.

Rudeness is a quality I cannot tolerate. Unfortunately we all deal with this everyday, usually from complete strangers. I do NOT understand this. I go out of my way to be kind, friendly, and at the very least polite to people I encounter and interact with even if they don't do the same for me. You never know what kind of day they're having and what impact you and your actions may have on them. There is so much nastiness out in the world, why add to it?

I guess working in customer service for 100 years has probably affected my outlook on things. I have been on the receiving end of rudeness too many times to count. This is understandable, but not okay at all, because everyone knows that working in customer service sucks. You deal with grumpy people, people in a hurry, and people who could care less about you as long as they get their beer, food, or nonfat extra shot latte, stat. It's frustrating but it happens everyday. But rudeness unfortunately also happens outside of work. People are just plain rude sometimes

My favorite way to deal with the grumpy folks out there is to "kill them with kindness" (as my momma taught me!). That's pretty much my game plan. I'm rarely rude in retaliation, even if people deserve it. Because like I said, you never know what might be going on their end. Life is a mess and sometimes days suck, I'd hate to make it worse. And the good news is that sometimes you can thaw grumpiness and end up brightening their day! Bonus! In my case the bad news is, because I aim to please, I tend to get walked over sometimes (a lot). So I guess there is a point where you've got to have a little backbone and stick up for yourself if someone is out of line or just stomping all over you. I'm working on that part. But there is usually a nicer way to say things, even if it's not something someone wants to hear.

And of course there are plenty of completely lovely people out there to make up for the meanies. As a great example, the other day I hit the jackpot and it seemed that everyone I encountered was nice. I had the sweetest sales associates help me out while I was shopping (at two stores!) and then while I was at Walmart (aka a mecca for jerks) a sweet old man complimented me on my outfit, twice. Suh-weet.

So the next time you're out, make an effort to be nice to people you see. It's so easy and it makes you feel good. Smile at your cashier, even if it looks like they hate their job (they probably do). Or be a little more patient with your server, you are not their only table. Let a car merge in front of you (this is for all you Austinites). Hold a door open for someone. And please say please and thank you. The world would run a little smoother if everyone just took a second to be little more kind and thoughtful. What comes around goes around y'all. Like they say, karma is a bee-otch.

Spread the happiness people, a little goes a long way!

Happy Birthday Daddio!

Today my Dad turns 54! Whoohoo! I'm sure he is stoked. As he puts it, "one more year until retirement". Although I can't imagine him not working, his dad still works everyday and he just turned 80!

We had a little early birthday celebration for him up here Sunday evening. We ate at Moonshine, which is one of our favorite restaurants we've discovered in Austin. If you are ever in the area, eat there. It's fancy home cooked goodness and it is delish. 

After dinner we hung out at our place for a bit for coffee, tea, and of course (cup)cakes and presents! And even though we were at home, I still was too lazy to grab an actual camera. My bad.

The cupcakes were so good, they are my step-momma's specialty! There were red velvet and apple spice cupcakes, yum yum yum!

This is the card I made him! It's a party-animal-birthday-bass obviously, as my dad is an avid fisherman. I think it came out great, except that I lost my glue stick so I was forced to use Elmer's glue. That stuff warps paper like no ones business plus it gets everywhere. And when you're the worlds messiest person already, it just gets ridiculous. But aside from the wonkyness and stickiness, it was a lot of fun to make. I love making cards! No more store bought cards for me. These are way more fun, cheaper, and I think they're a bit more special if not just extra weird and funny looking.

So happy birthday Daddy! Thank you for supporting me through everything, being hilarious, and giving me your "project" genes. We love you and fish on!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy love day to all you lovers (and haters) out there! I love Valentine's Day! Mr. H is spending the majority of the day at school, but will be home later this evening so we'll have a little low key celebration at home before he has to get back to studying.

So far today has been really wonderful. Because Valentine's Day is about celebrating all the people you love, this morning I drove down to NB with some flowers to surprise my momma at work. And I think I was pretty successful! I love surprising people, surprises are the best! I took her out to lunch and we had some yummy Mexican food! It was super relaxing and fun and exactly what I needed after a rough week/weekend. Hanging out with my mom is the bomb. We went to the Adobe which was my favorite tex-mex restaurant back in the day. It is still pretty damn good. I needed a siesta afterwards, I was so full.

Once my mom went back to work I headed a little farther south and surprised my dad at work! He gave me a little tour of their new warehouse/offices and I've got to say, they're pretty dang fancy. It is the biggest Sysco in the entire world. Literally. It was neat to see it all put together. We went to the ground breaking ceremony in 2010 and this past spring we meandered around while it was being built. It opened this December and they're finishing up combining the San Antonio and Austin offices this week. I'm happy for Sysco! Plus now the trucks I see in Austin will have come from my dad's work!

Ground breaking. My dad's the goon in plaid. Can't you tell we're related?

All finished!

I was pretty impressed. And all the fork lifts they use in the warehouse run on hydrogen. They have like a little hydrogen pump where they all fill up. How cool is that?

Back on topic, today is the day of love! So let's talk about my sweet man. This is the point where you navigate away from the page if you are not a fan of mushy-love stuff. Jk, it won't be that bad.

He left this sweet card on my computer for me to find when I woke up (I like how he knows where I go immediately in the morning).

If you've ever used construction paper you'll recognize those little stencils. He might not be much of an artist, but I love his cards. They are hilarious as well as adorably wonky. And of course sweet as hell. AND as always, our cats are involved in everything.

I love this man a lot. He is the weirdest person I know, and also the best. He treats me like a princess and 99% of the time I don't deserve it. Even if I feel like crap, am in a bitchy mood, and refuse to decide what to eat (erryday y'all), he is always patient with me and endlessly kind. I can't imagine being married to me, but I'm sure it's frustrating constantly at times. I am beyond thankful for Brendon and so glad he wandered into my little world. Life without him by my side would be lame. Not only would I be even more of a hot mess, it would be hella boring. Being married to him is a blast. Everyday is an adventure and we are laughing all the way, mostly at fart jokes (kidding...or am I?). So thanks Mr. H, for yet another Valentine's Day together, our first as husband and wife. Can't wait until you're done with your test tonight. And although I am very grateful for it being in our lives, pharmacy school is not on my love list.

Hair evolution

After blogging almost daily for a while, I apologize for my absence of a few days. Yes I know you didn't notice, but whatever. I like blogging. It gives me a chance to put random things that are bouncing around in my head somewhere and it gives all my loved ones who seem to always be miles and miles away a way to "Keep up with the Hogans". Ha ha.

Hello internet, meet sleepy Marie. Make up is not required and wild hair is preferred.

I am alive! These past few days have felt busy; full of working, family, missing my husband, and cuddling with him (and a couple of kitties) when I see him. And maybe some watching Breaking Dawn Part 1 (don't hate). I have felt a little off lately, and I'm not sure why. Brendon is stressed about his first round of exams so maybe that's rubbing off on me. I don't know, but I'm in a little funk! Maybe it's this dreary weather.

Speaking of weather, it snowed yesterday! In AUSTIN! Lame, sleety snow, that only lasted maybe a couple hours, but it happened. It started while I was at work and sleeted/snowed on my drive home. Crossing the river there were big fluffy balls of snow falling. It was really pretty, I should have pulled over and taken a picture. It may never happen again! It's supposed to be in the 70's all week. I think yesterday was our last day of "winter". And I'm kind of okay with that. I'm ready for spring!

Let's talk hair. In reference to my "wild hair" above, I haven't cut my hair since September. It's been about half a year since I did this:

And I'm not really looking to cut my hair anytime soon. I'd love to have it waist length, but we'll see. I've got a few split ends and my bangs are beyond grown out, but I like it. I wear my hair up almost everyday anyway. I maybe style my hair once a month. Maybe. Super weird, considering that a year ago I had to straighten my hair every single day (thanks Hooters). Crazy how much can change in just a year. And I'm sure my hair is thankful, it's pretty dang healthy.

The last time my hair was this long was a few years ago and it was super fried from dying it all the time and attacking it with heat everyday. So in effort to salvage my "do" and keep it from feeling like straw, in early 2009 after dying my hair basically black I stopped dying my hair.

Let's examine this photo. First of all, my sisters hair was SO LONG. Second, I don't know what look I was going for (the Megan Fox?) but black hair, blue eyes, and fake tanned pale freckled skin is not a good combo for me. I look a tad bit scary. Also, hello kitty! That is Figaro, my sister's cat that was once mine. She likes my sister better. The doggie is Sweetie, my sisters boxer who has crossed the rainbow bridge and is in puppy heaven eating lots of dinner scraps and laying on couches with her sister, my golden retriever Brandy.

Anywho, that fall I chopped a good portion of my hair off because most of it still was super unhealthy and gross. And Brendon likes short hair for some reason. I think because when we first started dating my hair was short.

I kept it short for a while. If you've ever had short hair you know that the style grows out super fast so you have to cut it often. And it is sooo tempting to go shorter and shorter. Which I did. It was fun and my head was lighter. Then Brendon popped the question in March of 2010 and I was like, dang I better grow this nonsense out for the wedding. And so I did. And haven't stopped.

And that you guys, is the evolution of my wild hair. The last few years anyways. One day we'll talk about when I was a redhead and a blonde. My hair has been all kinds of colors but I prefer my natural brown for sure. Some times I look back at pictures of me in my more "fabulous" hair days, and I miss it. Sometimes I really want to throw in some highlights. But mostly I love my hair now. It's healthy and shiny and compliments my extreme paleness pretty well I think. Even if it is usually a hot mess.

And yes, I just wrote an entire blog about hair. One day we'll cover deeper topics I swear.

DIY Pincushion

For a while now I've been keeping my pins in the little plastic box they came in. It works out fine except I knock it over and spill them all the time. On the floor, on my desk, all over the place. Pins everywhere constantly. And then I poke myself ten thousand times picking them all up. I knew a pincushion was the answer. And I finally made one!

I used these instructions from the Purl Bee. This site is full of all kinds of adorable crafty things to make, plus pretty things to drool over, it's awesome. They make me want to go knit something right now. I taught myself to knit my freshman year of college, but of course I've forgotten. I need to refresh my memory!

This is the stuff you'll need for your pincushion, super easy, stuff you probably have around already (if you're a sewer):
- Sewing needle
- Embroidery needle
- Scissors
- Thread
- Embroidery thread
- A little bit of felt
- A little bit of fabric
- Some stuffing
- Something to trace a circle (I used a salad plate, it was about 9" in diameter)

The rest of the directions are on the site, I'm too lazy to type it all out. It's easy peasy, I made mine in about 20 minutes. It doesn't even have to match. I did mine all matchy-matchy, but it would be super cute with contrasting colors. Whatever you've got lying around.

Mine came out a little wonky, but that's how I roll so I like it. It has character. These would make sweet little gifts for a crafty person in your life. Or handy things to keep you from scattering pins everywhere.