Bad Coffee Karma

I'm a believer in Karma. I feel like you have to put good out there in the world in order to get it back. A couple months ago I stopped at Dunkin Donuts on my way to work to treat myself to their yummy iced coffee. I had a free coupon for a donut and decided to switch it up a bit and go inside instead of the drive-thru and let myself indulge in the sweet goodness of those little round treats. The lady couldn't figure out how to ring up the coupon so I politely stepped aside as she asked her manager for advice and then began to ring up the people that had just come in behind me. The other lady at the counter then called out a drink order that was completely backwards of what I ordered and tried to give it to me. I explained that wasn't what I ordered but it was fine, I would take it anyways (I thought maybe God was trying to give me the extra whip cream and extra chocolate with whole milk...), but the lady said she's remake it correctly for me (so maybe God was just testing my willpower?) Anyways, the place suddenly gets busy and no one is seeming to notice me standing there waiting for the simple free donut. I think to myself that I really do not need to consume those horrific calories and bother these people who have a line waiting. So I just grab my drink and the messed up drink (that the lady insisted I take and give to someone else) and head out the door. A few minutes later as I'm chatting to my mom as I near work, I realize that I never actually paid for my coffee. This might be where most people just say "oh well" and chalk it up to a life freebie, but my conscience couldn't possibly let me be one of those people. Oh no, it has to make me feel horrible, like I just ruined Christmas or something. So I turn around (risk being late for work) go through the drive through and tell them that I never paid for my coffee. The lady was so shocked she said she'd just charge me for a small, but since I was doing it, I insisted on paying for what I bought AND I didn't even mention that I never got my donut.

The rest of the day I was feeling pretty good about myself. Since I patron that DD pretty often I just figured I was being a good customer and had earned some Coffee Karma. And I really believed that...Until Today.

My friend Jordan posted on twitter that the DD she went to the other day had an offer for a free bagel with the purchase of a medium coffee until August 25th. Now I was thrilled when I saw this. I immediately told my boss and we both got probably a little too excited about this prospect, but that is our order of choice anyways, so why not get part of it free? So this morning I think to myself, "Heck, it's Monday why not start the week off with a treat and free bagel?" And to that I replied " Ok self, great idea!" And I swung my car into that drive-thru where the following conversation ensued.

Dunkin Lady: Thanks for choosing Dunking Donuts, what can I get you? (or something like that i didn't really have a tape recorder...)

Me: Hi! (I'm really perky to these people bc they give me yummy coffee). Can I please get a medium iced coffee with sugar and cream?

D.L: Sure

Me: And can I get a free bagel with that?

D.L: Um no, but you can add one on your order...

Me: Oh, I thought there was a promotion until August 25th?

D.L: No sorry, not here.

Me: (Defeated) Oh, ok then I'll just get one anyways with extra cream cheese please (because all the sudden they only give you a teeny tiny bit that hardly covers both sides!...and it's reduced fat so it's ok right?)

So I pull around to the window, hand the lady my card and get my iced coffee and a bag with my bagel in it. When I get to work, my boss is sipping on her iced coffee and she asks me excitedly if I got my free bagel. I pout and say no and explain. She looks at me and says, " Oh, well I went there this morning and I got mine for free!" I was so hurt. I mean the lady lied to me. It's like they hate me or something. I try to brush it off and open my bagel bag. As I'm telling my boss that I remembered to ask for extra cream cheese (we've had conversations on their sudden skimpiness) I pull the bagel apart to reveal the tiniest amount of cream cheese I've ever seen. It was bad people. There was a loud gasp as both my boss and I sucked in air at the horror of a plain bagel with a tiny dab of cream cheese covering a 1/4 of one bagel half. And then it was confirmed, they hate me and wanted to ruin my life. My boss tried to get me to go back, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't face those mean people who lie and take my morning joy. Oh no, I wasn't that strong. So I ate my dry bagel that I paid for, sipped the coffee and pouted while wondering what I've done to deserve this Coffee Karma?

I don't know, but I do know that I'm going to Starbucks tomorrow. (That will show them!) Especially because it's free pastry day with a purchase of a medium drink....

Watermelon Cookies

Mom and I used to make these awesome lookin' cookies every summer. I haven't made them in a few years and decided it was time to bring them back. They are almost too cute to eat....almost.

I Get By...

With A Little Help From My Friends!

I've been in a little bit of a rut lately. I'm so blessed to have great friends that are there to pick me up when I'm down. I'm extra lucky to have amazing friends that can read me across the country and can manage to cheer me up thousand miles away. Last week at work I got these lovely flowers from Chevie. The bright and cheery flowers force me to smile and forget about my stupid little worries.

All I Want is to be Home

July 22nd-July 29th I will be back in the great state of O-H-I-O! I keep playing Foo Fighter's Home (ok so I usually play that, but more than usual lately) in anticipation of my upcoming trip.

I'm really looking forward to the following:
Eating Corn on the Cob
Eating home made ice cream
Learning to drive stick shift
Learning to shoot a gun with my brothers
Big Green Tractor
A couple games of cornhole
Watching my momma graduate
Catching up with my girlfriends
Going for a (short) run with my sis on a country road
Breathing in country air and enjoying the GREEN scenery
Wooster
Hopefully a trip to Cedar Point (any takers?)
A night at the bar with my brothers
I'm sure this list will continue to grow...

Work in Progress

Ok Ok I'm FINALLY getting around to posting some pics of my new place. Please be advised that it is not nearly finished and needs a lot of work. But since everyone was giving me so much crap I caved and will show you what I have so far. I wish I could have it all put together and have a really cute trendy place already, but sadly my budget has limited my progress. So alas, this is what I have. So come on in and don't bother taking your shoes off (I'm not that kind of girl....hello, I did grow up on a farm).

When you walk in you will see my little living room. Please disregard the unpacked storage bins and lack of tv stand, and wall decor. I'm hoping to use jewel tones and the inspiration of a peacock feather. Hopefully with some drapes and wall decor I can pull it off :)


Please check out that really cute and oh so comfy couch! Special thanks to viewers like you (Grandma, Aunt Gogi, and Mom) for your kind donations. Oh and check out my Goodwill find of those purple throw pillows.


Right across the way is my beautiful dinning room table that my relative, Bill, gave me. I'm trying to not cover it in mail and actually use it. Some days are better than others...

One day soon there will be an outdoor patio set on the balcony also donated from Bill :)

My kitchen is little but I'm so excited to have it all to myself! So far I've been going for the black, white and yellow color theme.


Please notice the thoughtful cards from my amazing friends and family and also the cute housewarming gift from Megan below. I love my cute towel and measuring cups! Thanks Megan!

My bathroom is Theta inspired! Love the Purple and Green :)

UPS knocked on my door to bring me those nice purple towels. Thanks Dad and Patty!


And that's all for now folks. My room is too messy to show and once I pick up my bed frame from the store (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Libben). Once I get that in order and unpack all the boxes in the second bedroom I will invite you back for a look! And yes, I'm aware that I should be unpacked by now...oops!

Two Down

Today I start week three of the Extreme Fat Smash Diet and I can't say I'm as optimistic as I thought I'd be. I saw results after week one and that pushed me to work hard and make it through week two. But when I step on the scale and see that with all my hard work, I've actually gained 2 of the 4 lbs lost during week one, I just want to quit. What is the point in running twice a day or eating 1/2 cup of beans for dinner if I'm going to actually GAIN weight? Yeah yeah, muscle weighs more than fat blah blah blah, but the book/diet should be accounting for that when it gives the average weight lost per week. I didn't expect to lose as much as they promise, but gaining weight wasn't in the game plan. Ugh, I'm so frustrated! And this week is going to be hard because the workouts increase in length and intensity. I need motivation and lots of it...

Does anyone have any great workout playlists they'd like to share? I'm starting to get tired of working out to my music. I need some upbeat tunes to kick me into gear. I'd really appreciate any donations to the get Rachel into shape fund :)

Mail Call!

I love mail. Sure, an email is pleasant, but you really can't beat the old fashioned kind. You know, the kind you put (an ever increasing in cost) stamp on. The kind that takes a few days to get where it's going? Yeah, you know, snail mail. Love it love it love it. I love to send it and I love to get it. It's so exciting to get something in the mail. I'm not talking junk mail (although sometimes that still excites me) or bills (never exciting), but mail from a friend or relative. It doesn't have to be anything special really but it can make a world of difference to how my day goes. I love mail so much that I get really excited before I check my mailbox, which I happen to do a lot lately. It can be kind of a let down when you check once (ok or twice) a day and nothing is in there, but when you open that box and see an envelope with your name on it, it's like Christmas!

I look forward to checking my mail and let myself do it after I work out. The gym is conveniently right next to the mailboxes. I sometimes get so obsessed with checking that when I do two-a-day workouts I forget that I already checked in the morning and do it again at night. I really hope the people who's window faces the mailboxes doesn't catch on to me. That might be embarassing, but hey I can't help it! It's genetics. As I was thinking about my love for mail and how integral checking for it has become to my life, I realized that I am already becoming my grandmother. Grandma Roberts will check her mail no matter what the circumstances. Long walk in knee deep snow during a blizzard? No problem, she'll put on her moon boots and parka and brave the weather to get her mail. And she'll tell you about it later too haha.

So maybe since we are so alike, she really gets me and my needs. I've had lots of nice and generous cards since I've moved, but my grandma has sent me 2 already. And the only thing better than getting an envelope in your mailbox? A note from UPS saying there is a package waiting for you.

This is what was waiting for me from my Grandma. A Green tub (similar to the one I used to own but accidentally got left in Michigan by family) plastic cups, plates, margarita glasses, cutlery, napkins, and most important of all supplies for smores!


I can't even begin to describe how huge my grin was when I opened this. It was just too cute and too perfect. My day and workout instantly got better. So thank you Grandma and everyone else who helps feed my addiction. And if you haven't used the snail mail system in awhile, I highly recommend it. You don't know what kind of impact you will have on someone with an addiction like me.