Turning 30: Shockingly NOT the End of the World

I turned the big 3-0 on Saturday the 21st.

Yeah, yuck...I know.

Unless you live under a rock, you remember that Saturday at 6pm they were calling for the Rapture to begin.
Big Surprise -- it didn't.

However, I did have a fabulous birthday. From cards, to presents, to people stopping by my house to wish me happy birthday, Birthday breakfast cake, homemade cards from my neice and nephew, calls at midnight, birthday cakes at work, partying to the wee hours of the night -- I had a great birthday. ...downed a bottle of wine BEFORE going to Mega 80s at the Intersection. Probably the best birthday yet.

And here, I thought it was the end of the world.

I would post pics...but I promised I wouldn't...oh the things I promise when I'm drunk...

Monster Ball

MARCH 1 -- LADY GAGA

Tami and I decided to go together and got some pretty sweet tickets when they went on sale almost a year ago and we were not disappointed.

We decided to get into GR early to beat the crowd, so we went to the BOB for a bit before the show.

HOLY LEOTARD FREAKSHOW!!!

Yes, I was fully prepared to see people decked out in Gaga gear --- but I wasn't quite prepared for all the people in leotards. We saw SO many "look-a-likes". While I couldn't get any good shots, I pulled some pics from the original Gaga looks.

We saw a bunch of these:

And these...

One pop can girl looked pretty sweet. Although, her poor friend had a less than impressing set of pop cans.

The most common theme we saw that night was this:

While I am very impressed with the amount of people that were brave enough to wear leotards...I have to point out that about 99% of them should NOT have worn them. Just because you know where to buy a leotard does not mean that anyone wants to see you in one. But, kudos for the courage to do so.

Tami and I had a blast...and next time I won't take 2 months to post...but, I was born this way, baby

This is NOT About Trees Falling on My House

My first post about the new house can NOT be about the tree falling on it...so, I'm going to write about my neighbor instead.

We all have bad neighbors, crazy neighbors, WT neighbors, right?

Just because you have bad neighbors doesn't mean you hate your house, right?

I LOVE my house. Sure, there are a million things I want to change (or fix now that the tree fell on it), but my house is absolutely ME. It Sazzles. I have a fabulous office, beautiful hardwood floors, crown molding, curb appeal, plenty of storage, and gigantic fenced yard that Niko loves.

How bad could a neighbor really be?

Well...I think it would be a violation of some sort to post a picture, but one of my neighbors is on a list. Not only a list, but THE list.

Yes, friends, the Michigan Sex Offender list. And BOY is his picture creepy.

He has a creepy garage that I hear funny noises coming from, Niko doesn't like him (she likes everyone) and is always barking out the window, and my sister, Sarah, was creeped out by him one day while he carried his shovel. But, I digress.

I am choosing to love my house, and my neighborhood, through the good and the bad...but I am asking my cousin (city cop) to stop by every now and then in his cop car --- but he has to park where the dude can see him.

...and as a disclaimer...my other neighbors are SO fabulous. The husband plowed my driveway one day and the wife was my sister's teacher in school -- so I am still happy and safe and in love with where I am.

Through snow and rain and sleet and hail and trees falling on my house -- my house, Niko and I Sazzle, dear friends.

How to Celebrate?

This Saturday I'm celebrating the new job and buying my house -- I'm going out with one of my best friends, Kirsti. Her husband, Brandon, is going to be DD and comedic relief :)

So...here's my question. What should we do?

Obviously dinner and drinks are in order...I'm a huge fan of On the Border for both.

But, Blog Friends: What else should we do?

It's Official!

I moving back to my hometown of Fremont, Michigan.

The job is Call Center Supervisor for Gerber Life Insurance. I have 8 years of call center experience and over 4 years of managerial experience...so hopefully I can hit the ground running.

While I will have to deal with no Target, Starbucks or the mall, I am going to be living next to my family and Niko gets a super huge fenced yard to play and run and just be her.

I'm super excited and there will be a ton of updates -- so stay tuned!!!

Movie Night

Yesterday, Mom had to bring me...something. (Has to do with my secret so unfortunately I cannot disclose at this time) My brother, Kevin, and his girlfriend, Ashley, decided to come visit so we could all go out to dinner.

Since the weather was HORRIBLE with multiple accidents and pile-ups, Mom and I thought it was best that she didn't drive home. So what did we do? Bought booze and movies, of course!

Mom can make a STRONG drink :)

Mom is a huge sci-fi fan, so her movie selection was

Honestly, we really enjoyed it. Ash and Kev left after that, but Mom and I decided to watch my selection:

Unfortunately, mom was not a fan -- but I love these movies with a million famous stars.

While I'm trying to avoid sharing my secrets, that is all that Mom and I talked about. Niko was in heaven with visitors and I haven't had a movie night in a long time.

...now, if I can just get through the next 2 weeks...

Mysterious Ways...

Tomorrow I had planned on handing in my 2-week notice --- and I was called tonight and told my job has been eliminated.

TWO WEEK VACATION!!!!

And...the new job is still a secret...so shhhhhh

Not Another Boring Review of the Golden Globes...

...all I have to say is...

BEST.DRESS.EVER

Too bad she didn't win.

Oogy Read

I just finished a book. (No, I don't want a cookie)

Oogy is a story about a poor dog used as a bait dog for a dog fighting ring who was found, saved, and taken in by a family. Since I am a huge dog-lover and ASPCA commercials make me cry, I figured that this would be a real tear-jerker.

Wrong.

Yes, there were terrible parts of the book that brought tears to my eyes -- but there was nothing motivational or inspiring about this book and here are the reasons why I do not recommend it:

• You never read about anyone getting punished or caught for abusing the poor dog -- yet the beginning eludes to the fact that the owner tried to find out who did it
• There is no plot to the book -- the first chapter explains how he was rescued -- the rest of the book doesn't say a whole lot
• The writing is TERRIBLE. "I walked to the counter and poured myself coffee. Then, I put it in the microwave for 50 seconds. Then, I put laundry in the dryer. I looked at Oogy..." There was limited sentence variety and felt as though I was reading a text book

The BIGGEST reason why I hated this book is because the owner thinks he is the best man that ever walked the face of the earth. All 219 pages of this book are dedicated to what an amazing man the author is for taking this dog in, taking care of him and providing him necessary medical treatment.

Wait a minute -- isn't that what every pet owner does?

Here's the thing -- if you decide to take a pet in, you have to be willing to provide him/her ALL the necessary medical treatment and love that you would provide to a human being. Sure, some people chain their pets outside and ignore them -- but those people are not animal lovers -- they are animal abusers. That is my belief and I will stick to it.

So, while I wanted to love this book...and I really wanted to... I did not and it was a challenge to finish.

However, I hope Oogy has a wonderful life and I do love the fact that a family did take him in.

Security Blanket

Does your child have a security blanket, or a pacifier...or some other object to which he or she seeks comfort?

I may not have a human child, but my "child" has a security blanket.

Normally, Niko lays on the floor next to the couch, or at my feet, or at the far end of the couch. However, when I pull out my GVSU blanket -- she immediately jumps up and cuddles right next to me, laying on the blanket.

Fondly, I remember the first time I brought her to my apartment. She was nervous, whining and pacing. It was a hot September afternoon so I turned on the air conditioning to cool her off. I got cold, so I grabbed the trusty old blanket, sat on the couch and covered myself. Instantly, she calmed down, jumped up next to me, cuddled against the soft fleece and fell asleep.

To this day, every time I grab the blanket, she is at my side, contently snoring. It is one of the sweetest things I get to see on a regular basis.

Here's my happy little princess

Resolutions, Resolutions

We all make them, swear that this year will be the year, and proceed to break them within a matter of months...or weeks...or days.

Do I have a New Year's Resolution?

You bet your Alejandro Ass!

However, I hesitate to share. Will I look back in December and feel as though the year was a waste? Do I aim low so I can't fail? Decisions, decisions...

Well, you don't Sazzle if you back away from a challenge, right?

Unfortunately, I turn thir...thir...thir... 29 plus 1 this year. Yep and ick. I have decided that by time my birthday roles around (May 21 in case you want to buy me a present) I need to look and FEEL fabulous.

So, the resolution is Fabulous by Thir.... well, you get the point.

The Rules:

• Do at least one thing every day to be healthier/happier/stronger/better -- physically, fiscally and mentally
• Live up to the Sazzle name by May 21
• Pose naked or get fake boobies --- just kidding --- those are for next year

So far, so good. I got all my Christmas decorations put away on the 1st. Treadmill, church, lunch with friends and a satisfying nap on the 2nd. Finally, treadmill and something nice for a friend on the 3rd. As long as I can say "today was a success because...", I shall meet my goal.

Side note: An important clause to this is that I need to maintain my fabulousness even after the icky birthday. I have a bunch of weddings to attend -- and if I have to be single at a wedding, you better believe I'm going to be the hottest chick there!

How do I keep it up all year? Hell if I know, but here's to actually having a goal!