P.S.

I'm friends with a rock star on Facebook--no joke! Can you figure out who it is? Oh, and she's (hint!) friends will Lauren "LC" Conrad. I'm so in with hollywood.

#31: Understand and appreciate how fortunate I really am

When it rains, it pours. But despite it all, you still have to find something to be thankful for every day.

Today, I am thankful that I have a full tank of gas. I feel like I outsmarted the rest of Atanta by finidng a not so high trafficked gas station that a) still had gas, b) let you fill up, and c) let you pay at the pump like in the old days. Of course it took me 20 minutes to fill my tank but at least it's full (along with an additional 5 gallon container "just in case").

While not directly related to my gas issue, I have a few comments on the speech our President gave last night, as they both relate to the state of our society.

"The government's top economic experts warn that, without immediate action by Congress, America could slip into a financial panic and a distressing scenario would unfold. More banks could fail, including some in your community. The stock market would drop even more, which would reduce the value of your retirement account. The value of your home could plummet. Foreclosures would rise dramatically."

A well-studied scholar on this topic helped interpret this speech. The fact of the matter is that these things are going to happen to some degree regardless. There has to be a fundamental shift in society and the way our economy operates for it to be "fixed". American's are the "I want more consumer" regardless of what is fiscally responsible. A correction needs to occur to make things right.

It has to do with the dollar being backed by trust and our GDP alone, and the fact that our GDP will decline. I understand it sort of, but could use a few more hours of tutorial. The bottom line is I believe it.

But don't be sad. Look at this as an opportunity. These don't have to be hard times for everyone with a little preparation. Sell your Lexus, bury your money, and go get a job in healthcare while you're at it. Do it quietly so as not to instill panic.

And be thankful that you got this advice before it was too late.

The #1 Thing I Want to Do Before 32

Understand why this world is so hard and how to get through it with as little pain as possible. Do we make it that way, or is it naturally our cross to bear as part of the human race? 

My life could not be more upside down right now and there are moments I wonder if I'm going to make it. I know I will, and everybody has been there, but right now--as in this minute--it just seems so unbearable--committing myself seems like a really good option. I could get used to bad food if it offers me a little sanity in the end.

I suppose I was due. Not that I have lived a super charmed life, but things have always seemed to work out. Believe it or not, I'm an optimist. Unfortunately it's because of this that I am in the situation I am now. 

I'm not ready to talk to about it, and don't know that I will be for some time. But I needed to do something, and for some reason talking to the internet seemed like the best damn option. I suppose because it's always there for me, doesn't talk back, and has never taken advantage of me (that PayPal scam doesn't count, I figured it out).

I don't even feel like a glass of wine. That tells me something. I did smoke a cig, and it just made me want to vomit. 

#5: Save more money

No thanks to Lehman Brothers and my own damn bank, this just became a little more difficult.

Fortunately, my boyfriend is a freakin' economic GENIUS who reads A LOT and told me this was coming over a year ago. People said he was crazy (self included), but who's crazy now? He's so damn smart and little bit freaky in a Nostradamus sort-of way. Now watch as I surround myself with his brilliance, despite fighting him for the sake of fighting in previous months (I suck.)

I have taken and ignored advice from him and over time made the following moves:

1) I moved a lot of 401(K) dollars to safer investments
2) I bought some gold
3) I didn't buy a house 6 months ago

Anybody see gold today? I'm RICH (well, not really, but it is nice to actually MAKE some money from the stock market). And, I'm going to get a whole hell of a lot more house and maybe still have some money to live on when I retire.

Take heed people. The worst is yet to come, and I will sure as shit listen every time this time.

That'll be 15% please.

P.S. About your votes

Thanks for voting, and please consider this new information. Yes, I really would make a decision based on what you people tell me to do. I need a tie breaker! 

#30: Buy a House

I sense the fight of my life coming on. I know, I know...the plan was to wait the market out and buy when those prices come down. But damn it, I think I've found everything I want in a home. And it's for sale now. Not to mention the price just dropped another $30K (suppose this is what happens when you aren't looking at "starter homes" any longer). 

It is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. I'm going to put the picture of the open air porch where you can join me for breakfast...look, you see?

Oh, and what's that? A two-story sun room with a ridiculously awesome backyard? Gizmo would love poopin' there. 

Living in one of the most temperate cities, I could be the freakin' QUEEN of outdoor parties. Oh hells yes. 

And I have a down payment favor coming my way...not that I can't afford it. I would never be so stupid as to buy a home I could not afford, but apparently many of Freddie and Fannie's customers were--down with the government and their stupid bail out plan! I do not pay for other's mistakes. Tangent, sorry. But, my sister DID have a luxury vehicle of a wedding, which I likely will not see. Ever. So let's decrease the amount of my monthly mortgage, shall we? 

The reason I love this house (sight unseen in person I might add but Google street view is pretty awesome) is because it has character. It's in an established Atlanta neighborhood, close to all things great, including Jesus Junction should I suddenly discover I have a need to go to church every Sunday. 

I hate the whole "let's build a neighborhood and try and fool you by mixing up some house plans".  In my opinion, sub-divisions are the Maserati version of modular homes. I know, I know, it's the American way, but I just do not want to see my kitchen when I visit my neighbors.  I hope I did not offend you. 

Finding these types of homes in my price range IN TOWN in Atlanta was just unheard of before the economy fell apart. I feel like this is my opportunity to seize the day. I want it, I want it, I want it. 

Should I sacrifice the ring for the house? I seriously think I could do that. 

#30: Buy a House

First, I made some great Chipotle Tacos with the left over Chipotle chicken from yesterday--I love when food works twice for you. 

Anyway...I'm not buying a house, but I did sell a house. According to the contract we close October 3rd. It of course is not completely done yet, but looks like it might really be happening and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. 

This place has been home for almost 4 years. It's the first "home" I've really had as an adult, and we put heart and soul into making it ours. Which is probably WHY it sold. We have "designer flare", and made wise choices about the colors of our walls and how our furniture is positioned. I like terra cotta and it gave us more seating room. Functional AND pretty. I should start my staging business now. 

I will especially miss the neighborhood. I have made some great friends, and there is nothing better than taking Gizmo for a walk and knowing most everyone you encounter. It's been great not having to drive because we hung out on our deck and drank wine, and it's been comforting knowing that should anything happen while away someone is bound to call us (or scale our deck and close a door that blew open--as one neighbor did shortly after we moved in).

The question is where do we go from here. We seem to have different opinions as to what comes next. Lake house, rent or buy. 

Vote now, and enjoy a homemade dinner at whichever place I end up. 

About that vodka sauce...

nailed it! Oh yea. I was angry...stupid argument with my boyfriend fueled the fire to finally create a vodka sauce I will actually eat. As he said, " I should piss you off more often." I certainly do not advise this tactic for fear of loss of manhood, but I did get a great sauce out of it. 

I so do not believe in "kitchen secrets", so I'm going to share mine with you--there is a little weirdness, trust me, it's good. And very worth the calories, of which there are many requiring a really long walk with the dog after dinner.

Courtney's Vodka Sauce (finally)

Prep time: 3 minutes

Cook time: About an hour

Ingredients: (Please note, my measurements are approximate. I do not measure, I pinch)

1/2 white onion

2 cloves garlic

1/4 cup light butter, plus 1-2 additional teaspoons

1/2 cup vodka

1 28oz can crushed tomatoes

1 cup heavy cream

5 strips of microwaved bacon, crumbled (trust me)

2 teaspoons of sugar (tempers the tomato acidity)

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. fresh basil

1/2 tsp salt

Red pepper flakes to taste

Salt & fresh black pepper to taste

Freshly shredded Parmesan, to top it off (DO NOT buy the grated crap)

Melt the butter and saute the onions & garlic until soft. Add vodka, and simmer about 10 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, bacon, sugar, oregano, and basil, and heat on medium-low about 20 minutes. Add the cream, and simmer another 20 minutes--occasionally swirling in additional butter as needed (gives it a really creamy and ridiculously good flavor as well as helps to thicken). When ready to serve, sprinkle with red pepper flakes, salt & pepper, and little freshly shredded Parmesan. Delicious.

I served this with the "little flowers", or more formally Campanelle pasta, and a mixed green salad topped with wasabi peas and a mix of honey dijon and balsamic vinaigrette. 

It was a rock star meal. Tonight I made a chipotle chicken that was also totally awesome, fueled by the stress of selling our house today. Yep, here we go! 

Enjoy!

#24: Learn to Make a Mean Vodka Sauce

I'm going to attempt this tonight. I will scan numerous recipes for the right combination of ingredients to make this my own. And damn it, I will not be disappointed. 

While I am by no means a phenom in the kitchen, I can throw a few things together--very good things. This vodka sauce however, plagues me. I blame a restaurant called "Daniel's" in Apex North Carolina. Their tortellini and vodka sauce was to DIE for, and I, despite my best efforts, cannot replicate it. And nothing come close to comparing. 

I also have difficulty recreating Mexican and Indian food. On that front, I'm done trying. It's cheaper for me to simply eat out than to waste cardamon seed and chipotle chilis on every attempt.

Off I go to find the secret ingredient.

#11: Explore the Possibilities

Have the signs ever been all around you? To the point where you feel like they are SCREAMING at you, and for one reason or another you don't listen? The sound is deafening in my ears, I'm so there, right now, this instant--yet still a little scared of what they tell me.

Over the past few months, ever since I started taking my life dreams seriously (hmm...bi-product of this blog, I think so) I've noticed little things--horoscopes, comments on my blog, seemingly unrelated conversations with friends, random people I've met--all guiding me toward the answers I am looking for. It's strange the way in which this world works, so I frequently ask myself if I am creating these "signs" or if they do truly exist. 

I still don't know the answer, but I do understand the way I FEEL when I think of the possibilities. And my gut is telling me that only with great risk comes great reward. Ok, little dramatic, admittedly. 

However, there have been only two other times in my life when I have felt with such strong conviction that the decisions I made were foreshadowed and spot on. The first was packing up everything I have ever known to attend a little known college in the South I had never visited nor knew ANYTHING about (that accepted me in June, nonetheless--um, talk about no planning). It turned out to be the first best decision I ever made. 

The second was on a Delta flight from Raleigh to Atlanta--I woke up upon landing, looked out the window and for some reason just KNEW I would be living in Atlanta before October. I moved October 31, 2003 (no joke, ask Shannon). It turned out to be the second best decision I ever made. 

Third time's a charm. 

#28: Have more me time

I had some serious "me time" last week. Facial (all good except for the extraction--ouch), mani/pedi, lots o' book reading, and a little shopping at the local budget-conscious H&M.

As part of me time, I also read magazines, particularly when in the massage chair at ProNails. I have a subscription to Self magazine, and thankfully it's free because I seriously hate it. It's the same magazine month after month, just packaged a little differently. Tone your abs (insert: legs, butt, arms)! Lose that last 10 pounds (insert: 8, 15, 20)! You get the idea...

In any event, this month's issue was called the "List Issue". 20-some odd lists to get your life in order. I, of course, found this of specific interest being that my entire life currently revolves around a list of 32 things to do. This article literally spelled out how to create lists that are realistic to help you meet your goals. 

You know I'm a big fan of lists, however, I did not realize there was an art form to it. I'm beginning to think I missed my calling.