I'm Not Your Baby - The Dating Game Part 2

I didn't plan on doing a follow-up post to The Dating Game, but since I've shared my tips for online dating, I thought I'd share a few things I've learned lately thanks to said dating site.

I've Learned...

All red-heads are naughty
"So are you a naughty girl? I heard all redheads are."  (the nicest thing I can say about this is that it wasn't his opening pick-up line)


Some don't know the difference between too and to
"Easy to talk too" (You speak as well?  Fabulous!)
Looking 4 a good lady too b wit

95% of messages I get will contain a question proving that the dude didn't read my profile
"ok are u single do u have kids where u living ur age" (I can't even speak about the lack of punctuation)

Pictures taken in the bathroom mirror will inevitably have the phone covering half the face

My version of it (maybe I should post this on my profile)

Dudes are guilty of the duck face too.  And what's the deal with biting your lower lip?

Ben Stiller's duck face...found here

Dudes like to post pics with a dead fish (is it just a southern thing or maybe an homage to the name of the site??)


Dudes like to give advice
just be your self :) (Thanks, I was trying to be someone else)
Don't be shy... 
Don't be stuck-up!!! (damn, I was totally gonna be that way)


Dudes get a little confident in their headlines
The most qualified man for you.....
im gifted lik da honor roll (kinda questioning your grade in English)
I'm a legend. You should take a picture with me!
The Most Interesting Man In The World...


Spell check is not an automatic
Prefessional, Fun and Easy Going 
im new 2 dis and lookn for a friend
Da girls dem suga (is this even English?)
Helllllllooooooooo Ladys

Keys must be missing on the keyboard for some
Jus Bein Me
Looking 4 some 1that will b faithful


They are all looking for something
Looking for someone compatible
Looking for someone special
Looking for the right kind of crazy

Some feel that persistence is key
"whats up with u"     7/26/12  8:15 AM (I didn't respond)
"do u mind if i text u"  7/26/12 9:32 AM (yep, still not responding)
"booooooo"  7/26/12 10:15 AM
"booooooo"  7/30/12 12:22 PM


Wittiness still exists
Here's My Profile, So Contact Me Maybe? 
"is this online people shopping?"

And by the way...I'm not your baby
"o ok that is really gerat baby" (guess who didn't get a response?)

Thirty Four In Thirty Four

Linking up with Erin @ Living In Yellow for this fabulous idea! What 34 things do I want to accomplish while I'm 34?  

1. Run a 5K.  Guess this means I need to start running.

2. Completely finish E's first four scrapbooks.  I have the first two years (yes, that took 4 scrapbooks) almost done...just need to add the journaling in a few places and re-adhere some embellishments and they will be done!

3. Go phone free for an entire weekend.  No texts, emails, FaceBook.

4. Learn how to knit.

5. Take a weekend trip somewhere by myself.  Savannah maybe?

6. Do the Paleo diet for one month week.  Gotta be realistic on this one.  I would never survive a month without cheese.

7. Increase my bloggy followers by 5.  150, here we come!!

8. Start selling stuff on my Etsy site again.  

9. Go to three concerts.  I would love to go to Music Midtown in September (Florence + The Machine, Pearl Jam - heaven!!) and Citizen Cope in November.

10. Attend a UGA football game at Sanford Stadium.

11. Lose 20 pounds.

12.  Get another tattoo or two.

13. NOT order any Girl Scout cookies.

14. Host game night.

15. Finalize the divorce.  August 13, here we come!

16. Move out of momma's place.

17. Go a week with no TV.

18. Actually start making the things that I pin.

19. Wear lipstick that isn't a neutral color.

20. Read the Harry Potter series.

21. Go camping.

22. Actually send out birthday cards...on time.  

23. Learn to sew.

24. Take a yoga class.

25.  Do something with the two canvases I bought 3 months ago.

26. Prepare a week's worth of meals on a Sunday.

27. Find a red wine that I like.

28. Call my grandparents once a week.

29. Start volunteering somewhere.

30. Drink more water.

31. Take a girls' trip to the beach!!

32. Figure out what I want to be when I grow up :)

33. Stop settling.

34. Completely finish years 3-4 of Ethan's scrapbooks.  

Sunday Social

Linking up with Neely at A Complete Waste of Makeup for my first Sunday Social

This week's questions...
1. What is your dream job?  Visual director for a retail store like Disney.  I've done this in the past (on a smaller scale) and absolutely loved figuring out how to best present the merchandise in the store so people would feel like that just had to have it!
2. If you had just won the lottery and didn't need to work for money, what would you do with your time? Travel and take culinary classes in different countries.  I would love to learn how to cook in Italy!!
3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I've always wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic.  Getting paid to take pictures and travel...nothing better than that!
4. What piece career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?  I'm gonna have to take a pass on this question since I myself am trying to get back into my field :)
5. Biggest Pet Peeves either in life or in blogging or at work: Lack of common courtesy, whistling, lack of punctuation/grammar, drivers doing anything other than driving
6. Biggest Fears:  Bridges and overpasses, being lonely (don't mind being alone...two totally different things), E not being here

It's OK!

It's Thursday and that means it's time to link up with Neely and Amber for It's OK Thursdays!  Congrats on the one year anniversary, ladies!

It's OK...
That I'm not sleeping well...I mean, who needs sleep?
That I was supposed to work on a banner for my niece's birthday last night but got sucked into watching SYTYCD
To have a ton of pictures that need to be put in frames and by the time I get the frames, it'll be time to replace the pictures
To not put laundry away that was washed on Sunday and just live out of the laundry basket
That I am so excited to have lunch with a friend tomorrow that I miss dearly!
To turn the phone on silent and just forget about it for a while

Me & E

We recently took a trip to Richmond to visit some of my family.  Outside of the great family time, E & I had our pictures taken by a family owed studio - Caston Studio.  If you are in the Richmond, VA area, definitely swing by...they have always taken fabulous pictures for us!  

Thought I would share a few of my favorites...

Couldn't you just eat him up!?  I know, I know...everyone thinks that their kid is the cutest, but you have to admit I have one handsome little dude!!

Oh, How Pinteresting!

Linking up with The Vintage Apple today for the first time!

I've made no beef about the fact that my crafty mojo has left the buliding...and run far, far away.  Maybe if I post some stuff I've pinned, I'll actually do it!!

Isn't this cute!?  Just a washer covered with paper!!

Found here

I already have the canvas...just need to pick a saying and buy the letters.

Found here

Easy key holder

Found here

Super cute "frame"

Found here

Fabulous alternative to a traditional cookbook

Found here

You can follow me on Pinterest here.  I would love to see what you've been pinning!!

The Dating Game

One of the results of getting divorced is being thrown back into the world of dating.  Yippee! Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I still believe in getting to know someone for who they really are and trying to make a connection.  Is that too much to ask?  Just join the world of online dating and you will see that the answer is YES!!


With age, I've lost most of my patience for people that are supposed to be grown-ups.  I made a rule a while back that I would respond to anyone that sent me a message (unless the initial urge was to block their sorry asses).  I figured, if a stranger stopped me on the street and told me I was pretty, I would say thank you.  Yeah...thinking of reconsidering this little rule.  


So here are some tips I've come up with over the past few months.  Grab a drink, prop your feet up, and know that I couldn't make up some of this stuff if I tried :)


Let's talk about pictures first, shall we?  After all, this is the ultimate first impression.  I wish I could post some of the ones I've seen...they are classic!


1. Pay attention to what is in the background - I may not have the best attention to detail, but if you have a piles of dirty clothes on the bed, dishes on the nightstand, and crap all over the floor in the background of your picture, odds are I'm not gonna be wanting to go out with you.  I'm not your momma or a maid.


2. Identify yourself - I know, sounds silly when you are talking about pictures, but I can't tell you how many people have only one picture on their profile and there is more than one person in the picture.    


3. Yes, I realize that the site says "Post pictures showing you having fun" but they don't all have to involve drinking!!  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a frosty beverage as much as anyone, but 5 pictures of doing keg stands after you've graduated college is a little immature.


4. For the love of all that is holy, please don't post pictures of your kids!!!  Do I want to know if you have kids?  Of course.  But I just don't think a dating site is the place to post their pictures.  


5. Look like the pictures you post.  Seriously.  Remember my "One and Done" post? I wasn't kidding when I said he didn't look a thing like his pictures.  I know that hair color might change, but there should be no question when I see you face to face that you are the person I have been talking to.  


6. I don't want to see pictures of your penis.  Enough said.


Let's move on to the profile...


1. Don't leave it blank!  Picture it...the internet...2012...a guy sends me a message and asks if I would go out with someone like him.  His picture was...ok...so I checked out the profile.  Outside of the questions they MAKE you answer (city, hair color, eye color, etc), the "About Me" section was blank.  So my response to him was that I couldn't answer the question since I didn't know anything about him.


2. Don't talk about money.  I don't give a damn what kind of car your drive or how big your house is, so don't talk about it.  Dude from number 1 said that he felt like writing about himself was bragging.  No dude, you are just being lazy.  


3. Please remember that it's hard to read sarcasm on the internet when you don't know the person.  Dude said that his idea of the perfect first date would be dinner followed by sex.  Then he told me that of course he was just kidding and couldn't believe that anyone would take him seriously and I must not have a sense of humor.  Sigh...


4. Be honest about what you want.  For the love of Pete, do not say that you are looking for a long term relationship if all you really want is a one night stand or an FBW (I had to ask what this was...friends with benefits).


And now the best part...messages!!


1. Be original.  I swear, if I get one more "Love the red hair" I'm gonna scream.  I wrote a profile with fun and quirky info about me so you would have something to comment on.  


2. Saying "I'd hit that" probably isn't going to get a response.  It's actually gonna get you blocked...just sayin.


3. Don't send me a message with your phone number and tell me to call/text you.  Ummm...no.  Did I ask for your number?  If you want mine, ask for it.  Stop being lazy and make a damn effort.


4. Remember...this is your chance to impress me.  To do this, use proper grammar, English, and punctuation.  If you read my profile, you would know that I hate text typing and writing in all caps.  I think it is lazy, plain and simple.  And I don't date lazy people.


5. Be engaging in your conversation.  Repeatedly using one word answers or responses like "nice," "cool," and "yep" and I'm likely to not continue our little chat.  


6. No, I will not be your friend on Facebook, so don't ask.  While you are at it, why don't you just ask me for my social security number and my address?  

Friday's Letters

Dear Local Radio Station: Hearing you play The Civil Wars and more Florence + The Machine makes my heart happy.

Dear Mom: Thanks for putting up with me for the past 34 years year.  You've let me invade your home for a little over a year and I will be eternally grateful.

Dear Moms on Toddlers & Tiaras: Please don't complain that your 5 year old is a control freak and it's tiring to deal with her.  Hmmm...where do you think she might get this attitude from?!  And acrylic nails on a 6 year old?  You have GOT to be joking!!

Dear New Blog Followers: Welcome!  I am absolutely thrilled to have you and beside myself that you think I'm funny/cool/awesome/fabulous (I'll let you choose).

Dear Buckie (that's the name the kiddo gave to my car): We've been together for almost 6 years now.  You've done a fabulous job keeping me and the kiddo safe.  I'm sorry I don't bathe you more often.  I would say that I would try harder, but we both know I won't.


Dear Rain: Please hold off today so I can move the rest of my furniture.


Dear Face:  We are 34.  Stop acting like you are 13, mkay?


Dear S: I'm sorry.  I really wanted everything to work out and I wish you nothing but the best.  I hope you know that.

  

It's Ok!

Linkin on up with Neely for "It's Ok" Thursday!!
It's ok...
That I spent 1 hour of my lunch break (yeah, I get a 3 hour lunch break) watching YouTube videos of SYTYCD performances.
That I am looking forward to August 13...I get to reclaim my last name!
To spend money on the new Citizen Cope album.
To miss my son to pieces.
To wear the same pair of capris two three days this week.
To not be totally excited about the kiddo playing baseball on a travel team this season...damn that's gonna be a lotta driving!
To be a little stoked that something I pinned on Pinterest was re-pinned 206 times!!
That I know there are 42 days until college football starts - GO DAWGS!!

Taking a Stand

via

Remember this post from the other day?  Well, it's done...the post-it has been delivered.  Ok, so I didn't actually leave a post-it note, since that wouldn't have been possible :)


Text was the chosen form of communication.  I realize more and more how texting should not be a major form of communication.  I completely misinterpreted the "tone" in his messages.  In the end, it didn't matter, but it still got a little confusing for a quick minute.


Part of me feels better because I know I did what needed to be done.  I finally stood up for my values and my needs.  I put myself first and decided that I wasn't going to settle.  Bravo me, right?!

via

The other little part feels broken.  That's only normal, right?  I had to end something with someone that meant something to me.  And it sucks.  Big time.  And honestly, it should have been done a while ago.  I should have listened to my gut a few weeks ago instead of falling a little more and more.  But ultimately, I could only let go when I felt the time was right.

via 

So I keep giving myself a pep talk.  Reminding myself that it's ok to be a little selfish and what I feel is best for me.  It's been a bumpy road, this past year.  But I finally feel like there is air in the tires and the road is turning to pavement instead of gravel.

via 

So What! Wednesday

Linking up with Shannon at Life After I 'Dew' for So What! Wednesday!
Today, I'm say SO WHAT! if...

• It's 90 degrees outside and I'm wearing a jacket inside.
• I haven't picked up my camera in almost a month (isn't that what phones are for?)
• I can't wait to watch SYTYCD tonight.  Yes...I am a reality TV junkie.
• I've had the same song on repeat for the past two days and have probably listened to it 50 times.
• I'm sad at the end of a good book because I really want the story to continue.
• I'm addicted to Pinterest but will probably NEVER make/do half of the things I pin.  
• I get really (and I mean really) giddy when I see that I have a new blog follower!
• I've been on hold for over 10 15 20 minutes waiting to talk to a supervisor and I want to reach threw the phone and ring someone's neck.

Good Morning, Sunshine!!

They like me, they really like me!!  Well, at least Graceful Disaster does.  She was so kind to pick ME for the Sunshine Blogger Award...and that makes me giddy!

Rules of Engagement:

1. Include the award log either in your acceptance post or somewhere on your blog.

2. Answer 10 questions about yourself.

3. Pass the award on to 10-12 other deserving bloggers.

4. Add a link on your post to all of the talented winners and comment on their page to let them know they've been deemed amazing.

5. Thank the brilliant soul that recognized your talent and bestowed this wonderful award on you...and of course link back to them as well.

And just when you thought you knew everything about me...

1. What would you most like to change about yourself?

I would actually finish what I start...ugh...

2.  What is your theme song?

Seriously?  You want me to pick just one song?  Can't I have a box set?  (Excuse me while I scour the plethora of songs in my iPod)...almost done...I think I got one...ok, here goes.  At this moment in my life, I'll go with Never Let Me Go by none other than Florence + The Machine.  One line specifically - "I'm not giving up, I'm just giving in."  

3.  One part of your life, a memory, action, etc. that you wish you could surgically remove from your brain?

Everything happens for a reason, even if I have no flippin clue what that reason is.  Someday I will.  So I'll keep it all, thanks.

4. What generation do you wish you had been a part of?

I'm a child of the 80's...could you seriously ask for anything better?  I mean, who wouldn't want to have mall hair and wear 3 pairs of socks???

5. What was your favorite childhood toy?

Barbies and Nintendo...just like my presenter!!

6. What is your favorite housecleaning chore?

I think laundry is the lesser of all evils

7. Do you Twitter?

Sure do!  Not extremely active, but working on it.  You can follow me!! @amandaspec

8. Any goals?

If getting out of my mom's house isn't a goal, then I don't know what is!!  

9. Do you really drink margaritas all the time?

Thank the stars for skinny margaritas and my friend, Tammy for teaching me how to make them.  So the answer is YES!!

10. What is the ugliest car you've ever driven and were embarrassed to be seen in?

When I turned 16 in 1994, I drove a 1983 Chevy Celebrity.  Don't know that I'd say it was ugly, but it stalled at every stop sign.  Fun times considering it was an automatic!

The ones that light up my life:

A Little Unhinged

Can't Google Everything

Crazy Mama Drama

Defying Gravity

Going the Distance

Here Comes the Human

Life & Everything Else In Between

Miles From Ordinary

Southern Belle Mama

This IS My Real Hair

You Know It Happens at Your House Too

Check them out...you know you want to!!  All the cool kids are doing it!

GFC Blog Hop!

Linking up with the following lovelies (and gent) for the GFC Blog Hop!!  Hop on over and check it out!!!

The Thing About Joy

Post-It?

It's time for me to end a relationship.  I hate this part.  I've always hated saying goodbye to someone even when I know it's the right thing to do.  But at this point, I feel like I've done all I can do and said all I can say.  None of it seems to make a dent and I'm just tired.  


People change (or not), relationships change (sometimes), hell...life changes (always).  


So now the question is...how do I end this? The last time I was in the dating world, this wouldn't even be a problem.  Texting didn't exist and email was just starting to become a way of communication.  Yes, I realize how old that statement makes me sound...joy.  

Maybe if I list the pros and cons of each choice, it'll help me make the decision.  Here we go...

Email

Pro - I think it's obvious that I like to write and can be a little long winded.  I could get all my thoughts out at one time and then just be done.


Con - This is easy...I don't have his email address.  

Phone Call

Pro - Yeah, finding a pro on this one is hard.  The con will explain why.

Con - Oh, that's right...we NEVER talk on the phone.  And no, I'm not exaggerating.  It would be an act of God if he actually answered the phone when I called.  I'm starting to wonder if he is allergic to talking on the phone.  Maybe it makes him break out in hives or his throat swells shut.  

Texting

Pro - This is our his preferred method of communication.  You already know that he doesn't like to talk, so this is what I'm left with.  Seems a little fitting to use this method for that reason.

Con - I would send the text and then be fidgeting until he responded, which could be hours.  He's not a quick texter.  And he actually admitted the other night that he "only reads the important parts of the texts" so how can I even be sure that he would read it?  Of course, I wonder how you can determine if something is important or not without reading it.  Maybe I missed that class in college.  Hmph...

Face-to-Face

Pro - It's probably the most decent choice.  Ugh...

Con - Lord only knows when I will actually see him again.  Distance is a bit of an issue.  Plus I'm really afraid that he will try to put on more lip service about how things will change.  Fine...I'm a chicken...I admit it.

Post-It

Pro - Short, sweet, and too the point.  

Con - I would have to know where he lives.

Acting Like I Disappeared 

(a.k.a. not responding to any future communication from him) 

Pro - By far, the easiest way out.  

Con - I might be a chicken, but I'm not a coward.  I do have some ounce of human decency left in me.  

What do you think?  Advice, thoughts, opinions???  

**Total side note...I think I've listened to this song about 10 times in a row.  Seriously can't get enough of it and I can't wait for the new album to come out!!

Not-So-Happy Feet

It's time to talk about one of my least favorite subjects...feet.  I have had a disdain for feet for as long as I can remember.  Maybe it's because my feet are extremely ticklish.  I can't stand people putting their feet on me, even if they have socks on.  YUCK!


Pretty feet don't run in my family.  Is there even such a thing as pretty feet?  Not in my book!  


My toes have always been one of my biggest peeves about my feet.  For most of my life, I thought that my second toes were just exceptionally long.  A few weeks ago, someone pointed out that they thought my big toes were actually too short.  Here's the evidence (please excuse the flip flop tan line)...

See what I mean?  My big toes are the same length as my third toes.  And toes 2-5 are all fairly proportional.  I seriously think I could lose half a shoe size if the rest of my toes were in line with the big toes.  


The one good thing about long toes - I don't have to bend over to pick stuff up.  Hey, there has to be a bright side, right??

TGIF Blog Hop!!

Link on up and join the fun!!!

I Don't Have a Speech Prepared...

Holy shamoly!!  Gwen over at A Little Unhinged has nominated me for The Versatile Blogger award!  Gwen's blog is hilariously honest...check it out!

The Rules for the Award: 

1. Thank the Blogger who nominated you.

2. Include a link to their site.

3. Include the Award image in your post. 

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself.

5. Nominate 15 other Blogger for the award.

6. When nominating, include a link to their site.

7. Let other bloggers know that you nominated them.

Random facts about me?  Are you sure you wanna know?? 

1. I hate coconut

2. I am deathly afraid of bridges and overpasses that have no emergency lane

3. My second toe is longer than my big toe 

4. My phone is never more than an arm's length away from me (not totally proud of this one)

5. I have a degree in Marketing...but have never had a marketing job

6. If I could, I would eat ice cream every day

7. I don't drink tea even though I was born and raised in Georgia (GO DAWGS)

And now for my nominees...

Defying Gravity

Here Comes the Human

This IS My Real Hair

You Know It Happens At Your House Too

This Is My Life

Going The Distance

Dysfunctional Ever After

Southern Belle Mama

Crazy Mama Drama

Ampersand

Nap Time is the New Happy Hour

Miles From Ordinary

Peppermints and Pixe Dust

Your Doctor's Wife

Be Freckled