decisions and accomplishments

Yesterday we celebrated our return from vacation by just jumping right back into the thick of things. None of that easing in nonsense for us. Ninety to nothing. Or 'nothing to ninety,' as the case may be.

After a full day of work, we had to hit the grocery store, since our refrigerator didn't magically generate food while we were gone (??? I guess it's broken??). And then, since we were in the 'neighborhood,' Matt suggested we cruise by the construction site of our soon-to-be-opening Ulta...a site I have been relentlessly stalking for the last several months as I urge and cheer on the workers to WORK FASTER. WORK HARDER. WORK SMARTER. Do what you gotta do, gentlemen, cause I NEED THE STORE TO OPEN. Luckily it seems like they took advantage of my week-long absence from their job site and really got their hustle on-- there are actual SHELVES and WALLS inside now! Really it looks like it could open anytime...if there were any PRODUCTS there, that is.

Naturally, my eyes were drawn to this tempting sign in the window. NOW HIRING. Yes.

Now it is true-- I already work full-time. And I love my job. And the people I work with. And pretty much everything about my current employment situation. So I'm not looking to change careers or anything. But come on. How great would it be to get a second job at Ulta? SO GREAT, that's how great it would be. I swear, when I set foot into an Ulta I get this goofy perma-smile on my face. I feel happy! I feel empowered! I feel pretty! I become poor and I don't even care!! I disregard all logic as I snatch up $30 lip gloss! It's like a drug, I tell you. What if I could work there, too?!?! 

Let's look at it scientifically. Pros and Cons of Getting an After-Work Job at Ulta:

CONS:
-I would be surrounded by temptation all the time. I have a terrible track record of staying strong in this setting. Therefore I would probably go broke quickly.
-My paycheck would probably be immediately 're-invested' back into the store. I probably wouldn't even come out ahead.
-I already work full time and don't really want to work more.
-I don't do my own makeup as fancy as all the other girls that work at Ulta.
-I would not get to spend as much time reading/blogging/exercising/lounging/gardening at home.
-I would have to drive myself to/from work there.

PROS:
-Extra spending money to put towards infertility treatments/adoption (and shoes, jewelry, clothes, Starbucks, and books)...if there was any left over after I left the store each day.
-I'd get to try ALL THE MAKEUP and get tons of advice and tips and probably samples.
-I would be surrounded by happy people talking about makeup.
-I'd spend less time at home eating on the couch while watching TV/blogging/reading.
-MAKEUP.

See, it's really a tough choice. I think that if I could truly write my own schedule and have it cater to my every whim (like...from 8-10 maybe twice a week, and then a couple mid-afternoon hours on either Saturday or Sunday. If I felt like it.) I might pursue it. But as I recall, retail wasn't exactly the most flexible and worker-catered environment, so that probably wouldn't be possible. So I'll probably just stick with being lazy and being a regular old customer. But still. It's a thought.

See? No post-vacation slacking for me. I'm jumping right back into the thick of Big Decisions!

After the Ulta Debate, I had to figure out what we would have for dinner. Over the past few months I've gotten into a huge habit of NEVER COOKING. It's pretty great, really. I've really perfected my eating out skills. So I'm totally out of the habit of cooking...especially after a week of having my every single need (food and otherwise) catered to at the resort. But last night I felt like I should be super ambitious and like...whip up something in my own kitchen. 

We've had a bumper crop of basil this year. A few months ago I bought a bag of pine nuts on a whim, thinking that somewhere I heard something about basil + pine nuts basically equaling pesto. Then I discovered that I didn't have a food processor. (I really thought I did. Apparently I don't.) So all my pesto dreams died. But then yesterday my friend Diana brought me HER food processor and said go forth and make pesto (or something like that)...so guess what I did??

That's right, homies. No recipe. No knowledge. I just looked deep in my soul, tried to rally together every lingering strand of DNA passed down from my Italian grandparents, and threw some things in the processor and hoped for the best. And look-- IT TURNED INTO PESTO!!! For the record, here's what I threw in: pine nuts (toasted), a crap ton of basil from the garden (washed), some EVOO, some minced garlic, a tiny bit of grated Parmesan, and S&P. BAM! PESTO! I know. I was pretty amazed with myself.

Then I had to figure out something to do with the pesto. Evidently it's not a meal unto itself. This is where I usually just give up and go out for Mexican. All that...all those dirty dishes...and no actual FOOD to show for it? Please. This is for the birds.

But sometimes, like yesterday, I can rise to the occasion. So look!! A MEAL! Brown rice pasta, some chicken sausage, and tomatoes all tossed in the pesto! It was actually really good! Of course, I could barely concentrate on eating it, I was so busy patting myself on the back...but whatever. It seems like it was probably good. I have some leftovers for lunch today, so maybe I'll get over my own amazingness long enough to taste it this time. I realize that I should not be this impressed by like...putting food on the table at night...but I'm just really out of practice, so I didn't know I had it in me. Hopefully I'll get better about cooking as fall progresses. Maybe. Then again, I'd hate to let my Mexican food-ordering skills get rusty.

I even have some pesto left over, so I'm thinking I'll use it on a pizza this weekend. My other big weekend plan is to go nail polish shopping. Obviously now that it's "fall," (quotation marks very intentional) my hot pink nails are embarrassingly outdated. I'm on the hunt for some perfect fall colors. I know...excruciating plans, but somehow I'll press through. I hope your weekends are full of equally stressful tasks...stay strong!