I like catchphrases....

Correction I LIVE for catchphrases. I am not sure why but I feel like things are always better when they have a catchphrase associated with it.

This all started 11 years ago on New years Eve 1997 when I decided shit needed to change in my life. I needed to quit smoking, and start exercising. I called it feeling great in '98. It didn't exactly go so well. I did join a gym, but I wasn't really working out. It was all okay though cause I was still looking fine in'99. It went on and on from there as you can imagine. This years theme was stop at the line in '09. Brought on by my frequently blowing red lights. Whoops. But I never got a ticket.

The catch phrases don't end there folks, I had the get-in-shape girl work out regime. The also popular holiday slogan "It's a god-damn Christmas miracle" evoked anytime after Halloween until Valentines Day.

There was the announcement of.

So I decided I need a catch phrase, Haven't had one in a while so here is what it's gonna be... "That's what I'm talking 'bout" I am going to start saying it all the time. Below are some examples of when I can use it.
Friend: "Does Anyone want to go see a movie tonight?"
Lish : "That's what I'm talking 'bout"
Friend:"Do I look fat in these pants"
Lish: "That's what I'm talking 'bout"
Friend: "Who needs another shot"
Lish: "That's what I'm talking 'bout"
Boss: "You did a Fabulous job on the monthly closing, I don't know how we ever did this without you"
Lish: "That's what I'm talking 'bout"
Friend: "Lish you look dope lately"
Lish: "That's what I'm talking 'bout"
Older Sister: "Lish can you come watch me try on clothes and play with my kids"
Lish: "That's what I'm talking 'bout"
Teacher: "Another great paper Lish, we may let you graduate early forget all the requirement's. "
Lish: "That's what I'm talking 'bout"

All this makes me think I need a new catchphrase.

Channeling Pinky . . .

Everybody has a style icon. As I've gotten older I've become more aware of what I like, what suits me and what I should never wear again (mid-riff anything). I'm fortunate that many of my style icons are related to me. I've been raised in a fantastic sorority of women each with unique style. What began with my grandmothers was passed to my mother and aunts and down to my sisters and now the next reincarnation - my nieces. Although all very different in style - they all are strong, creative women who present themselves as such.

Today I'm channeling Pinky. My mom. A couple years ago she had a big birthday so I compiled pictures from her life and made scrap books for her. I can't tell you how many times I wished that these clothes were still around or that I could fit in them. (The fur trimmed coat is still around but comes to my elbow - UGH!)

Here are a couple of my favorites. I feel they run the gamut of being either of the time - pink prom dress or eternally classic - red pea coat. In any case they are all totally my mom. I feel that you see the beautiful woman before you see the killer feather trimmed dress. Don't you just want to hang out with her? Or at least be able to raid her closet?



High school and college years.




Young wife and mother.



What I wish I would be wearing this fall.
Hello, red pea coat and brown knee high boots - I covet thee.

Have a great weekend!

Sink or swim . . .

I love the water. Always have. My childhood summers were spent either on the beach or at the pool. If we were really lucky we would go from the beach to the pool - talk about spoiled. On the beach - sand was so not my thing. I mean sure for the half hour after we ate we would build sandcastles and bury people but I was always waiting to get back in the water.

In July, I volunteered at a kids camp and the last morning was our groups turn to go to the pool. For 2 hours we swam, had tea parties underwater, did handstands, did Ariel impressions and I wowed them all with my ability to do a flip turn and go the length of the pool underwater. It was heaven.

Summer always reminds me time spent either beside a pool or playing in a lake. How indulgent it feels to swim or got to the beach in the winter. Next week I'm heading back to Chicago to spend the week up in Lake Geneva. I will relish every moment in the water and at the lake. Things always seem so much better there.

Ridiculousness

We all have them, things in our lives that are complete and utter ridiculousness. We know they are ridiculous, and we don't care. They make no logical sense, and we don't give up on them.

Below is a list of ridiculous things that either drive me nuts, or make my day.

Drive me nuts

1) Adult rollerbladers. I don't get it, that fad died like 15 years ago. Get a bike. But the thing is they are worse then bikers on a main road, cause when they really get going they take up more space blocking traffic because to roller blade your legs sway out to the side.

2) Adults with braces. This does not include invisiline. I have no reason to be bugged by this other than I am.

3) Late people. I should let this go, I shouldn't let this get to me. It does not bother them that they are late. It only bothers me. But I can not get over it, it's just rude to me.

4) Gross eaters, ie talking with your mouth full, or eating with your mouth open. I feel like this has become an epidemic lately. What happened to our generation. Or the better question where were our mothers? And why were so many children neglected in the world of table manners. I literally saw someone talk their way through a whole hoagie sandwich yesterday. At one point food actually flew out of their mouth about 5 feet onto the floor. The person did not notice, but I had to leave.

Makes me happy!!

1) Sour punch straws. I love them there is nothing else to say. They can totally turn a bad day good.

2) The TV show Rescue Me. My life will never be as hectic/crazy/out of control/moronic as that show, and for some reason it gives me peace and makes me laugh.

3) Cuddling. It's amazing to cuddle with a friend, significant other, pet, whatever.

4) Sleep.

My New York Decathalon

That is what Tizzy's husband nicknamed our weekend within the first twelve hours. Usually when I go visit the majority of the trip is taken up with shopping. Since we are in a global recession, and I am only recently re-employed I thought I shouldn't focus this trip on shopping. (Plus there was nothing that I was dying for). Instead we did activities.

We woke up bright and early and off to our trapeze lesson. It was on the way home from Chelsea Piers that we got a little carried away with planning our activities, we were going to do the free kayaking, then we were mad we didn't bring tennis rackets with us for a quick pick-up game on our way home, tomorrow morning that's when we will rent bikes. Pick up the pace Tizzy or we will never get showered and changed in time to make it over the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh and did I mention it was 95 and like 100% humidity in NY all weekend.

Just so you don't think we are normally this activity based. This trip was like every other time Tizzy and I get together our eyes, and our mouths are a lot bigger than our realities. By the time we got home from the Brooklyn bridge we were already starting to get sore from the trapeze lessons. Not to mention I don't even know the last time we played a pick-up game of tennis. It has to be 20-25 years...we are only in our early 30's.

And so much for not shopping, I left NY barely able to zip my bag, with a new dress, new shoes, new jeans, new necklace, and a peacock headband. We also had some really great meals, and saw the Play Avenue Q. I had a great time.

Open Your Eyes . . .

Lish came to visit NYC this weekend. It's so fantastic to have visitors. No matter what we are doing it brings a fresh perspective to life and adventures in this city. It's safe to say that we both pushed each other to try new things. Tizzy - walking the whole Brooklyn Bridge and for Lish - Trapeze Lessons. New gems came across everywhere. Although it turned out the lessons brought Lish face to face with pure fear; the ice cream in Brooklyn was certainly worth the extra couple of steps. It was a great reminder for me to break out of standard routines and take advantage of everything that's out there. You are only limited by yourself and your own imagination.

Thanks, Lish. I love you and miss you all ready.

PS - Next time we will definetly do the kayaking - assuming it's not winter.

Co-worker relationships, what's a girl to do?

I just started a new job two months ago, and I am having a hard time with the people I work with. This has never happened to be before. I am a social person, who is usually able to find common ground with people. I am super chatty, I can talk to anyone. But this place man is throwing me.

First off it is a small company of 20 people or less. And it is SILENT. Yes you read that right SILENT. The people here hardly ever interact with each other. It simply does not make sense to me. As time has gone on, I have created relationships with three of the people. Unfortunately one of which is now leaving the company. But those relationships at least are making it better.

The hardest part for me, is that the two other people in my department are the worst of all I think. Maybe I think that though, cause I would expect to have a closer relationship with them, and since I don't it is all the more apparent to me.

My boss has a way of not talking in full sentences. Or I don't even know if that is correct. He speaks in short, quickly to the point, sentences and then punctuates them with a head tilt and facial expressions. As if that motion is supposed to communicate to you the next sentence that should have come out of his mouth but didn't. We went on a business lunch today, and if he talked for more than 10 minutes in the almost 2 hours we were together I would be shocked. When I was younger I used to try and fill awkward silence. I don't do that anymore. Mainly because I have decided that quiet people are just socially lazy. There is no reason I should stand on my head to entertain you. If you are cool with the silence, so am I.

The woman who works beneath me, is the one who throws me the most. She is moody, and set in her ways. So basically anything that doesn't go the exact way she thinks it should is a reason to set her off. She has, in the two months we have worked together, sent me an e-mail about the ring on my cell phone disturbing her. (Which I found hilarious because as I stated I am her boss, and the phone call she was on when my loud ring disrupted her was a personal phone call) An e-mail on the correct way to face documents when filing them, which I don't do, I don't file she does the filing. And she stormed out of my office once talking about me all the down the hall simply because I asked her a question someone else had already asked her. Now I have dealt with people who adjust to new bosses, or different personalities adjusting to each other before, but I have never quite come across someone like this. I really don't know how to deal with her. If call her or go into her office, and she is on a personal phone call she won't get off the phone. Sometimes I will continue to stand by her desk so she knows it's kind of important, and she will eventually ask the person to hold on, place her hand over the receiver and say...what? with a snotty look on her face. When we are "getting along" she is fine, BUT she only talks about herself. I had started making small talk with her, asking about her kids or weekend, or what not to hopefully build our relationship. It worked somewhat, but I noticed she not once has ever asked me about my weekend, my family, my anything. And to be quite frank I don't really give a shit about her life. So after two months of the nonreciprocal chats, I have stopped.

I honestly don't know how to deal or relate with these two people. At first I thought it was just an adjustment period, but now I realize I think this is just how it is.

Spread your wings . . .

I'm a sucker for new beginnings. I love the hope and possibility all lying right in front of you. I use to move every year on my birthday. Although it wasn't an ideal way to celebrate I loved that each year brought a new place to live and a fresh start. I love the new dreams that meander through your head and the old ones that present themselves again. My nieces and nephews are getting ready to go back to school and it so brings me right back. The school supply shopping, the outfit planning, the new shoes. As summer wraps itself up (with a blanket of humidity here in NY - UGH) the relaxed schedules are being folded away. New goals and lessons are laid out. Opportunity presents itself to excel and develop. I hope this year they spread their wings a little bit further, reach a tiny bit higher and SOAR!

Under Seige . . .

That was me last night. Trying to make dinner. Just as I had mistakenly dumped half the bottle of sea salt into the green peppers the oil on the next burner that I had allowed to get too hot started to pop and explode. Scooping out the sea salt while dodging boiling oil I thought I had ruined dinner. I kept with it. Added the tomatoes to the green peppers and cooked the chicken and shrimp. With the kitchen a disaster I arranged the whole wheat spaghetti with shrimp (for me) chicken (for my man) green peppers, tomatoes, goat cheese and fresh basil. And you know what - it was delicious. Best thing that I've ever made. Even my Man thought so. So my lesson for the day is stick with the fight. It might turn out just perfect.

Perspectives

I always think it's important to have perspective. I am guilty of having too much at times. Friends and family can get a little irritated when I play devil's advocate. I do it too often. Sometimes when people are upset they just want someone to support them, and have their back. I automatically go to rationalization. Unless of course it's something I am upset about and then all rationale is out the window.

Anyway back to my point on perspectives, the other day I was walking down a block I walk down at least once a week. Due to construction, I was walking on the opposite side of the street than I normally do. My perspective was forced to change, and honestly it was like I had never been on this block before. There were so many times that I had been looking at the pretty houses or gardens across the street that I never paid any attention to. It got me thinking what else have I been missing out on, by just simply following the routines that I am used to.

So I have decided for the month of September I am not going to take my "normal" path through life. I am going to push myself to live outside my routine, walk on the other side of the street, and take a new route.

I will let you all know how it goes.

I'm not a very strong cook

But this homemade pizza turned out lovely, no? Granted I didn't have a rolling pin and just kind of stretched and smooshed the dough out but it was fresh and delicious and whole wheat crust! I need to remind myself that the easy route - frozen digiorno - is not always the best. An extra 10 minutes and I was not only happy and satisfied with my meal but proud. And my love for Trader Joe's has grown exponentially since. Win - Win.

Soundtrack of My Life . . .

Oh Lish, you are a mecca for bad luck lately. Luckily you are coming to visit next weekend and we have a full itinerary that will hopefully shake that bad luck from you.

So yesterday I was listening to Pandora (total props to Lish who turned me onto it) and a song came on that I haven't heard in 15 years. In a flash I was 17/18 in high school hanging out with my friends planning trouble/looking for trouble/on our way to trouble. Oh how I adore this song. It was a visceral experience and it got me thinking of the way music plays such a crucial role in my life. The way it is intertwined in my memories. The way the lyrics can speak the truths of my heart. The way the music can give me strength or slowly lull me back to safety.

Here's a portion of the Soundtrack of My Life. Better than a picture these songs can pull me back in time and I am drenched in the setting, the feeling and the emotion of the time. My own personal time machine . . .

1. Little Girls - Annie Soundtrack - Lish and I have set up the camera tripods in our family room and are singing our hearts out to the Annie soundtrack on 8-track. My mom would always materialize when this song came on and sing the Miss Hannigan part. We were surprised and delighted every time.
   
2. I love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett - Lish and I are playing dress up with our friends down the block while rocking out to their Joan Jett 45 record. The dresses, the goggles, the hop scotch carpet and the Barbie Motor Home lay witness to our crazy dance moves.
   
3. I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston - Ms. Houston how wonderful it has been to grow up with you. When I hear this I'm in the backseat of the new Bonneville the windows rolled down and my Dad is taking us on a run to 31 Flavors during a warm summer night.
   
4. Freedom - George Michael - Lish and I shared a room that adjoined our older sister's. We spent hours on the stair between the two rooms watching her get ready, idolizing her every move. This song brings me right back to the magenta walls, low white platform furniture, white wassily chair and Nagel prints of her room. She was in high school and rocking out with her new CD stereo. We would watch and sing and aspire to be that cool.
5. Jessica - The Allman Brother's Band - My older brother is a huge Grateful Dead and Allman Brother's Band fan. When I hear this song I am visiting him at college and we are at a house party and he's a dancing fool. The song never ends when you think it will. He loves that.
6. Shoop - Salt N' Peppa - I drove a Red Brono II in high school. It was a great car and this song was a main stay in it. Windows down, stereo cranked Ali and Tim and I would rap along at the top of our lungs. We each had our own part. Young and free and looking for mischief.
7. Dropout - Urge Overkill - This was the song that started this musical odyssey. I'm with a bunch of friends up at a cottage in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. Sledding and running into trees, playing cards and trying not to burn the house down.
8. Wildflowers - Tom Petty - Freshman year in college I was constantly stealing this from Helmet. We were redecorating our room, getting ready to go out, ordering bread sticks after the bars. We were unsupervised and ready for fun.
9. Lovefool - The Cardigans - Living in a house with 50 girls is a blast. Don't let anyone tell you differently. We were obsessed with Romeo & Juliet. Both the movie and soundtrack. I can remember dancing in Jess and Mandy's room hoping Mary doesn't come in.
   
10. Rihanna - Fleetwood Mac - I was moving into a house Senior Year of college and Fleetwood Mac had just reunited with The Dance. This song and cd were played throughout that Fall. All the parties, all the cleaning, all the constant hanging out.
11. Just A Friend - Biz Markie - For my first real job I had 2 weeks off at the end of the year. Jessy and I went out to visit Ali in California. Driving with the top down in Ali's Jeep there was a Hip Hop countdown and Just a Friend came on. We were singing at the top of our lungs and off to Vegas for New Year's Eve.
12. I'm Like a Bird - Nelly Furtado - Lish and Jess and I are living in an apartment with two living rooms. I think one was supposed to be a dining room but we were long on couches and short on tables. We had so much fun in that apartment with a Christmas tree wired to the book case so it could stand on the sloping floors. Girls nights in, watching the 2000 election debacle, getting hooked on the Bachelor. I can clearly picture Jess singing into her hair brush as we are heading out for the night.
13. They Can't That Away From Me - Billie Holiday - New apartment with my Man and the only furnishing was a bookcase outside of the stacks of boxes everywhere. It was his birthday and we had just had dinner at Magnum's and gone to Green Dolphin Street to dance. Getting home we lit a bunch of candles and turned on some music. As I turned back around he was on his knee. I have no idea what he said at that moment. But I do remember dancing and holding onto him and wanting to do this for the rest of my life.
    
14. My Girl - Temptations - Standing by the water sipping champagne in Hawaii I was still wearing a lace veil and the nerves and emotion of all that had just transpired swept away from me on an ocean breeze. We had done it. I was so full of love. We started to play a CD and as soon as this song started my Dad and I danced together as the sunset. He sang every word to me.
15. Single Ladies - Beyonce - Waiting for a bus up in Beaver Creek on Christmas Day. We had just arrived and walked around town. Watching my niece and nephews play in the snow this song came to mind and I started working out the choreography. It was performed that night at the talent show and the rest of the week - mainly in public.

God, I love music.
Have a great weekend!

Ei Yi Yi

So while tizzy has been counting her blessing I have been in a calamity.

Quick Update: the boot camp rocked. I am definitely signing up. I sweated, I strained, I worked it, AND I am not crazy sore.

Back to the calamities at hand. First off, earlier this week I got a flat tire that couldn't be patched had to be replaced. That was a nice $200 out of my pocket. Plus they told me it would take 40 minutes, and it took over 2 hours. I hate it when people waste my time. Give me the truth about it. It's not like I can drive away!!! You still were going to replace my tire, you just were not going to have to deal with a grumpy me ever 30 minutes telling you how long it's been since the last time you told me it would be done.

Secondly I check my bank on-line and someone has taken $3500 out of my accounts. Gulp....$3500 double gulp gulp. I immediately hauled ass to my local branch. You are not going to believe this. It was done old school style. Someone went into the bank posing as me, went to a teller window and withdrew this money. I personally think it was in inside job for several reasons. Hello everyone knows banks have camera's now. It was taken out of multiple accounts, and even though they were large $ amount it was just enough to NOT overdraw any of the accounts. Also the signature on the withdrawal slips does not look anything like the one on my id, or the signature cards on file. The two women I was dealing with pointed it out to me, it's not just me feeling overly wronged. There were no additional markings on the withdrawal slips and for the total that was withdrawn a supervisor or manager would have had to sign off on them, as well as, info from my id would have to be notated. But here is the kicker my bank was not going to credit my account while they investigated these transactions. I find this totally absurd. They will credit someone if fraudulent debit card transaction happen while they investigate. Why would they not give the customer the benefit of the doubt for something that their employees did wrong? I dug in my heels when I heard that and told them, they better talk to someone higher up because that is ridiculous, and I was not leaving until that money was credited. At first they were like shrugging their shoulders, I don't know. Then I flipped the question on them. I have to pay bills, I have to live. What would you do if this amount of money was missing from your account? This isn't about me being careless and losing my wallet. That's where it clicked and my local branch employees snapped into action really doing what they could to help me. So bravo bank employees it may have taken you an hour and half to understand the gravity of the situation but when you did, you really pulled it out for me, and I appreciate it.

So those are my situations of the week. I am putting them behind me. I can't do anything but enjoy the ride on my new tire. I called transunion, put an alert out, and made sure no other accounts were opened. My identity is safe.... for now. I just wish I had thought to take out some money. I don't have a debit card, and I really feel like I deserve a cookie after all this.

Count Your Blessings . . .

I got bad news yesterday from a relative. Really heartbreaking and shattering stuff. It makes me grateful for the big and small blessings in my life. So in that vain today I shall count my blessings. Here are but a few (in no particular order of course):

• Health - I am able to move and breath and run and do whatever I please without pain or sickness. Granted I have struggled to get pregnant but I have faith that this too shall happen in time. The older I get the more cognizant and grateful I am. And somewhat surprised considering all the reckless and stupid stuff I've done.
  
• Family - This is what I am most grateful for when I close my eyes and say my prayers. It's only through dumb luck that I was granted access to this dynamic and odd and lovely group of people. They help me, they infuriate me, they make me laugh, they put me in my place and most importantly they have taught me how to love and what love feels like. This is an inadequate articulation of how wonderful and happy they make me.
• Chai Lattes - As a non-coffee drinker this little gem has opened my world to yummy warm deliciousness especially in winter. It's like pumpkin pie in a cup.
  
• Dogs - I was raised in a home full of pets. But our main pets were always dogs. At one point my family had 5 dogs and was raising 2 litters of puppies. It was heaven for an adolescent girl. Today I am the proud owner of a spoiled Maltese with bad manners. She is fantastic and brings new friends and long walks and joy into my life everyday.
• Technology - As a freshman in college I was assigned an email address. None of us had any idea what this was - we used to email the people sitting next to us - we were that clueless. Today I am lost without my 'phone' that brings me emails, news, directions, gossip, calorie counters, music, movies, sudoku and anything else I could possibly need or want. As long as I'm in service range.
• Paper - Oh how I love smelling books, sending cards, making invitations. As much as I love technology and email nothing makes me smile more than a card or letter or invitation in the mail. I'll always be old-fashioned in this sense.
• Clouds - I can't stop taking pictures of clouds. I think they are so fascinating and beautiful and haunting. I appreciate that they reside in the skies. I hope that as I cast my eyes heavenward - all those I can no longer reach are smiling down on me reminding me to keep my head up.

I'm REALLY nervous

Last week one of my friends asked if I wanted to do a boot camp with her. I was kind of ehhh on the whole situation. See I recently graduated after having been in school full-time while working full-time for the last three years. It didn't leave tons of time for me to be working on my fitness. So basically I am REALLY out of shape. I hide it well in my clothes, but there is not so much muscle tone happening.

Over the weekend I mentioned the boot camp to several other friends. They all said they might be interested too. So I forwarded on the info. Well tonight is the free introductory class. And of course all my medium to so-so in shape friends have bailed. But of course those stinking in-shape friends are all about it. So now I HAVE to go, cause it was technically MY idea. But I will tell you this it was not MY idea to stand around in spandex with only freakishly (I mean dedicated) in-shape people.

Here is the other thing about this boot camp, I am going to be super sore. As I mentioned I am out of shape. I work on the third floor of my building and it doesn't have an elevator. I think it will be hard to get into my office tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

Goodbye Trusted Friend . . .

Like most - I was enthralled with all you offered me. Emails and the internet at my fingertips, directions when I was lost, freedom from a life spent tapping out text replies on my cell phone. I introduced you to my friends and they started dating your friends. It was bliss.

Sleek and small in design you've proven to be a true soldier. You weathered my abuse and the countless times I sent you splaying across the floor (and once almost into the subway tracks). A quiet warrior you performed to the best of your abilities despite the shotty service that forced us to get a land line.

In many ways you were my closest companion. I can not explain the dread I felt when I thought you were lost or broken. You have helped me through the highs and lows of the past years. Bringing hope and love from my sisters when I was sad. Ecstatic cheers and recollections of the oodles of new souls our friends and family have delivered. Or the simple notes from my Man to let me know he's on his way home. So much has been entrusted to you.

But the time has come to move on. We are no longer beholden to the awful service that brought you to us. Truth be told we have also been seduced by newer technologies. I will forever think of you fondly and relish our 2 1/2 year relationship. You've helped me out of many a pinch and for that I am grateful.

Thank you faithful friend and good luck. I can only hope that through recycling you are refurbished and sent out to help another girl conquer the world while still staying in touch with everyone that she loves.

xoxo
Tizzy

Where it all began

Below is the e-mail I sent to Tizzy when I first decided to get serious about us having a blog.

While you are home we really need to start our blog. I know you have brought it up here and there for a while, but I think we have a kind of niche. And now I am out of school and I have the time.

So here is our niche in case you somehow forget who we are:

Two sisters:

One married, crafty, everything creative, artistic, and emotional, living in NYC with her husband, (this one is you FYI).

The other single in Chicago, dating possibly, structured career-girl of sorts, no-nonsense, and snarky (this one is me FYI).

I think between the two of us we can write funny/endearing/enlightening posts about the same general topics such as: cooking, exercising, style, current events, circumstances, family, friends, etc. But just as an FYI I don't want to put my picture on the blog.

So let's pick a day next and seriously have a meeting about this. I am free Monday after 6pm, Tuesday after 6pm, Wednesday after 6pm, Thursday after 6pm, Friday after 6pm, NOT Saturday.

That's how it all started folks. That's a quick recap of who we are. And just in case you are wondering those are pictures of us. I know it's weird to start a blog but not want my picture attached. Our compromise is pictures of us as kids.

To be fair I kinda had an idea

Tizzy was right I didn't completely know we were started the blog on that day.....BUT I did know we would eventually. Thanks for throwing me into the deep end. I actually needed that. Usually I am not a procrastinator. The thing is I didn't think it was procrastination when there is no deadline.

So as Tizzy informed you we are sisters, and best friends. Not everyone is as lucky to have the relationship that we do. Growing up we did everything together, and really fought only occasionally. To this day we share the majority of our friends. And on her wedding day I sang "Lord help the Mister who comes between me and my sister" to her husband. In a nutshell our relationship is one of the best things in my life.

We have so many great memories. But we are also different you will come to notice that she will most likely post WAAAYYYY more pictures than I will. She is definitely more artistic and creative than I will ever be, or actually want to be. I am much more analytical and logical.

So welcome to our blog. I hope you enjoy it and it becomes one of your favorite things. Below is a list of some of my favorite things from when we became Tizzy and Lish

1) Long Beach Indiana
2) Mickie and Maggie (the dogs in the picture above)
3) My birthday
4) Saturday morning bike rides with my dad that ended in an impromptu picnic in the park, of enteman's doughnuts, and orange juice.

She doesn't even know . . .

That I've started this blog. We've talked about it for ages and I decided to rip the training wheels off and RIDE!

I'll leave the explanations to Lish (she all ready has this figured out) but as a means of introduction - that's me Tizzy. Lish is my younger sister and although devoted friends we really couldn't be more opposite. Our Dad used to sing us a song during bath time. Well, he was always singing songs - Mr. Snuffalupagus on the way to bed, Love Potion #9 in the car on our way to fishing trips, Chantilly Lace while dancing in the kitchen with my mom and my favorite Hit the Road Jack just about anytime. But Tizzy & Lish was uniquely our own. The tune and lyrics were all about us.

Tizzy and Lish
Tizzy and Lish
One is Tizzy
and the other is Lish

And from there our adventures for the day would be wound around as he dried our hair. As the oldest it is obvious that I was/am Tizzy and she a mere 15 months behind was/is relegated to Lish.

This was my favorite outfit growing up.

Dogs - check
Keds - check
Wind blown pony tail and bow - check
Mid summer tan - check
Belly hanging out - check

Some things never change. Some things I hope never will.