jamie ann

I know another one, right? Well it’s just that awesome and now you have even more chances to win a copy of your own and trust me you want one.

We’ve all had our moments where we have to wake up and check our outbox to see what exactly happened last night. I may or may not have had one of those nights after my whirlwind 26 hour Vegas trip…

But that is besides the point.

Texts From Last Night is probably one of the best and most hilarious ideas ever. Bored? Bummed? Has it been way too long of a day? Need a pick me up to send a friend? Texts From Last Night: All The Texts No One Remembers Sending will be your best friend. Not to mention when you are spending way too long doing your hair and someone is waiting for and pretty close to leaving without you, this right here can be the perfect coffee table book that distracts them!

If that hasn’t convinced you that this book is awesome here are a few of my favorites from the book that I got to preview:

(510): The party tonight has no theme but I’ve decided to go as a home wrecker.

(410): my mouth tastes like poor choices

(917): I’m once again drinking at eight am on a Sunday in my tutu. This garment is literally my best purchase ever.

(206): how the fuck does easy mac keep making itself at 3am when i’m wasted? what is this phenomenon?

Right? RIGHT?!

Okay, so right about now I’m sure you’re wishing you had a copy of your own and luckily for you, I’m giving a copy away to one reader!

To enter:

• Go to textsfromlastnight.com and pick one of your favorite texts.
• Comment back here with it.
• Tweet or blog about this contest for extra entries and comment again with the link.
• Do this by Monday February 1st and you’re in!

You know those people who are all “omg I unplugged from the world this weekend and it was amazing!!!!!” Well I’m here to tell you my thoughts on that…

THEY ARE ALL FUCKING LIARS.

It’s not awesome or amazing or even slightly cool. It sucks a lot.

For almost a whole month I’ve been without internet at home. Our internet company sucks so it barely worked half the time. Then we couldn’t decide if we were going stick with said company or switch to another who isn’t that great either so that took awhile. And then finally deciding to switch companies and then them not being able to come until February 1st.

One month. Without internet. #incrediblystabby

Let’s talk about how I dealt with it. Read books. Watched bad Lifetime movies about Pregnancy Pacts (HILARIOUS). Painted my nails a pretty color. Repainted my nails a pretty color. 500 Days of Summer. Hacked my iPhone to turn it into a modem.

Yeah, you read that right.

I hacked my iPhone to turn it into a modem for my laptop. (Guys, you should be incredibly turned on right now. Hell, even you girls should be.) And that worked really well most of the time. I mean, I did have issues, got kicked off a lot and issued many an apology via gchat because I missed the rest of what they were saying and can you please resend that last im?

But then gmail and reader decided to no longer work for me which is a huge pain the ass. Especially since I have to email out resumes to get people to realize exactly how awesome I am and to just HIRE ME NOW DAMMIT (interview tomorrow. holler!). Then the connection became even less reliable making it hard take care of other things I need to do like be managing editor for NextGen Chicagonista (adding new writers soon!). Posting pretty things to OHL Shops (award winning blog!). Post things here. Gchat with favorites. READ BLOGS.

Basically my life was in shambles. And still is for a few more days.

It led me to where I am now. At the library. Interneting it up with the unwashed masses. Trying not to stab teenagers in the face for giggling and trying to get boys attention by “whispering”, HEY COME HERE JOHN! Dealing with creepers lurking in the stacks. The occasional person from high school. It’s a mess but it’s five minutes away from my house.

And then, THEN my headphones busted but I still have them in my ears WITH NO MUSIC PLAYING to stop creepers and people I went to high school with from approaching me and it also helps drown out some of the sound from the teenage girls who I might stab.

So yeah, I’m still here and will be as long as I don’t get arrested for shanking someone or spontaneously combusting from Lack of Internet. But I will say, when I get said job and am finally able to get the eff out of the south side, a nearby bar with internet access will be high on my priority list for new apartment. Because it’s a proven fact that creepers are far more pleasant when drunk.

The things I do for the internets…

• nail polish. I’m currently wearing Concord Grape by O.P.I.
• Icing on the Hair. I’m getting ready to order a headband and you better not order the one I want before I get to it. I’m not above shanking a bitch over hair accessories.
• chocolate and champagne first thing in the morning
• Jenn
• Glee parties
• Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
• The Get Up Kids. I can’t stop listening to Something To Write Home About and On A Wire. No really, I can’t stop listening to them.
• those of you who voted for me to win Best Secondary Blog for Oh How Lovely Shops
• trying to plan interview outfits around a new pair of shoes (it didn’t work so I have to wear different shoes. LAME)
• my puppy who guards my room from my dad’s dog and chasing him away when he looks in here. EVERY TIME. It’s really hilarious.
• the internet because we managed to raise over $2,000 in 24 hours for www.loveharder.org. Go donate.
  

Send some good vibes my way today?

I could use them.

The quandary: We feel terrible. Just horrible. And oh so helpless… if only there was something we could DO for them.

The answer: Ummmm. Did you forget that WE ARE THE INTERNET?!?!!??! And also, Yes We Can!!!

The result: Brandy and your Hot Awesome Dude… this one’s for you. Love, The Internet.

Our Plea

Our friend Brandy is a brilliant writer, a wonderful teacher, and a generous friend.  And she is in love with a man who has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

We are raising money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Fund in his name.  For the price of a cinnamon dolce latte, half-caf, hold the whip, you can be part of an effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide.

http://www.loveharder.org

Every dollar brings us a dollar closer to a cure.  And every donation brings a sliver of hope to a girl who needs all the hope she can get.

Love Harder,

Jamie

What You Can Do

• Give. Be part of a worldwide effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide.  Every dollar helps.
• Pass it on. Forward this story to five people.  Share this blog post.  Become our fan on Facebook.
• Love harder. Life is short, love is unbending, and no one knows what could happen next. Tell someone you love them today.

Where Your Money Goes

• The American Institute of Philanthropy recently named The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation one of the best organizations to give to in terms of their accountability and use of resources.
• By working closely with researchers, clinicians and partners in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, the MMRF has helped bring multiple myeloma patients four new treatments that are extending lives around the globe.
• The MMRF has advanced twenty Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. They need your support to advance these clinical research programs and accelerate the development of better, more effective treatments.
• The MMRF’s Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative recently became the first to sequence the multiple myeloma whole genome in its entirety.
• A whopping 98% of your donation to the MMRF will be used immediately to support high-priority multiple myeloma research.
• With diminishing funding for early stage drug development and the next myeloma treatments not expected to be approved until 2011, the MMRF desperately needs your help.

DONATE: http://www.loveharder.org
CONTACT: theloveharderfund@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.loveharder.org
MORE INFO: http://www.themmrf.org

IT SUCKS.

Okay, maybe I’m being too judgmental considering I never really dated before. I’ve always managed to kind of fall into relationships and that’s worked out just fine for me. My last relationship began as a friendship and lasted for five amazing years.

But for real, real actual dating just seems like too much work.

I mean, first you have to meet someone which is hard to do especially if you have to be like two glasses of wine in to even consider talking to the opposite sex anymore. Seriously, I use to be good at the whole flirting and boy thing. Then I got into a long term relationship, broke that off, chubbed up a bit and now it’s like I completely forgot how to talk to guys. Forget about flirting.

Then there is the whole awkward, getting to know you process where I’m just like do you really want to know how my brain works? Here is my twitter. You’ll know way more about me than you EVER wanted to because no really, I DO actually think about Zac Efron, mac and cheese and apply Mean Girls quotes to every day conversation all in the time span of about 10 minutes and VOCALIZE it.

Moving on to the “let’s meet up for coffee or some nonsense” and I’m all dude, I don’t drink coffee. I eat like a 7  year old and prefer hot chocolate with a side of chicken fingers, thanks.

(unless you want to get me drunk because clearly, we all know I’m about the wine)

Prettying myself up. Trying to pretend like I’m interesting. Showing interest. Not getting distracted by shiny, pretty things.  Making myself available. Trying to be witty and charming. The Someone Might Possibly See Me Naked in the Near Future Diet and Exercise Plan.

IT IS HARD WORK.

Which is why I decided I’m not going try to date. I’m not going to seek guys out.

I’m just going to wait.

I’m going to wait for a dude to find my blog or follow me on twitter and fall in love with me. Then he already will know about my Crazy and Ridiculous but will just think it is Quirky and Adorable so we can skip all the awkward and just get to the good stuff.

I know. I know it’s kind of the best plan ever. I don’t have to do anything except what I’m already doing -

JUST KEEP BEING AWESOME.

A package showed up in my mail box this weekend from a lovely friend who was probably horrified when she found out the only pink I wear on Wednesdays is hypothetical.

That has now been fixed and I will be rocking my new Brandy scarf on Wednesdays forever more. Thanks for the brightest, pinkest scarf in Canada, lady.

I love you to pieces.

#onwednedayswewearpink

(Have you met my friend, Tia? Well you should know her. She has a great blog, loves RPattz almost as much as I do and now has brand new etsy shop filled with pretty things called: Icing on the Hair. I’m holding a giveaway from this lovely shop here. You should go enter. Even if you’re a dude, then you can give it to me if you win because they are just THAT good.)

Now that voting is over, I just wanted to give a big thanks to those of you who nominated me for the 20SB Bootleg Awards this year. I was up for Best Secondary Blog for Oh How Lovely Shops and all of it’s etsy loving goodness and Best Blog Title which surprised me and Best Tweeter (you can follow me here: @jamielovely).

After all the hubbub surrounding the awards, the last thing I wanted to do was campaign for votes. But that does not mean I don’t appreciate the nominations. I love everyone who gave me a nod and I love you if you voted for me. Thank you for recognizing me in our fantastic community. That means more to me than anything even if I don’t win. I’ve been with 20SB since around 100ish members and we just hit our 10,000 member and I couldn’t be more proud to be apart of it.

My whole point of this is to just say thanks and to recognize you, the readers of this silly blog for a change. Your voices, your comments and your friendship have helped me through a hell of a lot. And I really appreciate it more than anyone probably knows.

Now I’d really love it if you’d say hi. Delurk. Even you regulars. Tell me something about yourself or your blog. Favorite book or song. Why you think Lady Gaga is the fiercest bitch ever. Anything. I want to hear it and I’ll be sure to go check each and every one of you who comments out too.

You all know so much about me, now it’s time for me to learn about you.

I spent pretty much of all of last week cursing Chicago winter and begging the weather to cooperate on Thursday. Why? Because it was time to kick off doing Epic Shit in 2010. I didn’t have time for a winter storm.

A couple weeks ago, I was invited to attend a press launch party for Swagg. It was going to be making it’s debut in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronic Show. And we all know how much I love Vegas and being asked to attend as press for such a big event was pretty exciting for me. I was praying the incoming snow storm wouldn’t ruin my plans.

Luckily, my flight still managed to take off and four hours later, I arrived in sunny, warm Las Vegas.

I stripped off my winter coat and hurried over to the Hard Rock Hotel where I would be staying for the night. I’ve never been to, let alone stayed, at the Hard Rock because it’s just off the strip but it was a really cool hotel. I had a killer room in Paradise Tower with a great corner view and the most luxurious bed I’ve ever been in.

(I also may or may not have a slightly drunk video tour of it on my camera that I may or may not upload later)

Later that night, I got dolled up in a pretty purple and black dress and made my way down to Body English for the press party. I mingled with some people, drank quite a few tequila filled drinks, seen Kara from American Idol and grabbed a press kit. I made my way over to The Joint because there was suppose to be a VIP Kid Rock concert there. Personally, not a fan of his but Khloe Kardashian was going to be there and I basically wanted to drink shots with her because she’s freaking crazy.

BUT

I got a message on Facebook from a friend who lives about 15 minutes away from me that I haven’t seen in a couple years that he was in Vegas as well. I ditched out Kid Rock and any hopes of getting hammered with Khloe in favor of heading over to the MGM Grand to meet up with Mark.

While I was waiting for him to find me, I sat just outside of the lion habitat (and was very upset they had gone to sleep) and was hit on by two Russian dudes in their 60s. Then Mark called and I walked away in the middle of their what I’m assuming was a plan to kidnap the really drunk girl from Chicago who was very sad the lions had gone inside. The rest of the night involved me playing slots with his money, him feeding me gin and tonics, Burger King, O’Sheas and a failed attempt at frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity 3. Probably lots of ridiculous conversation of which I remember bits and pieces. And who knows what else happened.

I eventually made my way back to the Hard Rock to catch a few hours of sleep. But my phone kept ringing and I guess people in Chicago thought it would be awesome to call me around 8 which is like 5 in Vegas. Then Mark texted me to tell me he was just getting in at 5:45 so lunch the next day was probably out and then the alarm in the room burst into my short lived dreams with Mexican music at 6.

Vegas did not want me to sleep. But who am I to argue with Vegas? When it calls, you listen.

I dragged myself out of bed slightly hungover, got ready for the day, packed my new gifted goodies in my already over packed bag, checked out and headed to the strip. Amazingly, I did not burst into flames when I finally seen the sunlight and decided to take a look at the newly opened Aria which was stunning. I walked the shops in Planet Hollywood, lunched in Caesar’s and finally got my hands on a frozen hot chocolate. Hit the slots again as I waited for my car and made my way back to the airport.

And that my friends, is how you do 26 hours in Vegas.

(I mean if you HAVE keep all your teeth, not find a baby in your closet and wake up with no tigers in your bathroom sans Bradley Cooper’s hot ass in a suit)

(but it could have been infinitely better had I had a suited up Bradley Cooper)

(many, many thanks to Swagg, Mark and tequila for an amazing time in Vegas!)

Alright now that 2009 is behind me, I think it’s time for some 2010 goals. Not resolutions because much like rules, they are just meant to be broken.

• Career: more writing gigs, continue looking for a job in what I want to do and go back to school whether it’s part-time, online, nights, weekends or whatever.

• Mind: continue to take care of my emotional health. No need for people who bring me down, talk negatively or have no respect for me. I’m focusing on keep positive people in my life. I spent way too much of 2009 worrying, anxious or feeling hurt. Those are the last things I need and won’t tolerate it anymore. Rising above, dude.

• Body: get my weight and body image in order. I’m not allowed to complain about it if I’m not being proactive anymore. Eat more veggies, stop with the Pepsi once and for all and possibly cut out red meat (I KNOW, RIGHT?).

• Random: wear more dresses. Go see more live rock shows. Volunteer. Go out at every opportunity. Spoil myself. Step outside of my comfort zone. Send actual mail via post. Curse less even though I already failed with this title. Reach out to others. Say yes more. Continue to wear pink on Wednesdays.

Read more. Laugh more. Write more. Travel more. Learn more. Love more. And most importantly–

DO EPIC SHIT.