The Kari AnnAlysis

Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’ Category

A few months ago I got this grand idea that I would open an Etsy shop. I started making some lamps with buttons on the shades and fell in love with them and got pretty positive feedback, so I decided why not. But then my conscience got the best of me.

I talked with a couple of shop owners and some report their earnings, others don’t. I checked with an accountant to see what my legal obligations were and decided to check out the paperwork to get it started. I don’t have the greatest luck and knew that I would be the one person in the state of West Virginia to get in trouble for not claiming what I did. I said I had a guilty conscience! I got the paperwork, talked to a couple of people about what all I had to do, got completely overwhelmed and canned the whole idea.

I was so excited about it and it completely broke my heart. *Girl Moment* I sat in my car and cried at office to turn in the papers because I felt like it was such a waste of time and money. I probably jumped in a little fast, but I felt like I spent a lot of time researching and checking out different options.

Unfortunately I decided it was going to be too much work to add to my plate.

But that was months ago and I have spent quite a bit of time still toying with it in my head. After a while of forgetting about what was required and rereading all of the documents and discussing some ideas of what all I could sell with my mom, I think I am ready to jump in again…. soon.

I have a list of at least six varieties of items I hope to sell, and hope to increase that list. And I’ve made some changes to my original plan. Instead of selling the whole lamp, I’m just going to do the shade. I made one an entire lamp for someone a while back and mailed it out and it cost me about $25 to make it and my shipping was $40. Wah Wah! So there are definitely some things to rethink.

But I want to make sure I am really ready to go with this when the time comes. I want to spend some time at the flea markets and knitting and build up my stock a little so that when something sells, I have other things to fall back on and list. I am hoping to have a couple of scarves ready to go (which means I need to finish the one I am working on and get another one done) and have supplies for the rest of my options.

I feel like I am being completely paranoid, but I guess I don’t feel like I can be faulted for not wanting to have to deal with $100 a day fines if I don’t follow the rules. And I am definitely taking my time this time around.

Do you have an Etsy shop? If so, what advice can you give me?

I’ll let you guys know when I get up and going and what all you can find in my shop. I am excited, but treading lightly.

So remember last week when I said that I have too many hobbies? Well lets add another one to the list…. I’ve started adding a little running to my walking workout and am actually writing this as I stretch and cool down from my latest workout! Yippee!

I have always been active. When I was younger, I did everything from gymnastics to cheerleading to basketball to track to volleyball to cross country. What? I said I was active!

I loved track, and always ran the short sprinting races until my junior year. The summer before my junior year, I had a bit of a falling out with my volleyball coach and decided to run cross country instead. Before starting cross country, the most I think I’d ever run was a mile and that was at a very slow pace. I liked running short distances, a lap at the most. Now, I was running 5 miles, just for training. What a change, right? The first year I HATED IT! I looked like a fool running, I cried after every meet and I was placing nearly last on the team. While I was physically pooped, my pride was hurt because I wasn’t used to not being the best. #firstworldproblems But my second year, it all turned around. I was actually good and enjoyed it and was placing high on the team. After crossing the line in my last cross country race my senior year, I had no idea that would be the last race I ran in.

During my senior basketball season, my love and passion, I tore my ACL and my Meniscus and I was done for the season and done for track and pretty much done for good. Granted my doctor told me I would be good as new in a year or so, it still freaked me out. For years after I was supposed to pack away the little athletic brace, I wore it all through college when I played intramural basketball, the summer I played (and scored the winning touchdown) in a coed flag football tourney and even through my failed attempts to run.

For the past few years, since graduating college and getting settled into work life, I’ve tried to keep a workout consistent, but it’s not been extremely strenuous. I have an awesome pilates workout that only takes 10 minutes but works wonders. My cousin and I always play a little Just Dance… or a lot… like an hour and 20 minutes at a time every time we are together, burning more than 1000 calories. And my mom and I walk 3 miles a few times a week at a pretty good pace. I could walk for days, but can’t run more than a couple of block before being ready to pass out!

Well the other day, I was inspired to push myself a little further. My bloggy buddy Jess posted about her remarkable training and running 5Ks and 10 milers. She mentioned a Couch to 5K app, so I decided to check it out. I have no intentions on running in a 5K necessarily, but would like to be in a little better shape and would definitely like to know that if I was ever running to save my life, I would have a few extra miles of survival Don’t laugh… I really think about that.

So I downloaded the app, which is an 8 week training program. The first workout starts with a couple of minutes of walking, then 15 minutes of alternating between walking and running and finishing with a 5 minute cool down. The training is three days a week, working up to running 3 miles. The app has a countdown of how much further you have left of walking, then running etc. And it talks to you and tells you when to start running or walking and tells you when you are halfway done. I love talking apps.

So far, I have finished the first two workouts and am proud to say I have felt GREAT after both.

The first few workouts are free, then you can upgrade to the full app for $2.99. I hate buying apps, but will definitely be buying this one when it’s time.

Now when it comes to working out, you have to have some good music to keep you going, right? Well with this app, you can have your music going and your app still running  so it will turn the music down when it’s time to change from walking to running or vice versa. I looked up a few albums on iTunes and found some that sounded great. Who would have thought that there would be so many exercise albums to download?? I thought I could go without buying one and just turned on my Rihanna Pandora station when I started, but soon realized that wouldn’t cut it. So, I downloaded one and I am so glad I did. I love it and can’t imagine a hard workout without it. All of the songs have been remixed with very high beats per minute to urge you to keep up.

Can’t pass up 35 songs to get you running! After two workouts, I haven’t even made it halfway through. Here’s a list of the songs.

1. We found love
2. Sexy and I Know It
3. Someone Like You
4. Pumped Up Kicks
5. Without You
6. Moves Like Jagger
7. Mr. Know It All
8. Stereo Hearts
9. Party Rock Anthem
10. You Make Me Feel
11. Paradise
12. It Girl
13. You and I
14. In the Dark
15. Cheers (Drink to That)
16. Rolling in the Deep
17. Love You Like a Love Song
18. Just a Kiss
19. Give Me Everything
20. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
21. Turn Me On
22. Domino
23. Nothing
24. Set Fire to the Rain
25. How to Love
26. Night of Your Life
27. Little Bad Girl
28. Skyscraper
29. Never Gonna Leave This Bed
30. Don’t Stop the Party
31. Tonight Tonight
32. The Edge of Glory
33. Last Friday Night
34. Life a G6
35. S&M

There are so many awesome songs on this! And there are several albums to choose from if you don’t like these ones and they are pretty reasonably priced… like $10-$15.

I am just hoping that I can keep this up. I started on a Sunday and did my second workout on Tuesday. It was Election Day in West Virginia that day, which is a pretty big day in the news world, so I had to work an evening shift. I got up and went and worked out even in a sprinkle. Who am I? LOL

Has anyone else used this program??? I tweeted about it and had some people write me back saying that they loved it!

Growing up, I was always involved in many extra curricular activities from every sport possible to student council, I was always busy. I never knew what it was like to be bored because I don’t really remember ever just having time to sit around and not do things. I don’t remember a single show that I watched regularly.

But as I started to get older, and phase the college partying lifestyle out of my life, I was kind of left with a void. I started getting really into books again towards the end of college, so I had those to pass the time, but I felt like I needed more… and did I find it.

Now, I’m in extra curricular overload!

I still have reading as an integral part in my life. I have built a brand, so to speak, with my blog and reviews. I have people contacting me asking me to read their books and have found myself turning people down because I have so much on my plate. This, I must admit, is the only constant activity in my life. I read every single day at lunch and every night before bed. It helps sooth my soul.

One of the other hobbies I have is writing. A couple of years ago, I sat down and started writing a book. Now I’ve finished two and have started a third. I have been sending letters to agents, hoping to get noticed, but I’m still trying. Unfortunately this isn’t one that I am as diligent with as I should be. I have definitely let the heartbreak of receiving “we are not interested” letters impact my writing and really need to look past it.

Over the past year, my other hobbies have come and gone including making button lamps, which didn’t last long because I got freaked out when I looked at the tax aspect and couldn’t force myself to pretend I didn’t know what is legal. I made three lamps and made some pretty good money off of them, but I just felt like it was more of a hassle than anything. Maybe one day I’ll get over my money anxiety and find a couple of more cute crafty ideas and reopen my Etsy shop.

Then comes the knitting. A few years ago, I tried knitting. I failed miserably and just gave up. Last year, I was sitting on the couch one day, with nothing gripping me on tv and reading a book that I wasn’t really into and decided to get out the knitting again. For weeks, all I did was knit. I made a horrible scarf, made a better one and then I made one that I love. Since the three, I have started two more, but I only knit about once every few weeks when again, I’m reading a book that I’m not in love with.

Baking has come and gone in the past few years and peaked again this past winter after my husband got me a KitchenAid mixer that I fell in love with. But with baking, it really for me just depends on what else is going on in my life. If I have somewhere to go, I will offer to bake something, or if I see something new in the store I can’t bypass, but I’ve been uber lazy lately and haven’t just thought, “Hmmmm why don’t I bake something?”. My husband is a chocoholic. He loves chocolate cake and plain chocolate cupcakes. Unfortunately for his taste buds, those are not normally what I make. I want something fun and interesting like raspberry scones and lemon strawberry cupcakes. He always tastes, but I end up eating them all myself, or taking them to work. It’s almost bathing suit season! I need to lay off the baked goods.

Lately I have also been into doing my nails. For years I wore acrylics, but decided to save money and take them off. But I have ended up spending so much more money with trying to be creative. I’ve bought the Sally stickers, Jamberry stickers, multiple new bottles of polish. I even dug out the craft scissors I got when I was younger to help do new designs. So much for saving money. And I have learned that there are only certain times I can do my nails… after the shower, a few hours before bed so they can dry, most preferably while I am sitting on the couch with nothing on the agenda because I always smudge them.

My husband got me a new camera a couple of years ago, so every now and then I’ll get this great idea to go around town and shoot some new pictures. That is actually what sparked this post. I was reading/vieweing some photography blogs today and decided that tomorrow morning would be a great day to go out and take some pictures. Then I thought of all the other stuff I could also do tomorrow before I have a bachelorette party to attend. Think I could do a little bit of all of the above?

One thing I know I won’t be doing this weekend, but will be back with next weekend is trying to find goodies from the flea market. My mom and I always go to the monthly flea market at our fairgrounds. But it wasn’t until the past year or so, since I’ve been on Pinterest, that I’ve had things in mind. My first flea market find was a cheese grater to hang my earrings on. During our last trip, I was looking for mirrors for my mirror wall. In the past month, I have gotten 15 mirrors for $30. I’m obsessed with making my wall awesome! Luckily this only happens once a month so it’s not a random, when I feel like it, activity.

I still do a little exercising, including walking with my mom and we go out on the boat with friends in the summer, and spend time at my dad’s pool. And my biggest extra curricular is spending time with my family. It’s amazing how when you grow up and start finding yourself how other things find you too!

What are some of your extra curriculars? Not that I have time for more hobbies, but you never know when I’ll need something new!

I did not initially jump on the Hunger Games bandwagon. I thought it was probably overrated and I’d already read Harry Potter and Twilight. Did I really need another series? I finally caved, but all three books in a hardback set and it was over. I was in love. I gave the books to several people to read and couldn’t wait for the movie.

I watched every preview I could get my hands on.

I listened to the Taylor Swift song from the movie.

I went to the beauty shop to find the Hunger Games nail polish, which I got two of by the way. Down below, you will read my love for District 12 and understand why I just had to get the black one.

I had set up a movie date with my cousin for this weekend. She lives out of town and we are celebrating her birthday and new house and will do so by watching the movie. She was one of two cousins who I let borrow the books. The other one also contacted me about watching the movie, so I ended up with two dates, but I wasn’t complaining. After reading reviews, I knew that I would be able to sit through it multiple times.

I had thought about taking off work last week when it came out so I could go to a midnight movie, but I waited until Sunday and although I could barely stand myself because I was so excited, it was worth the wait.

I absolutely loved the adaptation from the book to the movie. The characters were what I expected. The settings were what I expected and I loved how they jazzed it up a little for the theater.

I have read a lot of reviews on the movie and can’t believe the things that people are complaining about. Like they didn’t know Rue was black. It says in the book that she was dark skinned, but even if it didn’t, what did it matter? Just because it’s not set in present day and because there was an uprising, did people think an entire race would be wiped out? Same with Cinna. People complained because Lenny Kravitz played that role. I thought he fit the role perfectly. Wasn’t as over the top as I expected, but I loved his character.

The 8th graders at my mom’s school went to see the movie. My mom said that several complained about how the movie was nothing like the book. I think that is just bad, no horrible, reading comprehension. Maybe 8th grade is too young to be able to do that. But I thought it followed the story line pretty tight.

Yes, there were additions, like the behind the scenes of the Hunger Games scenes where they did all the technology, but I loved that. I loved that they showed how it all worked. Also the uprising in District 11. No, it wasn’t in the book, but if you have read the other books, you would know that it is a little teaser for what is expected to happen. They just started it a little earlier than in the books.

I watched the previews, but didn’t do a lot of research into the characters. Both Katniss and Peeta are from Kentucky. They’re not from the area that I am near, but still, it’s Appalachia! They know what District 12 represents. That made me love them even more. I was a bit surprised by all the faces I recognized in the movie. Like that Peeta was played by Josh Hutcherson. He was actually in the movie Little Manhattan, which a coworker just bought for me recently. What a small world! And that Stanley Tucci, Liam Hemsworth and Elizabeth Banks were all in the movie. I had no idea such big names were involved.

I really don’t think that I have any complaints about the movie. I heard a lot of people moaning and groaning throughout the movie when chunks were taken out that they wanted to see. It’s been quite a while since I read the books, so since they weren’t fresh in my mind, there really wasn’t anything in particular that I noticed that was left out. The main story line stuck in my head and that’s what I got. My cousin noticed a couple of things, but I wasn’t offended by anything left out.

I have now seen the movie twice and loved it just as much the second time as I did the first.

But seeing the movie twice isn’t the end to my Hunger Games obsession. After the first viewing, my cousin and I sat until the lights came on just to make sure there wasn’t a scene at the end of the credits that we missed. To those of you who haven’t seen it, you don’t have to stay, unless you want to listen to some good music. And that was at least one great thing I got out of the credits. I fell in love with the songs that ran during them. One was a Taylor Swift song that I had heard before, the other was Miranda Lambert and the Pistol Annies, which I’m surprised I didn’t know was on the soundtrack. So…. when I got in my car, I downloaded the cd from iTunes and have been listening to it for the past week. I absolutely love it. It’s so folky and twangy. It definitely has a very District 12 feel.

Speaking of District 12, when I read the books, I understood that District 12 was my district. They are the coal mining District and that is the part of the country I live in. I knew that they may not possibly be in West Virginia, but being from coal country, I relate. I don’t have family who work in the mines, but everyone knows someone who does. We know the dangers, we have seen them first hand with the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, which devastated our entire state a few years back. And although I knew this, I can’t say though that I really felt the connection with District 12 until I watched the movie. Seeing the destruction, the poverty, the filth, not having running water, knowing that that is how I would live, it really hit home. It’s funny because for the first 20 years I lived in Ohio, and for the past five, in West Virginia. And I have more pride in WV in that short time than I ever did for the Buckeye State. No disrespect to it, and I really think that my husband’s pride for our state and country really rub off on me. And when I saw how they lived in District 12, as horrible of conditions as they lived in, I felt a pride to know that that is where I would live and as much as it would be a life change for me, and would probably dream of living in a place with money, and running water, I know District 12 is my district.

If you’ve seen the movie, please share your thoughts on the similarities, the differences and how you feel now about the series that you’ve seen it play out on the big screen. I cannot wait until the next movie comes out.

Growing up in the state of Ohio, most of us are overwhelmed with love for The Ohio State University. My family, until recent years, never really got behind the Buckeyes. We were a basketball family, with a Duke fan (mom), a UK fan (brother), a Tennessee fan (dad) and a UNC fan (myself). Needless to say, we were a house divided, and still are to this day, but my dad has joined the Buckeye hype.

So when I decided to go to Ohio University, we all knew it wasn’t because of the athletics. I had thought about going to a couple of places to play basketball, but after an injury in high school, I was too scared to get back into it. So I went to school to focus on academics, and trying out for the Olympics. The bar Olympics…. I told you I went to OU, the number 1 party school in the nation.

Now I had friends on the football team, and my roommate dated a football player our freshman year, so we went to all the home games and supported our friends. I went to a couple of basketball games, but never got really into it. Our basketball team wasn’t bad, but the best athletic team, when I was in school was OU’s hockey team. We went to a lot of hockey games. There were chants that are not appropriate for my blog, but I loved it!

One of my regrets from college is that I didn’t go to more athletic events. They were free and I didn’t take advantage of them. I grew up in a sports family and the older I get, the more I try to get to events.

So, you are probably wondering where this is going… well if you haven’t been following the sports world lately, let me catch you up. It’s March… meaning it’s time for March Madness, the best time of the year for basketball fans.

Ohio University has been on top of the Mid American Conference for two of the past three years and this year are busting brackets round-by-round in the NCAA tournament. They made it to the Sweet Sixteen and play number 1 ranked UNC Friday night. This is a HUGE deal for OU. They haven’t been this far in the tournament since the 1960s!

Although I’ve been a Tarheel fan since the days of Ed Cota, (yeah I know you’ve probably never heard of him, but we were both tiny and point guards lol) my heart is behind OU this weekend! But, I know that either way, a team I love is headed to the Elite 8.

I felt such a pride for my alma mater when the time ran out in the first two rounds of the tournament and they were on top. My Twitter and Facebook feeds blew up with Bobcat love and I loved the pictures people posted of celebrations.

A coworker went to Athens this week to shoot a story and told me he tried to find me a shirt, but there were no smalls and he knew I would swim in the other sizes. But… it wasn’t over yet. My dad has a friend who works on campus and had dinner planned with him this week, so he called in a little t-shirt picking up favor and now I’ve got my shirt to wear to work Friday to show my support.

This shirt is very me and definitely one I would have picked for myself. My dad did request a gray shirt. I am not a fan of white shirts for some reason. I always go with gray or color. While most of my coworkers are cheering on OU because we are the underdog and a local team, I am still trying to prepare myself for wearing an OU shirt in MU country! Yikes!

I also have to show you this shirt. Not my style, but I LOVE it!

Isn’t that a fun shirt??? ;)

So Friday night, if you’re watching basketball, I hope you will think of me and cheer along the Bobcats! This is such an awesome opportunity and I couldn’t be more proud to have attended school there.

Oh and if you are a Bobcat fan listening to this, head on over to my friend Mike’s blog and check out his post where he has posted download directions so you can get OU’s Stand Up and Cheer as your ringtone! You go Mike! O…..H….I….O!