Posted on by shirindawna

more than meets the eye.

so, i am a bit (read: big, huge, giant) of a hypocrite.

i will admit. i used to cheat. on everyone.

granted…it was always on my way out of a relationship, but still. it doesn’t make it right and i don’t make excuses for my own bad behavior. it was wrong. i was wrong. and i should’ve ended one relationship before starting another. sadly, i was young and dumb and guilty of the occasional overlap.

once a cheater always a cheater? i don’t think so. at least i hope not. the recent media coverage of philandering husbands has really helped put things in perspective. i mean, what’s the point? why get married if you’re not ready to be with just one person?

what has changed me? empathy. (translation: it happened to me. and it HURT). from there i morphed into the jealous girlfriend…to the ‘do whatever you want’ girlfriend…to the ‘do what i tell you’ girlfriend..to whoever i am now (read: i’d like to explain but it’s constantly changing/evolving). the way i see it: i’d never do anything i wasn’t comfortable with my partner doing. and if he doesn’t feel the same way and is willing to jeopardize ‘all of this’ (no time for modesty, i’m the total package) then he doesn’t deserve me.

so there it is. a confession and a lesson. happy transforming!

Posted on by shirindawna · 1 Comment

lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet…

when i started my blog a great friend suggested i write about the thing i love most: food. i shied away from that initially, but i have to break my silence to talk about one of my all-time favorite things: lemon month at souplantation. i wait 11 months just to go to souplantation in april and stuff my face. while all my other friends are counting down days till their birthdays, anniversaries, or christmas, i’m waiting for april 1st to (as a dear old friend put it) ‘get my sour face on.’

i first discovered lemon month three years ago. once i tasted the amazing, delicious treats offered during this magical month, i made sure to return to souplantation no less than four times a week during the glorious month of april. it was actually a little out of hand, but so totally completely and without a doubt worth it. for those of you who have yet to experience the delightful spin that souplantation puts on this enticing fruit, allow me to break it down for you. (complete with reviews on how i feel about each treat!)

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup ~ sadly, the taste of this has declined over the years. when they first rolled it out it was creamy and sooo much more yummmm, but it’s still super tasty when you dip sourdough bread in it.

Summer Lemon w/ Spiced Pecans Tossed Salad ~ my fav! sooooooooo good. i get at least one full plate of just this. and by plate, i really mean a mountain of it. i believe my boyfriend’s comment last night was ‘i can’t believe you’re eating so much salad’. umm buddy, you ain’t seen nothing. i workout 11 months out of the year to enjoy april at the ‘plantation.

Lemon Cream w/ Capers Pasta ~ i love this stuff except i never eat the capers. i think they’re gross. the pasta and sauce is so good to me though. i’ve found that this pasta is hit or miss, even though i think it’s delicious some of my good friends think it’s disgusting. (also great with sourdough)

Lemon Rice w/ Cashews ~ a little bland, but the cashews add a nice crunch. i’d prefer if it was a little more lemony.

Tangy Lemon Muffins ~ a nice tangy treat and super yummmmmy with the honey butter.

Lemon Lava Cake ~ i love this stuff topped with vanilla frozen yogurt. i usually wait until they bring out a fresh batch of the stuff so that i get the tasty powdered sugar and crisp top* and then throw that in one of the soup bowls (bigger than dessert bowls!) and top with the fro yo. (option to add granola/sprinkles/caramel or chocolate syrup) soooooooooo good. the hot/cold and tangy/sweet is magic. i’m not usually a fan of lemony desserts, but i looooooooooove this!

Sugar Free Lemon Cream Mouse ~ i’ve never tried this, so if you do and it’s amazing – let me know!

Lemon gelatin ~ also never tried. i like to save my calories for more muffins or a choco chip brownie. (also yum with frozen yogurt on top if you don’t like lemony desserts).

happy april kids. see you at the ‘plantation.

*word to the wise: do NOT try to get in front of me when i’m waiting on a new batch of lava cake. i’m a sweet girl, but not above throwing an elbow into your ribs.

Posted on by shirindawna

i got laid.

…off

before you go feeling sorry for me (i hate pity), allow me to address my feelings toward this (maybe not so) sad event.

i alternate between being super bummed about it…i mean, i didn’t hate my job. in fact, i sorta loved it. it afforded me the opportunity to be nitpicky and edit the crap out of docs. if you know me at all, you know i live to edit. and write. which is where my job was lacking… the dry material (software/programming/blah blah) didn’t provide with the creative outlet that i crave (hence, this blog).
so, the way i figure it: it’s a bummer, but maybe not the worst thing?

perhaps this is my opportunity to find something different? something (dare i say?!) better!

i counted myself fortunate to have a job that i didn’t dread going to each morning. so, its been rough to imagine what comes next.

maybe i’ll go back to school?

maybe i’ll write a bestseller?

maybe i’ll just focus on all the things i didn’t have time to do because of my job?

maybe i’ll just soak up the summer sun and spend some time with my dad?

the world is my oyster.

and i want some damn pearls!

Posted on by shirindawna · 2 Comments

love without the handles.

happy february!

it’s the month of la-la-la-LOVE!

which is sooooo appropriate since my bestie just got ENGAGED! (it actually happened last month, but i was sworn to silence until she made the official announcement. and since she’s my only reader, it made no difference!)

that’s right, folks…another one bites the dust!

j to the k. i couldn’t be happier for her.

just wanted to wish a quick, but still extremely heartfelt, CONGRATS! to my one reader: when you tie the knot, may it never come loose.

…and to say that since i’m currently in intense training for a class, the blog posts may suffer for a bit.

cheers to LOVE! without the handles.

Posted on by shirindawna · 1 Comment

lay a whisper on my pillow…

i learned something today. and once i thought about it…i realized it was something i had learned long long ago. only i wasn’t paying attention.

oprah says that you have to listen to the whispers. the whispers about your career, your life, your relationships. she says if you miss the whispers, you get a little thump on the head. and if you still don’t pay attention, you end up with a problem. if you continue to be oblivious, then you get a brick dropped on your head. and if you ignore that, then you get an entire wall of bricks. and guess what? what used to be a problem is now a crisis. and if you still ignore that brick wall falling, then the whole house caves in! and now: DISASTER!

i’m guilty of ignoring the whispers. not intentionally. but i think we’ve forgotten how to hear them. last night, in a dream. i had a (metaphoric) brick dropped on me. and afterwards, i couldn’t sleep. it led me to have a horrible nagging feeling all day…till i made the connection: i missed the whispers. and then i ignored the thump. but that brick finally opened my eyes.

lesson learned: save yourself the time. pay attention. and listen to the whispers!