Dad Is Awesome

This is the big weekend to celebrate our moms but today is my dad's birthday and here are 56 reasons he is awesome, on his birthday, today 5/6.

1. He is tall and handsome.
2. Rocks a mean beard (and stache).
3. Yet has not one mean bone in his body.
4. Work ethic any boss would dream of.
5. Amazing boss.
6. Instilled a "never go to bed hungry" rule in our house.
7. Which led to eating many a "Goodnight Treat" together: cookies, donuts, brownies.
8. SUPER appreciative of every meal my mom makes him whether that's doing nothing more than opening and microwaving a can of soup.
9. Rocks dress socks with white t-shirts like nobody's business.
10. Keeps the entire pajama industry alive and kicking.
11. Taught us you are only as old as you feel.
12. Taught us the importance of giving in to your sweet tooth.
13. And integrity.
14. And honesty.
15. And selflessness.
16. And humility.
17. And generosity.
18. And laughing at life.
19. And education.
20. And being a stand up guy (or gal.)
21. Gave me more love and support than any child could ever ask for.
22. Taught us to live passionately and "do what you want and the money will come."
23. Has collections and knowledge of them to awe anyone.
24. Always knew tickles could heal any problems.
25. Amazing work ethic yet made it to every soccer game and performance he could
26. And cheered louder than anyone
27. Saves everything we have ever made for him, for many different reasons.
28. Still leaves the time, date, and "Dad/Alan" at the end of every note and/or voicemail
29. Uses toilet paper for bookmarks and other quirks
30. Always asks house guests if they want a drink, a cookie while they are visiting, or to take some home "in their pocket."
31. Still makes my mom laugh all the time.
32. Uses a lot of words (yip, yachne) that always make me laugh.
33. Taught me everything and more I will ever need to know about cars.
34. Spent so much of our childhood at the park with us.
35. Gives solid advice
36. Works up a killer pro/con list when a decision can't be made
37. Taught us about Fred Astaire
38. And the importance of rocking a classy wardrobe from Brooks Brothers
39. Had his morning routine down to a science.
40. Took me for my first banana split.
41. Is THE best grandfather my nephew could ask for.
42. Always brings my mom flowers the night before a big event so "she can enjoy them the entire day"
43. Takes a long time to pick out the perfect greeting cards.
44. Which he saves "and will treasure forever."
45. He is an awesome dancer
46. And has an amazing dance floor face.
47. Always kills it in the history category in Trivial Pursuit.
48. Is a super safe driver.
49. Can never find his glasses but has the perseverance to always find them!
50. Taught us about how to eat a Chicago hot dog.
51. Knows when not to force it.
52. Would play the same games over and over and over and over with us when they had to get old.
53. Treats all my friends as if they are his own children.
54. Always puts a blanket on my mom and lets her sleep if she falls asleep around dinner time.
55. Never hangs up the phone or says goodbye without saying "I Love You" 50 times or more.
56. Dad treasures everything. His family, his friends, his possessions, his heart.

WE LOVE DAD! Happy Birthday!

YOU ARE THE AWESOMEST!
Pia The Pig

Random Confession

In my dream home, I will one day replicate this wallpaper in our entryway. Because it's awesome.



TGIF,
Pia The Pig

Another Reason The Internet Is Awesome

You can do this, and learn about it by watching it on YouTube after a Facebook friend links to it.



My how times have changed.

Email address for your baby. Amazing idea.

The web is what you make of it. Brilliant.

Pia The Pig

Pets Are Awesome.

Yesterday, Kim sent this little gem of a commercial. Absolutely love this!



A few hours later I was overjoyed while looking at Allison's newest doggie photos.

And finally, I had dinner/drinks/movie night with Amelia who shared with me the latest photo of her sweet rescue dog, Penny. LOOK AT THE FACE! She is so happy!



Thinking of doing a readers' pets week of post so send me your favorite pet photos.

WOOF!
Pia The Pig

Super Speed Painting

Check out this speed painting video of A Woman with a Parrot by Ekaterina Konovalova. I used to work with "Katy" and I knew she was artsy but had no idea of her painting talent. I have zero attention span and I watched this entire thing. Loved the tempo with the music and when the paint starts dripping. Gorgeous.



Enjoy!
Pia The Pig

Katy's work can be found at katyareal.com.

Target Dress

Remember when I posted about this dress? I decided it would be my birthday dress. Well, when the weather on my birthday didn't top 45 degrees, I decided to turn a summer sundress into a basecoat for a layered look. You can check out the look as well as the most delicious bday treats that Kellyn made right here on her newest blog post.

Pia The Pig

Hearts and Shades

It's beyond time I purchase these, right? Perfect with a black and white polka dot bikini and a red lip.




Sweetheart Sunnies from Fred Flare

MUAH!
Pia The Pig

Great New Show

I worked on some projects pretty late last night so when I finally decided to get in bed and de-stress by watching tv, I was thrilled to find something new since I tend to watch the same Bravo shows over and over and over. I found a new channel in my lineup, or at least one I haven't stopped on before, "Planet Green," and stumbled on a new show, Dresscue Me, which follows "the fashion world's best-kept secret-Shareen Mitchell, beloved by fashionistas and recessionistas alike for her unique, affordable approach to vintage clothing.

A self-taught designer with retail outlets on both coasts, Mitchell is renowned for her ability to give new life to dowdy old duds by turning them into chic, fashion-forward frocks. To create these one-of-a- kind pieces, Mitchell welcomes her exclusively female clients into her hip boutiques in both downtown Los Angeles and New York's Chelsea district, to hear their stories and make them over in a distinctly Shareen Vintage style that helps them look and feel their best."

The episode I caught featured SYTYCD's Cat Deeley shopping for vintage pieces, and Shareen and team creating a line for Madewell. Even better, her pieces are insanely affordable and provide a look at how to take pieces from decades past and make them surprisingly current. I am definitely tuning in and welcome a fresh fashion show.

Enjoy!
Pia The Pig

Love Mugs

Coming off the high of yesterday's amazing birthday, I have a bunch of fun stuff to share thanks to Katie's bday email to me with "links extravaganza" which included these mugs. LOVING. THESE.



More to come in the next few days!

Pia The Pig

Because This Is Awesome.

I know today is self-indulgent, but I'm a birthday whore, so just go with it. Allison just emailed me this.

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY! I hope you are having a great day.

30 Awesome Things About Jill

1. She is the only cool person I know who has a cat.
2. She will go to Canton with you on the hottest day of the summer with you.
3. If she used Foursquare, she’d be the only person who could knock me
from my mayorship of Paper Source.
4. She introduced me to Swedish Meatballs at IKEA.
5. She appreciates a good retail experience.
6. There’s always a signature drink involved.
7. She loves a good typeface.
8. She gives really great gifts.
9. She’s always positive.
10. She’s friends with Stan Richards on Facebook.
11. She keeps me up with the reality TV that my husband is thankful I
don’t watch myself.
12. She’s not a freaking yip, that’s for sure.
13. She’s not afraid to embrace her inner teenager.
14. Everything needs a color palette.
15. She despises Curlz and Live, Laugh, Love.
16. She loves Christmas more than any other Jew I know.
17. She’s always up for trying new things.
18. Have a question? She’s got an answer.
19. She’s always positive.
20. She’s a great friend.
21. She isn’t afraid to blast Katy Perry in the Mini.
22. She has introduced me to many wonderful people.
23. Her future’s so bright, she’s gotta wear shades (and a really cute Fedora).
24. She’s always up for something new.
25. She has great one-liners.
26. She actually reads my mindless Twitter banter.
27. She never hesitates to help her friends and family.
28. She’s the prettiest indie.
29. She has a good heart.
30. She’s awesome. Duh.

Topping this amazingness off with two great photos from Katie.




And a video summing up how I feel about it all.


Humbled.
Pia The Pig

Wow

Lynn's blog post moved me to tears. Big day for us.

On 30.

Today is my thirtieth birthday. Here are some thoughts. Warning: extremely self-indulgent.

(I wrote this Saturday night.)

"Time and tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of thirty." - Robert Frost

(Listening to: Adele’s 21)

Monday I will be 30. Tonight I am 29. I am sick. It’s been a weird day. I am crying. Not sure why. It’s okay.

I am not that tired and can’t decide what to do. I looked at my bookshelf, deciding to read a book for the first time in too long. Instead of something new, I grabbed one of my all-time favorites, The Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.

I’m just a few pages in but decided to stop and do a little assessment of here and now. I like doing these things. Sure, I might be the only person to read this, now or five years from now (see: my assessment of Jill at 25), but putting this on the Internet means it won’t get lost, burned in a fire, or with handwriting I can’t read when I am 80.

Anyway, here it is.

30.
Jill.
5’ 5.5”
140
hazel eyes, no glasses or contacts
all my teeth, not that white, no braces, no flossing, rare cavities
3 surgeries to date (1 removal of unicorn horn, 2 removals of herniated L4 disk, one to come)
no broken bones
no chicken pox
no kids

Art Director

family: Mom, Dad, Joel, Jasmine, Jack, (new niece/nephew to come November 2011)
cat: Bert
parents’ cat: Bentley
brother’s dog: Scout

Ways I am stil in my first 30 years:
Pia The Pig
Obsession with candy
Fascination with high school
Prefer books with lots of pictures and chapters
Wearing lots of clothes from high school and those made for high schoolers
Watching too much MTV

Spotlight on how to feel much younger than 30:
Listen to Dave Matthews Band
Call Katie, Marcy, Dana, Allison, Shayda, Marj
Play soccer
Look at Dad’s desk to see all of the things I have made him through the years
Or my art on walls on parents’ home

Blessings:
Way too many to count, but the most important: health, freedom, family, friends, cat

Things I wish I had done by now:
Been on Wheel of Fortune
Written a book
Competed on the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team
Become an American Gladiator
Skated on a roller derby team

Things I am surprised I have done by now:
Lived in four states
Had two back surgeries
Zip-lined in Nicaragua
Designed a lot of wedding invitations
Bought my dream car
Walked in a fashion show
Been on a game show

Heroes:
Mom, Dad, Joel, Jasmine, Jack, entire extended family, Kim Zmeskal, Nastia Liukin, Jim Henson, Debbie Smelko, Tanya Pinto, Sarah Chidgey, Jeff Guyer, Stephanie Mullins, soldiers, teachers, firemen, survivors of any debilitating disease including ignorance and hatred, marathon finishers

Favorite thing ever worn:
Red prom dress (even with strap breaking mid-dance. It was tight.)

Favorite alone time ever:
All-nighters at parents’ dining room table working on art projects, blasting Dave Matthews Band on Sony Diskman, circa 1996-1998

Favorite ways to lose myself:
Play soccer
Design
Dance at a concert
Drive with top down, blasting music, wind in hair

Easiest way to totally dork out:
Watch a live gymnastics meet

Personal triumph:
Conquering my childhood fear of getting kidnapped

Saddest day ever:
When childhood cat, Sully, died

Most confusing day ever:
When Grandpa Ben died

Best day ever:
Countless, but watching best friends get married, nephew being born, graduating high school and college, first DMB concert with Katie, celebrating milestones of loved ones

Jobs I have had:
sales associate at Limited, Too
scorekeeper/hot dog warmer upper at Soccer Spectrum
sales associate at New York and Company
beer cart girl at Prestonwood Country Club
sales associate at Anthropolgie (four hours)
Art Director

Jobs I would still like to have:
Writer
Acrobat
Gymnastics Commentator
Mentor to teens with eating disorders
Art or Advertising teacher
J. Crew Color-namer
Candy shop owner

Oldest friends who will be at my wedding:
Allison, since age 3
Marcy, since age 6

Way to make me melt/nervous/happy:
A twirl on the dance floor

Still trying to master:
The Smoky Eye
Red lip
Whistling
Seduction
Drawing cars

First Concert:
Alanis Morissette

Favorite artists for the last 15 years:
Alanis Morissette
DMB
Barenaked Ladies
Train
Matchbox 20
Death Cab for Cutie
Mumford and Sons
Florence + The Machine
Zero 7
The Fray
Georgia O'Keefe
Andy Warhol

Awkward traits:
Laughing before a kiss
Flaring nostrils when laughing
Involuntary jolts
Rubbing my thumbs with index finger (very involuntary)

Doppleganger:
Sara Gilbert

Doppleganger wish:
Zooey Dechanel

Under 30 celebrity crushes:
Elijah Wood (age 0-17)
Adam Brody (age 22+)

Boyfriends: 2
Loves: 4, maybe 5

Best show I have ever seen:
De La Guarda
Cirque du Soleil Love

Tattoos: 0
Scars: 2 (1 large, 1 small)

Best times of my life in last 15 years:
Junior year of high school
Junior year of college

Hardest time of my life which turned out to be life-changing:
2003-2006

Cars:
1988 Jetta
1998 Jetta
2003 Lancer
2005 Mini Cooper

Most life-changing stretch of land:
1-35 Dallas to Austin or Austin to Dallas

0-30 tastes:
Little Debbies
Donuts
Matzo balls

0-30 smells:
Desitin
High School Boyfriend’s clothes
Bath and Body Works/Victoria’s Secret pear lotion

Funny coincidence:
Cookie Monster speaking at college graduation (he ate the microphone)

Things I do other people find weird:
Save 1,000s of old emails
Rewatch old gymnastics competitions
Collect Muppets
Etc.

Odd fascination with:
Eating disorders
Abandoned malls
Eyebrows
Palindromes

8 things I am good at:
Roller skating
Gymnastics trivia
Checkers
Wheel of Fortune
Spelling
Introducing friends
Bubble letters
Pulling all-nighters

8 things I am bad at:
Basketball
Flirting
Finishing books
Watching movies
History
Being on time
Not laughing when my mom starts laughing
Getting a tan

Things I adored as a child:
Limousines, dollhouses

Least favorite word:
Tie: nipple, panties

Favorite words:
Tend to be colors: (ruby, scarlet)

Something I feel very fortunate for:
Visual memory of most of last 30 years

Something nice that I will strive for that will most likely not happen: My home to look/smell/sound/feel like Anthropologie

Something I continue to do but shouldn’t: judge a book by its cover

Important numbers
3/9
3/11
4/9
4/20
5/2
5/6
8/21
8/29
10/11
11/28
12/12
12/31
7241

Type:
Tall, thin, brunette, glasses

Name I have always thought my husband would have:
Ben

Names I hope my husband doesn’t have:
Will, Phil, Bill, Gil, Guy

Name my husband probably will have:
Jack

Something I will forever smile about and forever be perplexed by:
My dad uses toilet paper squares as bookmarks

Important letter combos
DFW, TX, JBE, WW, JJP, UT, ABQ, YR, NM, NY, CA, JK, KJM, MWC, TRG, CAKES, TBI

Maid of Honor/Bridesmaid Honors:
6

Things I have purposely stolen:
Belt from Marshalls, circa age 6
High School Crush’s lunch from locker, age 18

Number of times I have been moved to tears and speechless from amazing acts of kindness, love, and generosity:
Lost count

Summary:
Childhood memories of laughs, soccer games, flips, tumbles, goals scored, goals met, amazing friends, family who are best friends, moments of surprise, fear, triumph, excitement, highs, lows, firsts, lasts, trips, loving, LIVING. I’ve paid my dues, grown my wings and spread them. It's been colorful and awesome.

My last 30 years:
Happiness.

My next 30 years:
Possibilities.

"I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it's time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my next thirty years" -Tim McGraw

It's been a ride my loved ones.
Thank you.



Pia The Pig

Yay May!

May is a great month. Flowers. My birthday. Dad's birthday. Kim's birthday. Mother's Day. Lots more. Let's make it awesome.



"The world's favorite season is the spring.
All things seem possible in May."
- Edwin Way Teale

Gorgeous poppy photo by algo via Flickr

Pia The Pig