Wednesday, May 22, 2013

soda snobs

The other day Miss Calah and I were discussing the need for a refill on our fountain drinks when prices came up. The Gas-N-Go by the office offers 90₵ refills (and they have 50₵ Wednesdays so with tax your 44 oz. of awesome is only 53₵ with tax). 7-Eleven offers 95₵ refills with no known Day of Greatness (Wednesdays, duh!) while Maverik’s refills are $1.06 and Sinclair’s are about $1.10.

So, by far, the Gas-N-Go is the best deal around. PLUS if you happen upon a Wednesday (which you will do every seven days) then you are even luckier because you get a 53₵ drink AND 53₵ day-old bread from Jimmy John’s (now what could possibly top that??)

During mine and Miss Calah’s discussion I realized that it might be kind of sad that we know all these prices. But do we care? Not really. Because we love our fountain drinks.

And for that matter, we’re rather particular about our soda too. Generally whoever has the best soda mix is where we’ll go until another gas station steps it up (who wants to pay for icky soda?) 

You may wonder, “how on earth can the sodas be different? If it’s Dr Pepper then it’s Dr Pepper, if it’s Mt. Dew then it’s Mt. Dew”. But you would be wrong. Here’s why.

While every gas station and restaurant are all provided with the same ingredients (syrup and carbonated stuff) they don’t always MIX them the same. The perfect soda is a very delicate ratio of syrup to carbonation. Too much syrup and your soda tastes flat, too little syrup and there’s no flavor whatsoever.

And then there’s the Christiansen Mix: 1/3 Dr Pepper, 2/3 Diet Coke. If you’re drinking this (which you should because it’s delicious) then you now have TWO soda ratios to worry about. Not to mention if the syrup goes out completely. Those are always the saddest drink runs because you then have to alert an employee, wait for them to change the syrup, and then run the soda nozzle to get the air bubbles out. It’s a whole process.

Now, you’re probably thinking that we’re completely crazy (and you might be right. Most likely you are). The truth is we’ve always been like this. Back in high school I had the list of what was the best Dr Pepper (I was “purest” back then). Chick-Fil-A always ALWAYS had the best DP ($1.79 with tax until they raised their prices). Then Wendy’s could be counted on to be a good second place although their drinks are way overpriced. McDonald’s snuck up to second place when they came out with $1 any size drinks. Then it was Sonic (I just loved their ice at the time but their service is slower as all get out) and lastly you could depend on a bottle of DP before a can.

Back then I also didn’t frequent the gas stations hardly ever. I have no idea why. But Misses Calah and Shannee have taught me their ways of greatness and for that I am ever so grateful.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

music pt. 14

if you know me but at all then you know how much i love instrumentals (Riverdance? Yes. Gavin Mikhail? Of course. Lindsey Stirling? Heck to the yes!), soundtracks (Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Transformers, etc...), and the like.

Well i recently saw Safe Haven with Misses Momo and Kirsten (and loved it by the way! So much that i bought it right away when i found out it was already on DVD). i also downloaded the soundtrack and musical score right when i got home. it's just got that lighthearted, love-y, spring-y thing going on. And i love it!

So here you go! 2013's spring-y musical faves! (note: not ALL of these are in Safe Haven. But they do follow the vibe).

Brandi Carlisle "Heart's Content"



 Tristan Prettyman "Say Anything"



David Choi "By My Side"



Ingrid Michaelson "You and I"



The White Buffalo "Sleepy Little Town"




The Hush Sound "Echo"
 


the office: i want that

Ok, so i don't want an office environment like in The Office. While it's hilarious to watch, i don't know if i could handle a boss like Michael Scott.

However.

As i watch the hilariosity ensue, the characters develop, the story unfold, relationships begin and end and continue, i just can't get over Jim and Pam's relationship. How freaking cute are they? Too cute, that's how much (considering cuteness isn't a measurable "object" it's amazing that you can be too much of it). So ya. Jim and Pam? Adorable. And realistic; you see these movie romances which are great but would never ever happen. This is just a couple of best friends who make each other laugh because they're the same kind of goofy and they get each other. And THAT is what i want; simple, real, meaningful, thoughtful, silly, and all the good things. :)

Saturday, May 11, 2013

18 and 22

This is a very special weekend due to the fact that it holds both mine and Ethypoo's birthdays. i get my day and then the next is his. it's a pretty big deal for us considering we're best buds.
 
Aren't we cute?


But these aren't just any birthdays, Ethypoo is a legal adult now. That little guy (who really isn't so little anymore) is 18. Weird! And if pictures are any indicator he hasn't changed too much since he was a kiddo...

Then:


Now:


Still rockin' the shades (what you don't see in the Then picture is that he's also riding one of dad's walking canes like a horse. it got cut out due to having to crop myself out of this picture because i was really looking like a wonky with some scarves and dress-up craziness).

And me? Well i'm...22!


This year is so great that there's even a song dedicated to it. Heck yes! Normally i don't really feel all that different on my birthday but this year is a little weird. Last year i became an actual adult, like with the landscape drivers license and everything. But this year? That's old news! i'm just a regular old grown-up now.

Which, "grown-up" is more an indicator of my age than how i act all the time considering i still make blanket forts to do my homework in and i make make-believe potions with the kids i babysit. But those kinds of throwbacks are for another post.

This year's celebrations consisted of the greatest things in life: family, best friends, FRIENDS (the TV show), books, baking paraphernalia, clothes, nacho (a classic Toth family dish) and German Sweet Chocolate Cake.

Crushed it!


the comfiest outfit in the world

Recently Miss Calah bestowed upon me The Comfiest Outfit in the World. Just look at this and tell me it isn't the comfiest outfit in the whole wide world.

You can't.

Because it is.

Now, this is actually slightly modified because originally it's a Voyant Tech sweatshirt but i was feeling the Police Academy t-shirt.

But check out those duck slippers. Ya, if you could just contain your jealousy a bit that'd be great ;)



taco bell or little caesar's? that is the question

Whilst out shopping with Miss Momo we had the following conversation trying to decide between Taco Bell and Little Caesar's pizza for dinner (We needed something cheap. We are still college students after all):

Momo: i am going to ask you three questions and from your answers we'll know which one you're craving more.

Me: Haha sounds good.

Momo: First question. What...were you doing at 11am this morning?

Me: Ummm...data entry?

Momo: Did it take a long time? (the first question was two parts)

Me: Ya, kind of. it's a project i'm still working on.

Momo: Ok. i am analyzing that answer. Now. if you could take a trip anywhere at all today, well tomorrow actually because today is over, where would you go?

Me: Scotland.

Momo: Ok....and if you were a shape what shape would you be?

Me: Ummmm....a diamond. Even though technically my teacher told us we're not supposed to call them that. it's a "rhombus". Well i think "diamond" is cooler.

Momo: interesting, ya. Well let me just compute your answers and we'll know where you want to eat. *pretending to fiddle with a computer* Ok so i'm just trying to see any kind of similarity in these.

Me: Do you want Cinnamon Twists?

Momo: Ya i'm kind of leaning towards Taco Bell but your answers were very clearly stating Little Caesar's.

Me: Hahaha Taco Bell it is.

 Ya. This is how we make decisions.

Monday, May 6, 2013

just call me E

i got to spend this last weekend with one of the cutest little girls ever: Miss Evie.


She's reached the age where she can mostly say your name. Like Ma, Da, Mar (this is for both Mark and Maverik), and Kin (pronounced keen, like in King). And me? Just call me E.

All weekend whenever she wanted me it was ""E, E, E!" Which speaks right to my little heart because that's adorable.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

loving looks (the kind on tv)

i've recently begun watching The Office on Netflix (turns out they have the first 8 seasons. Score!). Aside from being absolutely hilarious, the relationship between Pam and Jim is freaking adorable. There's something about the way that Jim looks at her. i mean, he just adores her. And i love that.

(Now they just need to be together. Which i know happens eventually thank heavens because Roy is stupid-head).