An Amazing Discovery

Last year I went on a hunt for an iPod adapter for the car. I'm not even sure if that's the right name for it but I'm sure you understand what I'm talking about. I was actually looking for one for my boss and after trying bunches from the Apple store, online, and Best Buy as well as pricing an in car installation I finally came to her defeated and promised to burn all her Italian lessons and any music she wanted onto discs for her CD player. Which was met with "You can do that?!"

It's nice to be an everyday hero.

With my upcoming "drive to Seattle to shop" trip just around the corner I made plans to have a CD burning party with Lana because I figured after trying all those adapters before there likely wasn't one that was going to all of a sudden work now. And even less a chance that I would be able to find it. But I decided to give it one last shot since the thought of burning a bajillion CDs and then having to figure out where to put them in my car and try to figure out what I wanted while driving seemed a little silly.

There are three ways to listen to music from an iPod through your car stereo if you don't have something installed. You can do the whole faux tape in the tape player thing, use a cord that plugs into the headphone jack and your stereo, or use an FM transmitter. I don't have a tape deck in my car and I'm actually wondering when they will stop making those cassette tape things for your car. I remember my 7th grade crush connecting his Discman to his mom's car stereo with one of those tapes. I'm fairly certain it's not long before those are a thing of the past. Anyways, I also don't have a jack for whatever that cord is called on my stereo. So that leaves me with the most sucky option which is the FM transmitter.

I have an amazing talent for losing ever single iPod I come in contact with so even though I'm pretty sure there are about seven of them hidden somewhere in my things I can't find any. Since I needed to get one anyways I figured I'd do this thing backwards and pick the radio transmitter then an iPod that would work with it. So I walked into the Apple store and a lovely girl approached me and very cheerfully asked if I needed any help. I waved my hand in the general direction of the wall of car adapters and told her I needed one of those. One that works. Then she said "An iPad?" which was nowhere near what I was pointing at but she smiled a lot so I forgave her for pushing her useless product on me. She found someone to help me and he was actually not very helpful other than taking every option off the wall and reading the packages to me. I think the people who work in Apple stores must have to deal with some ridiculously stupid people because sometimes I feel like they're talking to me the way one might a pre-schooler.

Basically I just ended up picking something out myself as well as an iPod touch...iTouch...I don't know. Whatever they're calling it now. It seemed easiest to control while driving.

I was prepared for this to not at all work and for me to just have to return it but surprise of surprises it's actually more than decent. There have been a couple static spots but nothing that doesn't clear itself up in a few seconds. I mostly noticed it while passing a radio station and in a very forest-y area.

The one I got is called the TuneBase LIVE FM by Belkin. I'm using it only with an iPod so while it looks like a couple people had problems with using it with an iPhone and switching between hands free calling and their music, that's not an issue for me. I also love that it charges your device for you since I am the worst ever at doing that. Aaaaand it has this handy dandy little dock thing on a bendy arm so you can adjust things to your liking.

I've only used mine for a couple days but so far I'm very impressed.

The Stone Soup of Blog Posts

I've been very blog neglectful this past week due to some silly life drama stuff so I'm basically going to throw all this nonsense together and hope it counts as a post.

First, I'm bored of the photo month. I thought it would be fun and it's sort of not so I think I quit that one.

Second, I'm ridiculously excited for two things. First, I'm taking a trip to Seattle with Lana for the sole purpose of shopping. It's just a weekend trip but I can't wait. It will also be the first time I take my cute car anywhere farther than the coast. Last week it was making pretty much the worst noise ever in the entire world. It was like a metallic whine when I braked in reverse. Yeah, only in reverse. I was pretty sure that I was going to need to basically buy a new car or at least replace all the brakes or something but turns out it was a rock. So that was good news. Lana and I are having a road trip music selection party on Wednesday.

We're also staying at a super adorable hotel.


The second part of point number two, the other thing I'm so super excited about is that the internet has brought me together with a real live Portland chef who I've been emailing with and who has offered to cook with me. This is where I just smile like an idiot because I am that ecstatic. She even said I have "skill" so I've been bragging about that one to a few people. I'm also in love with the fact that I can ramble like a crazy person to her about food and restaurants and cooking and cookbooks and she hasn't once rescinded her cooking offer in fear that I am possibly ADD and on speed given I never shut up. So that's nice as well.

The Free People January catalog is out and gorgeous as always. There are a few things I like a lot. Two of which I stopped into the store and bought yesterday.


Sunburst Maxi Dress By Free People in Washed Black (which means navy in real people words)

Convertible Crochet Halter by Free People in Ivory

I also made a fairly amazing shoe purchase but it deserves it's very own post.

Oh, I'm pretty sure that I am going to make my hair a lot more blonde this week. Which I sort of swore off a few years ago but hey, if it's bad I can always go back. I would like this hair color exactly please.


Craig and I are having dinner tonight and I am so looking forward to it. I haven't seen him in probably a whole week. We're going to eat cajun tater tots and burgers (mine will be veggie) and I'm going to tease him at every opportunity.

I leave you with this. Which is what I wake up to.

Quarter Life Crisis

Happy Birthday to me!

Last week my car broke and the repair cost me enough that I decided it was time for a new car. If I was going to be pouring money into a vehicle I figured I should enjoy it a little more. Plus I turn 25 this month and figured a fitting way to celebrate might be by treating myself to a little something. And by a little something I mean a hot red car.

I went in by myself and negotiated and signed (goodness are there a lot of things to sign when buying a car) and accomplished all on my own. It was nerve racking and I woke up this morning at 4am with my stomach in knots, a terrible headache, and just general stress. Without getting into things, I don't have any contact with my parents, which means I've had to learn how to do a lot of "grown up" things on my own. This was probably the most major so far though and definitely had me feeling anxious.

I have to say, in the end I feel really wonderful about things. I tend to have a hard time balancing between my desire to be independent and the feeling that I must know how to do everything for myself and knowing when I really should ask for help. I struggled a bit with not knowing if I should break down and request someone a bit more knowledgeable accompany me but I feel empowered by having done this myself. I feel happy with my purchase and capable and while at times I can still feel like I'm figuring out how to be a grown up, today I felt like I may really have a hold on that whole thing.