Spring Cleaning

Sorry for the lack of posts recently y'all. I've been dreadfully busy over the last couple of weeks! Here's what I've been up to:

• Working! Donations for the Boots, BBQ, & Boogie fundraiser are just pouring into my office! I am so grateful to all of the fantastic local businesses that have donated items for the live & silent auctions. We've got great things from The Canebrake, Tulsa Shock, Oilers Ice Center, Arrowhead Resort, Texas Rangers, and many many more. 
• Riding! Over the weekend, I rode a beautiful mule for Mossy Rock Farms in the All American Mule & Donkey Congress in Tulsa. I was floored by the quality of animals present at the show- these mules were better than half the horses I've ridden. The owners of the mule I competed on were professional, friendly, and generous. I had a great time and hope to see them next year!
• Cleaning! My mother is coming to visit us next week, and while she'll only be at the house a couple of nights for dinner, Johnny and I are scrambling to clean! We've managed to clean out most of the boxes from the living room, have finally acquired a shelf for the living room (and some bins for magazines!), and we can see the surface of the kitchen table again. Whew. I know this week is going to FLY by, and I hope we can get everything in place before madre is here.

What have y'all been up to lately? Are you busy with spring cleaning too?

Professional Equestrian!

Hello, friends! I'm feeling much better about the whole Gina situation than I did last week; while I am still upset at the university's actions, I finally got answers about what spurred this policy overhaul and have the support of many friends who want to make sure I am able to give Miss G the loving home she deserves. So while I still don't own the horse, I feel confident that I'll be able to buy her at an auction for a reasonable price.

Onto happier news: my services as a rider have recently been retained on a professional basis! I was contacted by a gentleman in North Carolina who will be showing a mule this weekend in Tulsa and needed an English rider to show the animal in a few hunt seat classes. Although I am primarily a three-day eventer (and sometimes polo player), I did compete in hunters on an NCAA equestrian team for three years. I'm a bit nervous about the horse show, but the mule's owner seemed very nice and told me he wouldn't be upset if we had an off day. The mule has won a number of titles, so I think it will be a pretty easy ride (and a great way to earn some extra cash!). I hope he'll be satisfied with my services and recommend me to all of his friends showing horses in Tulsa!

After the show, I'm heading out do to a little fundraiser PR with my boss. We're going on a trail ride in Stillwater, Oklahoma! I'm taking one of the program horses, but I have to decide which one! I can't take my favorite, Roscoe, since he's not owned by the university. I'm thinking of riding Sabir, a elderly Arabian gelding, or Speck, a world champion American Quarter Horse. Decisions, decisions!! I'm so lucky to have such a fun job.

Short Break

I haven't felt like blogging in a few days, and here's why: I am terribly worried about my horse. The university I purchased Gina from (and work for) has recently had their sales practices questioned, and as a result, have declared the sales agreement for Gina invalid, refunded my money, and reclaimed the horse. I have few details, but I know my boss (the director of the university's therapeutic riding program who sold me the horse) has been on my side and fighting for me to retain ownership. Unfortunately, the university has made their decision and will be selling Gina at either a sealed bid session or public auction. I'm worried I'll be outbid at either of these, although it seems unlikely. Gina is a middle-aged Thoroughbred mare with no racing history and a bone chip in one of her front legs. In a land of rodeos, American Quarter Horses, and many, many equines for sale, she isn't particularly desirable. However, her bloodlines are excellent, she's in good condition, and is sound; perhaps someone would buy her as an addition to their breeding program. I am treading uncertain waters, and am very, very upset. To make matters worse, the university is reconsidering their horse boarding policy: it's possible it will be eliminated altogether. So if I am able to buy Gina (again), I may need to find a new home for her. Boarding at a proper stable in this area ranges from $300-$400 per month, which is more money than I have to spend on such a thing. 

So please forgive me for taking a little break. I'll be back, hopefully with good news.

Happy April Fool's Day!

someecards.com

Pink & Green Thursday: Equestrian Edition

I was inspired by Pink Preppy Lilly Lover to participate in Pink & Green Thursday! Since I'm a horse person, I thought I'd make it an equestrian edition. Even better since Miss G is quite the princess.

Lime green saddle pad & polo wraps from Wild Horse Colors

I think this green is gender-neutral enough for Mr. Moe to wear!

Pink & Green Daisy Halter from Wild Horse Colors

TOO CUTE.

Pink polo wraps from The Tack Room

These are more Princess G's style.

Oster Grooming Kit from Dover Saddlery

For the pink-loving equestrian in your life!

Lime green Protech splint boots from Rod's

Perfect for splashing through the mud on XC courses.

So much pink & green horse gear! I don't know if any of it is really for me- my equestrian style is much more subdued (think navy, white, black)- but it sure is fun to look! Happy Thursday!

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Boots, Boots, Boots

My line of work is a dirty one. Horses aren't particularly neat creatures, and I really notice it when I'm mucking stalls or paddocks. The equestrian center has a lot of chutes and pens that get muddy when there's a mere drop of precipitation, so it's important to me that I have the proper footwear to deal with these conditions. I've already sung the praises of the Sperry Topsider Cormorant boot, but the time has come for me to buy a new pair of Wellies. My old, adorable pink-and-green plaid pair just gave up after two months at the barn. With Oklahoma's wild spring weather, I just know I'll need a new pair soon (before it starts raining again)! Here's what I'm considering:

Hunter Huntress Boot, $125

Sperry Topsider Pelican Tall Boot, $70

LL Bean Bean's Wellies, $59

Thoughts? I would love to hear your reviews/opinions/ideas on Wellies!

Fundraisers

Part of my job at the therapeutic riding center is planning fundraisers. Since we're a nonprofit, our funding comes mainly from grants and private donors. We're lucky enough to receive money from a local university (we're part of their community outreach program) as well as local public school that send their students to us for lessons. However, the struggling economy has caused foundations to reduce giving and state and federal government cuts have reduced our contract with the schools by $35,000. So this year, it's more important than ever that we have successful fundraisers! I speak for everyone at work when I say we love what we do and we want to continue to serve our special needs riders!

Boots, BBQ, and Boogie, our oldest annual fundraiser, is now in its seventh year! It's held at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is full of good food, great music, and live and silent auctions. This year promises to be better than ever, as Paul Bogart is returning to entertain us, Trail's End BBQ is providing dinner, and we've got a whole slew of wonderful items to auction off. If you'll be in Tulsa on Saturday, June 11, don't miss it! If you'd like to buy tickets, don't hesitate to send me an email.

In August, we're partnering with the Arrowhead Polo Club to put on our first annual Chukkers for Charity! The club will play a match just for us, and there will be barbecue to buy, beers to drink, a champagne toast sponsored by Land Rover, and fun for everyone! And of course, like any good polo match, the halftime divot stomp is a must!!

After such a busy summer, we're planning to relax on our benefit trail ride in October on the beautiful Williams Ranch in Skiatook, Oklahoma. It's a two day ride, with a chuckwagon supper, campfire, and wagon rides on Friday night, and riding and lunch on Saturday. There will also be belt buckles available and lots of door prizes.

I am so excited for all of these fundraisers- not only are they fun events for everyone involved, they're benefiting a great cause! If you're interested in sponsoring, donating, or participating in any of these events, please let me know! You can reach me at prairieprep@gmail.com!

Gilt-y Pleasures

Gilt Groupe is an amazing sale site- they have deals on everything from clothing to hotels to homewares. I absolutely love them! If you're not a member, just click here for an invite. There are sooo many things to love right now:

Hula Tumblers by LSA Glass, $15 for set of 4

Leaf & Chain Drop Necklace by Leslie Danzis, $89

Bone Bead Coasters by Kim Seybert, $38

MIA Pump by Botkier, $99

So many goodies!

Subaru Forester

It's been three months since I bought my Subaru Forester, and I thought I'd give ya'll a little update on how it's doing: AWESOME. It is a seriously amazing vehicle. I am totally satisfied with it, and here's why.

• It's a nice size. My old car was a 1994 Chevy S10 Blazer, a smallish, boxy, four-door. SUVs these days are absolutely monstrous it seems (seriously, folks with a Toyota Highlander...what is going on?), so I was really pleased to find a similarly sized vehicle in the Forester. It's large enough that I can easily put bags of shavings or hay bales in the back (true story), but not so large that I feel like I'm driving a boat. 
• All-wheel drive. The Blazer was four-wheel drive, but I didn't find myself using it much. Still, my equestrian adventures sometimes require that I drive through off-road or muddy conditions, so I am really thankful for the Subie's AWD. It was pretty deluxe to drive over icy, snowy roads during last month's blizzard, and I never have to worry about getting stuck in the puddles at the barn. 
• Comfort. For its time, the Blazer was pretty swank. It had faux-leather seats, cruise control, A/C, power locks & windows, remote keyless entry, and a bangin' stereo system. (That last part was thanks to an ex-boyfriend.) When I was shopping for cars, I was appalled to find that these features aren't standard on some vehicles! This is 2011, Ford! Air conditioning needs to be standard!! All of the Blazer's amenities (save for faux-leather seats) are included in the base trim line of my Forester. No extra charge. While I would have liked to add and sunroof and heated seats, I can live without them. Especially at the price I got the Subie for.
• The company. Subaru is a neat company. Their Indiana plant was the first auto assembly plant to achieve zero-landfill status, which means nothing from the manufacturing process goes into a landfill. They regularly have "Share the Love" events, where $250 of the purchase of your vehicle is donated to charity/charities of your choice (you're welcome, ASPCA and Ocean Conservancy). Their owners' magazine is full of cool articles about owners' events, Subaru initiatives, and travel. They sent me some awesome owners' badges for my car after I bought it. And their obsession with rally is kind of awesome. (Johnny owns an Impreza WRX, one of their little rally cars. It goes zooom!)

If you're going to be in the market for a new car soon, take a look at Subaru! They have SUVs, sedans, coupes, and whatever the Outback is currently classified as (wagon? sport wagon? crossover?). Subies are so much fun to drive and you'll feel like part of the cool kids' club when other Subie drivers wave at you. 

Adorable Buttons

I'm really a cat person. That isn't to say I dislike dogs; I just don't have much experience with them. Growing up, we always had several cats in and out of the house and the barn, but only one dog. That dog died when I was 13, and was never really replaced. I acquired cats of my own in college and took two of them with me when I moved to Kansas. I like cats. They're good company, don't smell, are neat, and manage to snuggle without salivating. 

After about a month of living with a puppy, I'm not sure if I'm much more of a dog person. They're so much more involved: feeding them at regularly scheduled intervals, taking them out for bathroom breaks, having to amuse them. Add in chewing shoes, smelling wretched even after a bath, and an obsession for face and toe licking, and I don't know why anyone owns dogs. 

Oh, yes. That's why. They're terribly adorable, generally happy to see you, silly to the point of endearment, and just plain nice. But still rather smelly. 

Current Must-Haves

I've been on a bit of a shopping hiatus lately, as all of my free money seems to be tied up purchasing odds and ends for the horse. (She NEEDS treats, ok?) This little break has made me appreciate some things I already have and can't seem to live without.

Lunch tote by Built. I snagged 2 of these snazzy neoprene totes at Target for $4 last month, and they have been absolutely invaluable. They stretch to fit all kinds of containers and do a great job of holding my standard lunch of sandwich, chips, and Diet Coke.

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in Toffee. Spending 5 days a week at a barn means I don't waste money on professional manicures. Instead, when I want them to look nice and have a spot of color, I lacquer on some Sally Hansen. It's inexpensive, doesn't chip, and comes in sooo many colors. I'm currently in love with Toffee, a muted rose color.

MyFitnessPal.com. Don't know about ya'll, but I feel like I'm continuously trying to lose weight. This site, which is free to use and has apps for Android, iPhone, and Blackberry, makes it SUPER easy to keep track of what I've eaten throughout the day. On the Android app, I can also scan the barcode of foods I want to add, and poof! Like magic, it's added to my log. MFP also has an exercise tracker, can help you set goals, and features an active and friendly community of users.

Sperry Topsiders. I currently own a pair of Bluefish boat shoes, and let me tell you, they are indispensable. I'm wearing them more often now that it's precipitating less frequently. I wear them walking the dog, gardening, around town, even to the barn occasionally. Absolutely perfect as far as a casual shoe goes.

What's on your must-have list right now??

Planning Mother's Visit

My mother announced she's coming to visit next month, which came as a serious surprise to me. I haven't seen her in about a year, since the last time I went home to Tennessee. She's brought up coming to see me in Oklahoma before, only to change her mind and tell me she hated the prairie and didn't think there was anything to do out here. (She is most definitely wrong on both counts: the prairie is lovely sometimes, and Tulsa has an endless amount of things to do.) So when Mother mentioned she was planning to come out here next month, I decided I'd better come up with a plan to keep her entertained. (Also decided I needed to get serious about losing weight, since I don't want her to tell me I look fat. Again. Ugh.) Here's what I've come up with so far:

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1. Shopping at Utica Square. Upscale shopping in a gorgeous outdoor area. I love love love strolling through the park-like area and popping in and out of places like Miss Jackson's, Saks, and Williams-Sonoma, or getting a bite to eat at The Wild Fork or Stonehorse Café. Maybe I can schedule some spa time at Ilhoff. Who knows.

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2. Wandering around the Philbrook. Art and gardens. What else do you need? Since my mother will be here in April, the weather should be really nice and everything in the garden will be looking good. The current exhibit, American Streamlined Design, will be here through May, and it's a nice departure from typical look-at-this-painting art. Might catch lunch at the nice little restaurant here too.

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3. Gamble at Hard Rock Casino. I never knew my mother was into slot machines until last year. When Johnny and I went to Memphis, she tried to get us to go to Tunica to hit some casinos with her. I think she'll enjoy the Hard Rock- it's the newest and nicest casino in the area and has about a million slot machines for her to play.

March Madness

I'm not much of a college basketball fan; I much prefer to watch NBA games. This year, however, I made time to watch my alma mater tackle Duke in the NCAA Tournament. The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team made it to the big dance for the first time, and while we lost, I was proud to cheer on the Skyhawks!

So proud of my fellow Skyhawks!

In the men's tourney, I was rooting for Memphis. I have a soft spot for the city and the game against Arizona was played right here in Tulsa. While I didn't get to attend, I did watch the game right down to its frustrating finish. Now that Memphis is out, I'm left without a horse in the race! 

Who do you have winning it all?

For Japan, With Love

66ers Saturday

Now that I have Saturdays off, Johnny and I have more opportunities to do fun stuff like catch Tulsa 66ers basketball games. Both of us are NBA fans and it's nice to have a D-League team nearby. Tickets are always inexpensive, the level of play is much better than what you'd see at a college game, and the mix of athletes makes for interesting games.

Last night, the 66ers faced the Sioux Falls Skyforce. There were a lot of exciting plays from Tulsa- impressive dunks from Jerome Dyson, Latavious Williams, and BJ Mullens. The Skyforce didn't disappoint, either, with Patrick Ewing, Jr. laying down slams and Raymond Sykes sinking some shots. It was a foul-filled contest, though, which made the first and third quarters drag. The 66ers were victorious in the end, winning 115-100 and bringing their record to an excellent 29-11.

We splurged and got $15 seats (haha!) and had a fantastic view. Unfortunately, we were also in prime real estate for the audience-obsessed camera guy. Johnny and I were on the big screen twice! Eek! I would have worn something better than my black Patagonia fleece if I'd know that would happen. We had a good time, though, and I hope we can catch another game before the season ends!

Buttons!

Cutest puppy ever!

Presenting the newest addition to our household, Buttons! She is half Corgi, half Daschund puppy. I brought her home Friday evening and she's been nothing but (the good kind of) trouble ever since! Johnny and I have begun teaching her all sorts of stuff, from her name to "heel" and "leave it". She's done pretty well so far and seems to really be enjoying rawhide chews, belly rubs, and sleeping on the couch. I'm afraid Johnny will spoil her something awful, but I suppose I can't get TOO mad at him. Just look at that face!

Meet Moe

Allow me to introduce you to Moe, my good-natured Thoroughbred gelding. Moe is my three-day event horse, or he was until I moved away from Tennessee and had to leave him behind. He is sixteen years old, about 15.2 hands tall, and isn't very smart. But he's sweet and likable and a very good jumper. 

Yours truly aboard Moe at a jumper show!

My parents bought Moe- or Richnfree, as his Jockey Club papers state- when he was eight and I was seventeen. I was in dire need of a new eventer. My old horse, Spike, couldn't handle the stress of competition and had been sold to a nice family with several children who wanted nothing more than to ride him bareback in a field. My friend and fellow Pony Clubber, Kim, suggested I take a look at Moe, who was currently being worked with by her trainer. I met Moe at a horse trials (where he'd just taken first place in the Beginner Novice division) and instantly loved him. Negotiations were made, and Moe joined my horse Buster at our small farm.

Over the next few years, Moe and I traveled to horse shows in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. We weren't the most winning team- Moe's dressage wasn't great- but he was definitely the best horse I'd ever had. Moe came to college with me, where he lived with the same group of horses for three years: Wyatt, a bossy Walking Horse gelding; Ginger, a competitive Standardbred mare; and Sim, a nervous Arabian gelding. Moe and I didn't do much eventing in college- I rode him on long trail rides and we raced Ginger across soybean fields regularly. Sometimes we'd enter a local fun show to keep our jumping skills sharp, but we were more often found riding to Sonic for a limeaid or beating barrel horses at hayfield races.

When I moved to Kansas, I left Moe in the care of my father on the family farm. I never found a place to keep him in Wichita, but here in the Tulsa area at my therapeutic riding center job, I've been lucky enough to find a place for him! The director offered to let me keep Moe out at the center for a very reasonable monthly boarding fee. I am so excited! I have missed Moe dearly and once I arrange transportation for him, he'll be back in action! 

Cross Country Course

A horse and rider on a cross-country course

Cross country, the second phase of three-day eventing, is arguably the most difficult. It requires a brave horse with speed and stamina! Horse and rider are required to negotiate a series of natural obstacles in a set amount of time. Courses are often over two miles long. Riders receive a course map and are able to walk the course before the event, but horses see the obstacles for the first time on the day of the show!

This is the phase I am most concerned about with Gina. As a hunter/jumper horse, I doubt she has been exposed to many logs or ditches, and I don't think she has ever been ridden outside the confines of an arena. It will be a challenge to get her used to these things at our current location, too- we have a large hayfield available, but it's full of holes and there are no jumps. It will be tough to get my girl used to cross-country if we never have a chance to school it!

That said, there are a lot of things we can work on in that hayfield. Walls can be created out of moldy hay bales. Regular jumps can be set up in the field. Some barrels can be rolled out and jumped over. And of course, just getting Gina used to going out and about outside an arena is invaluable experience!

A Very Tasty Roast

Johnny and I didn't make it to the 100 Acre Wood Rally this weekend. We stayed home in favor of getting the house puppy-proofed and tidy. I picked up a whole lot of meat on Saturday- Sam's Club had excellent prices, and I am a big fan of buying in bulk and using my vacuum sealer to freeze small portions- including a chuck roast. Johnny's mother provided us with her favorite pot roast recipe and we made it yesterday; it was absolutely delicious.

Jackie's Pot Roast

• 1 3 lb roast
• 2 tbsp garlic pepper
• 2 tbsp lemon pepper
• 1 beef bullion cube
• 1 c. hot water
• 1 onion, cut into wedges
• 1 c. baby carrots (or carrots cut into 2 inch sticks)
• 3 red potatoes, diced in 1 inch pieces

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Season roast with garlic pepper and lemon pepper. Place into large Dutch oven. Dissolve bullion cube in hot water and pour over roast. Cover, and cook in oven for 1.5 hours. Remove from oven and add vegetables. Return Dutch oven to oven and cook for 1 hour. Let roast rest for 15-20 minutes before serving.

Puppy Time!

Johnny and I will be welcoming a puppy into our home next week! I am really excited about it- the puppy is a female Corgi/Dachshund cross that we've preemptively named Buttons. We headed out to PetSmart today and bought all the necessary equipment for puppy: collar, leash, chews, toys, and food. (We still need to find a crate and bed.) Johnny's been reading puppy training books nonstop for the last couple of weeks, too. I'm super pumped for little Buttons to join us!

Dressage

Dressage: a French term, most commonly translated to mean 'training'; an equestrian sport in which the horse and rider perform a specific test of movements; often referred to as 'equine ballet'.

Image courtesy of Game Ready Equine

I'm not a dressage person. Even though it's the first test of a three-day event, even though its principles are used in every riding discipline, even though it's beautiful and exciting at the highest levels of the sport, I am not a dressage person. To be honest, I've always found it kind of dull. Cantering in circles, lengthening the trot- where's the fun in that?? 

In the right horse and right instructor, that's where. Yesterday I had a genuine dressage lesson on Gina with one of the program's volunteers, Anne. Anne is a dressage person- she competed on fairly advanced levels aboard her horse Sophie (who died several years ago) and studied with some of the country's best trainers. She offered to come out and give her opinion on Gina's dressage abilities, as well as offer any tips for improvement that she could think of. I was more than happy to have her out, as my experience in the discipline is limited to short stints of flat work in between schooling jumps. Anne ended up working Gina and me for an hour, putting both of us through our (pretty basic) paces. It was an amazing lesson! Gina is much more advanced in her training than I had originally thought and it's my opinion that she will be a phenomenal event horse once she's back in shape. Anne was so happy to have a protégé and to feel like she was helping. She offered to give me lessons on Saturdays, and I couldn't be more excited. I don't know if I'm a dressage person yet- the heart-pounding excitement of cross-country jumping is hard to resist- but I'm definitely more excited about it than I used to be! 

Bamboo Pink

Bamboo Pink. Have ya'll seen this? Have ya'll heard about this? If you haven't, let me be the first to tell you about it! It's a spanking new jewelry line from a stellar established designer whose pieces I already love. The best part? You can win some jewelry (and other neat stuff like an iPad) just by signing up for more information. There's no cost. There's no pressure to do anything right now. If you decide you like it, you can host online parties and trunk shows and make extra cash. If you don't, then you'll be out nothing but a few minutes of your time. Now's the time to sign up though- free sign up doesn't last forever, and you don't want to miss getting in at the ground level. At the very least, you enter to win some great free stuff! Just visit http://www.bamboopink.net/stejpeck and you'll be good to go!

Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! Because I am a huge dork and a big fan of the show, I'm sharing Valentine's wishes via BBC America & Doctor Who! (Apologies to those of you who don't watch the show and don't get the jokes.)

Cooking With Beer

I adore beer, I really do. I'm a picky beer drinker, though- none of that Budweiser swill or Michelob nastiness for me. I usually stick with wheat beers like my all-time favorites Blue Moon and Paulaner, but I always enjoy trying new brews. That's how I discovered goodness like Blind Tiger Raspberry Wheat and Warsteiner Premium Dunkel. I like to support local breweries, too, which is how I ended up with a six-pack of Oklahoma-based Choc Beer's Waving Wheat.  I wasn't keen on Choc's bitter, spicy flavor, so after drinking two bottles and forcing Johnny to try one, I was left with three bottles of unwanted beer in the refrigerator. What to do? Throwing it away seemed wrong. Drinking it was unappealing. Thankfully. the March issue of Women's Health arrived with a solution: cook with it!

The issue includes all sorts of delicious-sounding recipes for beer, and today I baked a loaf of Roasted Garlic Beer Bread. Here's the recipe:

Roasted Garlic Beer Bread
from Women's Health Magazine, March 2011

• 2 whole garlic bulbs
• 2 c. whole wheat pastry flour (I only had whole wheat all purpose flour, so I used that.)
• 1 c. all purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tbsp. fresh rosemary (I used dried rosemary.)
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1.5 c. lager or pilsner (I used one bottle of Choc Waving Wheat.)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove the papery covering of the garlic and slice off the tops. Wrap heads in foil and bake for 45 minutes, or until garlic is very soft. Let cool.

2. Grease a 9"x5" loaf pan. In a large bowl, squeeze out the soft garlic pulp and mix with flours, sugar, olive oil, baking powder, salt, and rosemary. Add beer and stir until just combined. (Don't overmix.) Pour into loaf pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes until golden and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool before unmolding and slicing.

Overall, the recipe was very easy to put together. I think my garlic could have been roasted a bit longer, as it didn't squeeze out very easily. The bread was very garlicky (surprise!) and had a somewhat dense texture, but I think it's because I didn't use pastry flour. I think it's good and plan on having some for dinner tonight with my pork chops and roasted potatoes!

Polyvore

I'm late to the game on this one, I know, but have you checked out Polyvore? It is an amazing collective of fashion and style where you can put together your own sets of items. You can find thousands of items on the site from retailers or clip images from any website if something is lacking. I'd seen sets of items put together by many bloggers, but hadn't done anything with the site myself until yesterday. Not Soap, Radio is currently running a contest on Facebook that involves building a collection featuring up to five of their products. Here's what I came up with:

Vacation At the Seaside by stejpeck featuring canvas beach totes

It was super fun to put together! I think I just found a new way to pass the time at the hotel!

Gift Conundrum

My least favorite thing about being a responsible, gainfully employed adult is that I'm now expected to handle gift-giving to various family members. In the past, my mother included gifts sent on my behalf with her packages. Last year, she continued to do most of my gift-giving for birthdays but left Christmas up to me. I did pretty well- I managed to get a gift for everyone, stay in a reasonable budget, and ship everything on time.

2011 is off to a rocky start, though- I forgot all about my cousin Jennifer's birthday until my mom sent me a text yesterday, asking if I'd gotten her anything. Jenn's birthday is Saturday. Oops. I imagined my mom sighing as she replied that she would handle it, but I needed to send my cousin Andy's wife (Mandy) something for her birthday (2/23). 

A brief explanation on my family: I don't see or speak to my father's side of the family often. (I believe 2004 was the last time I received correspondence from them.) My mother's side is small- I have 3 first cousins, 2 aunts, and 4 uncles. As a result, we are all fairly close. So while some might think it's odd to be so concerned with gift giving to extended family, bear in mind that I feel closer to my older cousins than I do my older half-sister.

That said, I know next to nothing about Mandy. I met her once, at her and Andy's wedding last summer. She was extremely kind, with a generous laugh and big smile. Looking through Andy's Facebook photos that include her (she doesn't have an account), she seems down-to-earth, into simple style, and outdoorsy. But what to get her? Here are my ideas thus far:

Image via Preppy Princess

Jonathan Adler tumblers- I think the Greek Key (blue & orange) or Multi Chevron (obvious) are the front runners...everyone can use more cups, and these are an excellent value. I'm not sure if they're dishwasher safe, though, and have no idea if they fit with Mandy's general taste.

Image via A Touch of Whimsy

Luggage tags- Another gift I think everyone could use. Although now that I think about it, I only have a PO box address for Andy and Mandy. Scratch this. Still cute, though.

Image via Olive Barn

Herb garden kit- this biodegradable bowl comes filled with organic seeds and would make an excellent window garden. Plus, they just bought a house with a great big yard; perhaps if this grows well, it could be transplanted outside to a garden!

Image via Not Soap, Radio

I'm not here, I'm really...gift set- I hate to give generically girly gifts like candles and soap, but I really think this Not Soap, Radio gift set of 3 body souffles is a good choice. They have fun names like "I'm not here, I'm really walking the red carpet" and with 3 scents, one of them is bound to please!

Dancing With Myself

Heather over at Crawdads in my Sink made an important point a few days ago: even though the weather might be dreadful, it's not an excuse to skip daily exercise. If the roads are too bad to get to the gym or it's too cold to go outside, one can always turn to Netflix for fitness videos. This was a revelation to me. It had never crossed my mind to look online for exercise instruction. 

Since Netflix doesn't support Google Chrome (boo!), I started looking on Hulu for videos. I have nothing but time at the hotel where I work, so a 30-minute workout is easy to do. I found my answer last night in the form of dance workout videos. I thought they would be a good fit because they don't require special equipment and can be performed in a tank top and jeans. 

I tried out Dance and Be Fit: The Bollywood Dance Workout. A smiling Indian lady informed me I would tighten and tone, all while releasing waves of joy and energy. While I can't say I felt particularly joyful or energetic, the workout was relatively fun and kept me moving and shaking for the better part of 20 minutes. (The video is 50 minutes long, but I didn't want to get too sweaty at work, just in case guests needed to actually see me.) The instruction is clear and well-demonstrated and very positive. As someone who is totally uncoordinated and un-rhythmic, I appreciated encouraging statements like "just do what feels good!" and "don't worry about keeping time!"

For the most part, I felt like I was jiggling around like an idiot, but according to my fitness app, I burned approximately 130 calories. Woohoo! Tipperary vest, here I come.

Back on Track

The house & yard covered in snow

It snowed an astounding twenty inches this week. Johnny and I were stuck inside for the better part of four days and I let my eating habits get totally out of control. I ate because I was bored. And I didn't even eat good things; taquitos, cheese, all kinds of things that are bad for me were at the top of my snack list! Worse yet, I didn't exercise at all. Usually, my job at the barn keeps me active, whether it's mucking stalls or walking alongside a kid for half an hour. Trapped in the house and left to my own devices, I played games on the PS3 with Johnny all day or watched television! Terrible! I feel totally guilty and kind of icky, so I've resolved to clean up my act. I downloaded an excellent calorie-counter/exercise tracker to my phone (MyFitnessPal) to help me keep track of what I'm doing to my body. I have to stay focused- not too much longer and it will be bikini weather!

Gina

Throughout my equestrian career, I've always been plagued by horses that "need work". The first real horse I had was a $600 2-year-old mixed-breed gelding named Buster; my dad picked him up at a horse auction when I was 8. Busted needed work. He was barely broke to ride and although Buster and I ended up as moderately successful competitors, the work never stopped. (Note to anyone thinking of buying their child a horse: don't buy anything that needs work. Buy your child something relatively calm, quiet, and experienced.) 

Buster was only the beginning; a slew of horses that "needed work" followed. There was Spike, who had been badly abused by a previous owner. Sandy, who refused to be ridden in a regular bridle. Shalimar, who, despite being 20+ years old, had never outgrown his devious pony attitude. Ace, who was afraid of every shadow and breeze. Some of these horses were mine. Many were simply the animals of friends or fellow competitors who had heard of my reputation for taking on difficult horses. 

Such was the case with Gina, pictured above. My first day on the job at the therapeutic riding center, I was assigned to get Gina into reasonable shape and prepared for sale. Gina had been donated to the program in July 2010. Her owner had decided she wasn't going to continue riding in college and after being wildly unsuccessful at selling the horse, opted to donate her to us. Gina was evaluated and found totally unsuitable for therapeutic riding, but thanks to an over-ambitious vaulting instructor, Gina stayed on at the program. After the vaulting instructor quit, no one wanted to touch Gina. She was aggressive and pushy when handled. No one would ride her. Student workers referred to her as "Satan" and my boss described her as "in need of some work". 

Sigh. Story of my life.

My first ride on Miss G was less than amazing; she tossed her head around, spooked constantly, and could hardly hold herself up at the canter. I was mildly worried this horse needed more work than I had time to put in.

That was two weeks ago. Since then, Gina has improved dramatically. She's less aggressive on the ground and in her stall. She is eager to see me and go for a ride. She's quieter and happier. She holds her head nicely, on the bit, moving from her hindquarters. Her canter is smooth and steady. It's remarkable what a little time and effort did for her. I think she's excited to have someone who cares about her again. And that's why I think I'm going to buy Gina. I think she'll make a lovely low-level eventer. And really- we could all use some work.

Flower Photos

I was very excited to see the latest photography assignment over at The Pioneer Woman: flowers! I'm not much of a photographer and usually don't participate in PW's photography contests (this is mostly due to the fact that I own no camera other than the one on my cell phone). However, back in 2009, my then-boyfriend had a very nice camera and let me use it to take some photos of the gorgeous gardens at Botanica in Wichita, Kansas. I have so many lovely shots to choose from:

I ended up submitting this shot of one lone red tulip. I like it a lot, for reasons I can't fully articulate. Maybe it'll be a winner! Even if it doesn't win, I'm happy I participated. 

Saturday Snapshot

Yoda

This week's snapshot is of Yoda, the feline staff member of the equestrian center. He's a large gray cat who has lived in the barn as long as anyone can remember. He's friendly and funny- he drinks out of the hose, likes to be petted and picked up, and plays with everything from his tail to the end of a lunge whip. I let him sleep in my office when I'm doing paperwork; he also finds comfort in the back of the Gator. Oh, and his name? I think his ears explain it all.

Boots

Yesterday, I bought a new pair of riding boots for the first time in ten years. I am simultaneously excited and sad. My old pair of tall boots was a pair of Ariats, purchased brand new back in 2001; they replaced a pair of used Ariats I wore when I first joined Pony Club and started riding in three-day events. The new Ariats were a big deal, since most of my equestrian equipment was bought used. I remember the first horse show I wore them to- I was riding my horse Spike, and couldn't stop thinking about how slippery these boots were and how awful my legs must look sliding around everywhere. I wore those boots through good horse shows, terrible horse shows, NCAA competitions, racing around fields with my friends, polo practice in a new place when I had no friends. Those boots were my faithful friends, comforting me and reminding me of my hard work and happy times. The decision to replace them wasn't as difficult as it might seem- the Ariats' soles are beginning to chip away, the leather on the toes is cracked from prolonged exposure to water, and the black dye has worn away on the inside of the calves. They're also a bit too tight- somewhere in the last ten years, my calves got larger. (Sad, until I think that 10 years ago, I was only 14.) 

My new boots, pictured above, are a pair of Treadstones. They're reviewed well and current owners seem to like them. They zip up the back, eliminating the need for an uncomfortable tug-of-war up the leg. They look nice. I'll be breaking them in at my new job, probably by riding the lovely Thoroughbred mare we're trying to sell. I'm excited to have them- riding in jeans and barn boots feels foreign and uncomfortable to me. And, in some small way, they're a symbol of hope and possibility. Maybe soon, my horse Moe will be able to join me in Oklahoma. And soon, I'll be able to ride in three-day events ago. Maybe I'll even buy that Thoroughbred. Who knows? But here's to 10 more years of riding horses.

Happy MLK Day

Don't Get Too Comfortable

I gave up on reading The Worm Ouroboros. I tried and tried, but the Jacobean-style writing was simply too bizarre and foreign for me. I would read passages carefully and end up focusing on the words more than the story they were meant to tell! That's not enjoyable reading. 

I raided Johnny's bookshelf and turned up Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff. 

From the Amazon description: 

"The belly laughs start on page 7 and occur regularly throughout Rakoff's frequently impertinent, occasionally irascible, yet always inimitable take on contemporary American society. A newly minted U.S. citizen, a process he reveals in all its maddeningly hypocritical inconsistency, Rakoff embarks on a series of journalistic assignments as peculiar in their phantasmagoric diversity as, well, America itself. From the pretentious preoccupation with gourmet dining to the rigor of fasting, Rakoff contemplates the extremes to which we will go in pursuit of our particular, often downright peculiar pleasures. A trip on the Concorde is followed by a jaunt on Hooters Air, and visits to Beverly Hills plastic surgeons segue seamlessly into a tour of a cryogenics storage facility in Arizona. Whether interpreting popular culture or investigating political calumny, Rakoff's cogent observations are delivered with a comforting mixture of appropriate moral outrage and unabashed mocking wonder, as he unfailingly elicits the inherent truths behind our most cherished and churlish institutions"

I almost always enjoy an examination of first-world 'problems' (see Stuff White People Like) and this seems like it will be a fun and quick read. 

My friend very good, real-life friend Moto at The Adventures of a Journeyman Archivist suggested The Passage by Justin Cronin for my next read. Looks like it's time for a library card! 

Saturday Snapshot

Jed

This is Jed, one of two mules at the equestrian center. He and his fellow mule Red are new to the program; they are on long-term loan from their owner. 

Mules are members of the equine family, but are totally different species than horses. They're the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. They have long faces and ears and are generally considered hardier and more intelligent than horses. Mules are used for a variety of equestrian activities: English and western riding, driving, cargo transportation, and in agricultural operations (like pulling plows).

So far, Jed and Red have been admirable representatives of their species! They're calm, fun to ride, and easy to handle. I think they're going to make great therapy horses!

Review: Sperry Top-Sider Cormorant Rubber Slip On

When I received an offer for the equine job I started yesterday, one of my first thoughts was "I need a new pair of barn boots!" In the past, I've always worn my tall riding boots around the barn; after all, I was almost always out there to ride. A pair of Wellies sufficed on days when I went out to feed or muck stalls. I knew most of my duties would be off-horse, so I started looking for a pair of boots I could wear to work. They needed to be comfortable, weatherproof, warm, and suitable for the occasional short stint on a disobedient animals.

I looked through a variety of brands and selected Sperry Top-Sider's Cormorant Rubber Slip On. I adore my other pair of Sperrys (the Bluefish boat shoe) and these came in the perfect color combination of brown/tattersall. I didn't want something too bright (like pink) but thought that the navy would look weird with jeans. (I have a thing against wearing navy with jeans.) Plus, they were on sale- always a bonus!

I wore them to work for the first time yesterday and was very pleased with them. I was initially concerned because they felt a bit tight (even though I ordered a half size up from my normal size), but the snugness dissipated after a bit  and they felt perfectly formed to my foot. My feet were kept nice and warm in yesterday's 20-degree weather, and snow and water didn't affect these boots at all. I had excellent traction on a variety of surfaces, from gravel to concrete to arena footing.  They looked great with jeans, and I wasn't self-conscious about wearing them into the grocery store on the way home. My only complaint is the laces- I untied one shoe's laces and couldn't get it tied properly again! The laces are coated in some kind of plastic, which makes them very slippery. The pair Sperry tied is perfectly fine and held all day, but the set of laces I adjusted came untied several times. It was very inconvenient, especially since I can't always stop leading a horse around to tie my boot! I managed to double-knot the laces (they were almost too short to do so) and don't plan on untying them ever again.

Overall, I feel like I got an excellent value and a stellar work boot. Stylish and functional, I'm certain these shoes will last me ages.

New Year, New Job!

Today was the first day of my new job with a therapeutic equine program right here in the Tulsa area! I am impossibly excited about it. Horses have always been my passion; I've been riding since I was a very small child (my mom took me on a trail ride when I was just 6 months old and I was given a pony to take riding lessons on at age 4) and have continued my equestrian activities through my life. I competed in three-day events on the weekends in high school and rode my on college's NCAA hunt seat team. Even when I moved to Kansas, I found a way to stay involved through playing polo. Now I've been hired on as an assistant for this program that teaches individuals with disabilities how to care for and ride horses!

I love everything about this job- my superiors are knowledgeable, the horses are wonderful, and the program participants are great. I'm most excited to start working with a Thoroughbred mare that needs to be sold. She's a talented hunter/jumper that really doesn't fit well with the program's needs, but would be fantastic for a competitive rider. Riding horses is my very favorite activity in the entire world, and now I'm getting paid to do it! What a fanastic day.

It's Snowing!

Snowy Tulsa!

It's a snowy day here in the Tulsa area! It's been snowing lightly all day long and picked up for a few hours this afternoon. Tonight, more snow is headed this way and the moisture on the roads is expected to freeze. Yikes! I am safe at work tonight, and my boss offered to let me stay in a room at the hotel if the conditions are bad. I just hope it's clear tomorrow morning- it's the first day of my new job!