I Am Stepher

April 25, 2010

How to switch from Google Blogger to WordPress (with custom domain)

Filed under: Uncategorized — iamstepher @ 7:55 pm

I never thought I would type those words before.  I am not tech savvy at all.  In my opinion, this was super complicated but might not be so bad for someone who knows what they are doing.

When I wanted to switch my blog from blogger to WordPress I first started out by trying to get someone to do it for me.  When that didn’t work I tried doing some research online.  There were lots of posts showing how to transfer the contents of my blog to WordPress but no one knew how to get my URL iamstepher.com to redirect from the hands of google blogger to the wonderful WordPress.  The only reason I am posting this is because I think there area lot of people out there that really need to know how to do this.

This is what I did: 

First I transferred all of my blog posts from blogger to WordPress.  Basically you sign into Blogger dashboard and under Basic you choose “export blog”.

 Next, I called Go Daddy and asked them to transfer my blog from Enom (the company google works with) to Go Daddy.  The reason this is important is because Go Daddy allows you to manage your own back-end system and Enom keeps everything with Google.  They try to up sell you into buying the URL for 10 years but I stuck with two.  They also send you a document walking you through the next steps. 

Next, contact Google and ask them to unlock your blog and send you the  EPP/transfer authorization key. Contact them here:GoogleClients@enom.com .  They sent me the information within 24 hours.

Log into Go Daddy and click on your domain and it will launch your domain dashboard.  Click on pending transfers and type in codes from Go Daddy and Enom.  Wait 5 days for automatic acceptance from Enom.

Last, log into Go Daddy to modfy your name servers to the Word Press name servers.

Celebrity Stalker- Artie Lange

Filed under: Celebrity Stalker — Tags: , — iamstepher @ 7:04 pm

I thought it might be fun to upload a few pictures of celebrities that I know really well have met before.  The first of the series will be Artie Lange because he is my favorite and the one that I have hung out with the most.  This all started when I won a date with him on the Howard Stern Show.  I consider myself to be a super fan…If you listen to the show then you know what I am talking about.  If you don’t listen to the show…you are missing out.

April 19, 2010

Hanging with Chloe Sevigny.. N.B.D.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — iamstepher @ 6:24 pm

This was at the Contemporary Art Museums DADA Ball.  Chloe was one of the co-chairs.  I freaked out for about 20 minutes after this picture was taken.  I am pretty sure she was laughing at me.

April 15, 2010

Reebok Easy Tone vs. MBT

Filed under: Products that work, Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 10:45 pm

After trying on MBT’s 3 different times over a 12 month period I finally broke down and bought a pair in May, 2009.  I was going to be in China/Japan for 2 weeks and knew that I would be walking between 6 and 10 hours everyday “temple hopping”.  Unlike most, my main motivation to purchase MBT’s was not for weight loss or toning.  In addition to those benefits, the most important to me was the relief the shape of the shoe gives to the back and joints.  I know, I know- why am I so concerned with this at my age.  Well, I have a family history of bad knees and lets just say, the apple did not fall far from the tree. 

So, why the hesitation?  Why not just buy the dumb shoes …right?  Wrong!  The shoes I wanted were $244.95 and I felt like that was a little too much for a shoe I was taking a gamble on.  After realizing that my running shoes were not going to cut it in China, I gave in and bought the shoes.  I wore them around for a week to make sure I could walk in them.  I felt a little off-balance but quickly got used to them.  After feeling comfortable for a few days I decided to try them out while running.  Note: please be carefull if you try to run in these.  The combination of weight and height do not mix well.  About the weight (14 oz.) and height (2 inches) of the MBT’s- this created even more of a problem because despite my small 6 1/2 shoe size, these shoes are gigantic and kind of heavy.  This mattered not because of wearing them, but fitting them in my suitcase.  My goal was to pack 15 days worth of clothes and shoes into one carry on bag.  In the end, I was able to do it but it meant wearing the MBT’s on the plane.  Boy oh boy was that a bad idea.  I feel the need to include this because I think MBT and I got off to a bad start.  If I would have been wearing the softest most comfortable fuzzy slippers on the plane I probably would have cursed them after that 13 hour flight. 

From then on I dreaded wearing the shoes.  They were comfortable and my knees felt great the entire trip but they were very wobbly.  Imagine walking up those tiny ancient steps in shoes that are purposely made the throw you off-balance.  Needless to say, or maybe not, I havent worn the MBT’s since China (almost one year ago). 

Now to present day.  I was in Indianapolis for work and after eating a gigantic peanut butter burger decided it was time to look at some new running shoes.  This is when I noticed the Reebok Easy Tones.  If I wouldn’t have seen another person trying them on I wouldn’t have even noticed that the bottom of the shoe was different from any other shoe.  From the top and side they look like any other cute running sneaker.  I decided to try them on and didn’t want to take them off.  I bought them immediately, despite the $119 price tag and have been wearing them for the past two weeks.  I wear them to run, walk the dog, meet up with friends, whatever.  They are fabulous and worth every penny!  Now this business about toning your legs, who knows, but they are super comfortable.

Reebok wins… Sorry MBT’s.  I had so much hope for the two three of us.

April 14, 2010

I left my heart in Indi…..

Filed under: Fashion — Tags: , — iamstepher @ 9:07 pm

Peanut Butter + Burger = True Love




I had to go to Indianapolis last weekend for a nursing conference -part of the J.O.B. As you can imagine, I was not thrilled about spending my weekend, beautiful weather and all, in crappy Indianapolis. Boy was I a fool. Who knew Indi is the home of the motor speedway peanut butter burger!!

Though I was only in the area long enough to enjoy two meals, I managed to squeeze in 3 versions of this beautiful concoction that was dreamt up by Elvis Presley himself.

The first was a beautiful 1/2 lb burger called the Elvis. It had cheese, mayo, bacon, peanut butter and fried bananas on a soft white bun. I split it with a friend and felt surprisingly great afterward. Somehow is did not taste as decadent as it sounded…which I thought was a good thing.

The second was a peanut butter and jelly burger. I ordered this through room service and it arrived a little cold and over cooked. It was good but it had grape jelly on it and I prefer strawberry. Bummer….

The last peanut butter burger is one that I will not soon forget. Pictured above, it included (from the bottom up):
1) heavily buttered roll
2)gobs of peanut butter
3)1/2 lb of the fattiest beef patty I have ever tasted (I could actually feel the grease oozing down my throat) Kind of….
4) Mayo (Isn’t this a little unnecessary?)
5)Cheese
6) jalapenos
7) Bacon
8) Onion Rings

I am embarrassed to say that even though it was so rich and I felt like a glutinous pig, I devoured the entire thing. QUICKLY. I was with a group of work friends and decided to walk back to the conference rather than cab it with the rest of them in hopes of working off a few calories. I ensured them that I would hurry as to not be late for our next session of the conference.

If I would have planned ahead for this, I would have been sure to wear comfy shoes and pants with an elastic waistband. Instead, I was wearing a pant suit that I bought a size to small hoping to drop a few lbs. with a very restricting top. The bright sun was shining down like a spotlight and my four-inch heals started to feel like stilts as my knees buckled with every step. A wave a nausea came over me and though it was only about 75 degrees outside, I felt as if I were in the pits of hell. The chirping birds were spectators laughing and pointing at me and the street signs began to play tricks on me as I suddenly realized I was lost. I was drenched in sweat and self loathing thinking of the 4 hours of pain that I would have to go through when I arrived back at the conference. How could I face my coworkers who had just chosen health salads. How could I have done this to myself!

Some how I managed to find my way back to the conference and the cool air conditioning quickly took me from hot and sweaty to wet and freezing. Rather than thinking about speaking with customers my mind wandered back to that beautiful burger. The beef was so tender and perfectly cooked. The peanut butter so perfectly complimented the jalapenos. Oh My Gosh- I could totally go for another one right now I began to think.

Back to reality: There was either some sort of mind altering chemical in that burger, or I am loosing my mind because I have not been able to get it out of my thoughts since leaving Indi. Fattening food is addictive people!! I believe it.

Things White People Like

Filed under: Fashion, Stephermendations — Tags: , — iamstepher @ 8:59 pm

Just thought you may want to know a few things that white people like….

  1. Girls with bangs
  2. Unpaid internships
  3. Camping
  4. Ugly sweater parites
  5. Graduate School
  6. Recycling
  7. 80’s nights

For a complete list, visit Stuff White People Like.

April 8, 2010

Happy Birthday to me!

Filed under: Quality Over Quantity — iamstepher @ 9:46 pm

I have been begging for a cast iron Le Creuset french oven for years. My Aunt Amy always used to talk about the gift she would ask my uncle for each year and how they slowly changed from perfume and purses to cookware. I guess this shows that my taste in gifts is changing. I couldn’t be happier about this gift!
In case you are not familiar with this brand of cookware:
La Creuset is really well known for being energy efficient and is used by professional chefs all over the world. From the website:
http://www.lecreuset.co.uk/en-us/Products/Enameled-Cast-Iron/French-Ovens/Oval-French-Oven-5-qt/
Once hot, you require only a low to medium heat setting to maintain a good cooking performance. The pan can be removed from the heat leaving the food to cook in its own heat.
This way, the natural flavors of the ingredients are blended to their full potential. The addition of the lid creates a “blanket” of heat with surrounds the food, cooking it evenly. Tough cuts of meat will turn out tender and juicy every time. The hard-wearing enamel coating easily releases food, making clean-up a breeze. No more soaking and scrubbing after those dinner parties!

The best tank top on the planet

Filed under: Quality Over Quantity, Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 8:48 pm

LuLuLemon’s Hot Yogi Tank. I don’t know how they do it but it is truly one of the most flattering tanks I have ever tried on. I bought it in black, purple and this pretty salmon color. It’s supportive enough to wear for a light jog and cute enough to wear out and about on a Saturday afternoon.

Love it!

Gardening- No green thumb here!

Filed under: Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 8:25 pm

If you have a green thumb, this post is NOT for you.I have never been any good at gardening but I have always wanted to. One obstacle is that I do not have a yard so all of my gardening aspirations must fit into a medium sized pot on a third floor balcony.

With the third floor balcony comes tons of sun and the possibility of overheating the plants. With my travel schedule comes sub-par care taking and the high possibility of under watering. This can be a deadly combination for even the most durable plants….Until today.

I think I have finally found my plant. I started of with a cute little lime tree. The lime tree LOVES water and you can’t really over water it. This is great because I can basically drown it before I go out of town and then water it again a few days later or ask the neighbor to water it for me. Look at this cute little plant.

I also planed a cilantro, basil and mint plant. I am not making any promises on these because I think they are a little more difficult to care for. We shall see!

Engagments! NO…. not mine

Filed under: Uncategorized — iamstepher @ 7:38 pm

Andy and I have been dating for 4 1/2 years as of yesterday. My birthday also happens to be our half anniversary…not they we celebrate it… I just like to keep track.

As a little background to this post- a memory of mine from 2006. I was a young 22 and had just started working at my current company. A coworker of mine was complaining to a group of girls (myself included) about his girlfriend and her relentless pressure to get engaged. At one point we asked him “how old is she?” he responded “she is 27”.. “eeewwwww” we all shouted. “Imagine being 27 and not married or engaged” we all cried. At the time, nothing seemed worse than being a desperate 27 year old. At the time, I only thought I had until 35 to get all of my living taken care of. (I will blog about this another time).

In the past two weeks, three, count um’ 3 of my good friends have gotten engaged. I am nervous to even write about this for fear of coming across as selfish and not excited for my friends. I am an so so so excited for them all. We have all been in the same boat for the past year wondering when the heck our significant others were going to get their act together and drop the question already.

The funny thing is, one year ago I couldn’t have cared less about getting engaged. I actually thought we should wait a little longer. Not because I am not 100% certain that I want to marry Andy (I absolutely am!), but because I was thinking -whats the rush??

Somehow some way in the past 6 to 12 months I have become completely crazy about getting engaged. From my perspective, I feel like the more people asked why Andy hadn’t asked yet- the more I started to wonder why Andy hadn’t asked yet. This has lead to anger, hostility, debating, venting, etc. to Andy, friends and whomever would listen. As I reflect on this I cannot pinpoint exactly when the happy easy going Stepher turned into the angry wedding obsessed Stepher. I should clarify- I am actually not wedding obsessed. To be honest, I rarely even think about the wedding. The majority of this negative energy goes towards evaluating what is so wrong with me that Andy hasn’t seemed to find the time to ask. Did I say something wrong, am I gaining weight, is he mad at me, is he having second thoughts, does he not like when I wear my hair up, what if I would have made him a better dinner last week, what if I wouldn’t have snapped at him the other day, what if he was going to ask but then he realized that I am a total nagging bi*ch. AHHHH!! Its all so much pressure.

Now back to my friends getting engaged. The nice part about all of this was that we had created a type of support group where we all understood each other. We were different from our married friends and all was ok because we were in this together. The best part was, when two of us “unengaged” were together, we could evenly spread out the “WHEN” questions between us. Now, I am left the last “unengaged” of the group. There will be no one to turn to and roll my eyes when the questions start coming. No one to mention to my grandma when she says “all of your friends are married” and no other relationship to compare ours to when thinking about why it hasn’t happened yet.

I am the last of the unengaged and to top it all off…yesterday I turned 27. “Ewwwww”… I know! After a good cry I realized that 27 is not really that bad. I need to just concentrate on all of the good in our lives…including all of the beautiful weddings i will be going to this year with the person I love most, Andy. I also need to realize that maybe the reason Andy hasn’t popped the question is because he was waiting for 5 minutes to go by without me asking him about it. 🙂

So, this is the last you will hear from me about my possible engagement. Friends, feel free to continue asking newly married friends “when are you having kids?”, Newly engaged friends “when is the wedding?” and Stepher “When are you going to update your blog?”.

That is all!

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