I have so much blogging to catch up on, that I don’t even know where to begin…but today that’s not important. What is important, however, is my dress closet.
As a young girl, I refused to wear anything but skirts and dresses. (I know, big shocker, right?) I especially wanted them to be pink or purple. The frilly-er, poofy-er, sparkly-er, the better. I always have been (and always will be) a girly-girl.
This afternoon, as I was organizing my dress closet**, I had a “moment.” I was trying to decide which ones should stay and which ones should be consigned/donated. It was impossible. This was the dialogue in my head:
“Ok, red dress. Hmmm, I have only worn it once, about seven years ago, it can go. WAIT! I wore that my sorority’s River Boat Semi Formal. That can’t go…Ok, long printed dress. I only wore it once, a few years ago, it can go. WAIT! I wore that to a wedding of two wonderful friends in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I still fit in it. I may not wear it, but it can stay. Ok, now, black dress with pink bow. It’s not even my size anymore (I’m smaller now) and I’ve only worn it once… WAIT! I wore it to my college graduation at the University of North Texas. I wore hot pink shoes to match the bow, that way my parents could pick me out in the crowd. (As if they weren’t in the first row…) Geez, this is getting ridiculous. Ok, try again. How about this incredible, pink, poofy Betsey Johnson dress? I wore it on my 25th birthday and again in Vegas (WHOA! I wore it more than once!). It’s still in excellent condition. I could probably consign it and make some money back on it. WAIT! What if I have a daughter someday and she sees pictures and wants it?! Then what? Ok. Fine. I’ll keep it. But I am getting rid of a dress that was my sister’s and one that I wore to my sophomore Homecoming…in High School. No “buts” about it…”
I buy dresses for occasions. I generally wear them once. But, each one has so many memories tied to it. I can’t bear to part with them. The memories, not the dresses…ok, ok. You got me. Or the dresses…
**yes, I have a dress closet…in my office…in MY apartment. Maybe I should blog about that…
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
It's that time again...New Year's Resolutions
It's just about that time again...the time to make a list of all the things I want to change/start/finish/do in the new year.
I took a look back at the past two years.
In 2010, my only resolution was to visit the gym 100 times before buying any new clothes. The hope was that I would be saving money and losing weight, so that at the end of 100 gym visits, I would need new, smaller clothes. I definitely visited the gym more than 100 times in 2010. I also lost weight and needed smaller clothes. I suppose my resolution was a success.
This year, my resolution list was slightly longer. It included: paying off my credit cards, complete a 5k, build up savings account, continue weight loss though exercise and healthy food choices, read a book for fun, and increase young alumna participation in the Austin Kappa Alumnae Association. I did a check in August to see my progress, but let's see how I did overall:
Well... I paid off my credit cards and my car. Boom.
I also completed two 5k runs...the Diva Dash (which I am already signed up for in 2012) and the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.
My savings account DID have money in it... until Miss Bayla got very sick and my car required some work and new tires. But, the positive here is that I was able to use the savings I had built to tackle problems as they arose. I didn't have to worry about charging up credit cards or scraping by to pay for repairs. I had the money.
I did 'ok' with my goal of weight loss through exercise and eating right. I wouldn't say I'm happy with my current weight, but the Fall school semester was very trying, and unfortunately my time at the gym was cut short; however, I've been working with a personal trainer for several weeks now and she says my strength is increasing. I look forward to getting back to "me" in the coming year.
I read one book, other than school books. It's called, "The Five Love Languages." I highly recommend it to all my couple and married friends. It will change how you view your relationship with your significant other. And, if it's not too late, it might save it, too.
And as for Kappa, I have done my best. As Chair of Night Owls, I have hosted an even each month and have seen a variance in participation. Some months are better than others. The point though is that at Founders Day this year, I knew everyone (except one) at my table. I'd say that's a mission: accomplished.
So, on to 2012. I'm looking forward to 2012. I feel like it might be a benchmark year for me. Or, at least I hope it is.
I haven't decided on all my resolutions/goals yet. I'll start with these:
1. Move out of my parents' house. (Again.)
2. Complete Graduate School.
3. Travel to a new city, i.e. Chicago, Nashville, Baltimore, etc.
4. Make at least one recipe each month from the magazines I get in the mail or buy at the store.
5. Still thinking...
I took a look back at the past two years.
In 2010, my only resolution was to visit the gym 100 times before buying any new clothes. The hope was that I would be saving money and losing weight, so that at the end of 100 gym visits, I would need new, smaller clothes. I definitely visited the gym more than 100 times in 2010. I also lost weight and needed smaller clothes. I suppose my resolution was a success.
This year, my resolution list was slightly longer. It included: paying off my credit cards, complete a 5k, build up savings account, continue weight loss though exercise and healthy food choices, read a book for fun, and increase young alumna participation in the Austin Kappa Alumnae Association. I did a check in August to see my progress, but let's see how I did overall:
Well... I paid off my credit cards and my car. Boom.
I also completed two 5k runs...the Diva Dash (which I am already signed up for in 2012) and the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.
My savings account DID have money in it... until Miss Bayla got very sick and my car required some work and new tires. But, the positive here is that I was able to use the savings I had built to tackle problems as they arose. I didn't have to worry about charging up credit cards or scraping by to pay for repairs. I had the money.
I did 'ok' with my goal of weight loss through exercise and eating right. I wouldn't say I'm happy with my current weight, but the Fall school semester was very trying, and unfortunately my time at the gym was cut short; however, I've been working with a personal trainer for several weeks now and she says my strength is increasing. I look forward to getting back to "me" in the coming year.
I read one book, other than school books. It's called, "The Five Love Languages." I highly recommend it to all my couple and married friends. It will change how you view your relationship with your significant other. And, if it's not too late, it might save it, too.
And as for Kappa, I have done my best. As Chair of Night Owls, I have hosted an even each month and have seen a variance in participation. Some months are better than others. The point though is that at Founders Day this year, I knew everyone (except one) at my table. I'd say that's a mission: accomplished.
So, on to 2012. I'm looking forward to 2012. I feel like it might be a benchmark year for me. Or, at least I hope it is.
I haven't decided on all my resolutions/goals yet. I'll start with these:
1. Move out of my parents' house. (Again.)
2. Complete Graduate School.
3. Travel to a new city, i.e. Chicago, Nashville, Baltimore, etc.
4. Make at least one recipe each month from the magazines I get in the mail or buy at the store.
5. Still thinking...
Friday, December 9, 2011
When it rains, it pours...
They say, “When it rains, it pours.”
I’m dealing with a few ‘challenges’ in life right now…yesterday I got an added bonus.
Yesterday, on my way to work, I noticed my car was shaking violently. The check engine light has been on and off over the past few weeks. I decided to turn around and head back towards a repair shop I normally go to. Well, I didn’t get far before my car was un-drivable. I pulled over, got out…and realized I was practically driving on my rim. My tire had blown out.
I called my mom, who said she’d swing by the repair shop and pick up someone to help us. As I hung up the phone, a gentleman pulled over and offered to help. I politely declined, telling him that help was on the way. He said, “Are you sure? I can do it no time…I have all the tools.” After I asked if he was certain, he backed up, hoped out, and got to work on my tire.
I called my mom to tell her not to come and that I would call her when I got back on the road.
He finished in less than five minutes. I thanked him and asked for his business card. He handed it to me and it reads, “Mobile Car Repair.” This was his job, but he didn’t ask for payment. He was doing his good deed for the day.
I called my mom to let her know I was on my way to the tire store. This is her side of the story:
Around 9:00 this morning Lauren called and was saying that her car was sounding really weird and it would hardly get up EMI Hill. I told her to turn around and slowly make her way back to Dennis’ Auto Repair. I told her I would come meet her there. She called me right back and said the noise she was hearing was that she was driving on her axle and that her tire was completely shred. I told her to pull over and I would be right there. By this time she had almost made it back to 1431 and Nameless Rd. So I got in my car and was trying to think who I could call to come help us change the tire. I am still sitting in my drive way at my office; my first call was to Dennis’ Auto Repair. I was going to see if Ronnie Kelso could come help us, but was told that he no longer worked there. So my next call was to Brother David. He said he had one of his mechanics on his way back from town and he would call him and see where he was. In the meantime, Lauren called me back and said, “Mom, never mind. I have someone who has stopped to help me.” So, I came back in to my office and continued to work, which was really out of character for me, because any other time I would have continued to go and check on her, but I didn’t.
I was sitting at my desk and all of the sudden I had this overwhelming feeling that I was not alone in my office and I heard a voice, my Mom’s voice, say to me, “She is going to be fine, I sent someone to help Lauren.” It was the most unbelievable feeling in the whole world and totally indescribable. I just started crying and I said, “Thank you, mommy.” I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain this to anyone, so I kept it to myself for a short time. Maybe 10 minutes passed and Lauren calls and she says it’s all done. She said out of nowhere a gentlemen drove up, a mobile auto repair guy. She didn’t even see which direction he came from, she just knew that someone appeared to help her change her tire. When she told me she didn’t even know where he came from, I knew right then and there--I knew exactly where he came from. Thank you Nanny, you are still watching out for your baby girl, Lauren.
As you can probably imagine, tears were streaming down my face as my mom told me the story. My whole life, Nanny told me that I would “never be able to get rid of her” because she planned to “haunt” me in the afterlife. It was more a joke than anything, but I knew that when she said she'd always be my guardian angel that she meant it.
My mom is right. I have no idea where the man came from…I don’t even know where he went. But I know that he was sent to me from my Nanny.
So, there you have it. During my rain storm, Nanny was my silver lining—my Guardian Angel.
Thanks, Nanny. We miss you.
I’m dealing with a few ‘challenges’ in life right now…yesterday I got an added bonus.
Yesterday, on my way to work, I noticed my car was shaking violently. The check engine light has been on and off over the past few weeks. I decided to turn around and head back towards a repair shop I normally go to. Well, I didn’t get far before my car was un-drivable. I pulled over, got out…and realized I was practically driving on my rim. My tire had blown out.
I called my mom, who said she’d swing by the repair shop and pick up someone to help us. As I hung up the phone, a gentleman pulled over and offered to help. I politely declined, telling him that help was on the way. He said, “Are you sure? I can do it no time…I have all the tools.” After I asked if he was certain, he backed up, hoped out, and got to work on my tire.
I called my mom to tell her not to come and that I would call her when I got back on the road.
He finished in less than five minutes. I thanked him and asked for his business card. He handed it to me and it reads, “Mobile Car Repair.” This was his job, but he didn’t ask for payment. He was doing his good deed for the day.
I called my mom to let her know I was on my way to the tire store. This is her side of the story:
Around 9:00 this morning Lauren called and was saying that her car was sounding really weird and it would hardly get up EMI Hill. I told her to turn around and slowly make her way back to Dennis’ Auto Repair. I told her I would come meet her there. She called me right back and said the noise she was hearing was that she was driving on her axle and that her tire was completely shred. I told her to pull over and I would be right there. By this time she had almost made it back to 1431 and Nameless Rd. So I got in my car and was trying to think who I could call to come help us change the tire. I am still sitting in my drive way at my office; my first call was to Dennis’ Auto Repair. I was going to see if Ronnie Kelso could come help us, but was told that he no longer worked there. So my next call was to Brother David. He said he had one of his mechanics on his way back from town and he would call him and see where he was. In the meantime, Lauren called me back and said, “Mom, never mind. I have someone who has stopped to help me.” So, I came back in to my office and continued to work, which was really out of character for me, because any other time I would have continued to go and check on her, but I didn’t.
I was sitting at my desk and all of the sudden I had this overwhelming feeling that I was not alone in my office and I heard a voice, my Mom’s voice, say to me, “She is going to be fine, I sent someone to help Lauren.” It was the most unbelievable feeling in the whole world and totally indescribable. I just started crying and I said, “Thank you, mommy.” I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain this to anyone, so I kept it to myself for a short time. Maybe 10 minutes passed and Lauren calls and she says it’s all done. She said out of nowhere a gentlemen drove up, a mobile auto repair guy. She didn’t even see which direction he came from, she just knew that someone appeared to help her change her tire. When she told me she didn’t even know where he came from, I knew right then and there--I knew exactly where he came from. Thank you Nanny, you are still watching out for your baby girl, Lauren.
As you can probably imagine, tears were streaming down my face as my mom told me the story. My whole life, Nanny told me that I would “never be able to get rid of her” because she planned to “haunt” me in the afterlife. It was more a joke than anything, but I knew that when she said she'd always be my guardian angel that she meant it.
My mom is right. I have no idea where the man came from…I don’t even know where he went. But I know that he was sent to me from my Nanny.
So, there you have it. During my rain storm, Nanny was my silver lining—my Guardian Angel.
Thanks, Nanny. We miss you.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Gobble, Gobble!
This year we spent Thanksgiving in Molino, FL with my aunt, uncle, and cousin.
My 'job' was the tables/decor.
I threw together this little wreath...
...but somehow it didn't make it home. (My aunt really liked it!)
A few from the beach...
My 'job' was the tables/decor.
The glitter ornaments seen here were made using this tutorial.
I threw together this little wreath...
...but somehow it didn't make it home. (My aunt really liked it!)
A few from the beach...
It was windy (duh!) and cold! I'm wearing shorts and my jacket!
This little girl was a trooper! She did SO well on our 13+ hour car ride (each way), was an angel in Florida, and crashed when we got home.
Halloween Decor: Part Boo
I really invested in Halloween decor this year...
Thanks to those that made it to our Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party!
Also, in my spare time (ha!) I made this for my friend's birthday gift. I loved it so much, I plan to make myself one, too!
Table Runner, Kohl's
Candy Tea Light Candle Holders, Hobby Lobby
Halloween Shadow Box, made just for me by a special lady!
"Boo" Tea light Holder, Hobby Lobby
Orange Candle Holders, Pier 1
"Happy Halloween," Target
Also, in my spare time (ha!) I made this for my friend's birthday gift. I loved it so much, I plan to make myself one, too!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Halloween Decoration: Apothecaries
I'll have to post more pictures later of Blake's place. I went all out for Halloween this year. Last night I put together these little gems. I have seen lots of holiday posts with apothecaries, and I've looked all over to get some of my own. I got this set of three from Sear's on sale for only $19.99! I couldn't believe it. I am so excited to use them again and again.
We're hosting a Pumpkin Carving Party tonight... look for more pictures soon!
We're hosting a Pumpkin Carving Party tonight... look for more pictures soon!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Kate Spade's Words of {Sparkly} Wisdom
I have a slight obsession with Kate Spade, that's no secret...
She is a Kappa sister and a fabulous designer.
I frequent her website, and her blog...
And the mention of a Flash Sale makes me giddy.
I came home last night to a package on my bed and it put a huge smile on my face. It was the latest of my KS online purchases. Inside was an adorable polka dotted travel bag and a to-die-for necklace that I ordered last week. One of my favorite parts of receiving new things from KS is that tucked inside each piece is a KS tag with a tiny saying. I never throw them away, because they are so cute and {heaven forbid} if I ever decided to sell them, it validates their authenticity. The tag in the purse I bought about two weeks ago said, "occasionally she dreams of italy. she dreams of cheese shops, persnickety fiats, and very fine leather goods." Sigh.
I found these online and I plan to use them someday in decorating my {future} home.
How could you not love KS?
She is a Kappa sister and a fabulous designer.
I frequent her website, and her blog...
And the mention of a Flash Sale makes me giddy.
I came home last night to a package on my bed and it put a huge smile on my face. It was the latest of my KS online purchases. Inside was an adorable polka dotted travel bag and a to-die-for necklace that I ordered last week. One of my favorite parts of receiving new things from KS is that tucked inside each piece is a KS tag with a tiny saying. I never throw them away, because they are so cute and {heaven forbid} if I ever decided to sell them, it validates their authenticity. The tag in the purse I bought about two weeks ago said, "occasionally she dreams of italy. she dreams of cheese shops, persnickety fiats, and very fine leather goods." Sigh.
I found these online and I plan to use them someday in decorating my {future} home.
How could you not love KS?
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