Friday, August 30, 2013

Top Ten Things I Still Love About My College House

Three years ago I moved out of this house to join the real world, and it was horrifying. Not only was I moving 'away' from college, but my bestie and then next door neighbor was moving too, the worst.  This house, and my room (the two windows on the right) defined my college life.

Here are my top ten memories in this house.

-Celebrated my twenty first birthday by drinking, playing beer pong, and eating pizza in the front yard (it was lawn back in the day). I wore a black bondage dress that zipped up the front. It was a classy scene to say the least, you mean that's not a normal birthday celebration?
-Vacuumed our kitchen, it had carpet, and I am pretty sure this is a first for any house, ever.  No matter how many times we vacuumed it, it never felt clean.

-Had my bestie next door, and I spent the last night of college running to and from her house in my underwear. The story behind this is not might not be appropriate for the le blog, time will tell.

-We spent spring days out in our front yard (told you it was grass) like this. When I wasn't working or in class that is.
-My bed was in a nook, which was perfection.  There is nothing better than a nook bed, except maybe the King size I share now, but in college everyone needs a nook bed with a light that has a pull string.

-Had four roommates (seen below), four bedrooms, and dun dun dun one bathroom. It made for an interesting year that's for sure, we got exceptionally close.  Man was Brad in over his head when he signed up to live with us three girls.
-Locked our roommates hockey pledges in the basement, hey it wasn't the girls idea.

-Taylor Lautner was our fifth roommate, he lived in the living room, I'll explain.  We had life size cut out that looked out the living room window to the street.  We wanted people to think there was always someone home.
-Random mac PhotoBooth sessions before going out were normal.  The roll taken this night was about 37 pictures, we may have been a little drunk before we went out.  Gosh those were the days...
-My Grandma once showed up in our front yard, remember I'm a local gal.  If that wasn't weird enough watching her start at my shirtless male roommate was. P.S. I'm totally going to be that old lady someday.


-Solved serious mysteries...seriously. What bars did we go to last night?
Can't believe it's been four years.
Loved that house, and will always love these memories.
Cant wait for our roommate reunion March 2014.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

My Adult First Day Of School Outfit

Shirt//Nordstrom (long ago)
Jeans//Target
Shoes//All Stars via Nordstrom
Necklace//Stella and Dot

Something about late August, early September just smells like school to me. Maybe it's the sixteen years I spent routinely starting school during this time, or maybe it's just my weirdo brain and senses that makes things up. Regardless classes are starting again, and I am celebrating the beginning of my fourth year of being a true tax payer not being a student. 
 
Wasn't it just yesterday that 3am bedtimes were not uncommon and mac 'n cheese constituted an entire food group.  And now a short while later 3am is closer to the time my alarm is set to get up then it is my bedtime.  How those four years snuck up on me like this, I will never be sure?

What I will say about school is the first day of school is the outfit was ALWAYS important, I mean how many of us have pictures on the front porch with our siblings of the first day of school from every.single.year of elementary, middle, and high school? Yup, that's all of you and if you don't have them you are the exception, not the rule.  

Looking back I'd say most of my ensembles were horrifying with one (or two) that resemble Doug from the old cartoon show Doug.  How I managed to look like a cartoon male in seventh grade, I will never be quite certain. Something about that bun with the plaid green shirt must have done the trick. It must not of helped that I looked to be competing in the extreme gel compeitition, but I just wanted to  secure all the pieces of the bun. Hashtag girl problems.

I can vividly remember what I wore on the first day of each of year of High School, you know the years that at the time seem like they will define your life, when years later you look back and wonder how the heck your parents ever dealt with you? Yup, I was one of those.  I rocked blue jersey knit shorts, with a plain white tank, and Birkenstocks the first day of my Senior year.  If that doesn't scream I'm sexy and I know it, I don't know what does. But I still suck at style and sexy, so what can I say, some things never change.

 If I were back in school this year, and lining up on the front porch for Mom to take a photo, that we couldn't see until later when she got the film developed at the local drug store, I wouldn't be wearing colored spandex shorts with a floral top from Mervyns, or socks with lace around the edges folded down.  I'd be rockin' this outfit. Boyfriend jeans (that I am tempted to distress myself, tips anyone?), All Stars, and a Tee-Shirt, because it's easy. And that's what I am all about, which sounds bad, but I meant easy style people. Get your head out of the gutter.

If you were going back to school. What would you wear?

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Labor Day Plans

I get to work all weekend long...
All The GIFs You'll Need To Express Your "Doctor Who" Feels
No but seriously, if you tuned in last week, I don't hate my job, so it shouldn't actually be that bad, minus the whole 30 hours in two day thing, but hey once a year I can come out of my grandma ways and make s*** happen.

What I will say is having breakfast, lunch, starbucks, and dinner at your office is when you have reached a new high, or low whichever way you see it.  But seeing as how I am a glass half full kind of gal, I'll say it's a new high and continue to try to convince myself.

I normally don't leave for work until hours after most people get to work, which was affirmed when a client commented, "You really are a bankers daughter, you keep bankers hours." Compliment or insult, again I'm not quite sure.  Part of me wanted to be insulted, sorry my job isn't like yours sir.  Anyways, when I got to work three short minutes after 8 this morning, it was a miracle....now if only I can get here at 6am two days in a row.  I think I can, I think I can,

So when all of you have awesome posts of enjoying the lasts remnants of summer, I'll be skipping that and fast forwarding to fall...if only California weather turned to fall in September like it does back East...we'll get there someday.

So when I go missing later this week, don't be alarmed, I'll be at my office.  But if you don't hear from me by next Tuesday send out the search party. I'll probably be in shorts, and a target tee shirt, looking for some sleep and some sanity.

Monday, August 26, 2013

If I Have To Go To Work Today...and A Give Away For You

As much as I love my job, Mondays aren't my favorite day of the week. But lets be honest anyone who actually likes Mondays either works in the food/bar industry and Monday is the beginning of their weekend or they are a stay at home Mom (because the kids go back to school).  Just kidding on that second one, kind of.
Anyways, if I have to go to work today...
The VMA's could have started earlier, seriously I'm a Grandma, and can't say up past 9:30 anymore.

The infamous Starbucks  PSL could be out, I know all of us bloggers have been bitten by 'the fall itch'. Anyone seen all those cute things Old Navy has out??? (Liking this and this). But seriously, PSL I'm ready for you.

Miley could have worn something half decent, and stuck her tongue out seventeen less times.  But who am I fooling, I'd trade bodies with her that crazy bitch any day.

Nordstrom could send me these, as a thanks for your continued loyalty.

I could be back on 'vacation' with my bestie. Seriously it's already been a week?

I could be hanging out with my niece, who is growing up way too fast before my eyes, or at least according to pictures and facetime.

My couch could come to the office with me.

My birthday could come and pass; being a quarter century sounds terrible.  Although in all honesty, I've never been happier, so I have nothing to be scared of.

I could have had time woken up early enough to run this morning...would it be so terrible if I ran at work?? I'll bring extra deodorant.

And what could you do on this Monday???
You could enter to win a Target Gift card and other goodies over here.
So go there now.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Things That Are Only Exciting in Adult Life

Holy comfortable, our couch is here, and most all of me wants to cringe when I admit it was worth every single last penny, and it's been in our house for less than twenty four hours. I'll spare you pictures, because lets be honest, you've probably seen it already, and it's really not captivating, at all.

But isn't that what adult life becomes, moments that four years ago would have been as boring as cat using a litter box, somehow transform into monumental exciting moments in your life...gosh the grown up thing is really jammin' me up. And I digress.
What I am really excited about this weekend is laying on said couch and doing nothing.  My stint of a zillion busy weekends in a row that you are sick and tired of hearing about is over, and I am officially back to boring 'ole me. Amen to that.  Again we've come full circle to the adult life being really exciting thing. 

This picture is from last weekend, do you see the two of us on the ends with our hands on our hips, yup you've guessed it these are my sorority sisters.  I haven't seen in three years (utterly depressing) but we took shots, danced, and just chatted for hours last weekend, and it was awesome. Some things never change.  I hope we can still do this when we're older, and not three more years from now.  Because while it many have taken me a solid week to recover from this weekend, it was totally awesome, and showed me I can still hold on to some small vestiges of my college life, which makes turning a quarter century next month not seem as terrible as it is.

Aside from the fact that my new ID came, and it no longer has the red bar on it the screams Age 21 in (you do the math), which makes a bouncer look at your ID longer.  When there is no red bar, it's clear you've been twenty one for far too many years, and likely wasted enough money at the bars to have paid for an ten day cruise through the Greek Isles. Not a carnival cruise either.

Anyways it's Friday. And for that I am thankful, as for this adult life, I'm still settling into it, on my couch, of course.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

I Don't Save Lives or Change the World, But I Love What I Do

I'm still working for the same company I worked for during college, what's it to you.  No I'm not still making that wage, although it wasn't bad when I was a full time student and had all my job money to spend on useless things on shoes, at the bar, and useless trips to Target.  Gone are those days, hello car insurance, cell phone bill, and 401K.  Guess it's a good thing I am 'making more money' although to me it's debatable.
image
Now I won't tell you what I actually do IRL (in real life for all wondering), I have to keep some aspect of my life a mystery.  But I will tell you I am certainly not in the business saving lives, creating a cure for cancer, or studying the environment and figuring out how to preserve it, and I am totally okay with that.  I am doing something semi-related to my major, which according to google is not as common as you might think.

For all those who clicked the link, I apologize. Looking at the stats in the second link makes going to college seem like it was optional, like the customer service survey that Comcast invites you to take after the inevitable 37 minute technical support phone call you are about to endure.  On a more serious note, does anyone ever do that?
Did I mention that I bring this little girl to work sometimes too, well I do.

I have accepted that graduating college in the height of recession (that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one), with a soft degree had potential to be horrible.  Hearing stories of people with graduate degrees job hunting for months on end with no success,  people moving back home for lack of anything else to do, and any place else to go.  But hey that wouldn't be so bad, my Mom makes awesome food, irons, and my parents have a three car garage. I'd say that's living the high life, but then again maybe not. Would I really want to explain to my parents where I was if I hadn't come home...awkward. 
I'm in the business of enjoying the forty hours a week I spend away from my house, my family, my dog, and my life. The forty hours I spend with co-workers that often feel like family, and I the word office are often used synonymously with 'home'.  I'm not saying I have found my forever dream job, because of that I am not yet certain, but what I will say is I am continually challenged, engaged, and growing as a person and employee. I like my hours, and my company culture, and hey I get paid too.

For all you other folk out there, it'd be great if you could continue to preserve the environment, develop a caner cure, and saving lives, because heavens knows I'm not doing it. It takes all types of people to make the world go round, and that is simple a beautiful thing.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Five Small Things that are Better with your Bestie

If you haven't already heard that I spent Thursday thru Monday morning with this one you've probably been living under a rock you're probably dead.

And what does a Bestie make better. Simply everything.

1. Target Trips
When in college, I for sure spent exponentially more money (and time) at Target when I went with her.  But I just can't seem to find gems like pleather peplums, BB cream, and the perfect lip gloss without her. 

2. Car Concerts
Life Rule: When driving in a car, you are invisible to the world, so the moment when someone catches you rockin' out solo to the next overproduced overplayed hit, it's embarrassing. But when you're with your bestie, no shame.  It transforms from a embarrassing solo to a effing awesome duet.

3. Wine
Need I say more. Four bottles later the night we 'stayed home' may have needed the most Gatorade and ibuprofen in the morning.

4. Snuggling
 Three years later, it still feels totally normal to share a bed with her, despite the fact that I have been co-habituating with my boyfriend for close to two years.  In college no less than two three drunk nights a week ended with two blondes, one bed. 

5. Getting Dressed
Getting dressed alone is like getting dressed in the dark.  Unless my outfit has been copied off pinterest or inspired by a blog, I'll be lookin' a hot mess, or I'll text her to see what she thinks.  It's so much easier when she's here.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Becuase We're Just Not Old Enough For That

It's been over two years since I've seen her, which is basically like suicide in best friend world. 
Oh what the East Coast and mid twenties will do to friendships post college...almost impossible.

The last time we met up for a short weekend in Boston where she drove 6+ hours through a terrible storm to spend two short nights with me and some friends, drunkenly.  But we made time count by seeing a Red Sox game, and cuddling in bed together.

But in the middle of a serious (yet medically unidentified) quarter life crisis she booked a ticket to CA, and we'll be reunited once again, and she's here.  Thank bejeezus.

This weekend we have ideas of doing super adult things like going to coffee shops, eating nice dinners, and taking a zillion pictures for our blogs, all of which I'm sure we'll do.

I'm also certain that the coffee might just be Starbucks as we stumble down the street, our meals might not be quite as nice as we planned, and majority of our pictures will end up looking like this one (which admittedly was taken while we were stone cold sober).
But I'll leave that up to fate.

Maybe in our thirties we'll be ready for fancy dinners, spa days, and coffee dates.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Out of Focus

The busy-ness of the past two months has almost knocked me off my feet.  And while yes, I am busy by choice, busy is busy not matter which way you slice it.  All you middle twenties gals know the feeling when all your friends are doing things at the same time, and somehow you're privileged enough to be invited to what feels like every.single.one.of.'em.

Due to said busy-ness, I feel as though I've lost perspective, just like my iPhone did when I was trying to snap a picture of 'my two', relaxed and content on a Sunday afternoon, just the way I like to see them.  So I'm going to work to renew my focus, because to me it's important.

It's as if we get caught up in all the things 'happening' in our lives, and forget what is actually 'happening'.  Every day I take for granted the health and happiness I have in myself and my relationships...something that might seem like a small fortune to most others.  I have a job that satisfies me, and though I don't save the world, cure cancer, or seriously change peoples lives, I enjoy it, which is more than 34.7% of employed people can say.  If you are impressed by my 'research' on the topic, that number is completely arbitrary, but I gottcha didn't I?

So here's to a fresh cup of hot chocolate in my elephant mug, an awesome weekend with my bestie, and focusing, investing, and giving back to those things that keep me going and give back to me, especially those two in that picture. They are perfect.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Shots Cause She's Married

As if you haven't heard enough about my best friend getting married, I'm here to share more.
This picture is among my favorites from her 'big day' while it's a family tradition (on the brides side) to take a shot of Patron during the party.  Seeing as how this was a huge party, the Mother of the Bride requested one before we drove over the the venue. To that I have one word, awesome.

It was also awesome that later in the night we took another shot, and my Mom threw hers back on the dance floor...man I love that lady. I love her even more when we slow dance together trying to figure out who is leading because my Dad and boyfriend are too caught up in conversation to join us.
Also a thank you for being in her wedding, got us there beautiful robes. This might be put to some good use to avoid instances like your boyfriends Mom walking stopping by to drop something off while you are baking in your underwear at 4pm on a Sunday. More to come on this later.
And speaking of boyfriend, this is also among my favorite pictures of us at wedding, mostly because I'm not passed out, my dress isn't ripped, and I'm not dancing with children I don't know.

All in all, this might have been my personal 'best performance' at a wedding, also because I nailed my speech. I'm not sayin' I'm awesome I'm just saying that unsolicited, a guest I did not know told me it was the best MOH speech they had ever heard.  I thanked them politely, as my internal happiness meter jumped off the charts and did two back flips.

So after nine weddings, I've finally got it down.
I guess some us just have a slower learning curve.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

5 Things that are Better in the Summer

 Summer is exponentially better than most all seasons, 
except maybe winter for the skiing, but for now we'll just agree it's better.
 So here are five things that are better in summer.

1.  Reading-
 sure curling up by the fire and reading sounds fun, but I usually end up falling asleep. Give me a lounge chair by the pool or lake, and a book, and it's like I blink and I've finished the book.  I love it. Super relaxing, and getting a tan while doing it. It's simply called multitasking.

2. Going to the Movies- 
Let's not pretend like the movies are 'enjoyable' in winter.  Who wants a cherry slurpee when it's raining outside? Also why must theaters run the air conditioners year round? Lay off the AC in the winter Signature Six, it's just no necessary. But when it's triple digit heat, going to the movies is AMAZING.  Plus don't all the good movies come out during summer anyways? Insert Superman, Wolverine, Planes, and

3. Walks- 
I love walking Zoey, try to do it every day. Though when it's cold, and I can see my breath (it doesn't even snow where I live, and overall we have mild temperatures, you Mid-Westerners are hating me right now) it's hard to find motivation to get out there and walk.  Summer is always more fun, there are more people out, everyone is happy, and you don't have to wear rain boots or a parka. 

4. Dinner Dates-
 Sitting outside, need I say more. When the waitress asks, 'inside or outside', it's a no brainer, outside. 
In winter it's not an option. I LOVE sitting outside.

5. Road Trips-
 Traveling someplace by car isn't always fun, but when you can have your windows down, and awesome upbeat 'sing along songs', eight hours feels more like two and just like that you are at your destination, no worse for the wear.

Also get out there and enjoy summer, it won't last forever. 

This post was previously published as a guest post at For Lauren and Lauren

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

How To Get Your Friends to Buy You Presents and Other Things I'm Loving

Dress//Target $19.99 Can't find it online yet
Scarf//Gap (gift-ish)
Sandals//Target (three years old)


So when I saw this elephant scarf at Gap, months ago, I knew I had to have it. So instead of buying it as a present to myself, I found a friend, (okay I had the friend already) who owed me money.  I had her buy it for me to 'pay me back', so it really just felt like she was buying me a 'happy day' present, which I can't complain about.  And that right there my friends is how you get presents from your friends. Hello guilt free scarf, I love you. 
As a side note I used to have many 'decorative' ceramic elephants, but when I moved in with my boyfriend I thought he might find that strange, so I donated them in hopes that someone else would enjoy them as much as I had.  Yup, you nailed it, I'm a weirdo.

And some other things I've been lovin' on lately:

Tee shirt dresses in every color (thanks Target)
Fake Bake Self Tanner (clearly not used in these pictures)
My new jeans, now only it were cooler
Illumintor, I bought this one
 Cooler summer days and weekends
Summer smooties, been making this one
Seeing lots of my friends
Early morning runs with my little
and a whole lot of Mexican food.

Happy Wednesday ladies, we're almost there.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Me, A Wedding, and a Speech (We All Need Help)

From her Chicago Bachelorette Party
On Saturday my best friend little sister best friend is getting MARRIED.
And I can't even believe it, she's going to be a wife.
Seriously though, I've know here since the day she was brought home from the hospital, and now she's getting married, but I think you probably got that part.

On to the next. I'm giving a speech at her wedding, and I SUCK at public speaking.  Give me a group of sorority girls, a team at work, or a small crowd at a party and I am fine, but a group of people, many of whom I've never met and I stumble, stammer, stutter, and slur (especially after a few glasses of wine).

I've started writing it yesterday and I have 
three
measly
lines

Anyone have any good tips on how to write a good maid of honor speech?
I'll take all the help I can get.

P.S. Let's hope for a good showing at this wedding, remember what happened at the last one?

Monday, August 5, 2013

Why I'll Work When I Have Kids...

Talking about the future is almost as scary as The Sixth Sense when it came out, almost.
So when my brother was talking to me about life with a newborn and my sister-in-law going back to work, and he said, "...you'll get it someday." 
And he's right, I will get it someday.

And this right here is when I will say it: This is my opinion now, but I reserve the right to change my mind in the future.  I am open to the fact that I might have a totally different opinion years from now.  Additionally I want to perface this post by saying I don't believe there is no right or wrong way to be a Mom, working or not, you're a Mom, and that in and of it's self is respectable, beautiful, and amazing.

Okay.So.
When I think about having kids, my internal monologue is as follows... chicka chicka what?...rewind...me have kids...give me a few years pah-lease.  I still have some good drinking important things to do.  What I do know is that someday I'd like to be a Mom, and if all goes 'as planned', is there is such thing as plan, I'd love to be working Mom.

Growing up my Mom worked, she's always worked. She worked to help put food on the table, live in a good neighborhood, take family vacations, put me through those awkward brace face years, and send me to college.  She worked to be a perfect mother, lead by example, care with compassion, and love unconditionally.  In my eyes she fully defines the term is the 'perfect Mom'.

'Perfect Mom', however is open to interpretation these days.  Defining the 'modern' Mom is nearly impossible. I digress.  Some Mom's work, some Mom's don't, and neither is inherently better or worse than the other.  Kids success isn't measured on whether their Mom worked, or not.  And not one kid is better than the other from the 'status' of their Mother.

But this is why I want to work, becuase my Mom did.  Any every daughter grows up wanting to be just like their Mom. And because when I stop to think about how many things I want to give to my children, things I want to provide them with, and opportunities I want to gift to them, I get overwhelmed.  I want to be strong. My Mom did it, so can I.

I have dreams of retiring young(ish) and having a cushy 401k to live off of, thanks to years of hard work, dual incomes, and proper saving. I dream of sending my kids to college and paying for every single penny, I said college, not college and graduate school future children.  I dream of having European family vacations, and a timeshare (or two).  I dream of giving my kids lives that were similar to mine.  And I'll work as hard as I need to to achieve my dreams, because that's what my Mom (and Dad) did. 

Years from now, when I have kids ask my how I feel, I might have a completely different opinion. I might hate myself for having written this post, and wonder how I ever thought this.  Right now many of you might be reading this and thinking I am crazy.  And as we speak stay at home Mom's are shaking their heads, reading this and thinking to themselves, "...she doesn't get it."

I might never get it, but then again I might, I'll leave my options open.
I ain't got on crystal ball, but right now I believe I'd like to work when I have kids.

Friday, August 2, 2013

My Life in Numbers

I had grand plans of writing a post about how I want to work when I am a Mom, but how I also reserve the right to change my opinion of that in the coming years.  I even have one all written up sitting in my drafts, but then it just seemed all too serious a post for a beautiful summer Friday, so I decided not to. #bigwhimp

So instead I find myself eating breakfast (fried egg on toast with salsa, of course), trying to come up with something to write about. And then it came to me, take a page from the bestie.  
My life in numbers.
8 days until I have to give a speech at my best friend's wedding.
 I still haven't written it, I better get on that.

13 days until Nadine is here...gosh that isn't quite soon enough.

41days until I am officially a quarter century, gosh that sounds old.

2 loads of laundry down (I did them yesterday)
4 to go #ithinkicanithinkican #goshihatelaundry

130 calories in skinny cows chocolate Carmel bites, admittedly worth every single one.

7 miles run this week, down from the usual 12-15, and not feeling good about it.

1 more day of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. I can resist the urge, I can resist the urge, I can resist the urge playing in repeat in my head.

3 trips the grocery store this week, and I forgot something every.single.trip. I need to start making better lists, or just go back to making lists in general.

90 cents off the gallon this week with Safeway Gas Rewards, when I can fill up for under fifty bucks, it's a BIG win ladies, but seriously I felt like I had just won the jackpot.

14 bucks for these cute shoes at Target, I didn't believe it was real at first either.

53 times I listened to this song yesterday without getting sick of it. Not joking.

3 measly blog posts this week, you can't win 'em all.

6 hours between me and the weekend, leggo.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

It's the Truth

I don't like Desiere as the Bachelorette, I can't decided if it's the way she walks, or the fact that she's not a blonde, of a combination of the two.  I'm a terrible person for saying this.

My dog is undoubtedly the cutest dog in the world. Simply no questions about it.

Our deck has made incredible progress, and I have officially done none of it, which makes me feel guilty.

Trips to Target always start in the shoe section, but this shouldn't come as a surprise.

My Grandfather would have been 83 this week, sometimes I wish he were still here. Although know he's in a better place, I selfishly would have loved for him to meet my boyfriend

I've been back from the Bachelorette party (that one) for five days, and my bags are still not unpacked, I just can't find the motivation.

Ti-Vo can actually go down as a life changing thing. What did we ever do without it? i.e. How did we ever live without it?

When I drive home from work in a skirt, and my legs are touching I can't handle it. I have a towel in the car that I put between them.  Yes, I do wash it, if you were wondering.

If my hair is in a bun, it's for sure third day hair.  Amen for dry shampoo, bobby pins, and hairspray.

My blog posts have been sporadic this week to say the least. I'm not even sure what's going on. After the past two weekends being gone, I feel like my entire routine is messed up, and for a creature of habit, that's hard.

I ate Cinommon Toast Crunch for breakfast this morning, after not having it in years. Gosh what amazing things sugar will do.

And that's all I got.
More tomorrow. I swear.
But I'm sure you've heard that before.