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.

A Rare Car Wash and Three Other Things

I officially got my car washed, and I'm thinking I should probably do it more often. Something about riding around in a clean set of wheels is really satisfying. That us until you realize your $25 'deluxe' car wash will last all of two seconds due to your commute.  Oh the first world problems I struggle with on the daily, certainly am blessed.

Other things in my life that are mildly unorganized, which constantly make me seem like I might not be qualified for adult life.

....my inbox actually has 468 read, unsorted, 'important' emails.  To find them, I just search for them. 

To some it might seem like the least efficient way to do things, but to me it works.  I'll probably sort them all, on my phone, in one sitting while waiting for something.

....I respond to 98% of my personal emails on my phone, truth. Why you ask? 

I'm not even sure, I do have a awesome very functional computer.

....cleaning out the center council of my car (prior to said car wash), I found 32 Target receipts. How the center council became the collector of all Target receipts, I am not sure.  You bet your sweet A**, I didn't add up the total, I probably would have cried (and wished I had a red card they ask me about every.single.time. I check out).

P.S. 

It's normal to walk your dog like this right???

Get Out of Here Fruit, You Weren't Invited

This is how it usually goes down when I am in the ice cream aisle.

I stand there (in the Aisle) staring at the 'options'.

Any flavor with any fruit (at all) is out. 

  I don't like fruit in my ice cream, why add something healthy to a heart attack? 

And then just like I do every time, I leave with a pint of Ben and Jerry's Half Baked Fro Yo.

Those that follow me on instagram may have seen this picture a few weeks ago.

Those of you don't follow me should probably start now.

So when I got home from the longest Monday of the year, and my boyfriend said he had something waiting for me in the freezer, this is how I felt.  

You get my drift.

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That is until I found myself digging for cookie dough nuggets gold in bed, while watching Real Housewives, and I actually looked something exactly like this.

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So I called it a day, there was nothing more I could do.

I agree with Raven, if Monday were a person, he'd be a Ginger.

The 'Morning After' Advice

It's almost Friday, and that is simply amazing.
We're heading out to a Brew Fest this weekend!!!!
 (follow me on instagram for the play by play)

 As if summer isn't great enough already lets add Drinking Festivals. 
While this weekend is a 'Brew Fest', I have a feeling the weekend might include more dranks like strawbertias, (....mojitos, fireball, JD, and all other alcoholic beverages).

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I'm not trying to foreshadow any events of this weekend, but last year at the Brew Fest, I ended up finding blueberry beer and drinking eight of them, eatin' my body weight in chips and guacamole, and brought almost an entire bowl home on my shirt.  When we got home we were convinced we were locked out, until seventeen thirty one phone calls and a set of keys (that were in our pocket the entire time) were found. 
Yeah, it's gonna be a good weekend.

So I'm preparing to go thru the eight step 'morning after' drinking process...

Take a Purse Inventory

It might have gotten crazy on the dance floor,  and things may have gone flyin'.

Be sure you have all your cards, your ID, phone, camera, and anything else you might have brought out with you. 

Shower Up

Simple, I know, but it's likely your hair, breath, and body smell with the lingering staleness of beer, sweat, and possibly cigarettes.  Additionally there may be some stamps on your hand. You need to eliminate all of these things, as fast as possible.  A shower is the only cure. 

Do 'Damange Control' on your Phone

Check your phone to affirm what you don't know might not know from the night before.

See if you did the standard girl 15 texts and seven phone calls to that 'special' someone (unless of course you were with them). If you have it's probably easiest just to delete the evidence (delete all the texts and calls from your phone) and call it good. 

Hydrate

G2's are really the best thing to drink, and while your drinking it, swig down a ibuprofen or two (or four) to properly prepare the inevitable headache.

Check Your Bank Account

Check your bank account, lezbehonest, you probably bought a few more kamikazes fireball shots than you thought.

Comfy Cozy Up
Put on your most comfiest, coziest, pajama like yoga pants and tank/shirt.
Anything that feels more like pajamas and less like actual clothes MUST happen.

Eat...
something greasy. Breakfast burritos, Starbucks breakfast sandwiches, and bagels often do the trick.
I also enjoy goldfish, white cheddar cheese its, and

 Lounge
Sit down on the couch only after setting up your 'station'. G2, water, salty snack, and phone all on the coffee table. This way you're set up for hours, and don't have to move anywhere for hours all day.

Hope you all have a Great Weekend!!!!

P.S. I just watched Princess Dairies this week (it was on TV, and I was reminded of just how great that movie is.  Did you know that Christina from Greys Anatomy is also in Princess Diaries? I had NO IDEA!

The Official Life Cycle of Older Sibilings

I'm the baby of the family, the youngest (of two).  My brother got in four good years before I came along.  He didn't know how good it was until I came around, and completed the family (it's true, I did).

*Please note I am using brother as the older sibling, 

but the time line holds true for most all older siblings regardless of gender.

The day I was born, I'm sure my brother felt like this.

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 Except, I'm sure my four year old brudder (that's how I said it when I was little), 

loved me dearly, or at least I hope so. Please note he loves me unconditionally, he loves me, I'm his best friend.

Being an older brother comes with lots of responsibilities, like paying me 'not to tell Mom and Dad', using me as an excuse for anything broken, damaged, or dirty,  and putting my life in danger (see below, yes we've done that!!!).

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But I guess 'big brotherhood' comes with 'invisible' responsibilities as well.

Like teaching/leading by example, helping the younger one (that's me) with anything and everything, and giving advice on all sorts of life 'topics'.  His job is bigger than I thought.  If there's one thing I know for sure, I couldn't do it.

To them (the older sibling) our jobs seem 'easy', 

this is what they think being the baby of the family is like,

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but they're wrong.

Sure, we might be coddled or 'spoiled' in ways that you weren't, but we had to spend our precious childhood being dragged around to your events (for years) before we got to do our own things (You'd be surprised how many games you can make up underneath the bleachers at the little league fields), getting hand me down blue boys bikes (that I pimped out with pink stickers, don't worry about it), or being compared to the 'first one' (truth be told, my parents never compared us, in their eyes we are two successful individuals, but you last children know the feeling I am talking about we'll always see ourselves as 'compared' to the other(s)). 

But big brother did always have had a higher GPA, cleaner driving record, and a more calm, cool, and collected demeanor than myself; for this I love and envy you all at the same time.  I'll blame your perfection and responsibility on your first child-ness.  Clearly if I were the first child, I'd be just like you (Not).

Then they leave the house and us youngest-ers (I just made that up) are like 'Yes'!!!!

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Now we don't have to share the 'spotlight' with the anyone.

That's cool for a about (point) two seconds until we realize all eyes are on us (and it sucks, in my case it really didn't suck, but I'm sure it could suck), and we have to watch our every move. 

And our every move is 'watched'.

And then we're like...

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It's just not the same without you (even though I used to complain about always being compared to you and it drove me nuts)-- it's less fun without you.

And this is how I feel the life cycle of most older siblings goes, give or take a thing or two.

I guess being the baby ain't so bad after all, because I'd never be able to handle the pressure of being the first child (like ever).

Happy Monday everyone.

Where do you fall in birth order?

Do you agree with this timeline?

Three Day BeeJay

Leaving you all with this little gem.

Because it's Friday, and I got nothin' else to give ya.

This is me trying to be a cheetah
#nailedit

And now on to the 'meat and potatoes' of this post.

This week I hit a milestone people, seriously.
Warning: Please sit down before reading this.

This week I marveled in the fact that my Ben and Jerry's pint lasted me three nights!!!!
(it normally only lasts me two)

(sorry you twitter followers this is old news for you)

It's amazing.
This has never happened before.

And that's all I got for you.
Go enjoy your THREE day weekend!!!

Squirt, Moist, and Other Terrible Words

This morning I went to Starbucks.
I always feel indulgent (and like I'm paying too much for a drink)
when I go, among other things, but this is not important.

I asked for a non-fat, half pump, light ice vanilla latte.
(Yes I'm that yuppy that has a complicated order too).
And the women asked me how many squirts...

And I cringed.

You know those words that just give you the creepy crawly feeling?

They just sound uncomfortable in any context they are delivered in?
Yeah Squirt is one of them.

Squirt.

I am not sure why but this word just gives me the heebee jeebees.

Whenever anyone says it, I cringe.

I'm not even sure why, maybe it has something to do with this association.

If you just clicked that link, I apologize, you'll never hear that word in the same light ever again.

P.S. There is NO appropriate GIF to go with this, you should have seen the things I looked at when I typed squirt GIF into the google search bar, so NOT okay...

Moist

End of Story.

That's also an awful word.

Dress//Victoria Secret (though I don't make it look that sexy)

Chombray//Old Navy

Necklace//Target

Mucous

I mean say it to out loud right now.

Be sure you pronounce all the vowels.

Yup, it's gross too!!!

Any words make you cringe?

I'd love to hear 'em.

(I mean I don't want to hear them, but I do want to know which words bother you!)

I'm sure I haven't thought of all of 'em.

How To Cure A Bad Day

We've all had those days.

The days where you just aren't #winning at all.

 You know when you wake up late, can't pick an outfit, are driving on empty (back your car into a pole), and forget a key ingredient at the grocery store, yup those days.

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Well here are some things that might make you feel better,
because they make me feel better.

This Face:
There is NO mood this sweet face can't change.
And you can't convince me otherwise.

A Good Work Out:

A good work out always helps me feel better.  Sometimes it's a solitary run, and sometimes in a group fitness class, either way, a good sweat is usually a good release for me.

Rockin' OUT:

Everyone has a few songs on their playlists that they LOVE to rock out to, cough Akon cough.  Sometimes this is all I need to clear my mind and let it all go. A good jam session.
This is one of my favorites. It's Akon are you surprised?

Something Sweet:

You bet there are some days where eating my sorrows away is about the only thing that makes me feel better. Vanilla with cookie dough, hard hate, rainbow sprinkles, and two peach-os is my go-to.
And by go-to I mean that's what I get every single time.

Swinging:
Go find a park and get on a swing.
It will make you feel young, wild (okay maybe not wild), and free.
It's amazing the clarity swinging will bring to your mind.

What makes you feel better?
Any good ones I should add to my list?

Excuses for Things I Own in Excess

 We all do it.

And by it, I mean all us ladies have a zillion 'things' of the same 'thing'.

Get what I am sayin' here.

Lip Gloss, Lip Stick, Lip Stain
I consistently carry 10-15 15-20 in my purse (read there is an entire make up bag dedicated to 'lip gear') and I only use two on the daily. Why - I'm not even sure, so don't ask.

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Leopard Undies

 I am a firm believer that every outfit needs some leopard, 

even if its the super sneaky Lacey Victoria secret kind...

I have 30 pairs with leopard print, okay enough about my undies.

Essie Nail Polish

 I mean I paint my nails myself 20-40 times a year I definitely need 

20+ colors to choose from right???

Especially when I get gel manicures too, perfect, that's what I thought, they are necessary.

Basic Target Tanks

 I swear when they go on sale for $5 (which happens all the time) I buy 3-4. This does not help me save money there. So now I have 15, four of which are white. In my defense
I wear them all year long, so they are justified.

Right???

Hair products

I'm no hair expert (although I do rock third day hair like a champ) but I do have my fair share of products. Basically for all the Target purchase Loreal, Pantene, and Herbal Essence products I have, I could own three to four awesome products that actually work, and that I actually use. 

Just sayin'.

 Also this GIF sums up how I feel ever single day. I wish I were better at hair!

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Shoes

or so my boyfriend would say, but we all know a girl can't ever have too many pairs so I am crossing this one off the list.

College Tees

I can't bring myself to get rid of them. I just can't. Plus I sleep in them, lounge in them, and work out on them. So it's totally worth keeping all 32 of them right? 

What's that, you told me to keep 'em, problem solved!

Happy Almost Friday.

P.S. I really want to try one (or seven) of these.

Anyone tried 'em?
I think tonight's the perfect night to try 'em.

I Suck at Sexy

Not so sure about all of you guys, but I suck at sexy.
I mean I suck at dressing 'sexy'.

Don't get me wrong, I've worn my share of Vegas dresses, that are tight, and short, but that's not the sexy I am talking about here.

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Dang she's stunning, I'll probably never be that sexy!!
 
This is my deal:
V necks are far and few between, my dresses (minus work ones) are mostly college left overs, and date nights often consist of Target maxis, or Jeans and a 'cute' shirt.
 

I'm the girl that searches for the three C's when I shop.
 Comfort
Convenience
and
 Cuteness

And here is why.

Being sexy isn't a size, body shape, outfit, hair color, or make up; being sexy is

being confident and comfortable in who you are, relating and radiating towards
those around you, and confronting every day with as much 'kick' as you can give it.

To me dressing sexy is: 

Feeling confident in your outfit

Loving what your wearing

Wearing something that accentuates your personality.

I feel like I do all of these things, but I'm missing something.
An element of surprise perhaps.
Something out of my comfort zone that pushes the envelope.

Anyone have a tips? 
Help me!!!

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A Closer Look...

Yup, I'm that girl who accidentally schedueled two posts to go the same day yesterday.

That's just embarrassing, seriously who does that??

I must have been blogging while drinking beer super excited about this post.

So if you saw this post yesterday it was just a tease, and here it is for reals!!!!

First off, I want to make it CLEAR that is not my room.

I wish I had space to leave stuff on the floor in 'my room' (it's really our room), but we don't,
 so I don't, admittedly it's probably for the better.

Some of you might wonder some deeper secrets about me, or you're not wondering, and I am just going to tell you more about myself anyways.  So here are ten random facts about me, in no particular order at all.
1. 
My front right tooth (left for your eyes) is fake.  I chipped my tooth out with my umbrella (long story there) in seventh grade.  It took the dentist to make one that matched my teeth perfectly.  It even fell out once when I was in Barcelona (full story here).  Basically I am really fun at a black light party.
2.
I went to the same High School as my parents (where they met) and yes ironically I had three of the same teachers.
3.
I only wear pink perfume.
It's just a weird thing, even if I like a perfume, it it's not pink, I WON'T buy it.
3.5
If you're done reading now, I won't hate you, but you'll be missing out, so you should probably keep reading. If not, just follow me on twitter to find out some more random fun facts about me.

4.
When I was little I had a speech impediment.  My r's were w's.
It was cute when I was little and something they always though I would 'grow out of'.
I never grew out of it, and in finally went to speech therapy in the third grade.
 5.
I honest to goodness believed in Santa until I was eleven (sixth grade).
Don't even hate on me, my Mom always told me, "If you don't believe you won't receive."
I was not about to not receive.  For that matter, I am still a believer.
6.
I love any and every Akon song. I'd actually like many to play at my wedding some day, I know I know I'm real classy. It's embarrassing, but I just can't help myself.
I'm in love with a stripper convict (get it?).  If you're not a fan, you might not, it's a play on Akon lyrics.  Yes, I know I am a werido.
7.
As shoe obsessed as I may be, I didn't buy my first pair of heels until my freshman year of college. I wore flats to prom.  Speaking of prom, I sewed all my prom dresses, yeah I'm awesome. I can sew.
8.
I am certified to teach English as a second language.
NBD.
9.
I'm 5'9'' and the shortest female on my Mom's side of the family (Aunts and cousins included). The female cousin's on my Dad's side calls them (the females on my Mom's side, 'sky scrapers'.
10.
I call my Dad-  D.  When I was younger I called him DD, not even sure where it came from, but it stuck.  As I grew up, I shortened it to D.  I adore him, and love that I have a special name for him.

And just in case you weren't sure enough already.
I adore you guys too!!!

Also I went on my first blate (blog-date) yesterday with Brianne.
She blogs over here, she's awesome, and I can't wait to hang out again.
Will share more details tomorrow, get ready!!!

My Online Dating Profile

I always worried about finding love, like always.

Being single through all four college years was pretty much unheard of in my family, but whatever. 

I wasn't about to waste my parents time introducing them to guys that I knew wouldn't be around for a while, so I didn't.  But the real reason is single college life is the BEST  I couldn't trick someone into dating me  college single life is the BEST.

 To meet new people post college (girls and guys) I involved myself in new activities, I tried joining a social sports league, went out with co-workers, and reconnected with people I wasn't so close with through my college life that were still in the area.

And then just like that I got lucky, and met this guy. (read the full story here).

So I never got to try online dating, but I think it would a blast!!!

Sorting through all those people you don't want to wast your time with, laughing at their selfies and descriptions, and getting free meals (I wouldn't stand for going dutch, if a guy wanted to go dutch, I would probably stand up and leave at that moment).

But IF I had had the opportunity to online date, my online dating profile might have sounded (and looked) something like this.

ABOUT ME: I am a fun loving girl who enjoys living life to the fullest. 

BODY TYPE: Fit/Athletic

HEIGHT: 5'8''+

 ETHNICITY: White/Caucasian

INTERESTS: In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with my friends, trying new things, traveling, and baking.  I am an avid mountain goer, and enjoy the lake in the summer and skiing in the winter.  To relax I read and watch TV.

ACTIVITIES: I really enjoy running, skiing, and biking.  I also enjoy traveling and plan to have seen as much of the world as I can before I am gone.  I seek new adventures, am rarely opposed to going someplace/trying something new.

 FAVORITE MOVIES:My favorite movies are Top Gun, Father of the Bride, any 007 Bond film, and
FAVORITE MUSIC: I am a sucker for country and today's hits, but love me some good classics and oldies as well.

And I would for sure get tons of hits if these were my profile pictures.

1. Shows I am fun, and wear short dresses (on occasion)

2. Yup, I am outdoorsy (every guy has to like that)

3. I have energy (I get active)

4. What guy can resist puppies??

5. I am worldly

6. I can actually put myself together and look half decent.

SEEKING: Male ages 25-30 who enjoys life to the fullest and isn't opposed to trying new things.

Have you ever online dated.
Any good stories??

P.S.

Where do you put that you are a blogger?
Would that freak the guy out?
Maybe he'd think he'd end up all over you blog, just like every ex of Taylor Swifts ends up in a song.

The Annual 'Appointment'

So my Doctor called me the other day, okay she didn't, but Leslie at the front desk did, reminding me that it's time for annual physical, or the annual appointment.

Now there is really nothing all that appealing about getting your confidence shattered when standing on a scale, your future dimmed by your calcium shortage, and your hmmmmm being poked with a giant Qtip.

But I still always make mine for 8am. 

It's not that I wake up wanting to go, it's that I'll be damned if I am going to let some lady I don't know (I only see her once a year) troll around down there after I've been walking around all day.  I'd like to be freshly showered, emphasis on the freshness here ladies, and not all schwampy.

So that's something to look forward to.

Gosh just thinking writing about it makes me excited.

I can't wait 'til the day I get the boob smasher.

That'll be delightful.

Oh the things we women have to do.

Please note though I whine about it, I do it gladly for my health.  

It's important, it's just not 'fun'.

I'm Materalistic

I'd love to tell you I am not at all materialistic, but I can't, because I am.

I am mildly materialistic.  

I love Nordstrom shoes, nice wallets, and Nike work out gear.
  I like my Starbucks, Toms Shoes, and Paige Jeans.
I enjoy a Kate Spade bag, Express work attire, and Michael Kors watches.
And that's just me being honest.

There are days that I wish I were super frugal, thrift shop going lady.
 Because I see soooo many of you bloggers that are awesome, frugal, and amazing.

Your finds never fail to amaze me.

I'm not even sure when it happened, or how it happened.  I grew up in a 'normal' household.
But I guess normal is relative these days...
(If you read this post, or this post you might understand a little more of how I was raised)  

Unrelated picture, but she's still gone.
 I miss her.

I'm not saying I want the fanciest, or the newest, or the bestest,
but I do have some expectation for nice things. 

I think it came from my childhood. I always worked. Like always.
It started at twelve when I mowed the neighbors lawn and babysat.  I loved buying things myself.
My first BIG purchase was my awia 48 second anti-skip disc man.
Remember those things from way back when???
I was so proud. I love that I had earned myself the newest trendy thing.
 Things my parents would never have bought for me.

Those eyes, only three more weeks.
In High School my money indulgences changed to Express clothes, iPods, and one big trip to Europe.
That I worked three years scooping ice cream of all that.
It felt good 'not relying' on my parents for 'extra' things like dinners out with friends, getting my hair done, and trips to the mall.  I love the 'sense' of independence.
(I say 'sense' because in High School you have no idea about the costs of car insurance, health insurance, housing, gas, food, etc. so my 'sense' was relative for my age)
None of my friends were paying for the things I was paying for; I was proud.
Again my money gave me things that I wouldn't have had otherwise, and I liked it.

College came, and I was making more money than I ever had. I got 'sucked' in to Sorority life, which is expensive in nature.  The dues, the trips, the dresses, and the matching shirts.
I loved designer denim, Nordstrom shoes, and nights out at the bar.

And when I graduated with job (read about it here), I was happy that I had the money to go on fun trips, pay for my cell phone, car insurance and payments, and still maintain my lifestyle.
So the things I've done for myself have been 'nice'.
Again I'm not talking super fancy, but 'nicer' things appealed to me.

Like I said, sometimes I feel bad, while none of the things I love and indulge in are necessary.
I could easily find happiness in less expensive things, but I think it's the lessons I learned early in life, that hard work could buy me things I liked and wanted that I wouldn't get otherwise that made me a little materialistic.

P.S. I just bought this wallet, I did get it on super sale for $59, and I love it.

Yup, it's Michael Kors

Man Time

Man time is important.

I've come to realize and accept this.
I didn't take me a long to accept, but at times I get selfish, and have to remind myself that guy time is just as important as my girls night out, mani/pedis, and long phone conversations.

They need time to talk about how many wings they ate the other night, the new Pawn Stars episode, their online games, schwacking their beef (even if they don't do it (yup I just said that deal with it)), and the beer they just tried.
Hey, they are guys.

I know what I just wrote above doesn't make me seem like a romantic, but I am.
If you read this, this, or this post you would know that's true.
But I'm also realistic.

Beer Fest Circa June 2012

We can't expect guys to hang out with us crazy ladies all the time.
They have to do stuff for them, like we have to do stuff for us.
This doesn't make us selfish, it makes us human.

Between my after work fitness classes, girls nights, getting my hair did, blogging, reading my books, shopping, and other things I spend much of my time doing away from my boyfriend, it's ludicrous to think that he wouldn't need to some the same.

I don't spend time away from him because I don't love him, because I don't like spending time with him, or because we don't have a healthy relationship.
I spend time 'away' from him doing things for me, because it helps make our relationship better.
 It keeps the balance.

And this is why they need to do the same.

I expect him to go out without me and grab a drinks with a buddy, and enjoy that man time,
because he's so understanding when I do MY things.
I love him.

Hope you all have a great weekend.
Is your man gettin' some guy time this weekend?