whirlwind.

The fact that it is the Monday after Thanksgiving {definitely the coldest day we have had so far} and that Wednesday is the first of December is really blowing my mind. It feels like I was just ringing in 2010, and now it is almost time to bid it farewell. Back in New York, stuffy nose in tow. This is right on schedule for me actually. I always get the same cold 3 or 4 times a year. It used to be timed perfectly with the start of each new semester, which was always a blast {sike}. It was a great trip home but I was pleased to be back in my own little space. Got into the city at around 6 last night, met up with my cousin to see the new movie The King's Speech with Colin Firth. I hadn't even seen a preview for it but it was a sold out show for a Sunday night. The movie was excellent, I highly recommend it. 

A lot of fun things on the horizon... 

- Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

- Friend C from home's visit

- Mom got me tickets to the NYC Ballet to see the Nutcracker!

- my 5 girlfriends and I are having a holiday potluck dinner. Yum yum!

That last event is where I need your help... I need something pretty easy that I can make and transport into the city but that won't take up too much time because I don't want to cut into my friend's visit. Or better yet something I could make Thursday before she arrives that would still be good to eat on Sunday when we have our get together. I am a complete domestic disaster as we have seen recently so any go-to recipes you may have would be greatly appreciated!

Finally finally caught up on Glee while I was home. I don't know if it is possible for me to love this show anymore. The situation with Kurt is really breaking my heart, I hope he doesn't transfer schools. I personally thought Gwyneth was great in her episode! 

monday to friday.

Short work week, woohoo! Today is Monday, tomorrow is Friday. 5 day weekend, sounds fabulous to me. I keep forgetting that I no longer have a 6 week vaca in the middle of the winter to look forward to. Real world, you are cruel. College kids, embrace your long breaks. They run out after 4 years.

Two posts, no comments. Is this thing on? Bueller? 

Anywhoooo... this past weekend was too much fun. I went to the Notre Dame vs. Army game at Yankee Stadium. It was cold, but a great time. 

Cousin M and I at the game! {note the ruffles on the jacket}

View from our seats!

Hope everyone had enjoyable weekends and you have even better Thanksgivings. Relax, eat some good food, spend time with your loved ones! I know that is what I will be doing!

Nice to meet you, Friday!

Ah, we made it! Thank goodness, I was worried there for a bit around the middle that this week would never end. But finally, the weekend is here!


I am SO excited! Just got a text from one of my sorority sisters C who is now living in Manhattan asking for my address so she could send me my invite to her holiday party! I was getting sort of bummed looking at all the posts about holiday party dresses and not having anywhere to go. My office is small so we don't do anything big for this time of year, but I am told there will be a dinner at some point. I think its great that she is sending out paper invites. I know that the e-vites are the easy and efficient way to go but I am excited that my first grown up holiday party is coming complete with an adorable {so I've been told} invite in the mail. And who doesn't live snail mail?! This girl sure does ;)  And now the million dollar question... WHAT ON EARTH WILL I WEAR?! 


Speaking of paper correspondence, I am trying to decide which cards I like to send out to my girlfriends this year. My parents are going to be sending out our photo cards to all our family friends but I wanted to do something on my own. I really am loving the following options via kate spade: 

 

Option #1 {inside says 'and a partridge in a pear tree'}

Option #2 {blank inside}

 

Option #3 {front says 'spike the punch' & inside says 'have a spirited holiday'}

Any votes, which one would you be most excited to receive in your mailbox?

ETA: I was just informed that it is an Ugly Christmas Sweater party. Wardrobe crisis averted!!

wee bit.. on thursday.

It's almost Friday, I cannot come up with anything interesting on my own to talk about today so I am thankful for Leigh Ashley and her pre-packaged questions for me to answer. Enjoy! 





{one} what time do you normally wake up?the snooze button and i are best buds. i usually set my alarm for 7:30 and snooze until 8. this morning however, i was awake at about 7:15 so i hopped into the shower and the water was luke warm at best. lesson learned.

{two} do you have a go-to song for karaoke?

nope, i cant say i enjoy karaoke much.
{three} if you could only see black and white except for one color, what color would you choose to see?blue, so i could still see the sky and the ocean.
{four} what color best matches your personality?pink.
{five} if you could choose one meal to cook better than anyone else, what would it be?at this point i would take cooking any meal well period, not even better than anyone. that's how lacking i am in the culinary skills department.
{six} how many keys do you have on your key ring?too many. 5 for my apartment alone: front building door, back building door, dead bolt, my door, and mailbox. then my car key, and the key to my parents house.
{seven} do you give your pets birthday/christmas gifts?ive never had a pet other than a hamster and some hermit crabs. and they never got any gifts. deprived childhood much?
{eight} when your plate has different foods on it, do you mix or not?i try to alternate bites of food so that i finish each food at the same time.
{nine} if you could hire someone to do one thing for you all the time, what would it be?wash the dishes! i dont know how anyone lives without a dishwasher. hand washing dishes has got to be the worst chore ever.
{ten} when flying, do you prefer the window or aisle seat?window, i love the clouds and seeing the city lights.

pre-teen dream.

While I realize that yesterday I was against the preemptive arrival of the Christmas spirit, I couldn't help popping this bad boy into my CD player last night on my drive home from work...

 

I am not ashamed in the least. I still carry a serious torch for these 5 boys, and listening to this CD really brought me back to middle school. Granted the entire thing is scratched and I could only make it through half of the songs before it started skipping, but I love it. All this hub bub about NKOTB and BSB going on tour is really making me want an NSYNC reunion to happen. How great would that be?! I wish I could find my Hanson Christmas CD, that was another great one.

Just got a text from my sister and we have officially begun the hardest part of the Holiday season, the hunt for what to get my mother for Hanukkah. She is the hardest, yet easiest person to shop for. She will usually say something along the lines of "All I want is for the three of you {brother, sister, and I} to get along all the time." How frustrating! And also, how impossible. I feel like she has most things she would want or need, she is always going shopping so it needs to be something that she wouldn't necessarily pick out for herself, maybe something my parents can do together? Any good ideas for parental gifts? I am really stumped this year!

open letter day.

Dear Laptop Repair People,

So much for 10 business days, we are going on three weeks here. But then again, thank you for my unexpected break from technology. 
Love, Me

Dear Pigeons,
I know that I have a really great view and I am cool so you obviously want to hang out with me. But this purring noise that you make when it is WAY TOO EARLY in the morning, has got to stop. There are plenty of other windows for you to perch on.
Love, Me

Dear Skin,
I know winter is upon us and you are feeling less than your best, but lets get it together. I am washing, exfoliating, and cleansing you so what if we work together here, deal? 
Love, Me

Dear Thanksgiving,
I am sorry that everyone overlooks you. There are already Hanukkah and Christmas decorations up in the lobby of my office, which I think is quite preemptive. I am very much looking forward to some green bean casserole next week. Keep your head up!
Love, Me

Dear Facebook,
Creepy does not even begin to describe the new 'friendship' page. I don't think that world domination should be your goal anymore. Quit while you're ahead.
Love, Me

Dear Sedu flat iron,
Not sure what everyone was raving about... my hair feels like straw. You will be sent back shortly, sorry I'm not sorry.
Love, Me

Holiday Cards!

My family is ALWAYS behind the curve when it comes to our holiday letter/card/picture. Some years I want to write it, but then I never follow through. I think my brother should write it, he is a journalism major after all, and he is pretty quick witted. Mom usually ends up writing it, but we always scramble around at the last minute getting it done. Last year we took a picture of the three kids all in our college sweatshirts. It was 7:30 in the morning, freezing cold, and forget the fact that I was pretty hungover, whoops. Well this year... thanks to all of you bloggers out there who are on top of your game and have talked about how you will be tackling this challenge, I decided to take the liberty of designing our cards on Shutterfly! I opted for the non-denominational flavor, but for those of you who might want a strictly Christmas card, there are plenty to chose from! I was even more excited to find out about their giveaway! Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

I chose a picture of the five of us from my graduation party in June, and have narrowed it down to the following two options:

 

#1

#2

#1 is my favorite, but we will be putting them to a vote when we are all home for Thanksgiving break, which I was reminded this morning is next week, wow!

The possibilities with Shutterfly are endless! I remember years ago we made my grandparents a calendar with photos of my siblings and I and this would have been much easier than doing it ourselves. So for the holidays, and beyond, Shutterfly really has all bases covered!

Stylish, me?!

Heidi from Bonjour Lovey has bestowed upon me the Stylish Blogger Award! I was just wondering the other day if blog awards were still being given out, but realized maybe I just wasn't cool enough for one lately.

I don't know if I have 7 style facts but here goes nothin'...

1. I love fall/winter clothes. Chunky sweaters, scarves, boots, turtlenecks, all of it! 


2. I love pink accessories, but do not not own any pink clothing. 


3. My favorite stores are JCrew, Anthropologie, Gap, Banana Republic.


4. I currently have three monogrammed items on my desk, whoops. 


5. Navy blue is definitely my color. 


6. My co-worker points out every time I wear a shirt/sweater/jacket with ruffles on it. It happens many times a week.


7. I LOVE CARDIGANS! I have so many, they are such a staple in my wardrobe. I can throw them on with just about anything. 

Thanks for the award Heidi! 

Holy Friday, Batman!

The always wonderful Kate is hosting a giveaway! The winner will receive a monogrammed scarf from Marley Lilly! Check out their website for tons of adorable monogrammed goodies. 

We made it, another week under our belts! Cannot even believe that Thanksgiving is in two weeks! What I really can't believe is how fast 2010 has gone by, but that is a whole post for a later day. 

A little something funny for your Friday...

  

I purchased the Boscia Black Mask a few weeks and this stuff is really great! Figured I would join in the fun and post a picture of me using it.

And now for something sad... 

That would be my refrigerator.... Looking pretty collegiately empty I would say. I hate grocery shopping, I have been putting it off all week, but I think I have finally reached the end of the line. To the grocery store I go this evening. 

Happy Friday everyone, hope your weekends are fun and also relaxing!

bulletproof.

*Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served, continue to serve, and will serve in the future. Yesterday was the Marine Corps birthday so I called my dad to wish him a Happy 235th, he looks good for his age I must say!

*The CMAs were on last night and they certainly did not disappoint. If you are not a country music fan, then I can honestly say that I feel sort of bad for you. I like all types of music, with the exception of hardcore screamo rock like Korn and company, but I really LOVE country. I have been to a bunch of concerts back home, and the genre is so full of heart and it really just makes you feel good. Granted I know that the real twangy stuff isn't for everyone, but I think country has definitely become more mainstream through out the years. Some die hard fans might think that is a bad thing, but I just look at it as country now reaching a bigger audience, a broader musical spectrum. Carrie, Brad, Miranda, Blake, Dierks, Tim.. I just love them all. If I am in the car and I set my iPod on genre, my country playlist can take me through every range of emotions and experiences. I think thats what music is really all about.

*Trainer kicked my butt last night, but I am excited about the prospect of a leaner and meaner me. He said I am definitely aware of how to work out, I just need some guidance. {Duhhh, I have known this for years I was just too busy eating and drinking my way through college to worry about it.}

*Not totally thrilled with my RueLaLa purchases {that is definitely the curse of the final sale}. The shirt is definitely for warmer weather so I will stow it away in my closet for a nice spring/summer day. I think I can make the jacket work, so we will see. Also received my new flat iron {hallelujah!} along with a free mini {literally minuscule} travel iron for my purchase of $75. That special is going on through tomorrow so if you are in the market for a new one, head over to Folica.com.

*Being without my laptop for the last two weeks, I have spent less time on Facebook and I don't miss it all that much. The new friendship page is just  a bit too much.

*Tomorrow is Friday, in case you were unaware. Bring on the weekend!

The hills are alive...

After watching the entire cast of The Sound of Music reunite for the first time in 45 years on the Oprah show a few weeks ago, I have definitely been in the spirit. I can't wait to get my hands on the anniversary DVD. I love everything about that movie. I also just bought the soundtrack on iTunes. 25 songs for $9.99, what could be better? 

I didn't even realize that Christopher Plummer, who played Captain von Trapp, was in The Last Station, with Helen Mirren {the goddess herself} and James McAvoy {who I have the biggest crush on}. I borrowed the movie from a co-worker and I have to say I enjoyed it. For those of you who don't know it is the story of the last year of Leo Tolstoy's life. Both Plummer and Mirren were heavily nominated for these roles.

Speaking of movies, there are so many new ones that I am dying to see! First, Morning Glory with Rachel McAd*ams, which comes out today. I think she is such a class act {as opposed to her train wreck of a Mean Girls co-star}. I also love Diane Kea*ton so this movie is a home run for me.

I also cannot wait to see Love and Other Drugs. I love me some Jake and Anne, so the two of them together will be a great on screen duo. Not that Jake asked my opinion, but I really hope he is NOT dating Tay*lor Swif*t. I don't want him to turn into the subject of one of her sad, juvenile love songs. {Apologies to the die-hard Swift fans, I used to love her, but lately I just feel like she whines about everything, all. the. time.}

How about you? Anything on your must see list? I might be the only person on the planet who isn't counting down the milliseconds to the Harry Potter release. I admit, I never read any of the books. Still be my friend?

Also, trying to plan something fun for a giveaway. I have wanted to host one since the inception of this little blog of mine, so maybe once I get to 75 followers? That sounds like a good benchmark.

C-A-P-S!

I don't know if I have I expressed it before but I absolutely LOVE hockey. I am the farthest thing from athletic that you will ever encounter, but I love going to sporting events, hockey being my favorite. I have been to tons of games. I love how fast paced it is and I love a good fight. I am borderline obsessed with Mighty Ducks (the greatest sports trilogy ever to grace this planet) as well as Miracle. Herb Brooks is definitely the man. I don't just love any old hockey team though, I love love love the Washin*gton Capita*ls! So tonight, I will be here...

cheering on Ovechkin and the boys to {hopefully} a victory over the Rangers!

My friend E and I will be going to a yummy dinner at Seven and then heading over to the game. It should be a great night. I haven't decided if I want to bust out my Capitals gear or not... don't want to get into any trouble with the home fans.

Currently...

*Stole this idea from the fabulous Christine, hopefully she doesn't mind!

reading: Unbearable Lightness by Porta de Rossi. I am about a third of the way through and it is truly an enlightening story.

buying: a new shirt for my Saturday night outing this weekend, a black sequined sweater from Forever 21, and anxiously awaiting its arrival on my doorstep.

listening to: The Fray, 2AM Club, Ellie Goulding

eating: Lemon Zest Luna bars, perfect on the go breakfast.  

wearing: super comfy tshirt I scooped up from the bookstore in College Town, PA last weekend, UGG slippers, lots of scarves

watching: Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy, The Good Guy (a movie I had never heard of with Alexis Bledel and Bryan Greenberg who I have the biggest crush on), Brothers and Sisters

anticipating: starting sessions with my trainer this week since he had to reschedule from Friday, going home for the Thanksgiving holiday, my mom apparently has some sort of surprise because she hurried off the phone the other day saying if she talked to me any longer she might spill the beans. Very rarely am I surprised because I am so particular with things, so I can't even begin to guess what she is talking about!

beginning: a new, healthier way of living, a chapter in my life where I am trying to cut down on the negativity both from myself and from others.

It's Today!

Congratulations all, we made it through another week! I arrived at work this morning to no phone and no internet connection. It is amazing how much we rely on technology, because I was at a total stand still. I was able to spit out a few calculations with Excel but then every program I needed or report I had to complete required the power of the interwebs. But now we are back up and running, and it is time for my lunch break blog post. I can feel the excitement just radiating out of all of you {I wonder if there is even enough to quantify an ALL of you}. As I was getting ready this morning I had a fun idea for a post, or rather I stole a fun idea for a post from Jackie over at Sweetie Pie Style, whose blog I am newly following and loving. She did a week of showcasing different reader's vanities, as well as her own. Love the fact that we have the the same Keep Calm and Carry On poster in a white frame above our towel racks. Great minds think alike! I decided I wanted to share my vanity with you all on this less-than-great-weather-outside-semi-gloomy November Friday! 

*Don't mind the Blackberry quality pictures! :)

 


So here it is, not so much a vanity I would say, but my girly little corner atop my dresser. This dresser sits in between two windows so I have a nice view as I get ready in the morning. The mirror perfume tray was my grandmother's. It used to be in their bathroom and I always remember looking at it and playing with the fancy perfume bottles when we would go visit. I am glad that I now have it to remind me of her. I hope I am not the only one who uses various perfumes at the same time {not the same day, I just mean that I rotate depending upon how I feel in the morning}. I definitely change them with the seasons, and my favorite right now is Twirl by Kate Spade. Also, the charcoal sketch from Venice hanging above the dresser was my grandparent's. It hung in their den amongst some other pictures of their travels, but this one was always my favorite. Another treasured piece. And of course, my monogrammed jewelry box. My sister and I received matching ones last year for Chrismakkuh. I believe my mom purchased them from Pottery Barn. The etching in the glass is hard to see from here, but its there I promise!

Of course my bathroom is filled to the brim with face, hair, and nail products, but I really appreciate the simplicity of this little slice of my apartment. 

Only a few more hours separating us from the weekend! Anyone have anything fun planned? Not too sure what I am going to do tonight after my first session with my trainer, fingers crossed that he doesn't kick my butt too much! Or maybe that is what I should be hoping for? ;)

Puddles.

It is a very rainy Thursday over here. How about where you are? It is days like these when all I want to do is to curl up in some comfy clothes with a blanket and a good book. Last night, I purchased Portia's book that I mentioned a few posts ago. I started it a little bit, but was too tired last night to read too much. Even just the prologue was very striking and deep, so I am looking forward to hearing her story.


Made a few snap decisions yesterday in the form of Rue La La purchases, a shirt and jacket from the always fab Michael Kors. Both great pieces at great prices, so I am pleased with myself {unless they don't fit.. and because they are final sale, I will be bummed}. 

Cute, yes?

So far this week I have gone to the gym every night and I am already feeling better. A good friend of mine told me earlier this year that she just got to the point where she had to make working out a part of her routine, and I have liked my routine the past couple of days, and intend to stick with it. Granted I am pretty sore since I made a big leap from essentially no physical activity. I was going to take last night off but my new gym friend sent me a text saying she was there so I went as well. I walk to my gym so I really have zero excuses for not going. I am going to take tonight off since I am meeting my trainer tomorrow. I caught a glimpse of him in passing last night and am now a little nervous/intimidated. 

I can't recall if I shared this with you all before but my favorite girls got me the cutest gift for my birthday back in August. They know that I love anything with my monogram on it, so they got me this adorable desk calendar. Little did they know that I had been eying it myself for a while! Each month is printed on a different patterned card stock. I love the pink and orange for November. I want to try and come up with something clever to do with them once the month is over, any ideas??

You can purchase one for yourself, or for someone else, from Dabney Lee, along with other adorable goodies. {Lucite stand included!}

We are so close to the weekend, yay! Hope your days are going smoothly, and that you are having much dryer weather than me!

Ouch.

Moving a little slowly around these parts today. Went to my first spin class ever last night and my nether regions are not happy. That bike seat is killer. But I have never sweat more in my life so I think I will try and stick with it. My body must have been invaded by aliens because I decided to go to Zumba about 15 minutes after spin class but I could only make it through about 3/4 of the class because I hadn't had dinner and I was exhausted. But I am meeting with my trainer for the first time on Friday so I am excited about that! He sounded mildly attractive on the phone, so that is a plus!

As a bit of a disclaimer to yesterday's post, I don't mean to sound so self loathing and pathetic. I am fully aware that being in a relationship doesn't complete me, which is something that I think a lot of girls have a problem with. They constantly go from one relationship to the next because they feel like their sole purpose in life is to be somebody's girlfriend. I don't mean to offend those girls, but that is not who I am. I don't need to be someone's girlfriend, I have gotten to the point in my life where its simply something that I want. And I fully understand the 'It will happen when you least expect it' mindset, but I am just impatient. I am the girl that quits eating healthy after a few days because I didn't instantly lose weight {which is obviously the most ridiculous statement ever, but its how I operate, or how I used to operate}. I am all about the quick fix and that obviously never works.

In other news, I absolutely love Oprah. I think she is just the greatest. My DVR has become my best friend for the sole reason that I can record Oprah everyday and come home and wind my day down with her. I am so sad that this is her last season, although girlfriend launching her network soon which is going to be awesome, in my opinion. R*ick*y Mar*tin was on yesterday and I have not watched the episode yet, but I saw from previews that he will be talking about his decision to come out. I for one was not surprised by this in the least, as I am sure many of you weren't either. I am happy that he was finally able to be true to himself but I still can't quit wrap my head around his choice of words when he said "I am a fortunate, gay man." To me that sounds like he is implying that other gay men are less fortunate? I may be reading too much into it but yes, we know you are wealthy, and now we also know you are gay, but those two characteristics seem really unrelated in my opinion. But then again, just my opinion. I will have to watch the episode and maybe get some insight.

Happiest of Wednesdays to you all! We are half way through the week!

Oh hey, November!

Is it really November? Wow. My reader is full as a result of my laptop being away at the computer doctor. I was changing the sheets on my bed {yet another domestic failure on my part, should have just gone to sleep instead of deciding that the sheets needed to be switched} so I put my laptop on the floor, took my duvet off the bed and put it on said laptop, and in a split second forgot about the location of the laptop and heard a loud CRUNCHITY CRUNCH. The screen is shattered, but its only two months old and I purchased the accident protection when I bought it so I should have it back soon. 

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was eventful but also enlightening I would say. A weekend full of some old chapters in my life that I am looking to just close for good. I went back to my college for homecoming and it was really great to see everyone. A lot of the girls from my sorority that graduated two years before me where there and I hadn't seen a lot of them in ages. But then again, it was sort of odd to feel like an outsider at a place that only 5 months ago had been my home. I know that I am taking so many great things away from college: my education, so many good experiences {many of which I cannot remember}, and great friends, but I don't think I need to be going back there again anytime soon. It was also poor planning on the school's part for Halloween and Homecoming weekend to coincide. Just saying.

This past week, my therapist and I discussed how I will know when I am OK, what it even means to be OK, and how I will know if/when I don't need to be in therapy anymore. And I think that is the million dollar question in my life presently. Being not OK has become the norm in my life for SO long, that its almost comforting. Holding onto the weight or holding onto the fear of giving up the excuse is the name of the game for me. What happens when I study until my eyes fall out and I can't pass this exam that I need to make a CAREER out of what I am currently doing? Then I have to reevaluate my career choice. What happens if I am in the best shape of my life, feeling and looking great and physically fit, and I am still single? Then what is wrong with me? I know that there are people who are bigger than me that are loved and in happy, healthy relationships, so there has got to be something else that I am doing wrong or that I need to work on. So the moral of this tale is that I think I have forgotten what being OK feels like. I want to get back there, but I have to first let go of all the excuses and the what-ifs. I was watching Opra*h yesterday and Por*tia De*Rossi was on talking about her book that comes out today. She says the book is for anyone who has ever struggled with their body image, which would be me to an exact tee. She had a lot of smart things to say on the show, so I think I will try and snag a copy soon. 

I feel like I am on the verge of being a great version of myself. Not to say that this version doesn't have its redeeming qualities, but as of lately I have just found myself being snappy with people and frustrated easily, essentially swirling in some sort of bitch spiral. I know that when I am upset with myself and how I am feeling that reflects in my attitude towards others and that isn't fair. But I am learning finally that Rome definitely wasn't built in a day, and I am taking baby steps and small goals to get to a better place.