Bling Bling and Southern Swing

Please, please pray

2010-05-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I even have many readers, but if you do happen to read or randomly stop by today, please don't overlook this post. Nashville needs your prayers.

As you may or may not know, I live in Nashville, and we experienced one of the worst floods on record over this past weekend. Most areas of middle TN got between 13-18 inches of water in a 24-hour period.

Fortunately, I was blessed in that the flood waters did not reach my house. Just a mile down the street from me though, peoples' homes were covered in water, roads were completely washed away, and businesses were forced to shut down.

A lot of Nashville residents are comparing the floods to Katrina...that may be a little extreme, but I will say one thing that a lot of people do not realize, and that is that most of these flood victims do not have flood insurance; no one has had a need for it - until now, when the need is exuberant. Therefore, when you hear on the news that a certain Nashville resident has lost his or her home, that is the absolute truth. In that respect, I do believe this flood event is as grave as Katrina.

I have so many friends and loved ones, members of my church family, co-workers, fellow law students, etc that have been affected by this catastrophe. I know people who have lost their homes, who can't get into their homes and are staying in hotels and shelters, who have lost pets, cars, furniture, and even family members.

I am fully aware that we as a nation have a lot of things going on right now with the oil spill and healthcare reform and the attempted bombing in Times Square. However, a devastating event like this that happens right in your back yard will really wake you up. I am still searching for ways to make myself useful in this situation, and I hope to be able to provide some form of aid to at least one of these victims very soon. Until I figure out just what I can physically do, I can only offer my prayers for all of the victims. I think that may actually be what they need most.

Please, even if you don't have the time/energy/money to provide some form of relief, just pray. Trust me, everyone in this area will be grateful you did.

Rants and Ramblings

2010-04-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

Rant # 1. It was/is waaay too cold outside today to be April 27th. This is Nashville, not North Dakota. Where the heck is the warm weather?

Rant # 2. As of late, this army of strange insects has been lurking around my yard, just waiting for me to open my door so they can fly in to my lovely and preferably insect-free home. These bugs resemble mosquitos, but I think they only look like mosquitos, as I have yet to show any trace of mosquito bites. Usually, those things are drawn to me like I am drawn to the nearest mall. The only comical part of this is that Stella (my pit bull) has observed me trying to kill these bugs and has decided to help me in my endeavors. She has made somewhat of a game out of jumping into the air and catching these bugs in her mouth with one fell swoop of her giant pit head. Good dog.

Rant # 3. I spent practically my entire weekend (other than that one night that i might have ventured out to Taco Mamacita with the bf for a tasty mojito) writing my trial brief, which I had to do in lieu of a final in-class exam. The idea sounded nice at the time, but I must have forgotten my procrastination habits. It. was. miserable. The bright side: two finals down, two to go, and then I am officially a 2L!! :)

Really Long Rant # 4. Sooo, my mom teaches an inner city ministry class at the church that my family attends. I taught the class with her for a couple of years, but the class meets on Monday nights, which now conflicts with law school. Boo. Anyway, she and another lady have been teaching the class this entire school year. My mom loves the fact that she has the oldest girls (ages 12-14) in her class, as she feels that they are the most capable of being influenced for the better, especially with a lot of the temptations that they face (I know age 12 sounds young, but it's not in the area that these girls live).

When I helped teach the class, I constantly had to remind myself that although these girls are 12 and 13 years old, they have almost certainly seen more in their 12 years of life than I have at double their age. These precious girls don't need to sit and down and be lectured, nor they need to have Bible verses spoon-fed to them. They do not respond well to that. What they need most is a friend. A role model. A mentor. An example...someone to love on them, to listen not talk, to hug, to just be there.

Admittedly, we liked to have fun in our class. Perhaps a little too much fun (the Cupid Shuffle may or may not have been performed on occasion), but our motto was, if it's getting these girls off the streets and surrounded by good, caring people in a good environment, it's beneficial.

Well, things have apparently changed, as I learned from talking to my mom today. I could tell that she was miffed about something, but i had no idea what, until she broke into her rant about last night's class. Evidently, some of the teachers approached her (let me add that these are teachers who are frustrated that they only have 3 girls in their class because all of the girls prefer my mom's class) and said that they had a problem with her "teaching style." More specifically, they felt the need to complain to my mom about the fact that she brings candy to them, which they labeled as "bribery." Excuse me? This is not politics. This is people volunteering their Monday nights during the school year to teach these precious, fabulous, underprivileged children with the hope of making just a small impact on their lives. It gets worse...

Following the "bribery" nonsense, another lady graciously offered her two cents by saying, "Yeah, are you even a teacher?" I know my mom was probably biting her tongue at this point. However, being the respectable woman that she is, she calmly responded that, while she may not sit the girls around a table and teach them a Bible lesson, she talks to them about practical, real-life situations that they either are or will be confronted with, and she offered the example of the proper way to act on a first date...

Well, the comment that really crossed the line was made by the same old biotch that accused my mom of bribery. She said, "I mean, you don't think these girls actually date in the projects, do you?" W.T.F. ?!? I could brush off the other comments as just being the product of narrow, ignorant minds, but this went far beyond that realm. I was absolutely speechless when my mom told me what that old bitty said.

I will be the first to admit that my mom is a far better person than I am. For instance, if that comment would have been made to or even within earshot of me, I would have said "You're exactly right that the girls in your class won't date, because you don't have enough faith in them, nor do you have enough common sense to teach them any different." Better yet, I would have gone straight up Jerry Springer on her ass and given her a swift kick into the church parking lot. I'm not above a girl fight. You better not mess with my mama, but you're a fool if you mess with this girl. :)

Finals: Day One

2010-04-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

You know the feeling you get when you wake up and realize that today you have to make a presentation in front of 15 executives? Or 5 minutes before you walk in to a job interview? Well, take that feeling, multiply in by 10,000, and that is me today.

You see, tonight at 6:00, I embark on the final leg of my journey through the first year of law school, and what better way to start things off than with a Contracts final that contributes to no less than 80% of my grade. And I thought the midterm was a monster...pshhh. I would give anything to take that midterm again.

As my friend MC and I were discussing various contract theories such as the doctrine of promissory estoppel, the necessity for the statute of frauds, and a party's options following anticipatory repudiation (don't I sound smart?), we both realized that we have come a LONG way since that 10th day in August when we sat in the auditorium as mere peons before our professors...when we didn't even know what a "tort" was...when the concept of unjust enrichment seemed too difficult to ever grasp...when the road toward second year was set before us - winding, rough, and...okay, you get the point.

Well, it was on this fateful day that MC and I also assumed the role of fashionistas of the 1L class. That's right, ladies (and gentlemen?) we have the highly esteemed (self-appointed) honor of being the law school fashion police, and believe me...it is NOT an easy job. To make my case, I offer up evidence of the fashion felonies that we witness on a daily basis.

A "quiet" day for the fashion police consists of the perpetration of various misdemeanors such as wearing white linen pants after Labor Day (we issued multiple citations for this one), toting zebra print bags while donning leopard print tops (I detest mixing and matching animal prints), etc.

However, on those raucous days when the 1L's become a little too expressive, MC and I have a full docket. We witness lace mixed with neon, floral prints that look like your grandma's curtains reincarnated, Japanese cartoon logos, and the list goes on. Not to mention the trucker hats and man purses that infest the classrooms like the sketchballs fill the courthouse on order of protection day. Honestly, I wouldn't put anything past these fashion felons.

Don't you worry though...out of the kindness of our hearts, MC and I offer free fashion advice to those multiple offenders who are plagued by colorblind-ness, mis-match disorder, and a sheer lack of taste. We even bestow good graces upon those who commit intentional crimes of fashion with the requisite mental culpability.

Please do not mistake our kidness as a lack of care. While we prefer to stay away from retribution, we will always offer what I like to think of as "Fashion Rehab" where we introduce these multiple offenders to foreign concepts such as "simple is best," "go easy on the plaid," "polka dots in moderation", and many others.

Bottom line: with such a great injustice at stake in the fashion world, we are just doing our job the best we know how. Who else is going to make sure that higher education and fashion are not mutually exclusive?

Pardon my ignorance...

2010-04-16T07:41:00.001-07:00

While perusing the internet over lunch yesterday, I came across a term that was foreign to me...the "bumpit". After questioning a wide variety of people - male and female, fashionable and unfashionable, gossipers and wallflowers - I soon realized I was in the minority on this "trend", if you can even call it such.

Even my boyfriend, who, bless his heart, has a fondness for cargo shorts and often wears long-sleeved white t-shirts under polos (that was very hard for me to type...we are working on his sense of style) was familiar with the term. Shocking. To supplement my understanding, he offered the example of Snookie on the Jersey Shore. I immediately lost interest in the conversation.

You see, I am not an advocate of this Jersey Shore business. In all fairness, I have actually never watched a full episode and hope to goodness that my life does not become so monotonous that I am forced to succumb to frivolous television. On a sidenote, I do not lump "The Bachelor" into the frivolous category. That is TV at it's finest and I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

Back to Jersey Shore...call me cooky, but I think that 30 minutes (I guess that's how long the show lasts - surely it's not an hour?) featuring raging meatheads, guidos, guidettes, fake bakes and general trashy nonsense is absolute wasted space. Furthermore, if I wanted to watch this Snookie character and her "bumpit", I could get in my car and drive to second avenue, where I would encounter no less than 200 highly intoxicated, overly tan, loud, obnoxious girls sauntering around in their pleather/sequined/mesh concoctions that they have stuffed their bodies into - muffin top and all. No. Thank. You.

As far as bumpits are concerned, I have decided that I am indifferent. Admittedly, I do like big hair. After all, I am a southern girl; it is therefore inherent from birth that I will exhaust an entire can of hairspray in one night if that's what it takes to prolong the volume. However, since I am not a Snookie supporter, I have an automatic aversion to any resemblance thereof. What are your thoughts on this anomaly that is "the bumpit"?

TLC

2010-04-13T18:55:00.000-07:00

This officially stands for Tebow love and care. Let me explain. So, if any of you read one of my recent posts, you may remember me mentioning that I broke my ankle about two months ago. I wish I could tell you that I broke it during a ski trip or doing something at least half-way daring, but no...I was working out. Actually, I could argue that that in itself is daring, but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, I was working out at my gym in a small community south of Nashville, and this gym is no YMCA. It's a training complex that Peyton Manning started several years ago to help build talent among future star athletes. If you're wondering how the heck I would fit into that category, stop. I don't. I just wanted to get my butt in shape when I moved back from college a couple of years ago, so I signed up for the boot camp class at this gym. Honestly, I swear by their classes, as I can go for one hour and burn almost 900 calories. NO. JOKE. If you are like me and love you some good southern food, then you find this method of burning calories to be far superior than dieting. I can say with confidence that I was in the best shape of my life until about two months ago when I broke my ankle. I won't tell you how I did it because you will think that I am the most uncoordinated person on the planet. It was just one of those days. I will tell you, however, that I fell on my a** in front of approximately ten NFL hopefuls that happened to be training for the Combine at my gym that morning .

Before you start feeling too sorry for me, let me get back to the Tebow comment. Yes, Timmy happens to be among the Combine athletes that have been training at this gym. As fate would have it, the doctor that performed the surgery to put my bone back in place referred me to the physical therapist whose office is in the same complex as my gym. Well, I walked into physical therapy a few days ago, and who do I see sitting there? Timmy and his super fine brother. What a scene. Poor Timmy had a problem with his shoulder and he was seeing my therapist. I actually had about a 5-second conversation with him that was the best part of my day/week/year. I could tell you about how he asked me for a recommendation on local restaurants and how he asked me to come with them, but then I would be totally lying. That's how the conversation went when I dreamed about it that night.

I Have a PROBLEM...

2010-04-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

With swimwear. What's new? I don't have body image issues, but I do have issues with the way certain bathing suits look on my body. I mean, some bathingsuits just should not be made or sold to anyone other than Lindsay Lohan or the Olsen Twins. I hope you know what genre I am speaking of. Even on the days I am feeling super-skinny, I can try on one of these suits, and boom...my confidence is shot.

Prime example: I stopped by Target after work yesterday evening to look at their swimsuits. (I get ALL of my swimsuits at Target after ordering one too many from V.S. only to find - surprise - it only covers 1/8 of my rear end. Reallllly? I digress.) Now don't get me wrong...Target generally has a great selection, and I can almost always find something I like. However, the problem that I have is that the cutest options, in my opinion, are all the same style - the bandeau-like top that makes my already flat chest look like the chest of a twelve-year-old boy. Ugh. Here is an example of the style I am talking about:

As much as I despise Heidi Montaug and all of her fakeness, the image of me in this style of bathingsuit is enough to send anyone straight to the operating table for implants. Okay, obviously I am exaggerating a tad, but please...come out with some cute "triangle" tops that don't feature skulls and crossbones or scream "I heart Avril Lavigne and all things punk." Please.

Hats at horse races?

2010-03-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

I want your opinion. Now, keep in mind we're not talking the Derby. I'm merely attending Steeplechase (the Nashville version). I've got some time to debate, but I am trying to decide whether to make my dress selection based on what it would look like with a hat. I know that hats may be an essential part of Derby attire, but you don't see so many at Steeplechase. My personal opinion? Love them. Steeplechase is the only time of year I can get away with wearing some odd monstrosity on my head...and getting compliments on it...so I tend to think why not wear one?

I think a hat like the one below is fabulous:

This next one, on the other hand, looks like a Tommy Bahama accessory from my grandfather's closet:

Clearly, there is the right way to do a hat and the absolute wrong way to do a hat. I will aim to look like picture #1. I'll take her hair and her body too, please. :)

Here is a pic of me (on the right) and two girlfriends at last year's Steeplechase. It had rained the night before/morning of, which made for a complete mess, translated: drunken mud fest. I was wearing a hat initially...until it blew off and into a mud puddle. My poor hat did not last very long. Hopefully I will have better luck this year.

2010-03-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have one of those days where you can't stop eating? Yeah, this is one of those days. Unforunately, I can't justify my junk food intake with a run at the gym since I broke my ankle...I'll explain in a later post. Until then, there's birthday cake in the break room that's calling my name. :)

Spring/summer dresses

2010-03-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

So I don't know about ya'll, but I am feeling the one-shoulder dresses for this season. I see a purchase in my near future. One look I have yet to make up my mind about is the 80's-style floral patterns that are back, like PIPM talked about. I could maybe do something like this:

I think this dress would be super cute with some strappy heels like these:

What are your thoughts on the one-shoulder look? And do I dare ask about the small floral patterns? In my opinion, they are okay in moderation. You would under no circumstance see me rockin' a maxi dress with an 80's floral design. Maxi dress + 5'3" tall = yuck. Now if I do happen to run accross a cute little mini dress like the one above, I might just have to fork over the cash. :)

A New - And Improved - BBSS

2010-03-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

Lest you all thought I fell off the face of the Earth...I am back!!! I have kept up the reading of my favorite blogs, but so much has been going on in my life lately (i.e. the past 2 years!) that it just got the best of me. So, to give you a ~2 minute rundown of the past two years, here you go:

1. Out with the old, in with the new: New boyfiend (yay!), new house (yay unless you catch me on the day I'm making my mortgage payment :) new job (yay?)

2. I'm still a student...no, not a college student - those days are long gone, sadly. I am oficially a law student, with almost one year under my belt, I might add. Yes, I said I have a job too; yes, balancing school and a full time job is miz. Yes, it will all be worth it some day...at least that's what I keep telling myself. And you wonder why I have not posted in ages...

3. Still the same...in most ways: I still love fashion, family, and friends; I'm still living in the south. Did I just say that as though I would actually move away?!? While many things remain the same, I would like to think that I have wisened up in more ways than one over the past two years. For instance, I have realized that some things I thought were so important in college were really just trivial . Case in point: pleasing everyone. It's impossible, so why even try? More importantly, I have learned the value of meaningful friendships. It's amazing how quickly you can grow apart from people you spent almost everyday with in college. True friends don't stop calling just because they move to different states, get married, or become too busy. Unfortunately, I have experienced that. However, that makes me appreciate my best girlfriends so much more. Finally, I have learned that I don't need to be married at age 24 to be happy. Yes, most of my friends from high school and college are married or engaged. Me? Not so much. I knew it would be hard moving back to my hometown where most of my married friends live, and at one time, I began to envy them and to think that I needed to be in a serious relationship and start planning my wedding. Well, that happened. No, I didn't get engaged, but it got close to that point. The result? I finally realized that I just happened to be the girl he started dating when he wanted to get serious. It wasn't just me that was "the one." Any girl he had started dating at that point would have been the "right" one. That is not at all how it is supposed to happen. As a result of that relationship, I have learned not to force "future" stuff. Yes, it is tempting still at times. (Hello, I am a girl!) It's especially tempting now that I'm in a great relationship. However, I have learned to just be content to be in such a good relationship with such a great person, and to forget all else. It's not worth it to spend your time wishing/hoping/dreaming about an engagement, wedding, etc. I can just enjoy the person I'm with and know that the happiness that comes from that will only build a stronger bond. Wow, I sound like I'm on something. Time to stop being all sentimental.

So now that my 2 minute update turned into a bit of a saga, you know the "new" me. I can't wait to get back to blogging! Happy Friday!! I hope all of you ladies have a great weekend!

Ramblings

2008-06-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

New favorite show (besides Army Wives): Design Star on HGTV. Love. It. Although, in tonight's episode, I was rather disappointed with all of the designs. They had so much to work with, but they just didn't take advantage, in my opinion. Maybe I'm partial because they're filming in Nashville this season :) And maybe I should just forget about law school and become an interior designer. Sounds like a good plan to me.

Oh, and did any of y'all watch Extreme Home Makeover??? (Can you tell I got my TV fix for today?) If so, did you get as emotional as I did? The tears were definitely flowing.

Tomorrow is a monumental occasion. I am starting to work out with a trainer--yikes! I figure since I am doing absolutely nothing, I might as well get my rear in shape. Pilates just isn't beneficial when you eat a pint of Hagen-Daas chocolate choc. chip ice cream afterward. One major plus is that my trainer is H.O.T. Great, now I really have to try haha. I will update you on my endeavors in fitness later tomorrow. Hope you all had great weekends!!

Facebook = Death

2008-06-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

Let me be the first to say that I DO have a facebook account. I have made many attempts to de-activate it, but I just can't bring myself to do it for good. Well, today, in the midst of my boredom, I signed on to the ole' FB and decided to take a look at the bf's profile to see what was going on. Much to my dismay, the first wall post that I see is from some little bia--we'll refer to her as anonymous skank--that says, "Thank you so much for escorting me through the mud last night. You are a true gentleman." I know, I know...pretty innocent; however, a post like that does not sit well with me when I haven't seen the bf in almost a month, and we only talk about once each day. Does said skank know that bf is actually a bf, meaning NOT SINGLE? Does said skank know that I am willing and able to kick her fat rear end? Okay, mine may be larger, but who's comparing?? From my point of view, if I can't hang out with him, I don't think other girls should be hanging out with him :) Maybe that's selfish, but I don't really care. I wish the bf would be the "true gentleman" that he apparently is and come visit me in Nashville, but it doesn't appear as if that's going to be happening anytime soon. To get to my point (at last), my hatred for facebook is growing stronger every day, and I WILL soon delete my account! I would have been better off just not hearing about anonymous skank's little rendezvous with the bf...thank you, facebook.

Annoying part of the day #2:
I get a text from my ex bf, and here is how our conversation went...
Ex: "Need an estimate. If my brother lives off of the Old Hickory Blvd. exit of 65, how long will it take me to get to Broadway?"
Me: "15 minutes?"
Ex: "So too long for me to drive home if I've been out at the bars?"
Me: "Umm, yes." (Dumb***!)
Ex: "Ok."
About 15 minutes elapses, and I assume, as most people probably would, that the conversation is over. Then I get this text...
Ex: "Bachelor party. Stripers and all that."
I choose to remain silent, in order to avoid sending an extremely rude and distatsteful response.
Do I really give a rat's behind if you're going to a bachelor party and there are going to be strippers? Heck no, buddy.
So I have my ex bf who is annoying the living you-know-what out of me, and I have the bf, who is presently avoiding me like the plague (maybe that's an exaggeration)...marvellous.

Seriously?

2008-06-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

So, as I was relaxing at the pool in the country club where my dad plays golf earlier, I was also doing some major people-watching, and I see a family walking into the pool: a dad, a cute little girl who unfortuately had really REALLY short bangs laying across her forehead in an umbrella shape (beside the point), two boys, and then, most importantly, bringing up the rear, was the mother, donning a hideous MULLET, eerily similar to the one pictured below. Now, mullets are never ever okay, even as a joke, but, until today, I had not yet had the experience of seeing a mullet on a thirty/forty-something WOMAN! Seriously, lady, you live in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Nashville; you and your husband have the privilege of venturing out to the pool on a random weekday; you are members at a very nice country club...so why not use some of that money you are obviously making and invest in a new hairstyle, preferably out of the mullet arena?

permullet:
A mullet that has been specially treated with a permanent. This primping of the mullethead's plumage means that the subject takes great pride in his her lifestyle.

Lilly Fans, You MUST Have This!!!

2008-06-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

You need to get to the nearest Swoozie's (hopefully you have a Swoozie's!) immediately and pick up this book. It's basically Lilly Pulitzer's guide to having parties and entertaining guests in your home. SOOO fabulous! And very reasonably priced, at 30 bucks. Not only does it contain great ideas, but it can also be a cute addition to your coffee table!

Swoozie's also had some pink and green napkins that had "S.L.U.T.S." printed on them in bold pink font. Beneath that, it said "Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress." I couldn't agree more.

Too bad I didn't think of this myself...

2008-06-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

Do any of y'all share the obsession that I have with headbands? I used to hate them because I had long, curly hair, but, after getting my hair chopped, headbands are my go-to accessory, especially headbands from J.Crew!! (Um, duh!) My one problem: I don't have a convenient place to store them. Well, I was in JC the other day, and, as I was checking out, the lady that was helping me said, "Did you take a look at our headbands? They're an extra 25% off!" I couldn't decide whether to hug her or slap her for saying that...as if I don't already have enough!! I told her that I already had so many I didn't know what to do with them. So then she gave me this fabulous idea...She told me that her friend, who also has a ton of them, wanted to store them somewhere in sight (because they are sooo cute!), so she got a large clear glass jar/vase to set out in her bathroom to serve as headband storage. So clever! Seriously, their headbands are so bright and colorful that they shouldn't be shoved in a drawer out of sight. You better believe that I began my search for a pretty glass container earlier this weekend. Target has a few, as well as Pottery Barn, but I didn't feel like paying $50 for one, so I stopped by TJ Maxx today to find a collection of glass vases, and I picked one up for 9 bucks. My headbands are currently looking very cute in their new container, sitting on my bathroom counter. However, the jar isn't quite full, so do you know where I am headed tomorrow??? J.Crew

Tagged

2008-06-12T10:57:00.001-07:00

I was tagged by Well I Do Declare. Here goes the routine:

1. I don't eat milk in my cereal. It's not that I don't like milk, it's just that soggy cereal makes me gag. If I'm eating good cereal, like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, I just eat it plain. If I'm eating healthy cereal, though, I usually mix it with yogurt.

2. I have had many encounters with famous people. For instance, my mom is friends with Faith Hill. Granted, they are not bff's or anything, but still. Faith and Tim (aka my lover) used to live in my neighborhood. He used to wave at me when he passed me while I was running. He pretty much wants me ;) When I was a freshman in HS, I met the Backstreet Boys...all of them...and got hugs...from all of them. I've also met Jason Priestly from 90210 (Hush!), as well as Anthony Edwards. If that last name doesn't ring a bell, he was on E.R., and, most importantly, he was "Goose" from Top Gun. Oh, and did I mention that I have kissed Justin Timberlake? Yeah, I'm totally kidding about that last one, but the others are all true.

3. I had heart surgery when I was 13. I have always been pretty active, and in middle school and high school, I cheered and danced. During 7th grade cheerleading tryouts, I was rushed to the ER because my heart wouldn't stop racing. Turns out, my resting heart rate was 330 beats per minute...just a little bit above avergage!!! (I think it was actually a record) The doctors did all kinds of case studies on me. I had surgery a few months following that initial scare, and now I'm cured!

4. This is really random. Currently, we have a coyote problem at my parents' house. We don't live in the boonies or anything, but our house backs up to woods, and the scary things are everywhere! They've actually killed 5 0r 6 dogs in my neighborhood. We don't really have to worry about our dogs, for the most part. I think two labs and a pit bull could take a coyote. However, our oldest lab is 15, so if one caught her alone, it could be bad. Well, my brother, being the redneck that he is, or wants to be, has set out bait for the coyotes, and he has been sitting up in a tree stand because he is determined to kill one. Yeah, that's what I've got going on at my house.

5. I've never gotten a speeding ticket. Don't get me wrong, I've gotten pulled over a couple of times, but so far I've managed to talk my way out of a ticket. Now that I've jinxed myself, I'm sure I'll get one tonight.

6. I still have not seen Sex and the City. I know, go ahead and shoot me. It's on my to-do list for this weekend!!

I just realized that I was probably supposed to do the survey instead of six random facts...ooops! I'm too lazy to re-do my post, so I'm leaving it. I tag anyone who wants to share their celebrity encounters and rival mine :)

Warning: Extremely Long Post!

2008-06-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

Since I have been the absolute worst blogger ever, I feel the need to redeem myself with this long post. So, I'm back at home living with my parents, and so far, it's been ok. It's just weird being back with the fam 24/7 . My dad and brother came up to Knoxville two weekends ago to move me out of my apartment...being out of there has definitely been a big relief! I saw my roommate the Friday night before I moved out, and she was EXTREMELY rude (to put it lightly) Basically, she walked in the door while I was cleaning and my puppy, Stella, who was in the living room with me, got excited when she came in and jumped on her. I immediately went and got Stella out of the way, apologized, and all my roommate said was "God!!" (imagine a very bitchy tone of voice)...and that was the last thing she said to me. Seriously. She wasn't there when I woke up Saturday morning, so I left her a note--a pretty nice one, I might add. I apologized for any problems that Stella caused between the two of us, told her I enjoyed living there and was sorry our living situation ended on bad terms. Haven't heard a word from her since! I mean, really, can yall believe that?! Maybe I'm just overreacting. Anyway, that's in the past, and at least I left there feeling like the bigger person.

So here's what has been going on since I've moved back home, not that it's been overly exciting or anything...
I got my graduation present from my parents--two little somethings to add to my DY collection:

I couldn't find the exact pictures online, but they're close. The earrings and necklace I got don't have diamonds in the center...wishful thinking, I guess! But here's my dad at the store: "Don't you want to get something gaudy?" Me (to myself) "Ummm, yes please!!!" Then I told myself , as my mom was laughing hysterically, that my dad was pretty much clueless when it came to the price of DY jewelry, so I resisted going for the watch with the diamonds around the face :)

I've been doing my pilates video. My family finds it rather comical, but I am convinced that it's not a useless effort. I feel better afterwards, anyway, so they can just keep laughing!

I've also been spending a lot of time at the pool (Read: all day, every day, except when it rains). While I'm there, I figure I might as well try to get some benefit out of it, so I have been treading water. Sounds silly, I know, but let me tell you, it is a good workout, and it's tough! I may be setting myslef up for malignant melanomas by the ripe age of 27, but I refuse to be pale!

As of yesterday, I am on an LSAT study schedule...yuck!! Since I didn't get into my two top schools, instead of settling on another not-so-good school, I decided to take the LSAT again. When I took it before, I didn't do so hot, but I thought that my good GPA and long list of extra-curricular activities would pull me through. I thought wrong. Or maybe my LSAT score just sucked that much. I'm gonna go with the latter. My plan, as of right now, is to study all summer , take the LSAT in the fall, and go to law school next August, hopefully!

I would like to be doing some shopping, but, unfortunately, I had to spend most of my money on getting my puppy spayed. It was not a good experience for poor little Stella, nor was it a fun way to spend my graduation money.

Other than the above, I have been watching lots of HGTV and getting ideas for my future home; I've also been mastering my cooking skills. I'm making a banana pudding with moonpies instead of vanilla wafers (How southern is that?!) for my family's father's day lunch, so I'll be sure to post the recipe. It's yummy!

Workin' It Out...

2008-05-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

The title of this post has multiple meanings for me. First of all, me and the bf are going to be further apart (geographically) in about 5 days. Right now, we are an easy 3 1/2 hour drive from one another, but that is all going to change come this weekend. I'm moving out of my apartment, out of this college town, and back home (3 hrs. from here). And yes, I am moving back in with my parents. Say a little prayer for me and for them...But really, I am excited to spend some time(read: ~1 full year) with the fam., and I do LOVE my hometown. However, I do not like the fact that I will soon be an approx. 7 hour's drive from the bf. I am confident that we can make it work, though. The one problem for both of us is going to be finding the mula to spend on gas travelling back and forth. We are both sorta broke, and it doesn't help that we are getting screwed by gas prices. Oh well, like I said, we'll make it work.

Secondly, I am on a new workout plan. As of yesterday. When I went home last weekend for my friend's wedding, she looked FABULOUS, and, believe me, she has not always been the tiny person that she is now. She is short, like I am, and, although she never really had any weight to lose, she has lost pratically every inch of fat on her body. Not kidding. Therefore, she is my inspiration. When we were all questioning her about her dramatic shape-up, she was like, "I mean, I just jogged a little bit and did pilates." So simple, right? That's what I told myself. Well, yesterday, I made a trip to Target (bet you're surprised), but I had a specific goal in mind. I left with a cardio pilates video and a pilates mat. Yup, I'm official. So far, I am two for two--two days, two 45-min. workouts. I did it for the first time last night, and I was like, "Oh, piece of cake. I need a bigger challenge." I am really regretting that overly-confident statement right now. I just did the workout again, and boy was I feeling the burn. I guess that's a good thing though. My goal is to do that video 4-5 times per week, combining it with some light jogging/running--and healthy eating, but we won't talk about that right now :) Wish me luck!

Oh Happy Day

2008-05-23T16:46:00.000-07:00

I am sickly obsessed with to-do lists; I make about 5 per week, but today, I created the mother of all to-do lists, and I feel so relieved at the moment! I wrote down a list of absolutely everything that I need to do before I move next weekend, and I was happy to find that it wasn't really an unreasonable amount of stuff. Whew! Oh, and I forgot to mention that today was my last day of work. Actually, this was a really sad part of my day. I feel like I have worked at that firm for so long, and I didn't realize how close I had gotten to many people there. I probably would have cried, except for the fact that I was extremely busy the entire time, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, doing things for the attorneys. The craziness was probably for the best. If I had been sitting around doing nothing, I definitely would have gotten sad. One thing that made it EASY to leave: my ex-boyfriend. I don't think I bothered to mention that my ex, who worked with me last summer, came back to work at the law firm a couple of weeks ago. WEIRD is all I have to say. Now I am all for being mature and staying friends or being cordial at the very least, but I can't very well do that when he is bugging the living s*** out of me! Example: earlier this week, he asked me, in front of several other co-workers, I might add, if I could give him back some shirt that I didn't even know I had. Since that day, he has texted me every day, twice a day, reminding me about his shirt. In the words of Destiny's Child, that boy is a "bug-a-boo." Old school, I know. Anyway, the point of that story was...well, I don't even know anymore. Ha.

So, after I got off work, I made a trip to the outlet mall, which is about 45 minutes away (I had been up there for work anyway), and hit up my two fav. outlets: Banana and Brooks Brothers. To my delight, I left with some fabulous purchases. I have had my eye on this dress from BR for awhile:

It may not look like anything special, but it's SUPER cute on! Well, I talked myself out of getting it when I was at the mall because it was a little more than I wanted to spend, but I actually found a very close sister to the dress at the outlet, only in black--even better! Plus, it was half the price--score! I also got a pair of chocolate brown linen shorts and these shoes:

After BR, I strolled over to Brooks Brothers and found a cute tank for myself and some seersucker gingham swim trunks for my bf. Best part: I got 25% off my entire purchase. Thank you Memorial Day!!!

Tomorrow, I'm headed to join the rest of the town on the river. Can't wait to catch up on some sun!! I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend!

Oooh No He Didn't!!

2008-05-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

As you read this, please try to refrain from sobbing, gasping, yelling, fuming, etc because you feel so bad for me. So...about two weeks ago, I made my routine trip to the dry cleaners to drop off several clothes that had collected over time and needed to be cleaned. One of these items just happened to be my favorite Lily dress, very similar to this one:The only difference with mine is that it doesn't have the yellow butterflies around the top. Anyway, so I went to the cleaners yesterday to pick up my items, and, after dishing out a ridiculous amount of money to pay my bill, the guy brings my clothes out to the car, including my precious Lily dress, RUINED! Not kidding, unfortunately. The beautiful white eyelette was marked with yellow-ish/brown splotches of discoloration. And the worst part is, he was going to put it in my car hoping that I wouldn't notice!!! How rude? Now, it takes a lot to make me totally bitchin' mad, but, as you might guess, this did the trick. I have to admit, I feel a little bit sorry for the guy that got an earful from me. I think he deserved it though. Not only was he rude, but he didn't offer any suggestions, and he tried to tell me that the dress was a cocktail dress (in order to explain why it cost me $40 to get it cleaned) I was like, " Um, excuse me, but that dress is a sundress, NOT a cocktail dress!" What next? Well, I met bf after I got off work (he has been in town and staying with me this week), and I know he could tell I was irate. I made him go back to the cleaners with me, because I had a feeling that they thought I was just a stupid young girl that didn't know anything, and I needed him for the intimidation factor. The results were pretty good; he basically told them that they needed to pay me the full amount for my dress, and they agreed, given that they could make every attempt possible to remove the spots before they gave me any money. Of course, I had to throw in the comment, "You know, that's a Lily Pulitzer dress. Do you know how much they are?!?" As it stands right now, my dress remains at the cleaners. You better believe that if the dress comes back even noticeably different, I am demanding they pay me in full! The only problem is, even if they give me the entire amount that the dress is worth, I won't be able to find it anymore, and it's my favorite! :( Argh!

Long Time, No Post...

2008-05-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

And I'm very sorry! I've been busy, though! This past weekend, I headed back home once again for one of my close friends from high school's wedding. WOW is all that I have to say. The wedding reception was at the Parthenon...if you've been to Nashville, surely you know what I'm talking about! Anyway, I think the location says enough, but just so you get the picture, my friend K's wedding planner was the same lady who planned Jay from the Rascal Flatt's wedding...yeah. Now you understand. I went to the wedding with my mom, but unfortunately, my dad was not able to be there to see how much he needs to spend on my future wedding...in ten years, ha! (Hopefully not) I'm not even going to begin to try to describe how beautiful the wedding/reception was because I would not do it justice. However, it was most definitely well into the six figures!! Here are some pics...This is from the rehearsal dinner--so much fun! I had to speak...yikes!

...The bride on the big day. She looked drop dead gorgeous, and that dress...!!!

My other best friend from HS. It was one big reunion!

This is the chandelier that was hanging in the tent. Need I say more?

I Need to Go Green

2008-05-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

I am sitting at my desk in my room, watching the news, and I just heard that the polar bear has officially been declared a "threatened species." WTF? I love polar bears! Obviously, this threat stems from global warming and the melting of the ice caps. Now, I am not a grungy hippie or anything, but I think I need to make a few lifestyle changes so I can save the polar bears! Before we know it, penguins are going to be endangered! (Is that already the case? I hope not!) Okay, I just turned off all my lights...check!

A Bad Goodbye

2008-05-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

So one of my roommates moved out yesterday. This happens to be the one that I have known since high school and been extremely close to throughout college. As I have said before, something--I don't know what--happened over the course of the past few months, and we began to grow apart. Well, I confronted her about everything, and we both agreed it had been very awkward between us and that we would try to fix it, or so I thought. She and her dad moved all of her stuff out yesterday while I was at work and my other roommate was at the lake (I think). I figured she would still be at the apartment when I got back, but they had already left. The only thing she left behind was a note specifically written to my other roommate, not for me, saying how much fun she had had living with her and how she was going to miss her, etc...Now, I know I may sound like a six-year-old child who gets her feelings hurt when she doesn't get invited to a "friend's" birthday party, but that move hurt. We have practically been bff's for the past four years, and she doesn't even bother to call, text, or include me in the note. Call me crazy/immature/dramatic (I have never been any of those ;), but that is just rude. We are both going to be in the same city all summer, but now this makes me hesitate to even call her, because, as I see it, she wants nothing to do with me. Then, if I don't call her and we don't talk, it's going to be incredibly awkward when I see her out...which is bound to happen. Ugh. This is me extremely frustrated. Why is being a girl so difficult???

Fab Finds

2008-05-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday!! Now that I'm done with school and have a little more time on my hands, I thought I'd share with you a few things that I came across lately:

I stopped by Home Goods the other day and picked up two cases of wine glasses similar to these Riedel glasses that I recently got for my mom. Only, the ones that I found are slightly tinted yellow, red, and green--colors that I love in kitchens!

While I'm on the subject of kitchens, I was browsing around the mall yesterday and lingered around the window display of Williams Sonoma to take in the beauty of this guy:

I have full faith that this mixer will be one of my first gifts (to self?) that I get whenever I get married. It will be out for all to see in my kitchen, and my future husband will reap the benefits of this mixer.

I also stopped by Old Navy yesterday (it was a good day) and snagged a pair of VERY reasonably priced shorts. I have short legs, and it's often hard to find shorts that look good on me, but I love these!

I don't know if ya'll are familiar with Lolita glasses; if you are, then I hope you love them as much as I do. If you're not, then you are truly missing out! They make terrific gifts for all occasions. I just recently gave one to my best friend as a b-day present, and I also gave one as a gift for a wedding shower. Lolita makes martini, wine, and now even beer glasses!! Here are a few examples.

Yeeaah!!

2008-05-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

I am officially a college graduate! I can't believe it, either. What a crazy weekend...Kicked it off with the fam coming into town. I went to eat with my grandparents Thursday night, and later that night, I decided to surprise my parents by showing them my puppy. I knew there was no way they could get mad once they saw how cute she was...they loved her! So then I woke up bright and early Friday morning to go to the commencement ceremony. Listening to 1500+ names being recited was about the most monotonous experience of my life, but it was still so exciting in the end! By the way, whoever created the whole cap and gown thing should be shot. Graduation caps are probably the most hideous accessories ever invented. Anyway, after graduation, a few of my sorority sisters and I enjoyed lunch with our friends and families at a restaurant on the river, and for some reason, one of my best friends had to give a little speech that made everyone, even my dad, a little teary-eyed. It hadn't really hit me until then that we are all moving away. After a hectic morning and afternoon, me, the bf, and my friend KB headed to Nashville for Steeplechase (the TN equivalent of Carolina Cup), but had to stop on the way to get the bf some new seersucker pants--a Steeplechase necessity. I've never been to the Carolina Cup, so I don't know if this analogy would apply there, but I once heard Steeplechase compared to "a Nascar race...without the rednecks," and it truly is. Steeplechase is just an excuse for college students, and adults I guess, to display their most preppy attire, drink, and socialize. You can see why this is right up my alley. In short, Steeplechase was pretty freakin' awesome, although it was tiring, and I did get a little sunburned. I decided, in the spirit of the event, to try my hand at making mojitos. If you have never made this drink, let me warn you: it is by no means a simple task. I think mine were a little on the strong side, because the guys seemed to enjoy them, but the girls had the same reaction as I did when I felt the shock of Bacardi 151 hit my mouth. Maybe next time I'll just stick with beer, but if you are brave, here is the recipe for a mojito:

1.5 oz BACARDI Rum

12 fresh spearmint leaves

1/2 lime

7 oz club soda

2 tbsp. simple syrup(or 4 tsp. sugar)

If you are like me and have no idea what "simple syrup" is, it's a sugar-water mixture. Technically, you're supposed to cook it (?) but who has time for that?? I hope you have better luck than I did if you try making this drink!

I promise to post some pics from the weekend later! I hope ya'll have a good night...enjoy Gossip Girl and The Hills season finale!!!

Sorority T-Shirts...

2008-05-06T18:47:00.001-07:00

I have sooo many, and they are not going to be of much use to me after I graduate...this Friday! Anyway, I was thinking about what I could possibly do with them, because I don't want to throw them away, and I searched t-shirt quilts and ran accross this picture of a random example:

...Pretty cute, right? So I'm thinking this may be a great possibility. Does anybody have any other ideas? What did ya'll do with your old sorority tees?

Call Me Betty Crocker

2008-05-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

So what's better than a yummy meal after a stressful (read: hellish) past few days? Nothing. That's why I decided to hit up the grocery and cook dinner for me and my best friend. I decided to take a stab at making chicken salad. My mom makes some phenomenal chicken salad, so I used her recipe, which combines boiled and shredded/chopped chicken breasts, lite mayo, chopped red grapes, celery, and salt and pepper. Sounds pretty simple, right? And believe me, it is! Mine actually turned out great; we put some on croissants--awesome! For dessert? Banana pudding, made with fat-free, sugar-free vanilla pudding. You can't even taste a difference! In my opinion, that's the ultimate summer-time dessert!

The S*** Hit the Fan...

2008-05-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

HARD. So, I don't know if I have made it very clear that I have been having some roommate troubles lately. Well, now you know. It's been really awkward lately between my two roomies and me, and I have been just trying to deal with it, but last night, I decided to confront the situation. I made this decision over the weekend after how my roomates acted last Thursday night (They were done with finals and decided to drink all day Thurs. and go out Thurs. night; I had my hardest final AND a term paper due Fri., and they were being extremely inconsiderate and annoying--probably because they were wasted!) Anyway, I got home last night, and an explosive argument ensued between me and one of my roomies. As I was trying to explain why I have been frustrated for the past few weeks, my roommate broke in and said, "Well you talk about us on the internet!" And I'm thinking, okay hold up. You know about my blog?? WTF? Looking back, I'm pretty sure that I've mentioned my roomies in one, maybe two, posts, and, honestly, what I said about them was nothing that I wouldn't have/haven't already said directly to them. I have no earthly idea how they found my blog, nor am I really that concerned. If they want to make their own blogs and bash me, they can go right ahead. I am not interested enough to even know if they do. And yes, I am fully aware that they may likely read this...Hey roomies! I just hope that, before we all move out, we can get all of this mess sorted out so that we don't leave with bad memories of one another. Anyway, sorry for another rant, but that is what's been going on with me. Hopefully the next post won't be filled with the drama that I so detest!

Recap...

2008-04-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

What a great long weekend! Too bad I am now back to the harsh reality of finals and term papers. There is nothing really good to say about this week, except the fact that I no longer have classes! Anyway, back to this past weekend...I got home Friday in time to see my brother's date for his prom. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. I'll have to admit I was a little jealous of this seventeen-year-old junior in high school. Ya'll, I am not at all kidding when I say that the girl looked like a freakin super model, and she's about the size of my wrist. Then again, her body has not yet encountered the damage that comes with college. Anyway, they had fun, my brother looked adorable, had a hot date, etc. etc. On Saturday my mom and I went to my brother's lacrosse game and then headed to the mall to take advantage of tax-free weekend! Let's just say I was very satisfied when we left. Here are a few of my purchases:

I finally got this light-weight jacket I have had my eye on!! (Except mine is yellow :) I'm actually wearing it right now because there was a drastic temperature drop overnight!

This dress is so comfortable and very flattering! I highly recommend it!!

I LOVE these flip-flops! I would like one in every pattern, please!!!

This dress was on sale, plus it was an extra 25% off!!! I pretty much had to buy it--I think it'll be perfect for graduation.

I was planning on leaving home on Sunday, which is what I usually do, but due to my ongoing allergy problems, thanks to the damn pollen, I decided to stay another night so I could get some medicine on Monday before leaving. Well, it turned out that my decision to stay was a good one, because my grandparents decided to bring over my graduation present:

You better believe I almost you-know-what myself when I opened it! I didn't even know that my grandparents knew about David Yurman! Obviously I stand corrected. I'm pretty sure I have the best grandparents ever, don't you agree?

So now I'm back to the grind after a terrific weekend. I think I may have made a rather crucial decision earlier today regarding my future plans, but that is for another post. Until then, I have my five finals and two term papers to keep my mind occupied...

Whoo Hoo!!

2008-04-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

I just finished my last class!!! In a few hours, I will be headed home to spend the weekend with my family, or part of my fam. My dad is in Vegas on a COMPANY RETREAT...yeah, it's pretty much an excuse for him and the other partners in his firm to drink and gamble! Anyway, my brother's prom is tonight, so you know I've gotta get home and check out this little bi-otch that he's taking. She had better behave herself is all I have to say! Hopefully I'll fit in a little shopping time. Yay for tax-free weekend in TN!!! Oh, and I never thought I'd be happy about this, but it's supposed to rain this weekend, and you know what that means...I get to break out the new rain boots! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Decorative Towels

2008-04-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not the only girl who has them. Practically every woman that I know has a set of them hanging in her bathroom for AESTHETIC PURPOSES ONLY!!!! So why is it that guys have to use them??? One of the recent times that the bf came into town, he woke up early while I was still sleeping (because I am NOT a morning person) and took a shower. When he came back into my room, I was like "Oh I'm sorry I forgot to give you a towel." He was like, "It's cool. I just used one that was hanging on the wall." I immediately froze, then said "You didn't use one of the light green and cream ones, did you?!?" "Yeah." "Shit." These pretty towels have been hanging in the exact same spot, unused, ever since I moved in to my apartment. They even had the tags still on them because I forgot to remove them. Although it didn't really matter up until this point because they had never been used! You get my point. Now I was forced to wash them and had to struggle to fold them so that they would look exactly as they had before. All I got as a response from the bf was him laughing hysterically because I was so flustered over my decorative towels. I tried to explain their purpose to him, and when I did, he was like, "Ooh. I guess that's why my mom got so pissed when I used that one set of towels at her house." "Um, yeah...duh!" Guys just don't understand the importance of interior design, nor do they care. At least now mine knows better than to ever use my green and cream towels again.

Because I'm Bored...

2008-04-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

I'm copying The Style Diaries for this post:

What accessories do you wear everyday? Pearl earrings, David Yurman black onyx ring

What is your beauty routine? Shower, wash face, brush teeth, hair, makeup

What was the last item of clothing you bought? I guess it was my Max and Cleo formal dress

Do you use a dresser, closet, or both? I have both at my apt., but my closet is lacking in space, to say the least.

What type of earrings are in your ears right now? Pearl and diamond studs

What type of figure do you have? Just picture Gisele Bundchen...minus like ten inches...and with a bigger ass

Do you wear glasses? No, but I think I need them

What type of handbag do you carry? I have a black prada bag that I always carry. I have to admit that it's not real, but everyone thinks it is so I'll continue to let them be fooled!

What is your ideal style? I don;t have one style that I adhere to. I wear what I think looks best on me, but I tend to gravitate toward preppy clothes :)

What jewelry are you wearing right now? Torquois ring, pearl earrings...haven't I answered this question like 5 times???

Do you wear knee-hi stockings? Not since I first saw the movie Clueless in 4th grade

Do you have to wear matching lingerie? You bet

Do you wear makeup? Mascara, eyeliner, and lipgloss, but I've never worn foundation or powder a day in my life. I just don't like the idea.

Do you wear nightgowns? If I want to feel extra cute

What outerwear do you put on when going out on a typical winter's day? If I'm going to class I wear a fleece, jeans, and uggs. If I'm going to work, I usually wear dress pants and a sweater with either my black or cream pea coat

What is your favorite perfume? I'm obsessed with Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue

Is your motto "quality over quantity"? I suppose

Do you wear rain boots? I just recently got a pair of Hunters!! Of course it hasn't rained a drop since the day I purchased them!

Do you wear socks or slippers when your feet get cold? My feet are always cold, so I just deal.

Do you have a set of travel luggage? Yes, my granparents got me a set several years ago. However, I only use one bag that my family refers to as "Big Bertha". I normally just use my Vera bags, though.

What is your daily uniform? It's never the same. I wear skirts, dresses, trouser jeans, dress pants...just whatever I'm in the mood for.

If you are married, did you wear a veil with your wedding dress? Not married and don't know when I will be. I'm not sure how I feel about vails though. Sometimes they can be pretty, if they're simple, but sometimes I think they detract from the dress.

Do you wear a watch? No but I'd like to have a nice one

What item of clothing always makes you feel extremely beautiful? Any kind of dress

What is your favorite type of yarn? I don't like this question

Do you prefer zippers or buttons? Buttons, without a doubt. I hate zippers!

Happy Monday!

2008-04-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was as good as a weekend filled with studying/paper-writing can be. On Friday night, I did manage to work in some time to make a trip out with my girls to a fraternity toga party...probably the first time I have actually been in a fraternity house since I was a sophomre, and possibly the last time of my college career! Saturday morning I did, of course, stop by the Vineyard Vines Trunk Show, but that, as you know, was a requirement :) Today has so far proved to be extremely busy, but I got a little email from JCrew letting me know that I can get $20 off of a purchase of $150 or more. So...it looks like I'm gonna have to go shopping! Why do they do this to me? Probably because they know a sucker like me won't pass up the opportunity to spend the extra $$ just to receive the discount!!! Tonight will be an exciting night of writing essays and addressing graduation invites. Oh...and watching The Hills, obviously! By the way, did you all know that Heidi Montag is getting butt implants?!? Yes...sad, I know, but surprising? Not in the least! The girl looks like a freakin' barbie, and she's evidently battling Joan Rivers to see who can go under the knife more times. Sick!!! I will always be a fan of The Hills though, despite the less than bright decisions of the cast. I'll leave yall with some pictures from this weekend's toga party. Have a good night!!!

Love it/Lose it

2008-04-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

In all of the magazines I read, my favorite part, besides who wore it best, is the sexy vs. skanky/hot vs. not section. So, in honor of that, I decided to make my own. This is just my personal opinion, by the way.

Love It:

Lose It:

The normal polos were great...so why did they have to change and add the ginormous horse? That's just not me.

Love It:
Rain Boots

Lose It:
Crocs

Love It:

Big Hair

Lose It:

Extensions

Love It:

Lose It:

Don't get me wrong, I love me some chocolate. I just think skittles were meant to be fruit-flavored.

Love It:
Uggs with jeans or leggings in the winter

Lose It:

Uggs with mini-skirts in the 90 degree summer weather

Love It:
Preppy

Lose It:

I L.O.V.E. preppy stuff, believe me! However, I still like guys to look like guys, not like questionable male models.

Love It:

Lose It:

Once again, bangle bracelets are great and all, but only in MODERATION, and not in every color in the crayola box!! One or two at a time is fine, but please...not six!!

Can I vent, please?

2008-04-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

This has officially just been one of those days. So here are the unfortunate things that happened:

1. My roommate, who knows that Thursday is my day to sleep in, wakes up with a sudden burst of energy and decides to start banging pots and pans around in the kitchen at 7 AM!! Now, I would like to think that my dear sweet roommate was just being forgetful, but I have a feeling that she was just mad at the world because she had to wake up early, so she wanted me to share her pain.
2. After laying in bed for two hours, not being able to fall back asleep, I dragged myself into the kitchen just as my roommate is walking back in the door from wherever she had to be at the crack of dawn. Only this time, she is on a tirade because she hasn't received a package that her mom sent her last week. Come to find out, our mail has been being delivered to someone else! At my apartment complex, we have that whole box/key system, and apparently, the mail carrier just doesn't care if college students get their mail promptly (or at all, in our case!). As you may realize, this whole mail thing poses a little bit of a problem for me. I am anxiously waiting to hear from a few law schools, and what if one or more of those letters that got misplaced just happened to be a letter from a law school? Yeah, this SUCKS!!!
3. During my hour of free time today, I attempted to go lay out at my pool and get a little bit of sun with this gorgeous weather we've been having. Well, I arrive at the pool to see that it is swarming with GDIs (hopefully you're familiar with the term) who don't even live in my apartment complex! Call me crazy, but I didn't care to stay and see a bunch of dudes in their Abercrombie '04 swim trunks talking to each other about how they stay so tan and "jacked." SO NOT ME.
4. To relieve my frustrations, I went to a cardio class at the gym and then to dinner with some friends. The class, however beneficial, totally kicked my ass, and whatever I ate at dinner made me sick.
(I'm almost done with my rant)
5. Presently, every person on campus with any kind of social life is at a band party watching Super T. Everyone, that is, except for me. I am curled up in my bed with my laptop writing a paper that is due tomorrow morning (and blogging alternately). Why do I do this to myself???

Whoop Whoop!!!

2008-04-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

I've been TAGGED by Adventures of a Southern Newlywed!!! My very first one...yay!

Rules:
1) you link back to the person who tagged you.
2) post these rules on your blog.
3) share six unimportant things about yourself.
4) tag six random people at the end of your entry.
5) let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs

6 extremely unimportant facts about me:

1. I MUST-and I mean this is a necessity-sleep with a fan on, preferably in a cold room, or chances are, I won't sleep at all.

2. I really don't like strong floral scents.

3. I only wear thongs or boyshorts. Call me crazy, but I got into the habit, and now I can't wear regular underwear. (Sorry if that's too much info. Whatever, you don't really mind.)

4. I have to start my day by drinking caffeine, but not coffee, or it will be a bad one.

5. I had heart surgery when I was a teenager, and now I have a phobia of hospitals.

6. I am OCD when it comes to organization--I color-code my closet, have files for all of my papers, have to make my bed every morning, etc...

Now I tag these people:

The Style Diaries
Bonnie Blue
Life Is Reed-iculous

Favorites!

2008-04-16T19:46:00.001-07:00

Just a random list of some of my favorite people, places, and things...Because I'm bored and this is what my life has come to.

Favorite vacation spots: Martha's Vineyard, Jackson Hole, Hilton Head

Favorite movie: Father of the Bride

Favorite TV show: Entourage

Favorite cities (to live in): Asheville, Nashville, Charleston

Favorite jeans: Citizens or Bebe's trouser jean

Favorite jewelry: Pearls or anything David Yurman

Favorite outfit: Sundress and sandals

Favorite accessories: headband and pearl or turqois earrings

Favorite stores: JCrew, Banana, Anthropologie, Bebe, Arden B, and BCBG (for dresses)

Favorite sport (to watch): umm, hello...college football!

Favorite foods: Sushi, tuna, grouper, any chicken, and I have a weakness for chips and salsa

Favorite drink (non-alcoholic): I L.O.V.E. me some sweet tea

Favorite drink (alcoholic): Wine, specifically reisling

Favorite celebs: Reese Witherspoon, Diane Keaton, Kate Hudson

Favorite color: yellow

Formal Pics, Round 2

2008-04-15T20:01:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some more pictures from this past weekend:

This is our group at pre-game spot numero uno, aka the Egyptian karaoke place. I'm sure you can get a feel for the extreme weirdness of the place just by looking at our surroundings!

No, that is not a handle of Maker's Mark that we are holding :)

Ok, so maybe I lied!

My girls at GB's house: I love absolutely love them to death! And no, the spot on my dress is not just an illusion; my dumb ass spilt oil on it at dinner...Serves me right for eating a Greek salad and trying to be healthy!

So this shot is actually from formal! You're most likely wondering what I'm doing, so it's a little dance move that's been dubbed "the tripod"!! I'm really not falling over--promise!

My VERY best friends in the world!!! I'm going to miss them so much! Now I'm going to end this post so I don't get all emotional!

Sorry...

2008-04-14T21:57:00.000-07:00

I'm really unintelligent when it comes to computer stuff, even the basics, so I'm sorry for the way that my pics look! I'm still getting used to everything!

2008-04-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

So I just couldn't resist taking a few extra minutes to put up some pictures!
Here is one of my date and me at my apt. before formal:

I was pleasantly surprised with the way that my dress and shoes turned out. The dress is Max and Cleo, which is a brand that I hadn't worn before, but I looked online, and they have some really cute pieces! Don't overlook my date's tie...I told him to wear it so we'd match!

Here is one of my friend BS and me. Yes, I got a little crazy, and the hair inevitably came down!

Thank goodness it was warm and sunny last week so we could get a little sun! Unfortunately it is now 38 degrees and falling, but that's beside the point!

By the way, my necklace (I don't know if you can see it) was a great find! It was from Forever 21 (I hear you NMB!), and let's just say I payed less than ten dollars for it!

I will post more formal pics later in the week, but I want you all to see my puppy, Stella!!

Stella is the little one, and Gotti, her "Boyfriend" is the big guy. Bf actually got her for me, and he is holding onto her until I move out of my apartment and get my own place. Unfortunately, Stella was not able to come visit me this weekend; she would've been a little too much to handle, but Gotti made the trip, and I'm always glad to see him. I feel like he's my dog--I did buy him for Bf, after all!

...And another one:

...And one more:

How cute is this?!? Hopefully all you dog lovers can appreciate these pics as much as I can!

What a FABULOUS Weekend!

2008-04-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

***I apologize in advance for not being brief!***

Here we go...My weekend basically started off great and ended great! My formal date was planning on not arriving until Saturday, but plans changed, and he ended up being able to come up Friday instead! He goes to law school in SC, so it's tough for him to get up (down?) here often. (BTW, did I mention that this "date" is my ex-boyfriend/close friend/I think we're back together? Just thought I'd throw in that bit of info.) Anyway, so I was clearly very excited about his early arrival, but then I found out at work on Friday thatsome of the attorneys and assistants needed a spot filled on a bowling team for a charity event. Yes, I spent the first half of my Friday night bowling with people from work that are two to three times my age, but it was actually a blast, and, more importantly, it was for a good cause (And no, I did not get the lowest score!) So, after the bowling festivities, I headed back to campus to meet up with my date/bf(?) and some of our friends. After dinner and drinks, we all headed over to this new bar on campus, aka the "barcade." Yes, it's a bar with arcade games, and no, it's not really my style, but it WAS pretty fun, I have to admit! We ended up calling it a night relatively early because we knew we'd be out late on Saturday for formal. After brunch Sat. morning, we went to some antique shops downtown that I found HIGHLY disappointing, and then it was basically time to start getting ready. Before formal, a group of us headed to an Egyptian karaoke restaurant (weird, I know) that's BYOB, and it was pretty much the best time EVER!! While the food was far from spectacular (Read: nasty) the owner and his wife were hilarious, the atmosphere was great, and the company was even better! So, after shouting some Madonna "Like a Prayer" at the top of our lungs, our group headed to pre-game spot #2 to meet up with some of our other close friends. After this the night (including the actual formal) becomes kind of a blur, but don't judge me...it was my very last sorority function, and I graduate in 3 weeks! All in all, the night falls on my list of top ten best nights in college. After the bf and his dog (that I got him for Christmas 3 years ago) headed back to SC on Sunday, I spent the rest of the afternoon reliving the previous night and laughing until my sides hurt...I love those nights! I promise to post some pictures from formal night ASAP!!! On a very random note, I got some great news today...Vineyard Vines is having a trunk show here this weekend! Yay!!! I am so hoping to get some free stuff!!!

Feeling Random

2008-04-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

I've been somewhat scatterbrained all day, so I'll continue doing so in this post...

1. I've become obsessed with Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal's relationship! I have always loved Reese, especially after Legally Blonde (one of my favorite movies), and also because she is from my hometown! Yay for TN!! But I REALLY love her now (and am somewhat jealous of her) because she is dating the love of my life...sigh. I guess she deserves him.

2. If you want to hear my new favorite song, download Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love." Trust me-you won't be disappointed!

3. Okay, so you saw my formal dress in my previous post, but I am currently in debate concerning my accessories. I think it would be fun to pair light blue shoes and clutch with the dress, but I don't really want to spend the extra money...so, I think I'm gonna go with gold. I have a pair of really pretty strappy gold heels, and I already have gold clutch. What do we think?

I Think I Worry Too Much

2008-04-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

Wait...no, I KNOW that I worry too much, even about the smallest, most frivolous matters! I always tell myself to chill out, but I never take my own advice! I've given up on stressing about law school; I've gotten into one place already, so does it really matter if I get in anywhere else? (Probably, but for the sake of my stress level, I'm telling myself no!) In the meantime, though, I spent a hefty chunk of my weekend stressing about my upcoming sorority formal--not about getting a date, actually, because I already have one--but about finding a DRESS, duh! Did I mention that said formal is SATURDAY?!? Anyway, I'm beyond excited, seeing that it is my last formal, but that's all the more reason for me to do it BIG! So, after scouting out a few boutiques and not seeing anything that wowed me, I ventured to one of the many malls in my hometown, and, after trying on about 22 dresses (seriously), I found the PERFECT one--not kidding!! I was so excited when I saw it because it reminded me of something Eva Longoria has worn/would wear (and I kind of want to BE her!). I found a picture of the dress (see below), but it looks a lot different on me; I actually think it looks kinda weird on that girl for some reason. Anyway, I love the color and think it will complement my dark hair and (hopefully) the tan that I will have!

Is It REALLY Almost Monday?

2008-04-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that the weekend is over! I went back home to hang out with my family (my mom just had surgery), and whenever I go home, my weekend flies by! One of the things that I most look forward to when I go home, besides family time, obviously, is EATING! After weeks of Lean Cuisines and frozen pizzas, it's so nice to get some southern home cookin'!! There is also a little deli that I frequent back home called the Puffy Muffin that has some of the best food I have ever tasted. If yall like sweet tea as much as I do (I drink it like water), I'm going to assume that you do/will like tea punch, and I just thought I would share the recipe from my Puffy Muffin cookbook:

3 heaping Tblsp. instant tea (plain, no sugar, no lemon)
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
6 c. warm water
2 c. orange juice
6 ounce can frozen limeade
2 liters ginger ale (or enough to make one gallon)

Combine the instant tea, sugar, and water. Stir well to ensure the water is dissolved. Add the orange juice and limeade. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, add enough ginger ale to make one gallon of liquid. Enjoy!!!

Save It for a Rainy Day

2008-04-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

So, I feel like the second flood has officially entered TN...it's been raining constantly for the past, oh, say 5 days, and there looks to be no end in sight. However, I WAS dealing quite well with the rain, up until this morning, that is, when the monsoon hit. I was walking to class, trying to manage my backpack, purse, drink, folder containing a paper I was turning in, etc...What item was missing from that list, though? An umbrella. Yep, I was that stupid girl who told herself, as she was leaving her apt., "No, you don't need to bring an umbrella to class; you won't need it," even though it was a little cloudy. (Okay, maybe a LOT cloudy) Unfortunately, as I was leaving the Humanities building after my first class, all hell broke loose with the weather in K-town, and I had no choice but to subject myself to the terrible monsoon. What could possibly have made this worse? The fact that, as I was heading out into the rain, I stumbled upon half of the football team, who just had to ask me where my umbrella was. Funny. They did, however, offer to walk with me to my car...how sweet. So, after a hellacious morning, I decided to take matters into my own hands and turn my day around. Yes, I immmediately headed to the mall to pick up a little present for myself. And I left with a pair of these guys:

SO CUTE! Okay, I know I MUST do something about this little shopping habit that I have formed. I'm just choosing to wait a little while.

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might...

2008-04-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

I have a little bit of downtime at work right now, so it's absolutely logical for me to be blogging right now, right? So here's a little wish list that I've been thinking about lately:

1. I want a big, and I mean like crazy HUGE walk-in closet. I love everything about my apt. right now except the fact that there is NO storage space. I would gladly sleep in a room the size of my closet if I could have a closet the size of my room!! But...I am moving out in a little over a month, so I guess I can survive with little to NO storage in the meantime.

2. I wish my two roommates would keep our apt. as clean as I do. I feel like, regardless of who I live with, I am always picking up after their messes. Maybe that's because I have a sick obsession (think Danny Tanner) with cleanliness and organization when it comes to my living space. I love going to Target and finding new things to buy to help me organize my closet! Yeah, I'm a dork because I get excited about that kind of thing.

3. I want, more than anything at this moment, to receive acceptance letter(s) from no more than two law schools: Charleston and Ole Miss. I just want to get into ONE...please!!! Even if I get waitlisted, then hey, at least I have a chance. I promise I will be the best law student ever if yall will just let me in! Thanks!!

4. Oh yeah, and in the meantime, does someone mind lending me a small sum of money to get this trinket that I have my eye on:

I Just Love Spring!

2008-04-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

I think this may just be my very favorite time of the year...Flowers are blooming, it's getting warmer (My car was actually registering 78 yesterday!), I can run outside instead of on the freakin' treadmill (ugh), and I can bring out my super cute new spring wardrobe! Also, graduation is approaching...yay! But that also means that I have to figure out where I'm going to be after I graduate, only I can't make decision because I have to wait to hear back from these law schools that are taking their sweet time making a decision on whether or not to accept me. Yeah, it's extremely frustrating, and I am pretty sure that I have high blood pressure due to all of the stress I'm under (Not really, but it is bad). I guess it's all a part of this whole getting older thing, which is not so fun sometimes! I'll be sure to keep you updated on the law school status, since I know you are all so eager to hear...right?! I thought so!

Anyway, on a happier and less stressful note, here are some of the items that I am very much coveting right now, and my desire for them continues to increase upon every trip to the mall:

I don't know about yall, but I need to leave my credit cards behind from now on when I enter J.Crew! They just can't keep making a girl go broke!!

Get Excited...

2008-04-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hey yall!!! Welcome to my blog! So, after weeks of being ridiculously obsessed with reading other people's blogs (thanks to a friend at work), I have finally broken down and started my own, and I'm so pumped haha! Enjoy!!