See Y'all Monday!

Today after work, I'm heading home to Blue Ridge. It's my first time back in the two years since Daddy's funeral, but it's only for the night. I'll get there around midnight and leaving tomorrow morning. Baby steps.

Thursday morning I'm leaving with the fam headed to Ken Lake in Kentucky. If I survive this it's going to be nothing short of a miracle. 

Sunday, it's back to Blue Ridge, then from Blue Ridge to Birmingham. 

I'm not sure at all that I'm going to survive this. All I know is there better be a chicken biscuit and a large Coke from the Trailer coming my way Thursday morning.

See y'all Monday! 

Happiness Is...

... A two-day work week

... Crisp, freshly laundered sheets

... Coke in a glass bottle...the way it's supposed to be

... Marking items off a long to-do list

... New highlighters

... Sharpie pens

... Closure

... Harvest Wheat Toasted crackers and Laughing Cow cheese

... Cheesy carbs 

... 3.5 hour lunches, aka BFF therapy

What's making you happy this week?

Everyone Has An Opinion...and I Need Yours

I am having some very serious issues and I need your help.

Planner / Agenda - I've lost my planner, which no doubt contributes to the sense of disarray and chaos I have been having the past week. I live out of my planner. Without it, I'm lost. And so I'm in desperate need of a new one. I prefer something with months and weeks so I can have a good overview of the month, as well as a two-page a week format with room for appointments, etc. each day. What do you use that works well for you?

Responding to Comments - I want to respond to every single comment via email, but with my schedule, it's so hard. I feel like it would be much more doable if I were able to respond to comments directly on the blog. I see lots of you lovely ladies do this. How do I make it happen?

Summer Moisturizer - I am in need of a new summer moisturizer. I typically use Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel  year round, but I've decided that it's time to mix it up. I will still use that in the winter, but I want a lighter weight moisturizer for the summer months. I am looking for a combination / oily skin formula. Hit me with your tried and true favorites, ladies.

I've Decided...

... That it's now or never.

... To simplify and purge.

... To try again.

... To do Throwback Thursdays on the first Thursday of the month, rather than every week. Because sometimes I may have something else to say on a Thursday.

... That this weekend is all about having some me-time. Because everyone needs one of those weekends every once in a while.


What have you decided this week?

So You're Graduating: The Things They Don't Tell You

Congratulations.

You did it.

In four (or five, for some folks) years, you blossomed from a wide-eyed innocent 18 year old to a young twenty-something that is ready to take on the world.

You're ready. You're prepared. After all, you learned a lot about life in those four years of undergrad, right?

Wrong.

You're about to discover you don't know as much about the world as you thought you did.

Spending every Thursday night in the bar getting wasted? Done.

Deciding not to get up for your 8am because you're just *so* tired? No longer an option.

The stress of finals? It's nothing compared to the stress of an important deadline.

Spring breaks and summer vacations? Over.

The hangovers? Hurt a lot more than they used to.

Money? Mom and Dad are no longer going to be footing the bill.

Job? You're going to have to get one. And it isn't going to be easy. Not even a little bit. Having a degree doesn't guarantee you an immediate career. You're going to learn this the hard way.

Bills? You're going to have them. A lot of them. See also: Mom and Dad are no longer going to be footing the bill.

You have no idea how much life is about to suck.

So, congratulations, graduate. And best of luck. You're going to need it.

I've Learned...

... Unhappy people are going to be unhappy no matter what, and it has nothing to do with you.

... You can tell a lot about a person by the tweets they've marked as favorites.

... BBQ Brisket Cheese Fries are game changers.

... Time does not heal all wounds. Some holes in your heart will always be with you.

... Finding the perfect red lip can change your life.

... I absolutely, positively cannot wear yellow, no matter how badly I wish I could.

... Chartreuse is really in this year.

... It upsets me a lot more than it should when the guide says someone I really want to see is on WWHL and it ends up being someone totally different.

... I will always have a teeny-bopper inside me.

... 90% of the instructions I give will always end in, "Here, I'll do it."




What are some of the things you've learned?

Because Sometimes It's Just What You Need on a Rainy Monday

Presented without further comment.

Currently Loving

I started a Friday Five post about neon, but it quickly got out of hand. As a girl who has adored neon since before it became cool again, this doesn't really come as a surprise. So neon gets it's very own non-number restricting post next week.

And instead, today, I bring to you a favorites edition of the Friday Five. These are some of the things I am currently loving.

LuluLemon Groove Pant. They make my butt look fabulous while holding a warrior.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh. It's the perfect scent for spring / summer. It was my go-to last year and I'm in love with it all over again this year.

Origins Foaming Face Wash. This has been part of my nightly routine for months. Love, love, love.

Emi Jay Hair Ties. I cannot get enough of these. Love.

H+M Top. I rarely brave the H+M store in Atlanta, but this is one time I'm glad I did. 

What are you currently loving?

Throwback Thursday: Family TV

Is it me, or was TV *so* much better back in the day?



With a little help from my friends...

(Side Bar: Kevin and Winnie Forever)

I had a mad crush on Alex P. Keaton. Ok...I still do.

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, Life Goes On

You take the good, you take the bad, you take 'em both and there you have...the facts of life (You're welcome for putting that song in your head the rest of the day.)

Who didn't love hearing the Doogie music while watching him reflect on his day? ::tear::

Who could forget the Seavers?

ALF

It's Friday night, and the mood is right...
What was a Friday night without the original TGIF line up of Full House, Perfect Strangers, Family Matters, and Just the Ten of Us (later replaced by Step By Step)?

Walk down memory lane with me. What were some of your favorite family TV shows?

The Beginning of What Comes Next

I spent the last three months of my twenties dreading turning 30. Really, really dreading it. We're talking tears on more than one occasion. 

It wasn't so much that I was entering a new decade as it was that my life was nothing like the way I thought it would be at 30. 

I went through more before my 28th birthday than most people go through in a lifetime, more than most people can even fathom. And through it all, I've come out a fighter. 

As much as I felt like 30 was the number of tragedy, it's been quite the opposite. It's been unapologetically liberating. 

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about where I am in life.

In a lot of ways, I'm not where "society" thinks I should be. I'm not where I thought I'd be. But I'm learning to be okay with that. I'm learning to take it one day at a time and do what's right for me, rather than do what others think is right for me.

I'm healing some broken relationships, while letting go of others.

I'm creating new relationships, both personally and professionally.

I'm learning to be okay with not being okay sometimes.

I'm nowhere I thought I'd be at this point in my life, but I'm everywhere I need to be.

I thought 30 would mean the end of a lot of things in my life. But that wasn't the case. Instead, it feels like the beginning of what comes next.

And I'm ready for whatever "next" may hold.

Derby Traditions

Derby Weekend is here. And as gal who loves tradition, it goes without saying that tradition is one of the reasons I love the Kentucky Derby so much.

This week's Friday Five is devoted to my five favorite traditions in the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.

The Sun Shines Bright in the Old Kentucky Home - Performed by the University of

Louisville's marching band as the horses make their way from the paddock to the starting gate, everyone in attendance sings along. You know you sing along at home, too. If you don't, you're doing it wrong.

The Julep - A Derby experience is not complete without a mint julep. While you can make it with any brand you desire, Early Times has been the official julep of Churchill Downs for many, many years. And it's delightful. If you fancy making Juleps for your viewing party this year, here's the Churchill Downs recipe:

The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe

• 2 cups sugar

• 2 cups water

• Sprigs of fresh mint

• Crushed ice

• Early Times Kentucky Whisky

• Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

The Infield - Think Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras...or Talladega. Sure, you have Millionaire's Row with all of the stars, but The Infield is where the parties go down. It's pretty much divided into two areas - one on side you see families gathered, having cute little picnics; on the other side, there are things going on that would shame your entire family if they knew. This is where the majority (read: common folk) of Derby goers will be on Saturday. If you're in the Infield, don't get your hopes up about seeing any of the actual race. It just isn't going to happen.

The Twin Spires - Simply because they're gorgeous. 

The Attire - A Kentucky Derby favorites list would not be complete without discussion of the dress. If men in seersucker make you swoon, brace yourself (but not in the infield...you'll do good to find guys actually wearing shirts down there). Sundresses and big, outrageous hats are the theme of the day. It's a Southern fashion show, and it's fabulous.

Have you been to the Derby? Do you have Derby parties? What are your favorite traditions?

Throwback Thursday: Kid's Today Will Never...

I was driving somewhere the other day when I had an idea for a blog post that had me all kinds of excited. Why? Because I'm a nerd. A nerd who loves the 80s and early 90s.

I have WAY too many post ideas to cram them all into one, so until further notice, I am bringing you...

Throwback Thursdays.

My excitement is out of control. So without further pomp and circumstance, I present to you this, the first installment of Throwback Thursday: Kids Today Will Never...

...Know what it's like to be Joey Joe's Popsicle or Donnie Wahlberg's Cover Girl

...Know the excitement of calling a radio station to request a song, followed by the anxiety of hitting record on the cassette at the *exact* moment it comes on...and then praying the deejay doesn't talk over the end of it.

...Have a favorite Corey

...Experience the joy of the clear, light-up-when-it-rings phone

...Know Kevin and Winnie

...Struggle with keeping the Barbie town house elevator on it's track...or have to get Barbie's head or legs unstuck from the tragic de-railing.

...Feel the rush of relief to see this roll into the classroom

...Spend Wednesday nights with the ORIGINAL gang in the 90210

...Play Heads Up, Seven Up

...Spend their summers with Sun-In hair

Goals: April Update + May

April was a little better than March. Any progress is better than none, right?

No Snooze - Done. Sort of. For the most part. Except maybe once or twice. A week. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

BJCC 4x / week - Work and other obligations were out of control in April, so I didn't get to the gym as much as originally planned, but I went when I could. May will be better.

Finish Closet - Check. And it is fabulous.

Read 1 Book - Fail. So much fail. I didn't even pick a book up this month. I'm hanging my head in shame. (See BJCC goal for out of control April)

4 Minute Workout 5x / Week - Nope. Moving on.

Simplify / Purge - Check. And it feels great.

Blog Reading / Commenting - Not even close. Although I did start playing catch up a little this week (sorry for those who have had me blowing up their comments). 

Keep in Touch - Sadly, no. And that makes me sad.

100 oz Water - For the most part, yes. So yay.

May, you're up.

 

Inbox: Zero - My inbox (personal and work) is out of control, and it's causing me a lot of anxiety. It's time to tame the beast.

Hair - Must. Be. Done. I am two more inches away from having you call me Kandi (with an -i), Trailer Park Princess. Plus, it's almost summer, and I need to be re-blonded in a bad, bad way. 

Sleep Habits - "Terrible" does not even come close to describing mine. It is extremely rare that I get more than 4 hours of sleep a night. It's time to make some changes. I feel like changing this will, in turn, change a lot of other things throughout the day.

Figure out Evernote - Someone told me this would make my life SO much easier. I've signed up. I've downloaded the app. Now what? It's just been sitting there for two weeks because I have absolutely no idea what to do with it.

New Project - I have decided to take on a project that I am VERY excited about. I don't have a lot of details yet, and it's going to be a pretty big undertaking, but I'm excited. 

Try Something New - Something. Anything. As long as it's new. 

It's May

It's May. We're almost to the half-way point of the year, and I haven't accomplished nearly anything I set out to do this year.

It's May. The end of this month will be two years since I watched doctors and nurses try to bring my daddy back, unsuccessfully.

It's May. Let the acceptable floppy hat season commence.

It's May. Summer is a'comin'. As evidenced by today's 90+ degree temps and humidity that will only increase as the month progresses. (Consider this your warning that I will be complaining. I am not a fan of summer in any way, shape, or form.)

It's May. Mother's Day in less than two weeks. It's a hard day for those who have lost their mother. It's also a hard day for those of us who have estranged relationships with our mothers. The good news? There's vodka and chocolate to help make it through.

It's May. Derby time. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love good, Southern traditions like the Kentucky Derby. I'm sad that I'm not going this year, but you can be sure there will be a Kentucky Derby post coming your way this week.

It's May. One month closer to college football. Only three months, four weeks, and one day to go (as of this post).

It's May. A new month. A new beginning. A new chance to get it right again.




What do you have going on this month? What are you / are you not looking forward to this month?