New Hair Did

Warning: I'm about to be transformed into one of those creepy bloggers that takes photos of themselves and posts them like people actually care. Let's assume this is another outcome of me living alone.

I got my haircut after work today by my adorable hairdresser {thanks for the reco, Southern Charm}. I usually have such a difficult time finding someone who can control my unbelievably thick hair and work a straightener through my curly locks cut and style my hair the way I like, but Monica has definitely won me over.

She is one of those stylists you can go in and list things you don't like about yourself/your hair and she somehow creates a way to minimize those flaws...aka read my mind.

For fun, she showed me how to style my hair in a "flirty" new way.

{Here they come...my first narcissistic blog photos....}

 

 

{...but for real, I think the curls are presh!} 

With my confidence running high, I decided to hit up "single's night" at Kroger. {What an exciting night...bet you're getting jealous by this point...ha!}

There is a rumor around town {that I admit is silly, but secretly wish it would materialize for me} that the grocery by my house is the best place for singles to pick up a date. 

Everyone agrees on this. 

However, no one can agree on which night of the week is "Single's Night"...I've heard Tuesday AND Wednesday. 

And there are conflicting messages about the "Single Signal." By either putting Diet Cokes OR Canteloupe {both equally random and neither has worked for me yet} in your cart, you're apparently giving off "the vibe" and inviting others to ask you on a date. 

This week I covered all bases...went to the grocery two nights in a row, and loaded my cart with the aforementioned goods. No Luck Tonight... 

No, No! Don't worry. It's nothing wrong with me. It's all these mixed messages around the event. Once the grocery gets this cleared up, I'm sure my social calendar will be exploding.

Until then, I am choosing to distract myself by baking Chocolate Chip Banana Bread to bring in to work tomorrow. At least I'm the favorite employee among the 50 somethings I work with! :)

Tribute to my "Twin"

Today marks a very important day. 

For 23 years ago, a very special person was born...

She is very attractive ~ what a compliment that people continue to get us confused...

{So annoying...but you know I was obligated to mention the twin thing...}

Her silly and outgoing personality continues to make everyone around her smile ~ she is quite often the life of any party!

{Other pictures depicting her as "life of the party" could be considered blackmail...let's just say I have fond memories of walks home with gigantic boxes of MadMush, GoonBay, and Thursday nights galore}

Always up for an adventure...from Canada Formals to the Big Apple...I love that she is open to trying new & exciting things.

Her family is just as welcoming, entertaining, and kind as she is...

{The door to her home...and her aunt's, grandma's, etc...is always so graciously open}

As much fun as she is, she is just as smart. I greatly admire her ambition and amazing intuition.

 {...Also jealous of her expertise in Excel and her ability to find amazing deals on everything!}

Life just wouldn't be the same with out you...

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KARIMAC!!!

You deserve the best today and always!

Be Inspired.

Today at work we had a 2 hour session on balancing work and home life {whatever that means for me right now...insert work/life balance issue here}. 

What an awesome way to spend my afternoon ~ this session was extremely entertaining, funny, and very insightful! The free lunch was nice too.

I cannot wait to put to use some of the tips and words of wisdom that were shared. 

The recommendation that hit me the hardest was creating a "bucket list" of 100 things to do before you die. I know it sounds cliche, but the things this guy has crossed of his list were amazing! From running marathons to riding 50 foot whale sharks to visiting over 100 countries in his lifetime.

I want to do these things. I need to stop putting things off and waiting for my life to start.  

My life is now. 

Work is a part of my life, but not all of it. 

I'm beginning my "100 List" tonight. It's not a quick exercise or a permanent commitment. Instead, this list is meant to be an ongoing reminder of the bigger picture. As life changes, substitute new dreams and goals so that the list still fits you. 

By crossing off at least two items per year, think of how many unique experiences you could accomplish in your lifetime. 

Don't let life pass you by. Make a conscious effort to live your fullest life possible - whatever that means for you personally.

Where Am I?

Directions: Try THIS, and then read below.

Ever since I started working, I've been a little self-conscious of my geography skills. Fellow co-workers talk about crazy countries that I didn't even know existed, what beaches in Turkey are the nicest, why Brussels {is that a country? or a city?} is an "easy" place to live, etc...

And I smile {it's what I do best} politely. Until I can google what the heck they're talking about.

Then my grandmother sent me this above link. And lowered my confidence another couple of points. 

I guess before I attempt to conquer the world {in terms of geography, that is}, I first need to start on common ground...I scored a whopping 82% on this "Know Your States" quiz...pretty low for living in the same country my entire life. 

New England States...a total blur. 

I swear, Tennessee was to the right of Kentucky last time I referenced a map. Aren't they both in the "deep south" ;)

And the worst part...I placed Ohio left of Illinois. I cannot get in my head where this silly state is supposed to be amongst the vast Land of Liberty. 
  
Where am I? I'm not exactly sure, but please come visit if you can find me.

So, how do you compare? Are you smarter than a 5th grader? Could you pass elementary school Geography?!

All the single ladies...

All the single ladies...put your hands up!  {I know I'm a dork, you don't have to tell me.}

Happy Valentine's Day, readers!

Thank goodness my momma knows where to buy boxes of chocolates.

And thank you to my brother for breaking up with his girlfriend prior to V-Day so that he could invite me to dinner and a movie. He is totally adorable. {I wonder how many people will mistake us as a couple...}

Vancouver 2010

I'm excited for the Winter Olympics to begin on Friday. 

Winter Olympics > Summer Olympics. Obvi. 

I have fond memories of watching figure skating as a little girl. Me and my best friend would lay on the carpet in our sleeping bags for hours watching Brian Boitano, Nancy Kerrigan, Kristi Yamaguchi and others. This sport sure saw some drama in the 90s...

Ski Jumping, Speed Skating, and Snowboarding amaze me as well because I realize how many times I've been skiing and am still terrible!

Olympians have so much discipline. It is so impressive.

What is your favorite event in the Olympics?! 

 {check out the Vancouver 2010 website here}

Getting My Life Back....One Day at a Time

I left work yesterday at 6:15 ~ which is essentially like me taking a half day. As I was saying bye to my coworkers, my boss said "You're looking guilty."

Yeah, probably because slaves aren't ever allowed to stop working. Guilty.

Then today I left at 5:45. Total rebel status.

The irony is that the rest of the world has been totally against me. 

Yesterday, all power in my town was off from about 6-10pm. Sweet. I got off the exit by my house and thought the world was ending and no one had warned me. Police were directing traffic at every intersection, the gym was closed {I may or may not have celebrated at the sight of this}, and people were acting like maniacs.

Today, I wanted to get my nails done after work, but apparently the entire nail salon took a "snow day." That's funny ~ I didn't get a snow day. And I'm stronger because of it.

Oh well, nothing wrong with having some time to relax while the town shuts down.  

Please do not mistake this post as any form of complaining.

To My Best Friend:

May you have a wonderful Birthday full of love, laughter, and fun {presents are good too}!

I wish we could be together, but I am thinking of you and wishing you a very happy day!!

In honor of YOU today, here are the top 23 reasons why I love you to pieces:

1. It feels like we've been friends forever - we just "get" each other.
2. You are such a considerate person.
3. You always maintain a positive outlook on life.
4. Your laugh is contagious.
5. Said laugh makes me feel hilarious at all times.
6. You are so generous and never jealous.
7. You are driven.
8. Between surprise notes and setting the coffee pot each night, you make the best roommate any girl could ask for.
9. After setting the coffee pot, you make better lattes than Starbucks {and you're kind enough to share your tricks with me}.
10. You are good at pretending to enjoy watching movies and Friends episodes for less than two minutes until I fall asleep with me. 
11. You understand and comply with my OCD habits. 
12. When on occasion these habits get in the way of me living a normal life, you quickly bring me back to reality.
13. You are a blast to vacation with ~ from the Florida Keys to cruises to taking on Chicago.
14. You are such a sneaky "spy" {hint: Florida}
15. We share a LOVE for pizza {any kind, although BBQ chicken would most likely be the top choice if we were given an option}. The more I think about it...we don't really discriminate against any type of food...
16. You are an understanding listener.
17. You are fun to go out with 
18. ...and to stay in with.
19. You are so smart and level-headed, and I have so much respect for you because of it.
20. You give the world's best compliments, when in fact you deserve the praise.
21. Your voice is beautiful ~ whether it be singing while getting ready or during recruitment, I envy that you can carry a tune.
22. I miss you so much {ready for you to move back home}, but when we are together we still have so much to talk about.
23. I love that you love me back ~ and your family welcomes me as their own.  

Happy, Happy Birthday Krista!!!! 

The Bare Essentials

There has been a major struggle going on between my inner germaphobe and my {recent} tighwad instinct. 

Everyday as I literally scratch my face with the dirty, worn out bristles of my makeup brush {see below}, I think to myself: "Hey OCD, you might want to splurge on new brushes soon."

And the cheapster thinks back: "Are you serious?! Brushes are so expensive for no reason."

{Ew. Sick. Sick. This is the exact same brush - old stiff one on left, new luxurious beauty on right}

Well this weekend I gave in. I went to the Bare Minerals store only for new foundation, and left with much more. I made a new "friend" with the sales associate, and {as I usually do when someone lets me out into public} started making small talk with her. She quickly informed me I've been using incorrect makeup brushes all along...

Apparently, my blush brush is supposed to be angled...my foundation brush is only suitable for "light" coverage...you're supposed to have a separate brush blush and warmth brush, mixing is a sin....and on and on...

I decided then and there I needed to whip my makeup routine into shape. However, I must have given off a chincy vibe because my friend gave me $10 off for no reason and she gave me 2 weeks worth of samples of a primer for my foundation! She just said she liked me! {Add her to the list of friends found here}

Folks, get yourself some fresh brushes if you haven't done so in a while. My morning routine was exceptionally enjoyable today!

And needless to say, I will also be splurging for brush cleaner more often as well.

Come away with me...

The boss has been alluding to the work "we" are going to be doing again this weekend...and this is when I confirmed that I need a vacation!

Who's with me!? Let's start brainstorming!

We could...

• Go to the beach, but we'd have to go far south for it to be warm.
• Find a cozy cabin in Gatlinburg ~ it's cost effective and there's Dollywood!
• Go out to California and tour vineyards in Napa ~ sounds delightful! {ol' boy lived in California for a summer and said this was his favorite part about it...I'm not completely random and losing my mind}
• Visit Chicago and do some serious shopping!
• Hit up Vegas...gambling, shows, and all!

Anyone else have ideas?  I think it would be fun!! We're young and single and have money to spend, so let's enjoy ourselves =)

Sweet Surprises

On my way home at 10pm last night, after 13 hours in the office on a Sunday with Mr. Big Guy {the boss} and no lunch or dinner, I had a slight lapse in my quest to maintain a positive attitude...focus on the good stuff...blah, blah, blah...


THEN, I came home to a surprise hanging from the door to my apartment.

Just the pick-me-up I needed!

My friend left a goodie bag full of brownies, pictures, new socks {labeled with the days of the week to fuel my OCD tendencies}, and tattoos {which, as she described, were in case I need a reason to get fired}. 

The tattoos made me laugh out loud. All I could picture was rub-on tattoos on my cheeks during our reviews with the President this week. She's right...probably wouldn't go over well.

I am so thankful for friendships and RAKS {random acts of kindness}!