a subtle reminder.

Feeling terribly sick makes me appreciate my good health even more.

Feeling lonely makes me more thankful for my loving network of friends.

Feeling homesick makes me grateful for a comforting home I can return to.

Feeling lazy and lethargic makes me feel proud of all that I can accomplish when I feel well.

It is easy to take for granted all the blessings in your life, until they are missing. I spent the weekend ill on the couch, hibernating for days. Being sick is a great excuse for taking time to rest and ignore the stresses of the outside world.

Instead of dwelling on the "downs" of this weekend, I am choosing to view them as a reminder of how fortunate I am to know the difference...for some may not even know what it is like to miss the better option.

Happy Mom's Day!

Today is the 23rd Anniversary of my mom having the most wonderful daughter on earth! =)

Just kidding, mom! Apparently you also have the funniest kids around...

But seriously, you are the best! I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! I hope you enjoyed our weekend together and our fun afternoon at the movies as much as I did {although I thought I would be making a Mother's Day sacrifice at the movies, I am totally surprised that I loved Iron Man 2}.

 

I am so grateful to have a mother that is such a great secret keeper. Growing up I always felt so comfortable telling you embarrassing things and knowing that friends and neighbors {or even dad} wouldn't be hearing my issues later. I think this was especially noticeable because many of my friends' parents did not show their children the same respect.

I have such fond memories of days out ~ whether at the toy store with the giant slide entryway, or fun at "Kids Zone" {where Candace instilled a permanent fear of warts in me}, to riding around in the shopping cart at the grocery and always begging for junk from the machines on the way out.

I am so grateful for your unconditional love. I know that no matter what you will support me 100%.

  I definitely take after your sense of humor and creativity {and your ability to fall asleep during movies in record time}. You are so smart and the most caring person. It is no surprise to me that you are the only one at your work who makes sure everyone's birthday is recognized at the hospital. 

Thank you, Mom, for all you do. I cannot even begin to understand or list all of the many sacrifices you have made for us and I am so grateful. 

I love you always,

Bubble

p.s. I know I owe you pictures from today ~ I swear I'll get them to you :)

 

Friday (Observed)

I have a three day weekend coming up....so that technically makes tomorrow FRIDAY (observed)! 

   

No complaints here!

And the weather is supposed to be B-E-A-utiful! {Tangent: When is it appropriate to begin wearing a skirt without tights?! Lots of women in the office are already doing it, but I feel like it's still too early!}

I'm hoping to have a productive Friday with some errands, a dreaded free trip to the dentist {hooray for sweet benefits}, and {hopefully} doing lunch with a friend.

Friday night I'm going to spend the night at this girl's parent's house...gotta love some home cookin'

Saturday I'll be heading back home for Keeneland, spending time with friends, and Easter with the fam ~ dying to see my leetle brother and live vicariously through his spring break stories. 

And to have dinner with my momma! Hoping the Easter Bunny {am I too old for this silly bunny?} will bring me some Cadburry Eggs. Or possibly Mr. Hoppity will understand that I'm getting older and more mature, and now like new lipgloss in my Easter basket instead of coloring books...

Can't wait!

P.S. Please excuse the use of very old pictures in an attempt to make this "fluffy" post somewhat entertaining! I really need to get out more...thus have more to take photos of...thus fueling my beloved scrapbooking hobby...and providing for a more "lively" blog...but I will stop there with my rambling for your sake.

HS Reunion

On Saturday night, we had our annual friends Holiday Party ~ tacky Christmas sweaters and all!

I am so glad that all of our high school friends still get together regularly. It is sooo much fun to catch up, remember old times, enjoy a couple too many drinks, and pretend like we can dance.

It seems like just yesterday we were going to prom, dressing up for basketball games, and having poker nights. I miss those days dearly, but am happy we are still such good friends.

Cheers to old times!

Tacky Sweaters to the MAX

Sarah's outfit put everyone else's to shame ~ so funny!

It was also Jason's birthday ~ Happy Day!

Random Thoughts...

• I had an AMAZING weekend at home! Every time I go down there, I come back feeling so rejuvinated (maybe because I sleep like a rock in the comfort of my parents' home) and grateful for the blessings in my life.
• On Friday, we went for a birthday dinner at my favorite restaurant. I said I was too full dessert, but mom ordered me some to go....she knows me too well. I was digging into the dessert even before I opened gifts when we got home! Funny how I can always find room in my stomach for sweets...I'm convinced I store dessert in a separate part of my belly.
• My mom allowed me to open my birthday presents early since I'll be up here on my actual birthday. My jaw dropped to the floor when I opened these gorgeous earrings:

I pretty much haven't removed them since I got 'em!

• She also gave me a beautiful single pearl necklace, several new cookbooks to try, and an Excel Book for Dummies (apparently, I talk about work a lot...)
• My brother made me laugh by giving me a card in spanish...he's so random! I'm assuming the card said Happy Birthday, but the words he wrote in it were so sweet they brought tears to my eyes. I miss him so much.
• I've been learning the words to my new Carrie Underwood CD as well...I just love her! I think her voice compliments mine well in the car =)

...not to mention, she's stunning!

• I took a spinning class for the second time tonight, and I LOVED it! I may be addicted to these workouts. They are so hard, but really get the endorphins pumping =)
• I probably should have taken the class 3 times over today because I can't count on one hand how many pieces of leftover Halloween candy I ate at my desk today....good grief, I have zero self control around chocolate!
• I got two birthday cards in the mail today!! I am trying to practice self control in this area of my life, and I am not letting myself open them until Wednesday so that I have something to open that day. I can tell one card is holding a gift card, so it's making it more difficult to wait....
• Sorry this post is all about BIRTHDAY stuff...it's just as exciting as I remember! Only 1 more day!!

indecisive

{in-di-sahy-siv} adj. lacking definition.

I admit, I have a problem.

It is now 12:30am and after 3 hours I have just finished packing for my weekend trip home.

I know I'm only going to be gone for two days and there's no way I'll wear four pairs of jeans, but I just couldn't decide which ones to cut.

I know I don't need 5 pairs of shoes, but what if I actually decide to workout while I'm down there? I have to pack my gym shoes as well...

The 3 scarves? Each one goes perfectly with the separate outfits I packed and the 2 coats I'm bringing.

Yes, I can explain why I'm bringing four bags...

1. The computer bag (totally doesn't count).

2. gym bag (just in case)

3.  one for clothing, duh

4. and my toilletrie (how the heck do you spell that word, anyway?) bag

I've decided. I don't care who's judging, I'm going to have a great weekend at home no matter how much it takes to make that happen! Better safe than sorry. I can't wait to celebrate my birthday with dinner at my favorite restaurant, (hopefully) go shopping with mom, and to watch my little brother play soccer. Sounds delightful! =)

One Week!

Today marks one week until my 23rd birthday. In years past, I would count down the days until my "birthday month" so far in advance every friend is annoyed by the simple utterance of the word November. As another sign of me growing up, I have not even had time to think about my birthday between how much I have been working.

However, as of today I have 1 week left of being 22, so I thought I better start getting excited!

I don't think my actual birthday will be anything special (as it is on a Wednesday, so I naturally have to work all day...welcome to the real world), and I won't be with family or friends. In fact, we are not officially celebrating my birthday until Thanksgiving. Seems so far away....oh, how I'm looking forward to that break...

Anyway, here are some things I'd love to have one week from now:

• Clothes {of course} but more specifically, I am sick of wearing the same dress pants to work every day! New skirts and sweaters are always welcome as well! =)
• Black boots...without too high of a heal
• new gym shoes/workout pants
• Season 6 of One Tree Hill
• stretch gift: Louis Vuitton wallet to match my purse =) I know, not happening...but a girl can dream.

Hope mom is reading this!

Day at the Races

I may have gotten the best deal ever. Yesterday, through a group of "young professionals" that I am a member of, we took a big trip to Keeneland Horse Track for a day of trying to stay warm, tailgating, betting and fun.

For only $45, we were served breafast (Bruegger's Bagels-my favorite!), lunch (which was terrible and made me very grateful that I ate the entire bagel), and dinner, all you can drink, transportation on charter busses there and back, a tailgate (with flipcup and cornhole), admission to the track, and an afterparty once we got back home! Although I didn't bet on any races, I think I came home a definite winner.

The five of us signed up for the trip together hoping to meet new people in the area. What better way than being stuck on a bus for hours?!

I'm so grateful for my friendship with Laura. I may go crazy up here without her constant optimism.

As an added bonus, I also got to see sorority sisters who were having a separate tailgate. I miss them every. day.

Wonderful Weekend

After an awful week, all I could think about was spending the weekend at home. I cried almost the entire drive home, and after quality time with good friends I made the drive back in a much happier mood. =)

Mom and I went for sushi on Friday night when I got in town, and then came home and got distracted by a puzzle and mom believing she could sing oldies music.

On Saturday, I woke up early to go wedding dress shopping with one of my best friends. She found a dress that she looks stunning in. I feel so fortunate to get to go through this experience with her. I am beyond excited for her and her fiance, they are a beautiful couple.

After shopping all day, we went to dinner and hung out at her house (even though we had chinese food for dinner, we also made brownies...yumm!)

I have been so lonely lately (in fact, lonely is an understatement). It is hard to see the positive things in my life because I am currently surrounded by so many things I am uncomfortable or unhappy with. Being surrounded by people I love was just what I needed this weekend. It has given me new perspective, and I have realized I need to take action and begin finding out what makes me happy. I pray that I have strength to get through another week of work. I think I can, I think I can...

Goalllllll!!!

Change of plans...instead of going to step class, I got the pleasant surprise through a text message that my brother had a soccer game up here tonight.

Although it was "misting" which is MUCH worse than raining because umbrellas become pointless and my hair completely frizzes and sticks to my neck, I headed to the other side of town after work for his game.

I love watching him play soccer! The team played so well! They won 3-0, and my brother scored 2 of the goals! Woohoo!

Lil' bro is so excited this year because he was named soccer team captain. I'm very proud of him and am glad he gets to have the experience of being on a sports team in college.

Even though I only got to talk to him for 5 minutes, this surprise visit from family made my night :)