It's days like today that remind me how lucky I am to have amazing friends. We may be spread around the country - Washington DC, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Charlotte, and everywhere in between, but that doesn't mean we aren't just as good of friends as we ever were.

They are the friends I can call and talk to about my family, my work, my dating life, my doctor's appointments, and every single other thing under the sun and they listen. They ask me questions, they commiserate with me, and then I do the same for them. I feel better every time I talk to one of them, I feel rejuvenated, I feel empowered. I am so proud of them, so thankful for them, so excited for all of the exciting adventures we are all embarking on. Even though it feels like we're doing it by ourselves, it's not the case. My best friends are nothing but a phone call or a plane ride away, and if I needed any one of them, they'd be here with me the second I asked. Because that's what best friends do.

If you have friends like these, you know what I'm talking about. You know that smile you can't wipe off your face when you've hung up the phone, or when you're about to get off an airplane and see them. If you don't have friends like these, find them. Be that kind of friend, and it will be returned to you ten-fold. Friendship is the single most important thing to me; being a good friend, having good friends. .I hope that never changes. 

things i bought recently

can you tell what i'm going to be doing this spring? 

Sunday Night Sobfest

Do ya'll watch Army Wives? It's not often I talk about how much I love a TV show, but Army Wives has me HOOKED. I don't remember when I first started watching it... I guess maybe last summer? There may or may not have been an incident in which I dated a man who was in the army and made him watch episode after episode with me and analyze what was real and what was exaggerated for TV. He really loved that, as evidenced by the fact that we are no longer dating. I didn't really love the fact that he was in the military either - after watching this show, can you blame me?

But I am seriously addicted. And this week's episode? I may have sobbed through the entire thing.



It doesn't help anything that after Army Wives comes this new show called Coming Home, all about deployed soldiers that make surprise returns home to their little kids, or to their son who has had a rockstar senior year of high school playing football, but his dad had to miss it. As he is about to announce where he is going to play college football (Navy), his dad walks in and says, "That's my boy!" His signature words. Killed me.

Thank you, Lifetime, for ensuring that I cry out all my tears on Sunday evening, and also that I don't go to sleep until 11pm.

Jewels

Everyone has their own way of storing and organizing things. I've always been so psyschotic about having my things organized and put away. It's gotten worse as I've gotten older (and acquired more stuff) but I think there are still some things that I hvae pretty well put together. My jewelry is one of them.  

I keep it all in my bathroom, on the counter and on the wall. My necklaces have hung in some way shape or form since long, chunky necklaces became popular. When I was in college and living in the sorority house, we stuck pushpins in the wall and hung necklaces on those. Now, they hang on a coat hanger that was spraypainted white. I've moved this thing twice, I just love it. It's perfect, and my collection fits on it perfectly.

I keep my earrings in a glass box that I was given at a sorority function one year in college. I have no idea why I held on to this particular piece of memorabilia - I guess it just seemed too "nice" to throw out or give away, but I'm glad I did it! I keep all of my nice, special jewelry in that box. Anniversary presents from exes, Christmas gifts from the family I babysat for, and pieces I stole from my mom's jewelry box are all kept in my little glass box. 

I keep my every day studs on a ring holder on my bathroom counter. I change earrings every day or every other day, and I usually just wear studs to work, so this works out really well because it's so convenient. Plus, it sits inside the tray I re-worked, so if earrings fall off the holder, it's not like they're strewn all over the counter. 

The last thing I keep jewelry in is that little pink heart box. My exboyfriend made it for me when we were still dating, and it was really one of the nicer things he did for me. We went on a date to a pottery place, and I made something for myself and he made something for me. It's another one of those things I couldn't really throw it away, so I just keep using it. It's all about practicality people! In there are my nice necklaces that I wear on a regular basis. I have one that my dad bought me in Aruba, my sorority disc on another one, my single pearl and a strand of pearls, plus a few other random necklaces that I wear pretty regularly. 

So that's it! That's how I store my jewelry, and I. LOVE. IT. It's taken me a while to perfect it, but I'm really pleased with how I keep things. How do you store your jewelry collection? 

At-Bat Music. This is IMPORTANT.

I joined a softball team. It happened way too fast, and I was in the middle of a meeting and my computer was being projected on the screen in front of like, the most important people in my office, and my friend Kate sends me a message that says "Hey! Wanna play softball?" and I just wanted to clear the screen so I typed yes and then minimized because I was overwhelmed and confused and embarassed. Then everyone in the room started laughing at the prospect of me going outside and doing something active, outdoors, in the heat of spring, but that's another story for another time. So now I'm signed up for and playing on a softball team, and I got an email today. This email has sent me into a panic, a tizzy, a whirlwind.

I have to email them with my song of choice to be used as my Walk Out Song. This selection will determine so many things: how many new friends I make, how many old friends I keep, who thinks I am cool, how cool I think I am...so much is riding on this song choice.

Just...no. It's my friend Jason's song - the smelly shoes guy? It won't work.


This was Jason's 2nd suggestion. It's more of what I am looking for, but still not quite there.

Also, when I referenced his stinky feet in a previous post, he had the gall to be pissed at me for not also name-dropping, so here ya go Jase. Ladies, he is still single and looking if you're interested. He enjoys long walks on the beach, dancing like an idiot, and using his preacher voice to make you feel guilty about anything and everything. I love him anyway :)


Just...no.


This is Chipper Jones's walk up song and I could steal it but I think then I'd have a lot to live up to and well..remember when people laughed when I said I was going to play softball? Yeah.


One of my coworkers suggested Hanson. Even though there is no first place currently, this is a close 2nd.

The winner:

If that doesn't pump you up, I'm not sure anything can. Thank you to the biggest pain in the ass I know for the suggestion.

I'll report back on the softball season as it unfolds. Oh yeah, and I'm playing tennis. This could get interesting...

What would you have chosen? Anything I should look at, just in case? I'm a woman, I'm entitled to changing my mind 17 times.

Birthday Wish List

Birthdays are like, the biggest deal to me.

So it comes as no surprise to my family and friends that I have already planned my birthday celebration and come up with a wishlist just in case someone asks me what I want for my birthday. And I may have started thinking about it as soon as the clock struck 2011. 

Yes, I still need this

i <3 video games

But I really want Super Mario Galaxy 2. I may or may not have already beat the first one. 

ring

love this top, especially the bow

I am boring now. I only buy clothes that can serve dual purpose - work & going out. 

With a cardigan, this will do both!

I started kicking it on the tennis court, clearly now I need an equally badass racket! But really, I just need want a racket that isn't the one I bought 4 years ago with my ex-boyfriend. 

Obviously I need this.

I'm not sure but I think I like this

I want a new purse and I just bought myself some delightful new nailpolishes. And really, I'm going to have the best birthday present I can imagine - my mom & dad being in the same city as me on my actual birthday! I really don't think I've spent my actual birthday with them since I turned 20. And, my birthday is the day before Easter, so I'll be able to celebrate however I want! I just really can't wait! Happy almost birthday to me! 

BOGO Nail Polish

Remember when I told ya'll about Zoya's awesome nail polish deal?

Well, they are at it again. I didn't actually receive the email thanks to my awesome filters, but one of my friends informed me that perhaps I should check my inbox...I got an email today instructing me to log in, go to my account, and click on my PROMOTIONS AND COUPONS tab. Lo & behold, a coupon for Buy 1, Get 1 Free nail polish! You do have to have an account with Zoya, and the codes are only found there, but maybe if you ordered before and aren't planning to this time around you can share your code?!

I will tell ya'll - I LOVED the Zoya nail polishes I bought before. They are great colors, they don't chip easily, and I've used them a million times already!

You can choose from The Sunshine Collection:

or The Summertime Collection:

or The Matte Collection:



all images from zoya.com

I may or may not have purchased Areej, Reva, Faye & Mira. Just maybe.

I am a marketer's dream and a nail polish junkie.



Credit

I spent the weekend in Tiger, GA with a group of 100 high-schoolers. To some that may indicate that I have lost my mind. I assure you, I haven't. The teens were on FIRE -- they asked questions, answered them, opened their hearts, and let the Spirit move them. It was amazing to watch this group of young people transform from strangers to friends, from nervous to confident, from dread to excitement. To watch a group of 16 year old boys stand around with their arms across their chest Friday night, arms by their side and actually looking at the song lyrics Saturday morning, and by Saturday night, singing their hearts out with tears rolling down their faces. I am so proud of the teens, I am so proud of the people I worked with to put the retreat together, and honestly, I am so proud of myself for choosing this life and choosing this journey with God. Amen.

A Green Thumb

Yesterday, in an effort to karate kick the Tuesday blues away, I decided I am going to grow a garden. I have been thinking about this for a long time, and I decided yesterday was the day to put my plan into action.

My mom has always told me that I have zero patience, and when I get a bee in my bonnet it's now or never, so this time I was bound and determined to prove her wrong. I did, but only because I had to.

First things first, I went to the only place I would trust regarding everything garden.

http://www.pikenursery.com/

 I found a very delightful woman to help me in my quest to grow, well, a garden. In case you forgot, this is what my growing space looks like:

Right, there isn't one. I have a balcony, and that's it. When the nice woman asked me what I had already, that's what I told her. I said, "Well, I have the balcony where I want to grow things!" She just stared at me, apparently my humor does not translate well to plant enthusiasts.

We walked up and down the aisles as I ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the various things I could potentially grow. First she showed me these planters that I cannot for the life of me find via Google. They looked pretty cool - automatically watered, and you grow the plants through a shield depending on the level of sun you get. Those are $59.99 a piece. Anybody know what I'm talking about?

I kind of ix-nayed that for now because I was not intending to spend $120 on planters alone without researching my other options. We looked at basins and planters like these, and they were super expensive at Pike. I think I am going to head over to Ikea when I have a spare 5 minutes and see what they have and at what price point. Ikea is like the WalMart of furniture stuff, they have everything.



So, that's the long & short of my first day in the life as a gardener. I think it's not going to get much more exciting. I am slammed for the rest of the week and through the weekend, but I think exploring my planter options has moved to the top of the priority list next week (as soon as I regain my sanity). The nice lady at Pike Nursery told me that I should probably aim to plant in early April, so I gotta secure my pots! Crucial step in the process.

I am just so excited to have another hobby (among many) and a useful one. I haven't mentioned yet, but I want to start out growing lettuces, peppers, and peas. Depending on how those fare, I want to add cucumbers and some parsley or dill. Ambitious, yes, but I think with a little help I can do it. Plus, I don't have to start from seedlings, which makes me a very happy camper.

Like I said, a little instant gratification goes a long way with me, so if I can see something poking out of the soil immediately upon being planted, I'm all set!

It's that kinda Tuesday

Tuesdays are without a doubt the worst days of the week.

1. My friend is telling me about how his feet smell and he took his shoes off and therefore his office smells.

2. I work on the 38th floor of my building, and all I can see out the windows right now is fog. Eerie.

3. I went to my first tennis practice last night and somehow managed to pull a muscle in my gluteous maximus in the first 10 minutes.

4. I really, really hate running, and I have started doing "it" again. All I think about is how much I hate it.

5. It's 2:55 and I haven't gotten an email since 2:39. I automatically assume our server is down, or my email is broken, because no one leaves me alone for that long.

6. I have a 6:00 meeting tonight that will probably last until 10pm, and then we'll just repeat it on Thursday.

7. I have to pack for a weekend out of town with a bunch of teenagers because I won't have any other time this week. See #6. Help me, Rhonda.

8. I'm ending on a positive...we ordered some really awesome Thai food for lunch, but now I'm full and sleepy and I can't see anything outside my windows.

Any other Tuesday haters in the house?

39 days until my birthday! & 40 days until Easter...



A proud display of my 2 drink rule combined with

my love for all things Mexican, mainly tequila.



It's no secret that Mexican food is, hands down, without a doubt, my favorite cuisine. I have been thinking for a while about what I should give up for Lent, and wondering if that was really the right answer. Should I give up something and  add something to my routine? Should I just give something up that was going to be really miserable?

I'm already limiting myself to 2 drinks per night, what else do you want from me Oh Holy One?

Just kidding. Kind of.

Last year I gave up grocery shopping. Successfully, if I do say so myself. My hoarding habits haven't gotten any better, but I've been chipping away at the contents of my freezer recently and thus there are limited meal concoctions to be, well, concocted.

It should come as no surprise that this year I'm giving up Mexican food for Lent. In addition, the church I belong to handed out "Little Black Books" (don't get excited) with 40 6-minute meditations on the Sunday Gospels of Lent, so I'm going to do that daily.

The teens I volunteer with/for decided as a group to partake in weekly Adoration before Mass, so I'll be joining them, and as my own little personal goal I am going to try to make time to attend at least one daily Mass per week.

This may seem like a lot to some people and not enough to others, but it's just right for me. I'm not much of an evangelical Christian (it's just not in my Catholic blood) but I am firmly grounded in my faith and this is a really easy way for me to share that.

Plus, if I'm being honest, Mexican food isn't exactly the definition of healthy, so it's really a 2 birds, 1 stone kinda move.

And, considering my 25th Birthday is the day before Easter, well...we may just be hitting up La P to celebrate the Resurrection in conjunction with the fantastic blessing my 25 years on Earth have been. And did you know this is not even the first time I have shared my birthday with this holiday? And something tells me it won't be the last. I hate sharing my birthday. 

Happy Lent!  

Leopard Print Update

As seen in today's "Stand Out in the Spotlight" from Steve Madden...

leopard print is SO not out of style.

Phew.

5 things on my BRAIN

1. I have decided to start a 2-drink-per-evening max rule. I think it will apply through the end of April with the exception of 2 birthday parties. I have tried before and failed, hopefully this time will be more successful with a less lofty goal.


DON'T DRINK MY BEER (Panama Canal, 2008)

2. I have been drooling over this couch for the last week or so. Well, much much longer than that, but in the last week-ish I have determined that my life will be over if I don't have said couch.
3. Now that I have purchased my jumbo-sized television, I really, really need a Wii. Hopefully Craigslist will pull through for me.

4. I finished The Swimming Pool yesterday and really didn't like it, but I had to finish it to see what happened. I don't recommend.

5. I've started carrying my camera with me again - after football season it needed a little rest (so did the paparazzi, that sucker is heavy!)

The end.

Looking back at this list, it actually quite accurately describes my hobbies and how I spend my time. Drinking with friends, socializing, watching television on my couch, playing video games, taking pictures of everything and everyone and reading. Who said I wasn't well-rounded?