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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The First 24 Hours of Owning a Dog.

Remember how I mentioned that I may or may not have a furry companion come Sunday? Well, I may, and I do. His name is Einstein and he's a mix of a Yorkshire terrier and who knows what else, and he is already 100% bonded with me. He's the sweetest pup in all the land, but in the last 24 hours, I've come to a few conclusions:

1) He is not a poodle. No duh. But I've grown up with poodles my entire life. Poodles [generally] have a kind, non-territorial demeanor. Terriers are territorial, probably hence the name of the breed. He is pretty protective of me, and needs to be introduced to new dogs and most new people in a neutral setting. He's not going to be everyone's best friend right away, or even at all, and that's fine. 

2) He is a responsibility. I don't think it fully sinks in for many people before they adopt a dog or a new puppy that, to them, you are their whole life. You have to plan your nightly outings around when they have to do their business, and you have to be realistic about how many hours straight you can leave them to their own devices. I saw this on Pinterest, and the biggest part that stood out to me was "You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends. I only have you." It's so true. They spend a good chunk of their lives waiting for you to come home, to play with them, to take them for walks. It won't always be easy. But similar to having a child, they must be your priority.

3) He is overwhelmed. While he's new to me, I have an idea of what's going on. I know that I adopted a pup, he's going to live with me, and he's going to be mine for the rest of his little life. All he knows is that his previous owners left him outside, matted and full of fleas, and he's been hopping between shelters and foster parents, and who knows how long this home will last. Like most dogs, he lives in his happy-go-lucky present, but he's a smart dog. He's had a rough past, and it's my job to make sure he knows the 'rough' bit is dunzo.

4) He is forever. Most adoption contracts mention this before you sign, but it doesn't ring true until you have your happy little friend home with you. Short of your dog biting off your face, once he's yours, he is yours. I brought Einstein over to my parents' place today and while he's phenomenal in the car, he sat in the passenger seat and looked at me with pleading eyes, and I could almost hear his little voice asking, "You're not taking me back, right?" Dogs require unconditional love. Again, much like a newborn baby or toddler, you can't 'send him back' because he got into the trash, or because he barks at strangers. Well, you can, but you'd be an asshole for doing it. Like humans, dog make mistakes. It's our job to be firm, but always, always loving. 


I've had dogs all my life, but this is the first time a dog has been my dog. It's been two days, and I'm exhausted. But as my boyfriend continues to assure me, it's going to get better. And it will. But as they always say, patience is a virtue. It's not always easy, but he's worth it.

PS: Here's a picture of the little man - XO







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Friday, October 24, 2014

Taking Chances.



This week has been a whirlwind of stress and anxiety. Some good, some bad. Yesterday was especially trying. Maybe it's because it's not a fantastic time of the month for me, thus making me extra hormonal, but I was ready to cry over spilled M&M's. No but really, if there was chocolate available and I spilled it on the floor, I think I would've legitimately been upset and described it as the "cherry on top of my awful day." Wah wah wah.

A few things are up in the air right now, in several departments of my life. I don't want to go into too much detail, simply because I don't want to jinx the good stuff! Having said that, by the end of this weekend, I may or may not have a furry counterpart. I'm crossing my fingers for a good connection and good luck, but I'm also trying to stay rational and understanding. If this furry counterpart isn't meant to brighten up my life, maybe it's because he's meant to bring beams of sunshine into someone else's. 

I've found that there isn't much point in stressing out about what you can't control - you can only take a chance, do what you can, and hope for the best! Not only that, but I'm trying to break away from having to ask everyone's opinion about every change I might make in my life. From asking five friends if "this dress is okay," to asking a server at a new restaurant which dish on a menu triumphs the other, to asking my parents what my next step should be. Growing up means taking control of your own life and trusting your decisions, and that's exactly what I intend to start doing.

Happy Friday! XO
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Wednesday, October 22, 2014

A List of Happy, pt. 6

I've been wearing one of Ryan's t-shirts to bed...as a dress. It's so roomy in here.
Having lost almost six pounds in the last month. Small victories.
The last lick of cream cheese frosting from a slice of gourmet bakery made hummingbird cake.
Finally ordered my first package of frank coffee scrub.
When I come home to my parents' house and my dog, Micki, throws himself on the tile floor and demands his belly to be rubbed.
Discovering new music. If you're an active Spotify user and love acoustic music, check out their Afternoon Acoustic playlist under browse. On repeat.
24 days until our long weekend in Savannah. Errrmehgerrrd.
Coming to terms with my own personality flaws, and working toward overcoming them.


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Monday, October 20, 2014

Sale Shopping Mission...Complete.

As I mentioned in my post on Friday, I headed to the outlet mall Saturday afternoon on the way to my friend's bridal shower. It's about 45 minutes south of where I live, so I don't head down there too often. When I do stop and shop, my go-to is J. Crew Factory. Regular J.Crew is just a leeeelte pricey for my taste, but the Factory's sales are typically too good to pass up. 

The trouble with sales is that I'll just see '50% OFF!' and go nucking futs and buy all the things and most of those things are unnecessary. Pretty, but unncessary. This time, I went inside solely for the purpose of adding a few key pieces to my Fall wardrobe, a.k.a. my Savannah trip wardrobe. This is what I came up with: 





Factory waffle sweater in Colorblock here - I've been looking for an oversize sweater, and while this doesn't exactly fit the wishlist, it was too comfy to pass up. Plus, it fits perfectly into my wardrobe color palette of gray, gray and more gray. Or is it grey? Life's questions.

Factory three quarter sleeve tee in Heather Chrome here - Brought this baby home only to remember that I bought an identical three quarter sleeve shirt in heather gray two weeks ago. Whoops. Still, this one is super lightweight compared to the other one. I fought the urge to buy every color they had.

Factory classic button-down shirt in flannel in Buffalo Blue here - This is probably my first real flannel shirt I've owned since I was little. It's pretty thick, but SO soft. I was thinking I could either wear it by itself or layer it with a navy tank top. I'll definitely have to wait for the cooler weather to wear this one.

Factory Gigi jodhpur pant here - My black skinny pants recently died on me, so I've been scouring shops high and low for a new pair. These fall more under the category of leggings, but they're not quite 'jeggings.' I saw them on The Lauren Elizabeth about a month ago, and I loved the leather detail. Turns out they fit like a glove and I caught them on a good sale. Easy peasy.

Giraffe necklace - Didn't see this bad boy on the website, but I thought he was too cute. Because he's so tall, Ryan sometimes refers to himself as a giraffe, so I told him it'd be like I have him with me all the time! Just kidding...but seriously. 


If you're a student (or if you've graduated and you're lucky enough to not have an expiration date on your ID), USE IT HERE. I saved almost $30 with that bad boy. And I will continue to use it until I'm 40. And I don't see an issue with that. XO








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Friday, October 17, 2014

Feelin' Frisky on a Friday!



Maybe it's the breezy weather, or that I just devoured Chipotle, or simply the fact that it's Friday, but I am feelin' frisky today. I may have woken up a little late this morning, and maybe things don't always work out the way I want them to, but today I feel like everything will fall into place. Maybe even sooner than I think. On that positive note, I'm really excited for a weekend of sale shopping at the outlet mall ("Very light sale shopping," whispers my credit card) and pumpkin carving! Happy weekend, my friends! XO
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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Three Steps to Perfect Curls.

One question I get asked a lot whether I'm at work or posting rand-o pictures on Twitter is how I curl my hair. Lemme just say...it's been a lawwwwng, long road of finding the perfect curling tool, and ya know, figuring out how to turn my wrists every which way without giving myself a third degree burn. The number of hair curlers/straighteners/crimpers (yes...crimpers) I've owned over the years is relatively embarrassing, but I've finally nailed a three step process that keeps my curls in tact for up to three days. 


Perfect Curls.




Step one: Remington ceramic pearl wand. I believe I have the 1.5 inch barrel, which I'm almost positive you can get on Amazon for less than $30. It comes with a little mitten to keep from burning your hand which, personally, I never use. I love that this one doesn't have a clamp, and with the pearl texture, it doesn't feel like it's scorching my hair off my head.

Step two: HAIRSPRAY. My hair is naturally pretty straight, and it falls really quickly if I don't add hairspray after each curl and as part of my finishing touches. I've had this one by Aussie for about a year now (I don't curl my hair super often), and the flexible hold is perfect.

Step three: I switch this part of the routine up sometimes, but this olive oil glossing cream from Fakkai is my favorite. It smells amazing. I just squeeze a little bit between my palms and run it through the ends after my finishing touch of hair spray. I think it adds a soft finish. I got mine from Birchbox, but it's also available at Target.


On my best days of using this process, my hair will turn out like this:


And this was on day 3! Happy curling, friends. XO



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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

I can't wait to:

  • Carve pumpkins this weekend with my handsome and a few friends. I didn't get to carve one last year, so I'm pretty pumped (ha, I'm pumped about pumpkins!). Maybe, by some stroke of luck, it'll be chilly outside, and we can sip hot apple cider. One can only hope.
  • Celebrate my sweet friend Sarah's bridal shower on Saturday. I love celebrating love, and I love giving gifts to friends who are about to begin their lives together. 
  • Put away all of my clean laundry that's currently residing in a heaping pile on top of my bed. Mmmm...maybe that can wait. Until tomorrow.
  • Figure out what to be for Halloween...and where to go...and what to do. Can we talk about how there's only 17 days left in October? 
  • See mom and dad sometime this week. Maybe I sound 12 years old, but I don't like to go more than a week without visiting my parents, my sausage-like poodle Micki, the horses, my kitties, and even our birds. Spending time at home is like hitting the reset button on any and all complicated feelings. I just sip on a cup of tea and they all slip away.
  • Hop in the car and road trip up to Savannah with Ryan! One month from today, we'll be en route to chilly weather, ghost tours, and the most adorable B&B. 
  • Watch my boyfriend play softball tonight. I haven't seen him play in awhile, and it always warms my little heart to see him run like a gazelle across the field (sorry not sorry, babe).
XO
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Sunday, October 12, 2014

365.

October 12th, 2013, Ryan took me on our first date. 365 (okay now 366) days ago, I sat across the table from this shy guy with perfect cheek bones and kind eyes. He told me I had spinach in my teeth 30 minutes after he noticed, held my hand, and kissed me by the water. I knew in that moment that everything was about to change, and it did, in all the best ways. 








This morning I woke up to orchids and a chai tea latte from Starbucks. I returned the sweet favor and cooked us eggs and turkey bacon before getting ready for the lunch date he planned for us at Bella Brava, the same restaurant he took me to on our first date. We drank a bottle of Sauvignon blanc, ate eggplant parm and seafood pasta, and toasted to another 80 years of dates before walking along the same sea wall where we had our first kiss. 



Not to get cheesy/cheesier, but I will anyway: I really, really love this man. Thank you for making the last 365 days the best of my life - for making me a kinder and ultimately better person. I can only hope I fill your heart with as much joy as you fill mine. I love you, Fredsta! 

XO 



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Thursday, October 9, 2014

Engagement season.

^ My roommate's engagement ring...isn't it a beaut?! 

Can we just talk about how everyone is getting engaged? Maybe not everyone, but I know five girls who have been proposed to in the last month alone, one of which happens to be my roommate. What a crazy, exciting, wonderful time!

When all your friends start to get engaged, it's only natural to look down at your left finger and think 'I could use something sparkly on here.' Of course you could. Who wouldn't love a diamond ring? Actually, my sister is the exception to this rule - she had an amber engagement ring...but I digress.

It's easy for the non-engaged to get caught up in the moment and think "I want a wedding! I want a ring! I want to say yes to the dress! I want all the things!" I catch myself doing it as well. During engagement season, there are a few things we girls in committed relationships without rings need to keep in mind:
  1. Remember that a wedding is merely a [super fun] party to celebrate the love shared between two people. Wanting to organize seating charts, send out invitations with perfect calligraphy, pick the perfect dress and create the perfect flower arrangement is not a reason to want to get engaged. 
  2. Remember that an engagement ring is also a mere symbol of the love shared between two people. Wanting pretty, sparkly things is not a reason to want to get engaged.
  3. Remember that getting engaged/getting married will not save a bad relationship. Once social media 'likes' start to dwindle, and the post-wedding thank you notes are mailed, married couples are a lot like not married couples...just with a lot of added responsibility. Marriage will not change a cheater, a liar, or someone who is just plain ol' mean. Wanting someone to change is not a reason to want to get engaged.
Let's get real. I have a wedding Pinterest board...we all have wedding Pinterest boards. It's exciting to think about 'One Day' and your future with your significant other. But it's equally as exciting to enjoy the dating phase of any relationship, and not to rush the big stuff that will eventually happen.

On that note...I am SO excited for all of the weddings I'll get to attend in 2015...keep 'em coming, guys :) XO



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Monday, October 6, 2014

Better things ahead.


Like a good chunk of America, October is hands down one of my favorite months of the year. It promises cooler temperatures, the beginning of the holiday season, and new adventures. For me, it also marks the month I met my wonderful boyfriend and landed my first "big girl" job. In other words, it marks the month of big changes. 

The last year has been nothing short of incredible. It's been a year of growing up. I've gained a new circle of friends, knowledge of what some might call the "real world," and I've fallen in love, for what I truly believe will be the last time. 

While this year has been unpredictable in the best of ways, I'm the kind of person who is always thinking about the next step. Whether it's the next step in my relationship or the next step in my career, I like to be a step ahead of the game. I think about the future more often than not. And although it's important to live in the present, I think it's equally as important to look ahead...regardless of what's holding you back in the past. Because when times get tough, it's crucial to remember that there are better times ahead. 

XO















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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Bare Necessities.

Since I'm always on the go, I've carried my make up in a sparkly purple bag for the last four years. When I first moved into my apartment, I really wanted to create a little vanity corner on my bathroom counter. I spent $25 on a cute little makeup holder with designated space for my lipsticks, brushes, palettes and liners. I promised myself that I would take time in the morning to do my make up so I wouldn't have to sit in the parking garage at work for 10 minutes "putting on my face."

LOL. That worked for like, two weeks.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a makeup fiend. And unfortunately for my wallet, I don't like to settle for cheap products. When I'm in a rush, these are forever my go-to's.


Bare Necessities.



  1. If you're not using primer, you're doing it wrong. I typically alternate between this one from Smashbox and a BB cream from CoverGirl. This photo finish primer will make your skin feel like velvet, and it blurs any imperfections. I splurged on the larger size for $50, but I bought it back in December and still have plenty left, so I think it's worth it. The Watts Up highlighter from Benefit works wonders, too. I wear it on my cheek bones and down the bridge of my nose.
  2. I was lucky enough to pick up the Naked Basics palette for free from work, and I have to say, I love it. I was hesitant about all of the matte colors (I like a little glimmer) but the colors look so natural, and paired with Urban Decay's eyeshadow primer, my eye makeup still looks perfectly in tact by 5 o'clock.
  3. Some people pick at their nails; I pick at my lips. Bad habit. I love having color on my lips, but a lot of lipsticks make them look dry. I picked up a four pack of these bad boys from Birchbox a couple of months ago, and this is my favorite color by far. A quick swipe and I look a little less like a zombie in the morning. A little less.
What are your staples in your beauty routine? I'm always on the lookout for new finds :) XO

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