Misc. Monday

Just a few miscellaneous thoughts that have been plaguing me for the majority of the day.

1. I leave for Myrtle Beach a mere 0NE WEEK from today!! WooHooooo!
{Vicky Gunvalson style}

P.S. Her book is next on my reading list!
I'm sure it's full of wonderful pearls of wisdom & maybe even a few tips on appropriate WooHoo times. I need work on mine.

2. 9 bridesmaids is too many... It looks completely ridiculous when your bridesmaids have to stand in 2 rows to fit up there with you. Get a grip & downsize.

3. Sweet mother of all things holy...
Your/You're
To/Too/Two
Their/There/They're
Where/Wear/Were
Women/Woman
Then/Than
Do NOT text me unless you can differentiate.
The boo's little bro gets it... Why can't anyone else?!

I happen to be the spelling/grammar nazi & I'm sure once he noticed his mistake he began fearing for his life & felt the need to correct it immediately, preventing further reprocussions.
SpellCheck yourself before you wreck yourself, y'all.

4. Happy 25th Birthday to Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen!

5. Denim jackets are BACK & I am loving it!
Per Pippa, I'll be busting mine out ASAP.

6. Ya know that saying "Don't make someone a priority, if you're only an option"?
Well, it's ringin' pretty true today & it's making me kind of sad for some reason. It's not like I should be surprised but my little naive heart is hurting. I guess it's because, like the saying says, I've made someone a priority with the faith & trust that I'm not an option. But time & time again, I'm proven wrong.
Oh well, on to bigger & better things!

7. I've never been an incredibly religious person... I am still finding my way & trying to figure out exactly what I believe. But I found this bible verse & have been clinging to it {for quite some time, actually} like it's my job.
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
Isaiah 43:18-19.
I just love the message in this verse... It never gets old.

8. I have a blonde appointment Wednesday & I am so excited I can't stand it. Despite the insane upkeep, I love being a blonde.
{That's right, I'm not a natural blonde. Shocker, I know!}

& finally....

XOXO!

She's Leavin'... On a Midnight Train to Georgia

Ok, so not at all. But I've had that wonderous melody stuck in my head ever since I made a liiiittle decision!
{& yes, being raised a Motown child from day 1 in the womb, I know the lyrics actually say "He's leavin" but that would have been even less applicable.}
I leave for Myrtle Beach a mere 2 weeks from today!!!!!!!!!

This is not your typical summer vacay.. I'm going to be in MB for about 6-ish weeks! A friend of mine that I used to work with moved out there around the beginning of the year to be the General Manager of a restaurant & bar called The Patio. She always told me she had plenty of room if I ever wanted to come visit & when she offered me a job bartending for the summer I took it! Don't get me wrong, it took a little thinking & weighing of options, but when it came down to it all I could think was "summer in Lex, or summer on the beach?" Hmmmm... Tough one. NOT!

Bo {the boo} did something similar last summer when he went to Vegas for about 2 months during the World Series of Poker... He said it was like a paid vacation & a great experience. So I thought, hey, why not?!

Got my paperwork last week & I am getting more & more excited with each day that passes!

Not gunna lie though, my anxiety also increases with each day that passes. I am stepping so far out of my comfort zone in doing this it's just ridiculous. I'm proud of myself, but I can't help but be mildly terrified. Why you ask? Here's why:

1. I'm a control freak with a capital CF.
{Funny how CF stands for something else I tend to be on a regular basis}
Controlling just about everything around me keeps my little anxious heart at peace, but this is one of those things I can't control. I don't know how it will go. It might be the greatest thing I've ever done, but who knows, there is always a risk that it could be the dumbest thing I've ever done.

2. I get so stupidly homesick.
I swear I'm a 5 year old trapped in a 23 year old's body. Without fail, every vacation I've ever been on, I spend the first couple nights crying myself to sleep. Not kidding! It's so lame. & my mom can attest to this because if she's not with me, I call her those first couple nights & cry about how I want to go home. Yes, I'm a loon & I know this. But after that first day or two, I'm fine! But will I be able to be fine when I'm looking at 6 weeks away from home? For my loved ones that will be in Lexington, let's hope so.

3. I'm incredibly immature & hate driving on the interstate.
Again, I'm a loon & I know this. I am slowly, & I mean slooooowly, {think snail without an agenda motivating them to at least try & move more quickly than capable,} getting acclimated with the interstate. Ya know, the do's, dont's, & WTF's. I am fully aware this is stupid. I don't know why, but I just hate driving on the interstate & I really believe it's because I just haven't done it enough. Not to mention, I've never driven more than an hour or so when I have been on the interstate. Maybe I'm nervous about nothing, but I think it might be kind of brutal. I'm not the best person to be around if I'm bored. I think I'll be bored after about hour 1. Just a guess, though. It may be less.

BUT! I really & truly think this is something I have to do. If I am ever hesitant about any decision in my life, I have to ask myself... "Will I regret not doing this?" & believe it or not, my answers to that question when making a decision have lead me to try many things that I really enjoy! Who knows, maybe I'll hate it, but it's only 6 weeks! & I'll get to look at the beach every single day! It couldn't really be that bad, right?! Right :)

So here I am, listing away in preparation for my departure! My momma & step-daddio got me these little babies specifically for my trip!

How cuuuute will these look while traveling?! I love them!
XOXO

A little of this, a little of that!

Don't even say it... I already know I'm a horrible blogger. Believe it or not, I have bloggy-neglect-guilt popping up every day! I'll be working or something & just randomly, out of nowhere, I think of my blog & how I need to post! Is that sad? Does that mean I need to get a life?

Anyway, I've been a mixture of busy & in somewhat of a funk. Which is weird for me during spring. It's kind of odd, because usually spring is when I'm at my best! The weather puts a spring in my step & I feel the best during the spring... The sun is finally out & I feel refreshed after a long & dreary winter. Maybe it's the mass amounts of rain? Who knows!

Anyway, I'm going to do what I do best & make a list of things on my mind. This is probably going to be incredibly random, but oh well, at least I'm posting! So here we go...

1. I've been talking to my dad on a semi-regular basis. Please see this post for background info... {The following thoughts are assuming you visited that link above & are now caught up!} It's kind of strange & I don't really know how I feel about it. Last summer my step mother called me out of the blue & suggested we 'open the doors' to begin a better relationship. Excuse my french, but WTF? After all this time, why now? & more importantly, how do I feel about a possible 'relationship'? I hung up on her (twice) & she followed up with a letter. I can't help but feel happy in the fact that she reached out to me, because our relationship was never great, but I can't help but feel sad because I wish it was my father who had called me, persisted, & sent that letter. Talking to him has been tough, but who am I to dismiss it? Normally when I hear from him it knocks me down for a few days.. It just takes a toll on me. But I'm an adult & don't want to live my life carrying this (whatever 'this' is) around all the time. Open mind, guarded heart I guess.

2. I'm going back to school this coming fall!!!!!! I completed my FAFSA form & my UK transfer application! I feel so good about it... I don't think I'll ever be able to express how much I've hated being out of school for the past year. I feel like I've wasted time, made zero progress, & have, in general, been a complete slacker. I don't feel like I'm working towards my future, my dreams, or anything for that matter. I think that's why this spring has been tough for me... I've always been such a worker. In every sense of the word. I don't feel like I've lived up to my true potential lately... & I hate feeling that way. I'm sure I've mentioned before that subbing has been so wonderful for me, in so many ways, but it also increases that drive to finish school & become a 'real' teacher. I'm really not trying to complain, the time off from school has been a blessing in disguise. It truly has. I've found firm footing in a way. My whole life might be up in the air, I might question every single thing I'm doing, I might feel lost at times, sad, angry, whatever. But I feel so happy knowing that I made the right choice as far as teaching goes. I know it's right for me. I find so much strength in that knowledge. At times I feel like I have no clue what I'm doing, whether I'm up, down, left, right, backwards, whatever... But I feel strength knowing I'm meant to teach. It brings me so much happiness, knowing just that one thing for sure!

3. I had been planning a post a couple weeks ago, believe it or not, & had taken some pictures that I had planned for said post! So here they are!

The family & I ventured to Berea to visit my sister & eat, recently! My sister took us to this adorable little place called the Black Feather. It was such a cool little place! I love places like that... Lots of character, different, & they always have great food! I was loving it so much I took some pictures!



Suuuuch yummy chicken salad. I am incredibly picky about chicken salad & unfortunately for everyone who makes chicken salad, I compare all the ones I try to my grandma's! It's a tough act to follow, trust me! But this was delish! Instead of any mayo it had lemon juice & dill, so very healthy!



Ham & swiss croissant with Guinness mustard... So basically a glorified piggy in a blanket! But it was so yummy!

The Black Feather was super cool, it was set up in a house that they turned into a restaurant! Each room was decorated in a hip, cool way that was different from the one before it. Of course I took pictures of some of my favorites!



It was just an eclectic, fun little cafe!

& finally, check out this sweet little Easter girl!



How sweet?! Love that little girl!

So that's all I have for y'all today... I'm not even going to promise about being better bloggy-wise because I think I've already made that promise a time or two! I'm trying to think of something to do for a particular day of the week... Ya know, Wordless Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday, something like that! Any of you girlies have some ideas?!

XOXO

March Madness!

I am a horrible blogger for being MIA for so long! It's all this pretty weather we've been having lately... I get spring fever in the worst way!

I really have been pretty busy... My mom & sister have been in town & have been staying at MY house for the past week-ish! My sister goes to school in Berea {& is actually already gone... She was on limited spring break time & had to go back last Thursday!} & my mom has been bouncing back & forth between Eastern KY {with my grandpa} & Illinois {with her fiance!} Lexington used to be home base for everyone... We were pretty much all here, but now it's just me! Needless to say I've been busy being the hostess with the mostest & lemme tell ya, it's a full time job.

Just wanted to pop in & let everyone know I'm still alive & kickin' & planning a catch-up post very soon! I love springtime & I feel like I get super-busy in the spring... Or maybe I make myself busy because the pretty weather motivates me to get out & go?! I haaate, hate, hate winter & I never want to leave the house during winter so the refreshing sun & warm temperatures gets this tushy off the couch without fail!

Before I go, let's all have a rousing chant together, shall we?

Ohhhhh C-A-T-S! CATS CATS CATS!!!!

{I know my KY girls can relate}

That's right bb's we're headed to the Sa-weeeet 16 & I couldn't be prouder!!
Although I will say this is about the time of year those KY boys send my heart to near destruction! I am way too obsessed with KY Basketball & the thought of us coming close to losing, ever, makes me so anxious!
I love college basketball & March Madness is neck & neck with Christmastime for my favorite season. Come on... College ball all day/every day PLUS the weather starts getting nice?! How can you not love it?!

That's all I have time for at the moment.... But you better believe I've been Listing it up with ideas for future blog topics. All to be tackled very soon!
XOXO & GO CATS!!

Listing & Lusting!

With Spring on it's way (yes, I am staying positive & doing every no-snow dance I know!) yours truly has been shopping for fun things to make spring even better! Because I'm a massive nerd I tend to make lists. My number one list happens to be a To-Do List, but the 'Things I Must Have' List is a close second & happens to be never ending. Here are a couple of my recent items :)

How sweet are these?! I'm obsessed!!

Let me just say, I LOVE shoes. I quite possibly am a shoe hoarder. What a tacky nick-nack is to a hoarder, a shoe is to me. I can't help it, I see a pair (or two or three!) fall in love, & have to have them. There have been times I blatantly chose a pair of shoes over other obligations... Like bills, gas for the car, food, etc. Irresponsible as it is, I can't help myself. I have a problem!
& let me just be completely honest here... Shoes always fit. No matter what size I am everywhere else, my shoe size stays predictably the same... I. Love. It. Subsequently, there is a massive overflow of shoes in my closet. Well, most of them still fit in there! I think I own more shoes than anything else, actually.

I went to Vegas this past summer & this was my 'Definitely Going to Vegas' pile.
[There are 13 pairs in this pic... For 4 days & 4 nights, just so we're all on the same page.]
(Sorry for poor pic quality.. That was before the iPhone entered my life!)

Problem? Some think so, but I just cannot help myself! I sent the pic to my boo, who was living & waiting for me in Vegas at the time, & he helped me narrow the selection!

Alright, back to my List!

I'm thinking these would be kind of perfect for Keeneland's Spring Meet!!

I also just looooove this!

Personally, I think this is seriously PRESH! If done the right way, it could also be perfect for Keeneland! This top just looks so fresh & lively to me. The exact opposite of ho hum winter-wear!

& as always
THIS sweet baby will always be on my List! Until I have one in my possession of course! I think that just about everyday I send a little style prayer in hopes that the price will drop momentarily so I can buy one! Or that one will just fall into my lap! ;)

& thanks to this stylish chica I've also been looking here for a few spring-y Keeneland options!

Oh Spring, how I love you & wish you would make an appearance in all our lives very soon!

Meanwhile, this is my current state:


:)
Being productive & I love it! Responding to e-mails that are in response to resumes I've sent out! Eee!
Also-- Please note the pink UK coffee cup I am sippin' from! Gotta` support my boys in blue!! They've got a big game tonight & I KNOW we can win it! Unfortunately we all have to look at Bruce Pearl the biggest tool of life in that hideously tacky TN orange blazer. Ick.

Have a great evening my loves! GO CATS!! XOXO <3!!>

Planning = Success!

I noticed the date of my last post was October 21st, so as far as I'm concerned, under a month is me getting better! Kudos!

Alright, let's get serious. It's nearing the end of the year & for most that means the Holidays with their families, friends, loved ones, etc., Christmas shopping, Holiday parties, & looking forward to the New Year. While this holds true for me as well, there is one other thing just looming when the end of the year approaches... Time to get a new planner. This can be a very stressful thing for me because the planner for 2010 allows me a month of the New Year to find a new planner, but after that month, I'm cut off from planning in an organized manner. Thus ensues my end-of-year, must-find-a-planner full blown anxiety. Scratch that, 'anxiety' is putting it pretty mildly. Let's call a spade a spade here... I completely panic. Finding a planner should really not be such a daunting & intense task, & for most, it's not. Find one, at a good price, & move on, (I would say check it off the to-do list, but these people probably don't even use to-do lists. Ugh.) But for me it's a whoooole other story. I am incredibly picky about a few things in my life, & my planner is one of them. It holds my life within it's covers! It holds my life together.

I guess I should mention the other things I'm a little picky about:
* My hair. It has to be cut & colored to my liking or there will be hell to pay. Trust me.
* My jeans. Yes, denim jeans cause me much stress & most do not fit my criteria. I'm not even going to explain how I have to have them because it would exhaust you. But basically, they have to be comfortable, not flared but not skinny leg, no fading on the thighs, (some exceptions can be made, but the fading must make it through a second round of picky-ness.) holes are acceptable, but again, there is a second round of criteria holes must pass, & they have to make my booty look good. I don't have a whole lot back there, so that takes a very special pair of jeans. This is the much abridged version of the jean-selection process.
* & my purses. Don't worry, I'm not as anal about purses as I am about jeans, but I'm still pretty picky. I can't explain it but it has to be just right. Functional, not too big & not too small, black, brown, beige or gray ONLY. That's about it. & while we're at it, I might as well show you my idea of heaven in purse form. See below, & prepare yourself for fabulous.

Le Speedy 35 & my life-long Love


Also acceptable for spring/summer is The Damier Azur Speedy 35... Mmmm, yummy!

See my point? I'm really being good this year so maybe Santa will bring me a special treat under the tree! ;) I could lust over those bags all day long if someone would let me. Along with my love for Louis Vuitton. Let's just say obsessed & leave it at that.

So! Back to the task at hand; the 2011 planner. I've narrowed it down to two options, both of which have some major pros. Which is making it so hard to decide! So I'm just going to lay it out, pics & all, & maybe it will help me come to some decision.

My first option:



Presh on the outside (see pink w/ polka dots,) functional on the inside (it's hard to see with this picture, but each day has an accompanying box for a to-do list, if needed... Love that!) & the full calendar view, which I also love because it let's me see how the entire month is laid out in one glance.

My second option:

Let me quote the website on this one;
"These useful and unique daily agendas are full of frisky fun! The colored tabs make for happy planning. ['Happy Planning'! Eeee! My heart leaps with joy!]
17 month agenda (August 2010 thru 2011) complete with weekly and monthly calendar pages, dates to remember, contacts, and notes. Stickers included."

I couldn't get all the pics of this one to save, so that's why I included the description.. Doesn't it sound great?! I love Lilly Pulitzer, I think their stuff is SO cute & girly, but I'm still stuck on that first one having a box for each day to write the applicable to-do list. But knowing me, & I have to be honest, I would probably still write it on a sticky note & stick it on that week. Ok so I think I just made my decision?! How easy was that? Well, now I'm really excited about this year! Knowing I can plan it in style :)

That's all for tonight, & I guess was pretty boring & lame. But hopefully I'll outdo myself & leave even less time between posts. I have so many amazing people & things happening right now in my life, I can't possibly wait too long! As a matter of fact, I'm going to start a list of topics to tackle. I know I did that in the post before last, but there are more now! & not all of them need to be written about for therapeutic reasons, but for celebratory reasons! That's a great thing!

Stay tuned ;) Xx0