When Times get Tough, the Tough........ Go Shopping!

I often update you on my 'current state' when I happen to have a cute little view of my laptop, Lilly planner, pens/highlighter, & functional notebooks (used for my many lists!) & typically, a cup of coffee close by. But right now, this is me:

Pure shopping BLiSS!
Ohhhh yeaaaaaa :)

Times have been way too tough & heavy lately! & Lucky for my little broke hiney, I got my tax returns just in the nick of time! I know it's a horrible habit, but when I'm feeling down & out I shop! Bad for my wallet & emotions, but great for the economy! Right? Trying to justify here!

Don't worry, as irresponsible as I am I didn't take my tax returns & run off into the sunset. I did pay bills first. & yes, I paid all of them. All our accounts are current! & while that cheered me up (& de-stressed me,) it wasn't quiiiite what my little heart needed ;)
& I may or may not have made a payment on my student loan that wasn't due until APRIL... ThankYouVeryMuch!

Behold.... The fruits of my shopping labors!

A couple 'electronics'! Please excuse me blogging about a car charger, but I've always wanted one & I snagged this little baby for $2.50 on Amazon! Can you say Steal!?!



3 words... Oooh La Laaa!
I love, love, LOVE the blush tone of this shoe. I can already tell, it's going to be a spring go-to. & whaddya-know?! It goes perfectly with this!

I've always wanted a white dress with little eyelet details (hard to see in this pic!) & I think it's going to be perrr-fect for Keeneland this spring!! Now I just have to get going on my tan so my skin doesn't match this dress! Anyone have suggestions for a good place to get a spray tan? I'm really trying to break my 'bed' habit because I'm starting to get a little nervous about laying under those harsh bulbs! I love Louis Vuitton (more than my heart can stand,) but I don't want to look like one of their bags when I'm 30!

I also purchased this precious top which you may remember from this post!



I made all of these purchases online so naturally, the anticipation is killing me! I can't wait until these arrive & I get to play! I'm feeling mildly anxious because, of course, I'm worried some things won't be as great as I want them to be once they arrive. But part of me loves shopping online because of that anticipation. It's so fun waiting for things to arrive & so exciting when you see that box waiting on your doorstep!
I know, I know... That's a sure sign I need to find a Shopper's Anonymous meeting.
"Hi, I'm Austin & I have a serious shopping habit which I lean on in difficult & happy times."
Hiiiii Austin.

I'm sorry, but I've battened down my financial hatches in a serious way & once my tax returns came, I decided to have a little fun! Like I said, I paid bills & I even saved some of it! So frankly, I deserve the above purchases :)

XOXO!!

P.S. Thank you to those of you who commented/tweeted/etc about my previous post. It was incredibly difficult to write but the encouragement I got from you all made it so worthwhile... Just knowing people read it & appreciated it! Your thoughts, prayers, & offerings of support are so precious to me! I love you sweet girls! Kiss Kiss, Hug Hug!!
Seriously..... THANK YOU!! :)))

Tough Times Don't Last... Tough People Do.

Alright, so I know the last few posts of mine have been kinda' heavy, so if you're sick of it, skip on to the next blog on your reading list because this is going to be a heavy one. Maybe it's selfish & maybe I'm incredibly self-absorbed, but this blog is my outlet. It serves as a diary for me at times & I usually feel better if I can just get things off my chest. It's late, so it might be short, if that makes those of you rolling your eyes feel any better!

I seriously cannot, for the life of me, figure out what my problem is lately. I have been such a hot mess! I've been sick most of last week & am starting to feel semi-normal today but it has thrown me for a complete loop. Not only was I feeling less like myself before I got sick, but now it's even worse. I hate being sick. I hate not being productive & like anyone, I hate feeling like poo. Unfortunately life still goes on & I had to try & keep up with my regularly scheduled obligations. (I.E. Work... Ugh.) Unfortunately serving is not the kind of job you want to have & be forced to go to when you really need to be taking it easy. Not that any job is, but being on your feet running wings & beer for 6 hours straight to needy people just isn't what a doctor would order. I was on my way to my 5 o'clock shift on Sunday when I just decided, enough is enough. At what point do I say skip it, I need to take care of myself? Well, Sunday was it. I turned around & called the manager on duty & let him know I was sorry, but I just couldn't make it. Needless to say he was annoyed, but I just couldn't let it stress me out... I had to focus on resting & getting well so I could make it to my shifts this week. I come to work today tired, (which seems to be my current state at all times this month,) but still ready to work. Long story longer, a huge black line was marked through my name & all my shifts for the week. Everyone knew but me. Everyone. I talked to the GM, who luckily was there, & he seemed pretty confused by the whole situation as well. The manager who had 'terminated' me hadn't bothered to mention it to his own boss. Awesome. So tomorrow I get to call & ask to come in & talk to the manager who crossed me out & try to see what's up & maybe work it out.

Honestly though.... What else?? I feel like everything is being dumped on me at once. It can't just be one thing, it has to be a million. I hate to be pity-partying all over the place, but mother of pearl. I feel exhausted. I don't even know that I care enough to explain all this nonsense that's been going on to the manager tomorrow, so maybe he'll have some sympathy & work things out with me. I've never been this dramatic, always have crap going on, kind of person. I leave it at home, it never gets in the way of work. Work is one of the things I use to escape any crap that's going on. I mean, I've never been fired from a job in my LIFE. I take work too seriously for that to happen. For crying out loud, I was with one company for 6 years!! & left on my own terms! I don't know... I just feel like as soon as I get the strength to pick myself back up, I fall again.

BUT, I am trusting that everything happens for a reason. If one event has nothing to do with another, & all this just happens in our life for no reason, then I wouldn't be the person I am today. None of us would. It's going to be a tough time for me for a little longer I think, but deep down I know I'm strong & I know I can make it through. I have my family, my health-ish ;), friends & a man who love me... As long as I have that as my base, I can make it through anything! A great quote I love... "It's not how many times we fall in life, it's how many times we RiSE." & like the title of this post says... Tough times don't last. They really don't... I've been through some serious shiz before & I know it doesn't last forever. I'm in the thick of some tough times now, but I'm a tough person so I will last!!

Ok now, I'm not going to leave you completely hanging... I do have something positive to post! I am a substitute teacher for Fayette Co. (what a joke, right? ME... Hot mess & all influencing the young & impressionable minds of KY,) & if I could do it full time, I totally would. But getting called in for jobs just doesn't happen as regularly as I need it to. But I've got one for tomorrow!!! Get to go back to my Creek Dawgs & sub for 9-12 grade English classes! YAY!!! That's sure to lift my spirits because I LOVE getting up & going to substitute teach!! :)))

XO Lovies.. Hope I wasn't too depressing!!