good bye February

I hate February....  so bring it on March!

This past weekend was a lot of fun.  I made an impromtpu visit to Sara's house on Friday after work.  Spent some time visiting with she and Davis and Jerry once he got home.  I miss her at work, so I can't wait until she comes back.

Friday night I stayed down and M&J's with Samson.  My parents were in town, so it was nice to see everyone.  Saturday, Mom, Lis and I wandered around the mall for a while.  We found things we were looking for, so it was a successful trip.  Sunday, I drove down to DC to meet everyone for lunch and to take a walk around the mall (the DC mall) since the weather was warming up.  Then it was home to do a few things around the house, get some laundry done, and watched the entire second season of Mad Men.  I love Mad Men.  I just loved this dress that Betty Draper wore... love it.

It's supposed to be almost 70 here today... of course, it's also supposed to storm pretty bad.  I decided to take my chances with the rain and go bare-legged to work today.  It feels weird in February, but last time it was 70, I wore tights and was too hot.  So lessons learned. 

I also tried to pull a little inspiration from Mad Men for today's outfit.  Thanks to the shoes I stole from Melissa (thanks Lis!) :)  it looks more retro than it would've otherwise.  Nothing better than a shirt dress though.  I took two pictures, one with and one without the cardigan I'm wearing around the office.  Sorry the second picture is blurry, I was in a hurry!

*Sweater - jcrew, necklace - made by me, dress - don't remember - Anne Klein maybe, shoes - BGBG girls (Melissa's)

The end of the weekend was a little rougher for me... not exactly sure why.  Could've been because I knew that "he" was in town this weekend, or the fact that his birthday is tomorrow.  There's a good chance I won't post tomorrow... you've been warned.

Goals Check-in: February Round Up

I hate February....  so I'm glad it's over.  Although, I seriously feel like I JUST did the January check-in.

Anyways, to the important things...

1. SAVE MONEY, REDUCE DEBT: Slight improvement.  I have set up a regular transfer of money into the savings account per pay period.  It's not a lot, but it's more than I was doing.  Can't wait to get my tax return and add that as well.  Reducing debt?  Not really.  I am continuing to make payments which is good, just need to go the extra effort to pay a little more than the minimum.  I have a feeling this part of this goal is going to be hard for me.

2. GET BACK IN SHAPE:  AWESOME!  So super awesome.  Since I started my "quest to get into shape" back in October (actually, I think it started as - no more sweets, eat better - but still... sam principle). Anyways, I weighed myself on Wednesday evening for a little challenge that Brooke, Amanda and I are doing and I found out that I have lost 18 pounds.  18 POUNDS!  Seriously, I can't say it without doing a happy dance.  I'm so thrilled.

As far as exercise, I was really good about continuing my workouts.  I will be continuing to work out at least three times a week, though I am pushing to transition to running (you'll see why later) when it starts to get warmer out.

3. STEP OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE:  WIN!  This has been a really good goal for me so far.  While I may not have really stretched my limits with outfits, I did start off the month with magenta tights!  This is becoming the difficult time weather-wise for me, where it flip flops daily between 40s and 70s.  It makes it really hard.  One of these weekends, I want to take a good look at my closet and try to plan out some things in advance.  In February, I went out for the first time.  It was great to get out of the house.  Hopefully, I will be able to do these things more often.

Also, next week when I get paid I will be signing up to run the Summerfest Half Marathon with Lauren.  As many of you know, this is REALLY out of my comfort zone.  I have never really been a runner, but I want to get into it.  It's always been a bucket list item to do at least one formal run.  So thank you Lauren for giving me the boost I needed to put it on my schedule.  And a special thank you to Kelly, who I am dubbing my virtual running trainer!  She has provided me with an awesome training calendar and the offer to be my virtual motivation during my training.  The run is on July 10th, a week before my 29th birthday.

So all in all, I think I'm doing pretty well on my goals so far.  Work is going to start getting tougher as it gets closer to my conference, so this will be a test for me.  I have some exciting things to talk about coming up... but will save them for later!

Happy Friday (and bonus outfit)!

*Sweater - Express, Shirt - Express, Dress - (can't remember), Leggings - Express, shoes - Target

Another Thursday

I think the titles are the hardest parts of some of these posts...

Last Friday, my boss and I got into it a bit about what constituted a "t-shirt".  Clearly, we have different interpretations because he told me that my short sleeved cotton v-neck I was wearing underneath my cardigan (on casual Friday) was inappropriate.

Long story short, I was right... he was wrong.   But I'm still making sure that I am wearing to work today does not even steer towards the "inappropriate" line.



*Shirt - Nordstrom, vest - Express, necklace - gift from him, pants - JCrew, shoes - nine west

Sometimes I forgot all the little joys of working in an office.

The diet redux

This week has been rough on my new healthier eating habits.  I've been okay for the most part, but I've seen a dramatic increase in chocolate and all things that taste good.  :)

I think this was bound to happen.  After several weeks of fruit for breakfast, salads for lunch and healthy dinners, I just wanted a donut.  I should preface all of this that by no means am I starving myself, or drastically changing what I was already eating.  I was refining it a bit.  And I'm still allowing myself to indulge on occasion.

Thankfully, I should be back on track soon.  Working out has still been going strong, so yeah for that!

I'll be giving a full goals update on Friday since it's the last Friday of February (um... seriously?).

1 month

Today's post is dedicated to the newest cutie in my life... Kayla.

Happy ONE month Kayla Marie!

Aunt Meg loves you.

Monday holidays

Monday holidays are the best holidays!  Nothing is more gratifying than getting a Monday free from work...

This Monday would be a bit better if I didn't have to spend the day cleaning the house... something I've put off for weeks now.  I can no longer survive with a quick dusting and sweeping.

This past weekend has been successful though.  Friday it was beautiful out so I went to grab dinner and drinks with Jennifer, who walks Samson, and her boyfriend Rich (Hi guys!).

Here's a picture from my iphone... btw, the flash on the iphone4 sucks!

Saturday, I did NOTHING.  It was nice, though I did get bored quickly.  I started working on Alex's wedding invitations, which I had been mentally putting together for days.  They turned out great, and I'm really excited to be doing something creative again.

Sunday, I ran errands and finally fixed the leaky toilet (AGAIN) in the guest bathroom.

So I think I've been pretty productive for this three day weekend.  Hopefully the rest of the week will go by quickly because my parents will be in town this coming weekend!!

:)

It's the Friday before a long weekend and I'm feeling super skinny today. 

Don't know how this day could get better....  oh wait, it's also 70+ out!!!

Happy Friday!

A glimmer of spring

Within the last week or so DC has had a glimmer of spring in terms of weather.  We've had sunny days in the 50s, even peeking into the 60s.  Of course, they follow by a 30 degree day... but we can't be picky.

As I may have mentioned before my typical workout routine consists of a 30 minute workout with the 30-day shred DVD and occasionally a quick 10 minute run with Samson if the weather permits.

Yesterday was the first day I decided to skip the typical workout and just run outside instead.  I didn't have to wear a jacket, so why not!  I grabbed my phone, put on my workout mix and Samson and I went running.

We ran for 20-25 minutes until we made it around our community.  I was dragging him at the end (can't believe I'm in better shape than my Husky), so I brought him back home and made one more lap on my own.

It was so nice to be outside and get a little change from routine.  I'm looking forward to running again today since it looks like the weather is shaping up to be just as nice.

COME ON SPRING!!!

The Repeat

you've seen this outfit before, just in different colors.  I have a habit of buying the same thing in a couple of colors when it's something I really like and know I will get a lot of use out of.  This dress is no exception.  It's the same dress as the black one I wore in the color blocking outfit.  Today's color choices are just a bit more muted.

*Dress - Target, sweater - Jcrew, - Scarf - Old Navy, tights - Target, shoes - Dillards

Invites

Today was the day I needed to get back on the horse, so to speak.  Since the end of my relationship I have avoided a lot of the wedding related things I had been doing.  No more wedding TV, no more wedding blogs, no more working on invitations.

I feel badly about some of these things.  I didn't jump at the opportunity to help my sister make baby announcements and I feel terrible about that.

In the last month or so I started reading the wedding blogs that I subscribe to.  I certainly don't read them as thoroughly or with as much scrutiny, but I started reading them.  I keep an eye out for things that inspire me, one way or another.  Someday I hope to have a need to read them closely again.

This weekend, my second cousin (whom I feel closer to than that - more like cousins) finally chose a date to get married.  He asked me to make their invitations.  He had asked me over a year ago when they first got engaged and now I have three weeks.

I appreciate my family's worry about me.  They weren't sure I would still want to do it, or that I would be comfortable doing it.

The truth is I kind of want to.  I know it will be hard in some ways, but I also will appreciate a project for a couple of weeks.

So here we go... officially trying to resurface into my life in one more way.

For my valentine

Today is dedicated to you... the guy in my life...

LOOK HOW CUTE HE IS!!!

Samson, I love you even when you're so annoying I want to strangle you...  Even though you don't always give me kisses when I ask and even though you HATE to cuddle...

I love you when you wake me up in the middle of the night because you are dreaming so loudly... and when you become a big baby when its storming out...

I love you when you sing off key and hold the notes for longer than you should...

You are the best dog.

I'm pretty sure he's not really as angry as he looks! :)

Valentine's day

Happy Valentine's day!!!

I'm celebrating by wearing pink (including pink nailpolish).  I kindof like it.

*Sweater - Express, Scarf - TJMaxx, Skirt - gifted from Leslie, tights - Target, shoes - Nine west

I had a pretty uneventful weekend.  Samson and I went down to hang out with Lauren and the Hales' on Saturday.  Samson threw up in the car on the way home (awesome) and twice again during the night (double awesome).  So Sunday I decided we should probably just stay home and be lazy.  A coworker lent me her first season of Mad Men.  I had been wanting to watch the show from the beginning, so I spent yesterday fully submerged in 1960s Americana.  It was awesome.  I also baked cookies for our office Dessert party.

Anyways, my point.... So when I was walking Samson this morning I had decided I would stick with the mad men theme and bust out my favorite pencil skirt.  I bought it last summer because it has ruffles on the back.  I bought it a size bigger so I had a little room and didn't have to feel like I was squeezing myself into it.  (I hate being between sizes)

This morning when I put it on, it didn't fit.  And I'm not talking, just a little loose.  I'm talking.....  won't stay up.  See?

So I'm going to have to see if I can get it tailors so I can wear it this summer.  I guess I knew that I was losing weight and that my body was changing, I just didn't realize how much!

It's Friday!

Heyoooo (my typical Brooke greeting) :)

It's Friday!  And in my office that means casual Fridays.... a little something different with the outfit posts.

Lauren comes into town today.  I'm really excited to see her and have a little girls bonding time.  If only work would go by more quickly.

*sweater - Express, t-shirt - Express, scarf -gifted from Mom and Lis (my new favorite color combo), jeans - Express, boots - Old Navy

Accessorizing

I've noticed lately when trying to make more of an effort with my wardrobe that I am severly lacking good accessories.  I have a handful of necklaces, a few earrings and maybe one or two bracelets.  That's it.

I desperately need to start adding to the collection.  Especially rings.  Big cocktail style rings are so in and I love them.

Anyways.... this morning, I felt sort of "blah" about my outfit.  I've been on kick about wearing my hair in a bun, so the turtleneck worked.  Unfortunately, I don't think the hair photographs as well as it looks in person (in my opinion).  Also, it looks really shiny because it's still wet. :)

I still don't really love this mirror, but this photo turned out better than the yellowy one from the office bathroom.

*Turtleneck - JCrew, earrings - gifted from Amanda, skirt - Banana Republic, tights - Target, shoes - Nine West

A good sign

So my dress pants don't fit.  I'm falling victim to the "baggy butt" syndrome.  This is both exciting and irritating.

It's irritating because it means I need to buy new pants, which I don't think is worth it just yet if I might continue to lose any more weight.  Second, I don't really want to spend the money.

It's exciting because THEY DON'T FIT ANYMORE!  Woo hoo!!!

So I'm probably going to try to stretch out their wear until the spring time.  Once the warm weather hits, I don't really wear pants to work anyways.  Hopefully by the time I need to buy pants, I will be a final size and have the extra money.

Also.... on a totally unrelated note.... my parents are awesome.  They have been so supportive during this really difficult time for me.  I am so grateful.

Valentine's Day plans

Good news.  I have Valentine's day plans....

Dental work.  Woo hoo!

*Extreme sarcasm should be noted.

I take photos at HOME

Hey, I have a full length mirror at my house!

It's not very pretty.  It sort of has that weird rippling in the image.  But it was cheap and it doesn't the job I needed... to be able to view my full outfit before I leave the house.

I will probably revert back to taking photos in the office bathroom.  The mirror is just so much larger!  And why is it so grainy in my house????

*Sweater - Nordstrom, shirt - american eagle, skirt - gifted from Leslie, belt - JCrew, tights - Target, boots - Dillards

Adventures in Babysitting

Did anyone read those books?

Anyways, this weekend I decided to head down to visit Melissa, Justin and Kayla on Saturday.  It had been a week since I'd seem them.  I also thought it might be nice for Melissa and Justin to get out of the house together for a bit.

Kayla was a princess of course.  A little fussing at the beginning but then she slept the whole time they were gone.  She cracks me up...

Sunday* was a day of house chores and errands.  In my new attempts to eat better, I end up grocery shopping for produce every weekend.  I made small attempts to clean (ugh) and I finally bought a full length mirror!!!  I was more productive between 8-10am than I was the whole rest of the day.  I even spackled in my bathroom.

Lauren comes to visit this next weekend.  I can't wait.

*For those of you keeping track, I wrote this in past tense even though I posted on Sunday.  It's because some people (cough, Mel, cough) can't wait until Monday to read.  :)

In my head...

Have you ever woke up with a song in your head?  And I'm talking, not a song that is playing when your alarm goes off, or a song you hear before you fall asleep.  Nope, I'm talking a totally random song.

This morning, my alarm went off (my phone alarm plays a Nate King Cole song) singing the below song.  So much so that for the entire walk with Samson I was humming the chorus.

I do like this song, but had no reason for it to be in the my head this morning.  I especially love the retro-vibe in the video.

I'm soooo thankful it's Friday. This seems like the longest week.

The inner dialogue

Ever since I made the goal for myself to step outside my comfort zone, I am constantly having that inner dialogue with myself.  "Just do it... what could go wrong?".... "come on, just try it."... "see, I was right!  That was awesome".

Then the other day I posted about my new mantra, "I figured what the hell". 

It's taking some reconditioning, but I'm getting better at it.  Instead of playing things safe, I take a leap of faith.  Most of the time it works out.  I still have moments where immediately after the fact, I think "well, that certainly wasn't worth it."  And, sure, sometimes I have a bit of regret.  But how will I know unless I try?  At least that's how I reason it.

I'm thankful for so many people who help me every day with support, but recently I'm especially thankful for a friend that is able to provide me with a distraction.  What I needed right now was a distraction and I'm so grateful... more than they know.  I'm looking forward to this weekend for both a mental and physical break.

On a sortof side note,  I received a written letter in the mail from a relative.  I feel like the written letter is a dying art.  I loved receiving it even though it brought a few tears with it.

impromptu outfit

I'm serious... this weekend, I'm going to Target to buy myself a full length mirror.  I'm not even going to get into how I have to "see" myself in the morning to make sure I look okay.  This morning, I had to pick between shoes.... it wasn't pretty.  Anyways....

Today's outfit was thrown together pretty randomly.  All these fashion blogs I read keep talking about color blocking.  And EVERYONE seems to be wearing colored tights.  So, I took my own "work appropriate" spin.

Let's see how long it takes for someone to mention the tights. :)

*dress - Target, sweater - Express, tights - Target, shoes - Nine West, scarf - Old Navy

The Impending "V" day

So, its February... and you know what that means.  Valentine's day is right around the corner.  Now, I never really did anything special for Valentine's day.  Always thought it would be fun, never really did anything about it.

This year is going to be different.  Maybe a little bit harder.  But I'm excited.

I read a lot of blogs.... I mean A LOT.  And today, I stumbled upon one that hit home.  And it's about Valentine's day.

*Note:  May not be grandma approved language.  Click at your own risk. :)

Check out the post!

I'm thinking movie night.  Or sister time.  Maybe I can talk them into wearing something "fancy" :)

All my life I've been good but now.....

...I'm thinking what the hell.

Some words of encouragement from my new favorite teeny-bopper song that's out right now.

After a good kick in the butt from a special someone yesterday, I'm trying to have a more positive attitude.  One day at a time.

I had a great lunch with Sara and Davis yesterday (though Davis slept through the whole thing) and I'm looking forward to a weekend.  I have a laundry list of things to do around the house and now that I've packed away all the wedding stuff that was filling the office, I feel like I can finally get back into that room and do a few things.

Happy February everyone!  (is it summer yet???)