2014 Goals

Am I the only one that really looks forward to the end of one year and the start of the next?  I just tend to get really bored and enjoy that "fresh start" feeling.  This year I felt especially anxious for some reason.  So, yay 2014.

2014 Goals:

1. GET REGULAR EXERCISE/COMMIT TO THE GYM - This is priority #1 for next year.  I HAVE to be committed to getting into shape.  No excuses.  As I said in my December goals, I have a feeling that I may have to find a way to go to the gym in the morning - which is really going to suck.  But it might just have the happen.

2. DEVELOP THAT CAREER PATH - I think I have now determined where I see myself in the next 10 years... so now it's getting me onto that path.  I also NEED to take the test for the CAE certification in 2014, hopefully in May.

3. BE MORE WILLING TO BE SPUR OF THE MOMENT -  Let's call this one priority #2.  I think to make time for my social life and I need to work on being more flexible to do things spur of the moment.  This is not something that I am traditionally very good at.  I tend to schedule my time and really prefer/enjoy my down days when I just get to crash at home with Samson.  So I want to work on this.

Goals Update: December

YAY, these goals are over with.  They really dragged on for me this year.  Boo.

1. Complete at least 2 items from my 101 IN 1,001 LIST each month - I did one!  #Winning

2. GET IN SHAPE - hahahahahaha.....  oh sorry.  No, negative.  Let's just say, this is becoming one of three goals for next year.  With major emphasis.  I am a little worried that I am going to have to give up more sleep during the week and get up at 4:30 to go to the gym before walking Samson and going to work.

3. EAT BETTER -  This one got boring fast.  I don't eat that bad on a regular basis.  So this one seems stupid now that I look at it.

BRING ON THE 2014 GOALS!

Holiday Honesty?

Guys, can I be honest with you for a second...

I am tired of blogging.  My life is getting busier and not in the really exciting aspects.  And I am struggling to find things to write about.

I feel back that I used to write 4-5 times a week and now I'm lucky if I get one mediocre post out a week.

So I'm not sure if I am going to continue this blog into 2014.  I might keep it up in the instance I feel a motivation to write or if I have something semi-exciting to post... but I probably won't be writing much.  Or at pressure myself to write much.

For now, I'll continue to write when I can and I will create 2014 goals just in case.

Cookie Party Recap

Sorry I am overdue with this post.  It's been a busy couple of days since the party.  Samson and I had a rough Sunday and I stayed home on Monday to keep an eye on him.

Anyways, the party was great.  A good mix of people and most came and stayed for a pretty decent amount of time.  I'm glad so many of my family could come out and a few friends who happen to be in town at the perfect time!

I tried to snag a few photos of the layout before everyone arrived - and an outfit shot, because I know at least one of you would ask...

In my cleaning frenzy that morning, I had to move all the wrapped presents from the floor of my dining room to under the tree (really where they belong).  I definitely think gifts under the tree completes the whole "Christmas tree" feeling.  Only downside - less of my cute tree skirt was showing! :)

I borrowed the drink bucket from my parents again which works out perfectly to stick cold bottles of wine and beer in.  That way people don't have to grab stuff from the kitchen.  It's not showing in this picture, but you can see it in the background of the photo of Samson.

The buffet that I DIY from the Ikea shelves, is the perfect place to layout the drink section.

This year I made a few more appetizers than I did last year.  Surprisingly, I still had a lot of cookies leftover after the party.  My family will be happy I still have some for next week.

Finally, this is officially becoming Samson's spot during parties.  He provides him the escape from people's feet, but also gives him prime location to scout innocent party goers who are willing to give him treats.

As soon as I put the cookies out he started camping out there.  My guardian.

As for what I wore, it was kind of spur of the moment.  I like this shirt because it's festive without being obnoxious.  That being said, there were quite a few Christmas sweaters at my party.  I may have to think about that for next year.

After spending countless hours watching youtube tutorials on vintage hairstyles and all the makeup application tutorials, I feel pretty confident that I can get a very vintage look without too much work.  It's definitely becoming my go to look for parties.

 The shirt I got last year from Express; skirt is old from Macys.

Finally, a closer look at the hair and makeup thanks to a goofy Instagram selfie.

A new Christmas song

I'm not sure how I hadn't heard this song before, but it has quickly become one of my favorites.

I wish I had heard it earlier and I couldn't bought a little angel for the Hales's Christmas tree.  It's such a sweet song, I am sure Kayla would love it.

Love those Andrews Sisters!

Oh - hey, an outfit post

It's been a while.  And I'm generally been too distracted to bother getting dressed for work.  Call it the cold weather, or my general work frustration, or something else.

I know there is an ebb and flow where I want to make an effort at work because it mentally makes me feel better.  And then I get lazy and just want to be comfortable.

So yeah....  there you go.

This is a fluffer post. :)  But who doesn't love fushia tights?

*boots - Old Navy (old), tights - Target, skirt - INC (old), sweater - Jcrew, scarf - Old Navy

Christmas time (aka the "emotional post" Sara has been waiting for)

Sara, I hope you appreciate the title call out.  :)  XO!

I know I teased about writing this big emotional post about Christmas time... and then I basically when blog MIA for the rest of the week. Good job Megan!

I talk about it every year on this blog, how much I love Christmas time.  Heck, I even had a 25 days of my favorite Christmas music countdown.  I am one of those people that is generally excited when the stores start putting up Christmas stuff in October.  I listen to Christmas music starting in November.  I decorate.  I have a holiday party.  I LOVE that Christmas spirit and general feel that the holidays brings.

But since my break out a few years ago, I find myself "forcing" that good cheer.  Since my breakup happened a couple of days before Christmas on that year, it's been really hard to move on from that bad feeling.  No matter how much I feel I have moved on from the relationship.  Just like any event in your past that made some sort of impact - it never really goes away.

I think the holidays amplifies the emotions of everyone - be it the positive or negative ones.    This year seems to be harder.

Maybe it's the fact that I'm frustrated with work right now.  Or that two of my amazing friends just moved away.  Maybe it's the lackluster dating - or lack there of.

Whatever it is, it's making me feel like a Christmas Cheer phony!  So I am doing my best to work myself out of it.

I'm making attempts to get myself out and about so I am not just stewing at home. I've got my holiday party next Saturday.  I'm doing what I can.

#100 - Own a real vintage dress

So after my experiences vintage shopping, I realized that this may be harder than I thought.  Given my height and size, I have not been finding dresses with a waistband bigger than a size 2.  Seriously...

Anyways, I have found that my vintage sweet spot is accessories - HATS - and maybe coats.  Or furs.  Or all of those.

So I am revising this to "Own a real vintage - something" and counting my fabulous coat and cape from my most recent vintage shopping excursion.  DONE!

Photo repost from yesterday.  I love the swinginess (yep, that's a word) of the bottom of this coat more when I wore it around.

And the original photo of my cape, because I haven't worn it yet.  But man, I can't WAIT to wear it.

December already...

It's crazy - December comes so quickly each year.

I was planning to write a longish - emotionally centric - post about the holiday time, but then I wore my new coat and felt it deserved a post.

So the emotional post will have to wait until later this week.

In the meantime, VINTAGE COAT!!! :)

Also, I had this alternative wreath idea pinned for over a year and decided this holidays, I was finally going to do it.

Here is my version:

I promise I straightened it after taking this photo. :)

Goals Update: November

I don't think I realized before this year, but by the time it hits October/November, I'm so ready for the year to be over.  At least when it comes to these goals.

1. Complete at least 2 items from my 101 IN 1,001 LIST each month - I did not do anything.  For some reason, November blew by in a complete blur.  I don't remember accomplishing much - probably because I spent the first half of the month freaking myself out about work.

2. GET IN SHAPE - Thank God for volleyball because otherwise, I would be solely relying on walking Samson.  Getting in shape is going to be my ONLY goal of 2014.  I'm going to do my best to get to the gym in the next 6 weeks to hit the ground running in January.

3. EAT BETTER -  Eh.  I eat what I eat.  Lots of veggies.  The holiday season is always tough because of all the goodies and the hearty food.



Can you tell I am losing interest in this?  :)  See you for the final follow up in December.

2013: The Year of Travel

2013 ended up being the Year of Travel.

I don't think I really thought about how much I would be traveling, but it ended up being at least once a month and only a couple times were for personal travel.  Almost all of this is for work.

Don't get me wrong.  I do enjoy traveling.  But when you take into consideration a day before the prepare and then a day after to get back into the groove, it ends up being a lot of time away.  No wonder I didn't feel like I accomplished much towards my goals this year.

For those of you who weren't following that closely, this is where I was this year:

February - San Diego
March - New Orleans
April - Baltimore
May - San Antonio
June - San Francisco, Palm Springs
July - NYC
August - Atlanta
September - Barcelona, Paris, NYC
October - Austin
November - Orlando
December - Nothing!!! :)

Did you see that last one?  No travel in December - mostly because the holidays really cut into half of the month.  And no one in my industry does things in December.

2014 is going to be starting off pretty similarly as I will be heading to Dallas, Vegas, and San Francisco in January and February.

Yay, Thanksgiving week!

I'm super excited that it's Thanksgiving week.

I am really looking forward to a short work week.  BUT I am also really looking forward to spending some time with my family.

Plus the cooking.  I'm looking forward to cooking.

I don't cook as much as I like for myself.  Because it's hard to cook for one person and honestly, I get lazy.  Why bother really cooking when its just me and I can throw some veggies in and be done.

So I am forcing Sprangers to come over for dinner tonight because I really wanted pork chops (well, I really wanted mushroom gravy).

Happy Monday!

Happy 3-0 Melissa!

Today is Friday (yay)!  And it's also Melissa's 30th birthday.

Even though I am having a seriously frustrating day, I am looking forward to seeing her and her family this evening for the Evanston Christmas festivities.

Project DIY - November

The November Project DIY box was Joan of Arc themed (I guess strong metal theme, I don't know).

Anyways, it came with two projects, a cuff bracelet and a necklace.

I really like getting this box because it gives me an evening activity once a month without having to go out and buy supplies.

And here are my finished projects.  This is the first time that I didn't exactly follow the directions as far as how to lay out the beads in the design.  Go me!

In total, it took me less than an hour to put together both of these.  And that includes some glue handling time.

Also, today I am wearing the spiked chain from October's box - its the gift that keeps on giving.

Oh, hey there blog!

I have officially sucked at blogging recently.  My last post was 10 days ago!!!

I'm sorry.

I will try to be better.  In the meantime, here is what I have been up to since then (in pictures because I'm lazy). :)

I finally made it to Girl & the Goat - even if it was only for drinks and appetizers.

Hanging out with this lady...

I had some (more) Jeni's Ice Cream. Black coffee and dark chocolate peppermint.... mmmmm

Samson and I have taken lots of walks.  He LOVES that its getting cooler out.  Me?  Not so much.

I spend four days in Orlando.  It was cold, cloudy and rainy.  I was not upset (since I was stuck inside), but this guy wasn't thrilled.

Samson was glad I was home - though he gets spoiled at Gigi's house.

A random dinner and drinks at Wilde's near my place.  It took about 20 takes to get one semi decent "we are pissed" photo.

One of the many outtakes...

I screenshot this photo from Instagram on my phone.  I think I may attempt one or two of these for Christmas.

With crazy storms a-brewing yesterday, Samson was my couch buddy for a few hours.

And, I am finally back in the office today and had a package!  I love when I forget I ordered things online and get a surprise package.  It's my Christmas notecards and gift tags from Brittany Fusion Paper!

Happy Friday

Sorry guys, I've been really busy and stressed this week - so light posting.

I've had an eventful week and head to Orlando next week for the final work trip for the rest of the year.  Woo hoo!!!

Hopefully I can post regularly again soon.

In the meantime, SPARKLY SHOES!!!

Happy Friday! :)

Johnny Cash day

I don't wear all black very often, but when I do... I feel super moody and alternative.  Even if I can barely exude alternative.

:)

Happy hump day!

*shirt - Express, skirt - Macys (old), shoes - Shoemint

Online dating observations

Given that this will now start my 13th month of online dating (oh my god).... I am starting to acquire my list of "oh for the love of god, don't put that in your profile/don't say that in a message" things men should not do!

How was that for the longest sentence ever?

Anyway, more often than not I find myself wincing when reading something from a guy.  Superficial?  Probably.  Entertaining blog fodder?  Oh yes!

So this new dating site asks the question, "story you should remind me to tell you on our date" and one guy actually wrote...

"The stories of the 'one-hit wonder' girls that I've gone out with."

Isn't that dating 101?  Don't talk about your exes too soon or other dates you've recently been on?

50 days until Christmas

Not that I'm excited or anything!!

Third times a charm... online dating

So - after trying Match and Eharmony, I swore that I was going to give up online dating.  It was not productive for me and more frustrating than anything else.

You can read my posts about it here.

Well, after reading a few blog posts about couples using How About We for dates, I was browsing the website and saw that they have a singles dating side.  So after creating an account, I decided to just pay for 6 months of service.

The premise is built more around getting out on dates and less about the endless emailing and texting and quizzes that these other groups do.

So I am giving it a 6 month try.  I'll keep updated (all 4 of you) on how it goes. :)

Happy Halloween!

If you were deft enough to notice in my outfit photo yesterday, you got a sneak peak at my costume as it was hanging on the door behind me.

:)

Happy Halloween everyone!

Goals Update: October

Not going to lie, I'm kind of over these goals.... just like I am starting to feel about blogging in general.  Maybe I just need to readjust my priorities and that will get me interested in writing again.

In any case, I only have a few more months to update on the goals, so I'm committed.  I can at least follow through with this.

1. Complete at least 2 items from my 101 IN 1,001 LIST each month - I did TWO!  SUCCESS!!!  This one and this one.  So yay!

2. GET IN SHAPE - Well, at least volleyball started again so I am doing something on Thursdays.  I tried to get to the gym when I can, but with class on Tuesdays and volleyball on Thursdays, I have only a few days a week to go and I can always find other things to do.  I am debating cancelling my membership.  I joined to have a way to train for the half marathon in the winter and also because of the classes.  And I have never gotten to  a class.  I'm going to try to focus on the next two months on picking classes and going when I can before making a decision to quit the gym or not.

3. EAT BETTER -  My eating has been sporadic at best.  Many times, especially at home at night, I feel almost vegetarian.  I have a giant plate of veggies for dinner and salads during the day for lunch.  Of course, some chicken or fish or an occasion piece of red meat always tastes delicious, but I tend to crave something simple and veggie-centric for dinner.  Halloween candy has not been helping curb my sweet tooth, which is really what I am focusing on - addressing that issue.

Yeah, leather leggings

I have been on a hunt for leather (or fake leather) leggings.  It's been a lot harder than I thought.  Either they are CRAZY expensive or I think they look ridiculous so I don't even bother to try them.

All these companies making leggings with stripes of leather or bands of leather have been nice alternatives.

Towards the beginning of the summer, Sprangers and I took a try to Express and I found this pair of leggings.  I liked them on, so I bought them.

Well today was the first time I bothered to try to wear them - I actually still had the tags on them.

So today, outfit by Express.  I LOVE this shirt, though I have a problem keeping the button closed on the top.

#35 - Make a new friend

I haven't really updated on this, but I guess I did this a while ago.

When I started this list, my goal was to meet some new people aside from my good friends from school.

I figured that I would make friends through work - which I guess is sort of true.  It's not that I haven't tried.  It's more that I don't really have much in common with people from work.  Most are older with teenage kids and the younger single people are, well, younger.  So maybe a little more like work acquaintances that occasionally hang out outside of work.

Recently, I have developed a friendship with Heather from Vavoom and a few of the other girls who have been working in our little group.

So, while I am really going to be sad when my two closest friends leave Chicago - yep, talking about you Brooke and Sprangers - I will do okay.  Better than what I think I will be.

On that note, making friends in your 30s is hard.  So I'm still working on this goal even though it's technically completed.

Project DIY - October

FINALLY, my October Project DIY box arrived yesterday and I wasted no time breaking everything out and making the pieces.

This month was "Punk Revival".  Still not completely my style, but more my style than the equestrian stuff from last month.

Here's the box - this month it came without all the fluff in the box, thank God.

The three pieces were a pin...

A collar necklace...

And a spiked chain...

They were all fairly easy (even the last one that they deemed difficult).  And now I have a few more accessories to wear.

Wanted: Cozy Sweaters

Sorry I haven't been posting much.  Aside from feeling really busy, I also don't really know what to write about.  Maybe I'm over this whole blogging thing?  It has been three years.  Guess I'll see how I feel over the next couple of months.

It's gotten colder here suddenly and I have to admit that my closet is not prepared.  I need more sweaters.  I seem to only have 3-4 thick, cozy sweaters.  Don't get me wrong.  My closet is teaming with cardigans and tissue thick sweaters.... but big chunky sweaters?  Hardly any.  So I'm on a mission.

I've been taking pictures of my outfits this week, and just forget to post them.  So here is my outfit from yesterday and today.   Enjoy. :)

Vintage Shopping Weekend

In a pretty quick turn of events, my weekend's tentative plans completely changed.  I had originally planned to meet up with Brooke and Sprangers on Friday evening and hang out with Brooke for a bit on Saturday, but none of that ended up happening.

While I was in Austin on Thursday, I got an email from the pin up photographer to see if I could come and work her photo booth at this vintage fair going on downtown.  Of course, I said yes because I knew it was supposed to be over by 8pm.  After a flurry of activity on Friday afternoon and with Brooke and Spranger's plans changing as well, I ended up staying pretty late at the fair.  I did manage to snag a couple of photos though.  The theme was punk and paper dolls - you can see my "paper doll tabs" in the second picture. :)

I did some window shopping that night and found some really great items.  It was an accessories fair so there was a TON of jewelry and hats and there was some clothing.

I convinced my mom late that night to go back with me on Saturday.  My aunt, Lindy, met us down there and we spend about 5 hours browsing and shopping.  All of us managed to find at least one thing, but I definitely hit it big.  

I got a great jacket....

and amazing floor length velvet opera cape (with the original tag)

this adorable hat

and a nice necklace (no picture sorry).

I tried on SOOO many hats between Friday night and Saturday.  I love hats.  I think I need to just make that my thing... hats. :)

Here are two I didn't end up getting.

I had a blast hanging on with my mom and aunt and it reaffirmed my love of vintage shopping.  While I may not be able to fit most of the vintage clothes (why were all the women so tiny), I can certainly partake in the accessories!

Ugh.... Monday

After my babysitting weekend, I am exhausted.

Kayla didn't sleep well, so I was up a good portion of the night trying to negotiate her to sleep and eventually prying my hand from her death grip and barrel rolling across the floor to get out of her room. :)

Even with a quick nap yesterday and a fairly early bedtime last night, I'm still tired.  This is going to be a long week.

Also, its officially becoming fall weather when it is pretty cold in the morning.

Today's outfit was strictly an effort to stay warm, be comfortable and still look presentable for work.

*jeans - Gap, shoes - Sole Society, sweater - Express (old), tshirt - Victoria's Secret, scarf - Gap

#71 - Babysit Kayla for a weekend

Back when I added this to my list, my thought was "It will be great.  I can take Kayla for a weekend so Melissa and Justin can be back to a one kid family for a night."

Well, this past weekend was Melissa and Justin's 4 year anniversary and months ago they had asked me if I would be willing to babysit both of the kids so they could go out of town for the weekend.

Knowing that I would most likely be overwhelmed with both kids and my own furry baby, I solicited my mom to help me.

And BOY was I right.  For the most part, they were really easy kids.  The difficultly mainly came at night when I was up lying on the floor of Kayla's room because she wouldn't release the death grip she had on my hand and then Brody woke up crying.

I honestly don't know how you single parents or parents who have to be single parents occasionally.

So even though my list said babysit Kayla, I'm counting it because we had a 1:1 kid/adult ratio. :)

They were good kids and I managed to snap a couple photos while eating dinner (sorry they are blurry) to send to Justin so they would stop texting me.  :)

Kayla loves to watch videos on the ipad.  Gigi was trying to find some good ones for her.

Warning - boring post ahead

You guys - work sucks right now.  My meeting planner just gave me her two weeks notice last week so now I am doing double duty.  When we have our biggest meeting coming up in a month, an incentives trip we are coordinating travel for (at the same time as the meeting), and then three meetings in the first three months of 2014.  Yeah, I'm feeling stressed.

So posting may be lighter than I intended for it to be.  Sorry.

Here's an outfit post to make you feel better.  :)  The weather has been cool at night but then gets into the 70s during the day - so fun to try to plan for!

*skirt & sweater - Jcrew (old), shoes - Nine West (old), necklace - a cute boutique shop in Milwaukee

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

My mom is the best mom ever and bought me The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Limited Edition set.   

The set includes a blue ray version of the movie with a 3D option, a book of the timeline of the development of the movie, a wizard of oz notebook, three pins of the 3 things her friends ask for, a globe (see below) and a thumbdrive of the red shoes.

So awesome.

Also, when I took out the globe I realized that he had a little button.  I pushed it and that's what happens...  As you can tell from the video, I was pretty excited.