Operation Productivity

{Blouse: H&M, Cardigan: Old Navy, Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: Aldo}

My productivity level lately has been off the charts. In the last twenty-four hours alone, I have managed to pick up my new passport, take in my dry cleaning, finally get to the post office to mail a pile of letters and packages, returned almost a trunk-full of recyclables, cooked every meal, taken the time to have a relaxing bath, went on a craft supply run, and finished a book {the second one in four days}. Not to mention that I also managed to sleep and go to work during that time. For me, that's amazing. Oh, I also watched the bachelor for the first time ever last night {which, by the way, is a ridiculous show.}

And I successfully put together an outfit.

Woah.

Nine Things

To be completely honest, {because, you know, it's so important to be truthful on the internet} it's been a very exhausting, challenging week. Little sleep, high emotions, and a very busy schedule was not a kind combination for this girl over the last six days.

In order to start this next week on a better foot, I've chosen to highlight the things that currently make me very happy.

{Taking the time to bake banana-chocolate chip cookies}

{My aunt painted and gave me this beautiful piece. The picture to the left is of my mom, around age 13.}

{This display makes me happy, simply put.}

{My color-coded bookshelf that stands out whenever you enter my living room.}

{Finally getting time to read all the magazines from the last few months - yes, there's a May 2011 on top of that pile. Don't judge.}

{A few fake flowers really help to liven up my room}

{The pretty display atop my dresser.}

{My jewelry tree.}

{And finally, I treated myself to a Lush trip in order to stock up on some of their valentines day products!}

Blue Panther

{Top: RW&Co., Cardigan and Jeans: Gap, Boots: Roberto Vianni, Necklace: H&M, Watch: Aldo}

So. I do know that panthers are not spotted. But I just couldn't think of anything else to name this post that sounded as good as that. And now, I have the pink panther theme song stuck in my head. Great.

So how was your weekend? Mine was wonderful. Despite snowy, icy, roads, followed by insane storms, I had a wonderful time visiting my sister, brother-in-law, and adorable little niece. But more on that later this week. For now, I will continue to hum the pink panther theme song while I plan a murder mystery evening with my coworkers for later this week. Somewhat fitting, isn't it?

Awkward and Awesome

{Button-up: Tommy Hilfiger, Cardigan: Gap, Jeans: American Eagle, Boots: Steve Madden, Necklace: Aldo}

Awkward:
- The wave of nauseousness that sent me home for an unpleasant lunch hour. It's gone now, but my goodness was that unpleasant.
- Going skating for the first time in many years. I'm pretty sure that I looked like a baby giraffe trying to stand up for the first time when I was on the ice. A little sad considering I used to figure skate competitively. Yeah, it's been that long. But! I managed not to fall, which is always a plus.
- Not falling while skating, but when I got home I slipped on the ice two steps from my front door and landed right on my back. Hello, bruised hand and back.
- Falling, again, the next morning on my way to work and cutting my foot bad enough for it to start bleeding. Then, not noticing the gushing blood until later and realizing that I had been walking around the office like that for at least twenty minutes. Gross.


Awesome:
- It snowed like crazy this week! I'm so happy because for a little while there I thought I was going to go a year without seeing snow. And that would just not have been awesome.
- Getting to go see my sister, brother-in-law, and adorable niece this weekend! She's started to stand up!
- Peanut butter, jam, and banana sandwiches. I have been loving them lately - especially with my mom's homemade jam. Yumm.
- Dreading the idea of wiping all the snow and ice off my car and then discovering that my coworker went ahead and did it for me!
- Reading a really great book. {"Five Quarters of the Orange," by Joanne Harris that my mom gave me to read ages ago}
- Doing a pre-spring cleaning of my house. I realize cleaning may not be "awesome" for many people, but I find it very cathartic.
- The number of people on my staff team that are applying to return for the next school year. It makes me happy to know how many of them have enjoyed their year enough to want to come back and do it all again.

First Year

{from here}

Today, I find myself missing first year.

It seems so long ago, but also so crystal clear that it could have been just days ago. My first night living on my own was spent huddled on my bed in my teeny tiny dorm room, reading. Because I sure knew how to party.  I remember - just for a second - missing high school and the ease and comfort of it all. I had no idea what was in store for me. The few high school friends that went to the same university as me lived in a different residence area and I remember feeling that I wouldn't get along with any of the other girls on my floor because they were all so outgoing. This assumption, looking back, was crazy. It was crazy for two reasons. Reason numero uno was because I had been that outgoing, enthusiastic person in high school, so why now could I not see myself in that light again? The other reason why that assumption was crazy is because those girls ended up becoming some of my best friends. Even now, almost five years later, I still don't go a day without connecting with them in some way.

midnight grocery runs. watching Martha Stewart during breaks from class while simultaneously admiring and mocking her. dressing up for formals. dressing down for playing football in a perpetually muddy field. laughing and crying along with those silly, wonderful Gilmore Girls. running around at 2am delivering secret christmas treasures to floormates' doors and pretending to be santa's elves. falling in love with John Mayer. escapades around our snowy, beautiful campus. performing in Grease the musical as the terribly annoying Patty Simcox. decorating my dorm room with inside jokes and fake letters from Conan O'Brien, written by my best friend and "hand delivered" to my door. 

As much as I couldn't wait to leave school and be done with grueling hours upon hours of lectures and studying and paper writing, I look back on it with such love now. For the first time since graduating, I actually miss the student life. It's not that I dislike the life I lead now. I appreciate that I am able to contribute to others having those same amazing experiences in university and I really do appreciate not having the thought "I should be studying right now" hanging over my head 24/7. But at the same time, I miss having my best friends right down the hall from me and being able to act like a silly seventeen year old. I guess, just like I did on that first night in my dorm room, I find myself missing the time in my life that I have had to let go of. But again, just like on that first night, I still have no idea what was in store for me. If I've learned anything from this brief trip down memory lane it's that what was in store for me then were experiences that I will never forget and have made me a better, happier, smarter, and more confident person and that - if experience has taught me anything - that's precisely what's going to happen in the next few years as well.

So bring it.

Resolutions

{Tshirt, Tights, & Scarf: Gap, Skirt: RW&Co., Boots: Roberto Vianni, Belt: Thrifted, Nail Polish: Essie's 'Turquoise & Caicos'}

Well. I suppose it's about time I get my New Year's Resolutions in order, isn't it. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, I present to you my resolutions:

Read recreationally for at least half an hour each day.

Watch less tv - go for a walk outside instead!

Don't keep junk food in the house - find a new love for healthier snack alternatives.

Go on some sort of vacation this summer. 

Floss every night.

Intentionally use cash more often when shopping in order to be more aware of how you're spending your money.

Be in bed by 11pm whenever possible on weeknights.

Plan out meals and go grocery shopping only once per week.

Take your vitamins.

Don't sleep in past 11:00 am on weekends. Because even that's ridiculous.

The Return

{from here}

I was going to post my resolutions today, but then I noticed that Sydney had returned to her weekly Awkward & Awesome posts - and I've decided to follow in suite. So, without further ado, here they are:

Awkward
- Last week we held a staff rejuvenation training session in an unfamiliar building. On my way to the bathroom I had a passing conversation with one of my staff members. As I proceeded to enter the bathroom, I heard some weird yelling but didn't think anything of it. As soon as I entered the bathroom I heard a loud eruption of yelling and cheering. I then thought to myself simultaneously, "What is all that noise?" and "Why does it smell so bad in here." As I turned to leave the bathroom to investigate the noise outside, I see a urinal in the corner of my eye. I was in the men's washroom, which also explained my two previous questions. I quickly owned my mistake and proceeded to the women's room, right next door. Now. One might think this story would be over. But no. No it is not. When I left the gender-appropriate bathroom, I was greeted by 34 staff members who had collectively creating a human tunnel right outside the door that I had to run through in order to get out. A really swell group of students, really.
- After a security breach at the university {not so awesome}, I have had to call several different companies trying to ensure that my personal information is safe. It's a very strange feeling trying to explain to someone in India that I am, in fact, who I say I am.
- Walking into another human being at Starbucks. Let me fix that. Walking into another human being so awkwardly that I actually squished her into a corner between the door and a garbage can.

Awesome
- Tonight's return of 30 Rock.
- Receiving a few more Middleton-related compliments this week. They actually make my day.
- This weekend's forecast: A mix of sun and snow. And hopefully it will look like the above.
- The pop up dinosaur card I made for a coworker yesterday. I wish I took a picture, that T-Rex was adorable.
- Good news stories, like people building an orphanage in Haiti, people still making a big push to donate to food banks in January, and other heart-warming stories.
- I still have all my holiday decorations up. Mini christmas trees, twinkling lights, center pieces, snowmen bowls, pretty much everything that I had up in December. And they may not come down until February...

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My father puts up with a lot. In particular, our crazy, big, loud, family full of weirdos who sometimes make fun of his accent {okay, that last part may just be me.} What's great though, is that he usually just sits back and let's us all be our strange selves. And then, once in a while, he'll join in {see above} and it becomes oh so clear that we're all related.

Happy Birthday to the best man in my life - I hope you have a great day and an even greater year full of happy, crazy times! Love you always and forever.

My First Birthday!

Image from here.

OH MY GOSH! I may be a day or two late but, IT'S MY FIRST BIRTHDAY! I can't believe it's been a year since I started this thing. It's been one hell of a year, with a lot of big changes in my life and I'm so incredibly glad that I made the choice to document it all.

In 141 posts I participated in the 30 for 30 challenge, graduated from university, I went to San Francisco with my mom, I became an aunt{!}, I got a great new job and moved to my new home {read: retirement community}, and had a lot of fun moments with friends and family along the way.

A big thank you goes out to those of you who have been supportive over the last year of my life and I'm hopeful for another big, exciting year ahead!

Treat of the Week: A Lush Life

I love Lush. Lovelovelove. 
I love what they stand for, the care they put into making their products, and the lovely, relaxing evenings they brings me. I make a point of taking a nice calm bath with a book and some nice music at least once a week. It's a great way for me to calm down after a busy week and melt my stresses away. Lush not only makes this time relaxing, but also fun. Many of their products - especially their bath bombs - have fun surprises hidden inside which just add another element to tub time.

From here.

The most recent Lush product I've used is the Phoenix Rising Bath Bomb. This brand new product smells just like apples and cinnamon {my very favorite scent} and turns your bath water a calming lavender color with a slight hint of gold shimmer. 

Other favorites of mine that I would recommend are the Fizzbanger, Twilight, and Blackberry bath bombs, the Comforter bubble bar, and the Big shampoo. 

So go ahead and treat yourself to a little bit of lush love - I'm off now to do just that.

A Random One

{Top: H&M, Jeans: American Eagle, Jacket and Flats: Old Navy}

I've been trying to write this post for the last hour and a half but it's not going too well. It could be because I can't think of what to say, but it could also be because I'm watching the movie Wimbleton on tv right now. It's distracting. All those athletic people running around a court, supposedly with a purpose of some sort. The movie itself is... interesting. It's my first time watching it and it's not bad, although I felt the story line developed really quickly. But it's cute and makes me almost want to play sports. Almost. Almost, but not quite.

And to close off this random post, I had two cans of ginger ale today. I feel like I should be on an airplane.

Let's pretend this was four days ago...

{Long Sleeve Tshirt and Vest: Gap, Skirt: Target, Boots: Steve Madden, Belt: Thrifted}

... Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2012.
2012!
Crazy.

This year marks the first year of my life since I was four that I have not been in school. So, I surely must make the most of it, shouldn't I? I'm still working on my resolutions - I sure am starting this year off in a prompt manner, aren't I? Maybe I should add that to my resolutions...

I've been reading Tina Fey's book, Bossypants, over the holidays and let me tell you: that is one funny lady. I can't remember the last time I've laughed out loud so much over a book. In all this reading and laughing, I accidentally spilled coffee all over the book. Classy, I know. But then, a friend told me that being such a klutz was "very Liz Lemon" of me. So... yay me.