Blogtober day 27 : a letter to my younger self

Dear self (pre-age 23),

Quit buying teddy grahams and canned icing. This does not an every-day snack make. Sure, it doesn't seem this way in college, but the minute you graduate, all that trans fat WILL catch up with you and wreak havoc on what was formerly known as your body.

You were wrong. Skinny jeans did not, in fact, fade out after 6 months as you so poorly predicted.

On that note, gauchos were not a good thing.

(this was the only picture I could find as evidence)

Blonde doesn't work for you. Not only that, but it doesn't work for your hairs. They will die a slow, sad, charred death. Save yourself the trouble and don't do it! Also, don't ever cut your hair. It's rate of growth slows rapidly post college, probably due to the canned icing.

Always have help or a spot-checker when dyeing your hair. Otherwise, you'll forever be known as 'streaky hair' and end up dyeing your hair in a hotel bathroom in Chicago.

While you shouldn't fully regret taking out a credit card to buy a computer (because you needed it , and all), maybe getting one with zero rewards and 20% interest wasn't so smart. Don't worry though, you paid it off....eventually.

I hope my wise words have somehow touched one of you out there before you make the same mistakes. If not, ah well. At least I've got some good memories!

#favtotalsocial

I'm linking up with my fave Dallas bloggers today for #totalsocial! Link up and follow along!

Favorite pet I ever had

-The current pups, Motley, Motters, Mo-mo, Momosita, Momolicious, Momosa, Motts, Mo.

Favorite car I’ve owned

-Sporty Spice, my current car, a Kia Sportage. Even after this happened. :(

Favorite meal out, ever

-Ooooooh ok this is hard. Ummmm I had a really great deep dish pizza AND (at another meal) an amaaaazing chicken parmesan in Chicago. I'd have to say the chicken parmesan was the best ever. SOOOOO good.

Favorite food I’ve cooked

This simple one pot chicken alfredo is pretty dang good.

Favorite food from childhood

All of the sugary foods that my mom never let me have live Gushers, Fruit loops, etc.

Favorite movie of all time

Hmmm. also hard. I like Anchorman, and musicals, and things like The Holiday. No favorites though.

Favorite book of all time

The Harry Potter series! They are what got me into reading when I read them about 7-8 years ago. 

Favorite item category to go shopping for with a girlfriend

Hmmm I'm not big on social shopping but I'd have to say just window shopping/browsing accessory stores (like in Bishop Arts) is my fave.

Favorite day out – what, where, with whom

Out on the lake and to a patio dinner with friends and family!

Favorite color

It always changes, but I'd have to say red-orange and fuchsia right now.

Favorite artist

As in art, or as in music? I don't know that I have a favorite for either...I do love me some Mumford & Sons. Does that count?

Favorite song

Ugh. This is way too specific. I don't know!!!

Favorite paid entertainment I’ve ever seen

John Mayer

Favorite hobby activity that makes me get lost for hours

Blogging, when I get into a groove. It's so much fun and really fulfilling!

Favorite skill (past or current)

I played French Horn for about 8 years and I really enjoyed that. I wasn't the best by far, but I feel like I was pretty good!

Favorite advice I’ve ever been given

Don't use credit cards. Really, people, don't. You'll stay out of a lot more trouble and lose a lot of stress that way.

Favorite advice I’ve ever given

Well, I give a LOT of advice...haha ummm I'd say my best advice is to NOT TEXT A GUY FIRST! See my explanation above, because it applies here as well.

Favorite year of the best birthday I ever had… and why

Easy. Barbie birthday when I turned 5 years old. AND fell asleep before the party started. 

Favorite natural wonder I’ve ever seen

The Na Pali coastline in Kauai.

Favorite close call I’ve ever had

We had a serious icy winter a few years back in Dallas and my employer at the time didn't believe in closing the office (our restrooms weren't working) so I had gone to work. I drove a little Chevy Cavalier at the time and I didn't have lunch so I had to go out to get some. As I was coming back, about to enter the highway (but still going rather slow), my car lost traction and started careening towards a guardrail, which happened to be 'guarding' the drop off on the small bridge I happened to be on. I screamed and did the whole turn your wheel thing and finally regained traction about 12" before I hit the rail. I just sat there stopped for a minute. It was scary!

My favorite flower – purchased

-Peonies

My favorite flower or plant – personally grown

-my blue/turning pink Hydrangea in our front yard!

My favorite hair day ever?

-back when I had hair. :( see post from Friday.

The most favorite gift I’ve ever gotten – what and from whom?

-Hmmm this is really hard! When we first started dating, Mark bought me tickets to see John Mayer in Austin, so that was fun. I also got my DSLR for my birthday this year and I've loved having that!

Favorite unusual pet I’ve ever had

We had a turtle once named Diddly Squat that was pretty awesome. He successfully escaped the jaws of our dog Lucky 1 out of 2 times...

Favorite outdoor smell

-Campfire, easy!!!

Favorite Saturday night ever?

-well this is specific...ummmm I don't know?!

My favorite non-relative adult growing up

-Hahahah these questions are hilarious. Non-relative adult, hmm? Well my first grade teacher (Miss Purdy) was pretty awesome and she always remembered me when I ran into her around town. Even to this day!

Favorite TV rerun I could watch 50 times?

-the Office : beach games

Favorite item no one knows I own?

-What? Um...my uncle gave us our own stars when we were younger?

Favorite competent activity I do?

I really like to play volleyball, but haven't in YEARS!

Favorite food item I can never run out of?

Macaroni and cheese, always.

The favorite picture I’ve ever taken?

This is kind of the worst quality, and I guess my friend Terra actually took it. But I really like it for some unknown reason!

Favorite secret I still safeguard? (don’t reveal it!)

duh.

Five on Friday, 2014 volume 9

Phew! What a week it has been! 

It's Friday now, so that means five on Friday!!! 

-one-

I finally finished watching the third season of Scandal. This season was kind of slow, but I feel like they could go a million ways after the season finale! If you haven't watched Scandal I suggest you do!

-two-

I'm obsessed with these treats. They are one of my two favorite desserts EVER. Seriously. I eat the whole pan within about 2 days! #fatgirlproblems

I'll post the recipe another day!

-three-

I had such a fun weekend with these two last weekend and we are going to make this one another one for the books! We are off to explore Fort Worth to celebrate Jayde's birthday and Jody's graduation from Aveda!

-four-

We have finally, FINALLY decided on a vacation. Mark married an adventurous girl (when it comes to going places) and we have been waffling over vacation spots for about 6 months. We are trying to do it on a budget and we finally found a good deal!

We are going to California in September for 4 days. We are staying at a resort on the beach in Oxnard, which is halfway between Malibu and Santa Barbara. The flexible plans include driving up and down the PCH, visiting Malibu, Santa Barbara, and the island of Santa Cruz for hiking, kayaking, and hopefully some whale watching, plus possibly a trip to wine country! In our spare time, we will be soaking up the California sun at the beach and in the pool. I can't WAIT! Please give me any tips or must-sees in the area!

-five-

Most importantly,

Five on Friday: 2014, volume 8

I'm rounding out my week with five on Friday! Today I'm linked up with Darci.

 This week it's a random compilation of all the things I was doing when I wasn't blogging over the past month and a half. Happy Friday!

-one-

My sister granted all immediate family members the 'right' to watch her kids for a few weekends in the spring due to some travel plans, so Mark and I took one of the first shifts in late March and had Audrey and Noah come spend about 48 hours at our house. We started off big with the plane museum, Chick fil a, and the park. By the end of the weekend we were playing in the front yard in our jammies and keeping it casual. We had a fun time and the kids were on their best behavior, so it all went well. I'm not going to mention the fact that I haven't gone a day without severe back pain since then...

-two-

We rang in Luke, Mason, and Griffin's birthdays in mid April and had a funny moment when Mark attempted to take all of the giant balloons from the party back to Andrea's house. They lasted like this for about 2 minutes before he got above 15 mph. Then they simultaneously took flight! It was a funny moment!

-three-

I had the rare opportunity to meet my sister in the middle of a weekday when we had Good Friday off in April. She was running late so I ducked into Nordstrom Rack to see if I could find some birthday gifts. I struck out in the birthday department but got super lucky in the women's shoes! I waffled between these two pairs:

buy them here, but not for the steal of a deal that I got them for! :)

reviewed by another blogger here!

...and ended up coming home with both. :) At under $65 for both, I'd say it was worth it!

-four-

I mentioned this little guy on Instagram a few weeks ago. It hasn't changed much since we brought it in the house, but I have big plans for some shelving and a coffee bar here! I scoured craigslist for a good 6 months before I pulled the trigger on this $100 beauty. :)

-five-

Last and certainly the most frustrating, I dropped my phone a couple weeks ago. I had JUST harassed my sister's mother-in-law about her bulky Otterbox case and bragged about the fact that my little case from J. Crew offered all the protection I needed. Not so, my friends, not so. 

I dropped it on the tile in my office's lobby and it must have landed weird. It still totally works and luckily the damage is mostly on the black case part of it, but it was a sad day for us all. My contract expires soon and I haven't decided if I'll get it fixed yet. Oh well!

It feels good to be back and I'll start updating you all on house projects next week! Happy weekend!

Five on Friday 2014 volume 6

It's my favorite day of the week! Linking up with April for this one! 

-one-

Here are my favorite pins from Pinterest this week:

How cute is this laundry room!? One can dream, I guess....

Vacation plans here are in the works! :)

This is just so pretty and inspiring!

-two-

I've been playing around with my new camera lately and can't wait for more opportunities to use it! Here are a few practice shots...

-three-

I'm not sure if there is something in the air or not, but I have been SO tired over the last two weeks! I'm blaming it on staying up until 3am when I had last Monday off, but could I still be suffering?? Planning to lay low this week and hopefully kick the funk!

-four-

I'm planning on doing an "all the little things" around my house post soon but I can't hide this any longer:

LOVING this "hey y'all" pillow I snagged at Hobby Lobby for half-off last weekend! It was an impulse buy but it's perfect :)

-five- 

I can literally feel spring in the air, you guys. Sorry about all you northerners, but it has been in the mid-70's the past two weekends and I even planted some flowers in celebration. But in true Texas form, take a look at Sundays forecast:

Ugh.

Happy weekend!

Five on Friday, 2014 vol. 4

We've made it to Friday again! Linking up with April and the rest of the ladies here. Here we go!

 -one-

Happy Valentine's day, people! 

If you're single, don't sweat it because even married couples don't really celebrate it. Mark is getting a card and we are going to lunch on Sunday in celebration (but really who needs an excuse??) Regardless, happy FRIDAY!

-two-

I am about 60% positive I accidentally threw away my go-to pair of black heels. Whoops. 

After I mourned, I bought these the other day at DSW. They are super awesome looking but I'm kind of scared to wear them. When you're already 5'9", you get a little wary of teetering in heels all day! Wish me luck! 

-three-

Last night I went to an industry event at Kendra Scott in the west village in Dallas. It was so much fun!

 20% of the proceeds went to a program called Dwell with Dignity, which is a charity that my company worked hard on last year. While I didn't quite have the budget for them last night, I'm loving these beauties:

Maybe next time. ;)

-four-

I have a fun post coming next week where I'll show you my five favorite frames from Warby Parker.

 You can do it too! Just go to their website and select the "home try on" program. Pick your frames and they will ship them to you-for free! Be sure to check back on Tuesday for the scoop and tell me which frames I should pick!

-five-

It's ladies weekend in Dallas! Heather, Britt, and Stacy are joining the local ladies for what is sure to be a fun filled weekend. I'll recap next week!

Happy weekend!