Monday, September 30, 2013

Saying Sayonara to September



I am having a hard time with the fact that September is ending.  I held on to the last few days with all my might and even sunbathed at my parents' pool on Friday.  Because I have self diagnosed Seasonal Depression, the end of September means fall is coming, which means winter isn't far behind, and then I'm going to be hibernating and grumpy and planning trips to tropical places.  

Therefore, when I was at the mall today getting a few specialty items for one of my-favorite-people-in-the-world's bachelorette party, I let the smells of Bath and Body Works lure me in.  I cope with the end of summer by embracing all things apple and pumpkin.  So no, I didn't need to spend $20 on a candle, but it's Monday, and tomorrow is October, and sometimes retail therapy is a Pumpkin Pecan Waffle three wick candle from Bath and Body Works.  (Now, I need to create a recipe inspired by the candle, because it smells YUM!)

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Marriage Proposal


I got my first ever marriage proposal and didn’t even know it until days later.

I am the girl, who when out of the country, exclaims, “I just love not being tied to my cell phone!”  I only say that because there’s no way to have access to it unless I pay ridiculous fees to use it and I'd rather spend my dollars and cents on fruity drinks with fruit as garnish.  To fellow travelers and new vacation friends I seem like I am accepting the situation as it is and making the most of it.  I’m sure my fellow travelers get annoyed with my Zen declarations, and I’m pretty sure one felt pretty happy when she informed me that my sister had won an Emmy and I didn’t even know it b/c I wasn’t “tied” to my cell phone.  

I am also the girl, who as soon as the tires on the plane touch the runway, turns on her cell phone.  I had nine voice messages when I turned on my phone the second I landed in Houston on my way back from Cabo.  I’m not that popular, I just hate listening to voice messages and those who know and love me know not to leave them and instead realize that I will call them back... eventually.  Therefore, there was a back up of old voice messages and three new ones.  Two were from the secretary of the establishment of which I am proud to be an employee... and one was from a number that I do not have saved in my cell phone.  

I know the number though.  It’s one of those numbers that you don’t save for a reason; you know the type.  It was once saved with a first and last name.  I’m going to call him Shakespeare for a few reasons, one of which is that he is a master of insults.  Once I realized I didn’t want to date Shakespeare and regretted texting him when I was tipsy, I removed him from my phone.  Don’t judge, I know you have had this experience.

I didn’t rush to listen to my voice messages because, let’s get serious, who cares what was going on at work while in Cabo, and I also didn’t care what nasty insult Shakespeare had come up with this time.  I attended to more important business... texts, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  Duh.  

When our next flight was delayed, I decided to give the voicemail a listen to entertain both my travel soulmate and myself.  I was absolutely shocked to hear Shakespeare admit that he loved me (no, he nor I had ever said that to each other in the past, nor do I believe it to be true) and that he wanted to marry me.  His closing line was, “So call me back when you get this, and I’ll pick you up and we can get married.”

Since then, I have enjoyed sharing this voice message with several friends, we all get a kick out of it, and I even managed to text Shakespeare to tease him about it.  Apparently he’s turned over a new leaf and expects me to change my mind about him.  As if. 

Tonight, I was driving through a part of town that I don’t usually drive through, but the highway was a parking lot, so I took the back roads.  I happened to drive past the bar where I met Shakespeare during happy hour two falls ago.  

I shit you not, he was walking in the front door.  

Did I turn onto the street and frantically search for a spot on to park?  Then I could accept the marriage proposal in the spot we met and we would live happily ever after!

ABSOLUTELY NOT.  

Because while that would definitely make for a fabulous story for a best man to tell during a wedding toast, there’s a reason we delete those names from our phones, and even if we sometimes answer their texts in a time of weakness, we never should forget why they were deleted in the first place.  

Monday, September 16, 2013

S & S Birthday Loot





             


A                     B                    C


Everything about my birth-week was absolutely fabulous.  I felt completely adored, I was able to see most of the people who make my life worth living, and I was spoiled with clothes, accessories, and alcohol (I finally met Mr. Fireball).  

I had to share what this shoe lover gets for birthday gifts with my fellow fashionistas.  

Exhibit A:  Is there anything cuter to hold my iphone while it is sitting on my desk at work?  I believe my roomie got Exhibit A from Francesca's.  She doesn't recommend I keep it on my desk at work because she fears it lacks a sense of professionalism.  But it will make me happy, and that is truly what matters in my office with no windows. 

Exhibit B:  Bridesmaid shoes can be the worst part of being in a wedding, especially if the bride forces a specific shoe (even worse: remember those silk shoes that were dyed to match the dresses?).  Luckily, the brides in my life aren't bridezillas and don't force shoes on the bridesmaids.  After all, no one is looking at the bridesmaids much at all, most wedding guests are completely hypnotized by the bride, as they should be.  If by chance someone is spying on the bridesmaids (let's say a single groomsman?) they will not, unless they're gay, be looking at our shoes.  I digress... the point is, my cousin is getting married in less than a month.  She specified silver, and I found these gorgeous peep-toe slingbacks from Guess! (And then grandma purchased them.)

Exhibit C:  Can you say accent shoe for a night on the town?  My mom can!  She rocks my socks.  (They're coral if you can't tell... BCBG and I hope to get to wear them before fall takes over!)



Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Birth Week





It is my birth week.  Like all who have grown up spoiled by family and friends, this is one of my favorite times of the year.   My people make me feel more like a princess than I do naturally the rest of the year.  

Tonight, after I informed my Best that I had a night to myself, she jokingly asked if I was going to spend my night reflecting.  Which got me thinking... maybe I should be reflecting on the past year.  The entire night I tried to reflect about the past year and I honestly couldn't think of any groundbreaking realizations or lessons I've learned.  I guess that means it has been a steady year.  Steady can be good.  Steady does not mean boring.  (This is my self-talk.)

I am disappointed in myself for not finding anything while forcing a reflection, because I really did search hard while shellac-ing, cooking, watching a few Friends episodes. 

I did get to open a few early birthday cards.  The card pictured above from my grandma finally taught me a lesson on my last day before I turned another year more wonderful.  Making someone feel like they're the center of your universe every once in a while is what IT's all about.  My grandma always does an amazing job at making me feel loved, unique, and honestly like her favorite person in the world.  If I can do that every once in a while, pass it on, pay it forward, whatever you want to call it, then I will feel like my time here is worthwhile.  And THAT's what it's all about.  

In honor of my birth week, I challenge you to make someone feel like you they're the center of the universe, even if it's just for a moment.  They'll hold on to that moment and you for their lifetime.