#LikeAGirl

I've always been very proud of my femininity and love being a girl. 

I mean, I really love being a girl.

But there were times I didn't, and I will say I worry about teenage girls these days a LOT. I've always wanted a daughter (or two....), but the thought of having a girl these days somewhat terrifies me. It's not the same as it was in the 90s. 

Good to know I am not the only one worried about it.

This is pure Marketing Gold, even if it is for Pads. 

(which are gross...)

Things Nobody Tells You About Your Friends After They Have Kids

There are about 5 zillion posts titled 'Things Nobody Tells You Before Having A Baby'. Here is the first post I've ever read about what happens to your friends after they have kids.


Phone calls from friends with babies don't get answered. You have three options:

• Get over it 
• Get mad and never call again 
• Continue calling until they (hopefully) answer

When you do talk (and if you are single), one of the first three sentences will be ‘So what’s new on the guy front?’ as if you wouldn’t tell them if there was something on the guy front they needed to be aware of.

If you try make plans, your conversation typically ends like this:

• Can I bring little Johnny? 
• I will have to see if husband/parents/babysitter can watch little Johnny first. 

A majority of the time you are out with friend and adorable child, they will be expending most of their energy on getting a good picture of little Johnny to send to Daddy, as opposed to actually fully engaging in a conversation with you. If you are a good friend, you ask them to text it to you, too and post it on Facebook to let everyone know you aren’t childless AND heartless…..just childless. 


When they say that ‘I never knew what love was until I had a child’ it will take every ounce of restraint to not get offended. Thanks for letting us know that we are totally incapable of understanding love until having children.

Social media oversharing will reach territory you NEVER thought they would go. And you will like the damn pictures and statuses anyways. 

Your friends with babies will prefer to hang with other friends with babies. Don’t take this personally either.

If you plan on going shopping with a friend with a baby,  have a gameplan.

• It takes 10 minutes each upon arriving and departing in the mall parking lot to set up and disassemble all of the massive amounts of shit that is required just to take a small human shopping. You will wonder why all of this is necessary, they will mention they forgot at least two things they need. 
• Always go to the mall with the friend and the baby. ‘Mothers with Children’ spaces which are SO MUCH CLOSER than the child-less spaces. 
• You have a much better chance of getting the attention of a sales person when you ‘borrow’ said baby. No big deal you are armed and ready to drop a few Benjamins, they would rather ask 50 questions about the baby that isn’t yours…make sure you can at least fly by the seat of your pants and can answer them. 

It’s okay to roll your eyes at things they say when you are on the phone. If they are a really good friend, they will know when you are rolling your eyes at them, too.

You suddenly have different definitions of multitasking. 3 deliverables out the door to 2 different clients while managing 6 people working on them and 2 conference calls while your boss needs a super complicated Powerpoint ASAP? No biggie. Cooking dinner while holding a baby doesn't seem too challenging.

Your friends who stay home with their babies wonder what you do with ‘all of your free time’ after work. You wonder what on earth they do all day while you are at work.

.

I did it again.

I went MIA for way too long....but this time I actually have a somewhat justifiable reason for it.

So much happened. I was so busy, stressed, lost, sad.....I just didn't have time. Or make the time.

Or know what to say.

By now you probably know, but my little Teddy passed away May 5. That was hands-down the worst 7 days ever. It started with a message while I was away on a business trip. Mary told me he wouldn't make it, and I booked a last minute flight to Boston Friday. His funeral was the following Thursday. And it was brutal. I can't even string together words that seem to do any of that justice, so I just won't. But I will say thank you to everyone who reached out/texted/emailed/prayed/etc. I have been blown away by the support of my close friends and my blog friends who I have never met. Truly blown away. So is Mary. Please continue to reach out to her if you can/have been...she needs it. 

People ask me if she is okay. What am I supposed to say? Because the answer is no, she's not. She will learn to deal with it in time, but she is not okay right now. Silly question, but I know it comes from a good place.

I still can't express how I feel about it. I used to be a firm believer that everything happened for a reason....and that keeping the faith would see me through the hard times. I struggle to find a reason why Teddy left this earth, why one of my best friends has to endure this pain. I am not going to lie, I don't have a lot of faith at all right now. I am hoping it comes back soon....but right now it just isn't there.

But this situation has reminded me the importance of family,  friends and happiness. My life is full of a lot of happiness...and quite a bit of things that bring me down. Life is far too short for all of that. Time to cut the fat.

I am trying to get rid of those things that aren't good for me, and trying to do more of the things that make me happy. This blog is one of those things when it doesn't feel like a burden....it's my creative outlet to be myself and just have fun.

Time to go back to having more fun ;)

7 Years Ago Today.

I remember everything about April 16, 2007 like it was yesterday. 

It was hands-down one of the worst & scariest days of my life.

Imagine living somewhere where you have never felt safer only to find out a gunman has ravaged it and taken 32 lives. Thirty-two human lives. It's still difficult to comprehend. 

Why? 

How?

What causes someone to inflict that kind of pain on others?

This kind of stuff doesn't happen at my school. Or in Blacksburg. This is the crazy stuff we see on the news.

I will never understand what drives these clearly troubled individuals to commit the acts of violence they do.....I don't think we ever will....but if there is one thing I have learned about the human spirit, it's resilient as ever.

These people whose intent is to destroy our faith in humanity and our communities actually cause the exact opposite effect.....because at times of extreme sadness and tragedy, humans always ban together and emerge stronger than ever. Ask anyone in Blacksburg, Newton or Boston.....while their world was seeimingly crumbling at the seams, they were simultaneously blown away by the kindness of complete strangers. It makes us know, deep down inside, it's going to be alright....even if it isn't at the time. 

Always remember the good--it always outdoes the bad. For every act of violence, there are hundreds of acts of kindness to follow.

While I have moved on and learned to live with this event in my life, I still remember everything so vividly. I can still remember the look of fear and sadness in everyone's eyes, the endless messages from old acquaintances I hadn't spoken to in years, the phone calls that wouldn't go through, the thousands of police cars, the news trucks and reporters from around the world, Anderson Cooper & his film crew in the Christiansburg IHop, the hugs, the messages and prayers from all over the world, the lady on the bench with the sign that said 'Here to Listen', the tributes, the vigils, the tears, the 'Let's Go Hokies!' that sent chills and tears down every single person at the Convocation, the President of the United States on our campus, the never-ending news coverage, the way Nikki Giovanni's 'We Are Virginia Tech!' speech made me feel the first time I heard it......and a few days later, knowing that attending college at Virginia Tech was hands-down the most important and best decision I had ever made up to that point.

I remember it all.

And I will Never Forget.

4.16.2007

Life Lately.

  

Nope.....you aren't seeing things...I've been MIA. 

 Well, I prefer to call it busy, but whatever you call it, blogging isn't one of them. 

 March was a crazy month--topping off with me turning 29 last Friday. 

I know people say this often, but I really am SO lucky...my friends are such amazing, beautiful, smart, loyal girls who really know how to party ;) I really just wanted to do a low-key, no-big-deal brunch on Saturday....but when life throws you the rainiest birthday ever...grab your girlfriends and head to the nearest bar!

We started off with my glitter shoes at work...because let's be honest.....if you can't wear glitter shoes to work on your birthday, when can you wear them? They were a huge hit in the office, so I may need to break them out again!

...at dinner some of my gals gifted me with a DryBar gift card. 

(I was already planning on getting one Saturday morning....)

...and honestly, every Saturday should start like this. Esp with a Diet Coke (currently my DB doesn't have an alcohol permit....) and Something Borrowed on the TV. Even if it is pouring BUCKETS outside. 

Then we headed to a bottomless mimosa brunch......

...and you know how the rest goes. 

Seriously...best rainy day birthday EVER.

 I'd love to update you on everything that went on...but as I said, life has been crazy. 

Leaving for vacation the week your boss decides to quit and OH YOU ARE REPLACING HIM instead of getting a new one is.....well.....stressful.

Tomorrow, I leave for 7 days on the West Coast. Maybe I'll blog, Maybe I won't. 

No Promises. Follow me on Instagram if you really want to see what I am up to...because I completely intend on posting 320948029384 pictures of me doing anything but working for the next seven days.

I can tell you that I am (hopefully) not working on vacation.

...and  I may or may not be attempting hit up every place on Emily's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies and Best Cupcakes in LA lists. 

#sorryimnotsorry

Five on Friday

Well...I've been a pretty lousy blogger since I came back from my work trip.....because my team went from 3 people to 1 in basically.....the blink of an eye. So, doing the work of 3 people myself doesn't leave for a lot of spare time to do...well anything. Especially blogging.

BUT...I am slowly going to make my way back....and maybe plan 5 posts on Sunday for the whole week ;)

Anyways, let's get to the good stuff. I haven't liked up in a while and it's super fun.

1. Barcart Dilemmas.

If I am being honest, by Barcart sits in the corner of my dining area, and only gets love when I am having people come over (aka Sparkles & Fur....). But, seeing how most of my house is decorated by now (ugh...1 bedroom condos and I want LOTS of looks!) the only thing left is the Barcart. I put this on Instagram for suggestions, but I would love your feedback, too! So far, there is an overwhelming winner, but I may decide this weekend to rearrange 3 more times ;) 

2. No Spend March.

So....I don't observe the practice of lent....but, I decided that I am not going to spend any 'extra' money in March, kinda along the lines of Natasha is for lent.  I need to get back on the track of saving more than I spend, so this month, no spending on anything that isn't essential. This is going to be REALLY hard for me, since I normally shop on the weekends and browse online on my phone....but 7 days into March we are doing pretty dang good! I have more than anyone would ever need.....so I need to use what I have. I found this on Instagram from the One Year Wardrobe Resolution the other day, and it made me chuckle. Also, if you haven't checked out Christi's journey, you should! She has a lot of really good rules for herself that I may incorporate later, but for now....baby steps. No excessive spending in March.

3. Calligraphy.

With the no shopping comes ideas of what I can do to occupy my time on the weekends I used to spend shopping. I used to be REALLY into Calligraphy when I was younger....and I stumbled across Laura Hooper Calligraphy...somehow. It was probably through Pinterest, but these who the heck knows how I really did. Anyways, her writing is drop dead gorgeous and has inspired me to locate my fancy pens at my parents house (okay....honestly, I called my mom and asked her to look for them.....as they say, it isn't really lost until Mom can't find it) and use some of her video tutorials. I might even look into attending one of her workshops when they come back to DC! I think this could be a fun and useful hobby to get back into and distract me from all the pretties in the mall ;) 

4. Clean Eating.

Since I return from Texas, where my diet was essentially exclusively Tequila and Cheese, I've embraced 'clean eating' and am down about 6 lbs! More importantly, I feel GREAT, even if I think I SHOULD be lighter. I am not bloated, irritable, and actually feel way skinnier than 6 lbs lighter. I've also put ZERO diet coke in my body (can't say the same for coffee....) since last Monday. I am probably never going to be able to cut it out completely, but everything in moderation, right?

5. Happy Birthday Emily!

I can't make a post today without wishing my dear friend Emily a very Happy 29th Birthday! She is the kind of friend we all need--the one who tells you what you NEED to hear, not what you want to hear. We've had a LOT of tough conversations, but I can totally be myself around me, and she listens and accepts me and all my antics regardless. She tells me when I am being unreasonable and bitter, and sometimes I need to hear that. She was also a big supporter of my 'new direction' shift from January, encouraging me to address the things most blogs don't like to, like women in the work force and encouraged me to go to those places most don't want to talk about. Can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend! xoxo

Well, that's all I have for today! Have a great weekend y'all! 

19 Hard Things You Need To Do To Be Successful

I found this article the other day and it really stuck out to me....am I doing all that I can to be the best version of me? It's really easy to get stuck in a rut...life isn't glamorous and it's so easy to get wrapped up in what everyone else is doing and thinking they have it so easy.

If there's one thing I do know (there is a LOT I don't know for the record....) is that NOTHING is what it seems. EVER.

At the end of the day.....your success all comes down to YOU. YOU are the only one who can make it happen. Nothing is out of reach as long as you are willing to work for it.

19 Hard Things You Need To Do To Be Successful  

·  You have to make the call you’re afraid to make.

·  You have to get up earlier than you want to get up.

·  You have to give more than you get in return right away.

·  You have to care more about others than they care about you.

·  You have to fight when you are already injured, bloody, and sore.

·  You have to feel unsure and insecure when playing it safe seems smarter.

·  You have to lead when no one else is following you yet.

·  You have to invest in yourself even though no one else is.

·  You have to look like a fool while you’re looking for answers you don’t have.

·  You have to grind out the details when it’s easier to shrug them off.

·  You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option.

·  You have to search for your own explanations even when you’re told to accept the “facts.”

·  You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot.

·  You have to try and fail and try again.

·  You have to run faster even though you’re out of breath.

·  You have to be kind to people who have been cruel to you.

·  You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable and deliver results that are unparalleled.

·  You have to be accountable for your actions even when things go wrong.

·  You have to keep moving towards where you want to be no matter what’s in front of you.

I need to work harder. 
I'm not there....yet.