Barbie Doll

Hands down best dressed in my books! She looks like the original barbie doll! It's always been a toss up between Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson for my style icon but last night Reese pulled ahead. Absolute perfection!

7 Facts

I was passed along the 7 Facts Blog Award by Carolina City Girl! I love reading these and learning more about people so here are 7 random facts about me!

1. I have never dyed, colored, highlighted or anythinged my hair. I also don't get it cut too much I get nervous they're going to chop off more than I'd like- I haven't had my hair cut since August.

2. J'ai etudié français 6 ans. Dans la futur, je voudrai plus opportunities de parler francais chaque jour! (I studied French for 6 years. In the future I would like more opportunities to speak French every day!) Along those lines I plan on living overseas again one day

3. I have been applying for jobs, editing my resume, and writing cover letters for over a year now... and I'm sick of it! However, I recently applied for what is basically my dream job so... throw up a little prayer for me that the right thing comes along, and quickly! Because...

4...the lease on my apartment runs out in the beginning of May and my roommate is moving. This means that I have to find a new apartment and will most likely be living alone...or paying really expensive rent, somewhere, depending on where I end up. I have never lived alone and that prospect is kind of scary/exciting. It is also quite possible that Peter and I will be doing the long distant thing, at least for a little bit... and that is VERY scary for me!

5. In my current apartment I have a little porch. We have been having super nice warm breezy days and I have been dying to sit outside or at least leave my screen door open. However... the family that lives below me smokes, which means I have to close my door and go inside every time they go out there, unless I want my apartment smelling like cigarettes. Not fair!

6. I recently was turned on to Mumford & Sons! AH-MAY-ZING! They are British and a kind of cross between Kings of Leon/Needtobreathe/Avett Brothers! They have also confirmed my unspoken love for the banjo.

7. Today I am making banana bread to take to a friend who recently had a sweet baby boy. Here is the recipe:

1 3/4 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup shortening (Crisco or butter, either one)

2 eggs

2 TBLSP milk

1 cup mashed ripe banana (2-3 bananas)

1/4 cup chopped nuts

1. Heat oven to 350 and lightly grease an 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pan.
2. Stir together flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a mixer bowl beat sugar and shortening with an electric mixer til light, scraping sides of bowl often.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, and the milk beating til smooth after each addition. Add flour mixture and banana alternately to creamed mixture beating til smooth after each addition. Fold in nuts.
5. Turn batter into pan and bake at 350 for one hour (I check it earlier) or til wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely. Wrap to store it.

Now for the tags. I am passing on this little award thingie to the following lovely blogs:

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Mrs. In Training

The Curtis Casa

Life's a Beach

Oh Happy Day!

It's 80 degrees and sunny here!

Had lunch outside with a dear friend. Then we went for Starbucks and quiet time in the park.

Then I met my roommate for ice cream and went back to the park. I love the park.

Such a glorious day. This is why I live in the South!

I am always happier in the sun!

Flower Power

Peter and I had a teensy disagreement yesterday afternoon about or V-Day plans (Monday's for him are super busy between classes, labs, rugby and fraternity commitments, plus he had a test the next day, so I may or may not have acted a little bit like a selfish you-know-what.) But instead of letting the tift ruin what could still be a happy day I ran to Publix and picked up stuff to make one of his favorite meals (brisket and mashed potatoes) as a surprise and as an apology.

Around 4 Peter had a break between classes/labs and rugby practice and he called me from outside in the parking lot and told me to come downstairs for a minute. He gave me a big hug and a kiss and I said I was sorry and then he gave me these...

Needless to say... I am smitten. These daisies are my favorite!

We ended up having a lovely dinner in my apartment. Then he studied in the other room while I watched the Bachelor. It was great Valentine's Day, despite my emotional roller-coaster!

Mom and Me

Today my mom and I had a fun-filled busy day. But most importantly we co-wrote a blog post! I'll admit it was her idea and I didn't jump on it right away, but I think it's turned out just down-right-cute. I have loved having a few days at home and it only seemed appropriate to celebrate it with a joint blog post! Hope you enjoy!

At Home Hodgepodge

Today I am answering the hodgepodge questions with the hodgepodge creator herself in the very next room! Crazy...

1. What is more important-doing what you love or loving what you do?

Does that mean that if you're doing what you love that you don't actually love doing? I'm not sure I know how to answer this. Off to a great start...

2. Do you like bleu cheese?

In moderation and small pieces. Plus I like blue cheese dressing on salads and with with hot wings, I'm just not a huge fan of the big chunks.

3. What is the most difficult emotion for you to handle?

Fear. I watch a scary episode of Criminal Minds and I can't be in my apartment alone for a week. I have a very paranoid and overactive imagination that gives me irrational fears and makes me worry all the time. I'm a whole lot better than I used to be and fortunately prayer is powerful stuff.

4. Fresh flowers or a box of chocolates?

Fresh flowers. I eat chocolate on a daily basis so flowers are much more special. On that note though, I'll never turn down a a box of chocolates.

5. What's a song you love that has the word "love" in the title?

"Silly Love Songs" Paul McCartney. Did you see them perform it on Glee last night? UH-MAY-ZING!

6. Are you the person you wanted to be when you grew up?

I think I still have a lot of growing up left to do....

7. Any special Valentine's Day plans?

I don't know? I've been craving Indian food, which isn't very Valentines-y but at least that means it wont be crowded. I hope Peter reads this post. hehe.

8. Today I get to have lunch with my mom for the second day in a row and I get to give my dad a hug when he gets home from work tonight. Pretty awesome if you ask me! But, my mom has gotten me hooked on Angry Birds... what?!

Last Weekend

I am writing this (belated) weekend wrap-up from home! Last weekend was pretty great- and it had nothing to do with the Super Bowl. My friend A drove up from Birmingham on Saturday afternoon and then together we drove to Charlotte to surprise our other friend, LC, for her birthday!

(Me, LC, and A on LC's birthday freshmen year-4 years ago!)

We called LC's mom, who was in town, to make sure it was ok if we drove up and joined them for dinner and then stayed the night. Her mom was beside herself with excitement and so were we but somehow we managed to keep it a secret! (Which is impressive, if you know my track record with secret keeping.)

When we pulled up to her apartment her mom snuck out and let us into the building. I wish we had gotten a picture of LC's reaction when we walked in the door! Lots of jumping up and down, screaming and hugging! LC had also invited a couple of her friends from work and no one really knew each other so it was fun to meet new people and it was such a fun little party!

It was the perfect girls night out and just what we needed. I wish A and LC and I all lived in the same apartment, or at least the same town....Her mom can live with us too because she is such a doll and it was such a treat to see her as well! (Seeing her mom also made me miss my mom and dad, hence why I am in NJ). She is also really smart because she secretly rented a hotel room for A, LC, and I to share for the night so we could have a sleepover in a big king bed and catch up all night- which I am so thankful for- it was definitely needed!

Unfortunately A and I had to leave Charlotte early Sunday afternoon so I could be back for work and so A could drive back to Birmingham to med school. Even though it wasn't even a full 24 hours with these girls it was so worth it. Heck, I'd be happy with just half an hour!

(4 years later and I still luv' em!)

What A Day!

Yesterday was quite a day...After spending the weekend with my friend and her mom (more about that in another post), I was especially doubly homesick for my parents. Sunday night I called home and asked if they would fly me home for a few days since I'm not working again until Saturday. Of course they were happy to oblige. If you read my mom's blog you'll know that I have spent a combined 20 days with my parents since June! Not cool! No-sir-ee.

So mom checked for flights and found me the perfect Monday 9:30 am flight out to Newark. I was super responsible and packed (mostly) everything up Sunday night and then set my alarm for 7 am so I could shower and take my time in the morning. If you remember this post I wrote about my airport here in town you know that you really only need to be to the airport an hour at the most before a flight and the airport is about 30+ minutes from my apartment.

Well... I must have sleepily/unconsciously turned my alarm off in the morning because I woke up at 8:20, the time I had planned to be at the airport, with my phone underneath my pillow! I leaped up (said some choice words) threw on the clothes I'd thankfully laid out the night before and flew out of my apartment. I didn't brush my teeth, my hair looked like a rats nest and I didn't even pee. (TMI?) Of course I had to stop and put gas in my car but fortunately there was work traffic and I managed to hit every light red... I'm sweating just reliving this.

The whole ride there I cried, prayed, cursed myself, and calculated how long it would take me park, check in, remove my shoes/coat/laptop (never mind, I'd left that at home in my hurry) and get to my gate. I hastily parked in short term parking and hoofed it to the check in counter, realized I went to the wrong airline, found the correct Continental desk and then threw my id at the woman, quickly exclaiming that I was very late and had I made it in time?

Her response, (in a bored, irritated tone): "It's ok, that flight was cancelled."

I burst into tears.

Long story short (sorry, not really) I was rescheduled to fly out at 5:30 but thanks to power outages at Newark I didn't leave until 7:45. I'm not so much upset about all the airport stress, I'm just upset that it caused me to miss a whole afternoon with my mom.

Find That Frock!

I want that hot pink polka dot dress that the girl is wearing in the T-Mobile commercial!

Who makes it? What brand is it? Where can I buy it?

I have been looking all over google for the answers to these questions and so far...nada!

I am clearly not the only one interested in finding this pretty little frock. Look at alllll these inconclusive and disappointing search results:

If you know anything about this elusive dress please let me know! I will love you forever!

During my search, I did find a link to a cute little website that sells mod polka dot dresses, if you're interested.

The Mystery of The T-Mobile Pink Polka Dotted Dress... to be continued.

Groundhogs Day Happiness

Happy Hodgepodge, Happy Groundhogs Day!

1. Would you rather be seen as a person who did their duty or who forged their own path?
I think there is a time and place to forge your own path and time to just do what is required of you. In general I hope to be seen as someone who did what was pleasing to the Lord, which sometimes means going against "duty".

2. If you could do-over any one day out of the last seven, which day would it be and why?
I would not go back to any day last week. I'm all about looking forward and making the next seven days a whole lot better than the last.

3. Hot cocoa...yay or nay on marshmallows?
YAY! A big handful of marshmallows right on top. And a big handful on the side to snack on.

4. Do you wear makeup everyday? What are the top two must haves in your daily makeup routine?
Let's just say I don't apply makeup everyday but I pretty much always have a little make up on, even if it's just left over from the day before. My top two must-haves are:

Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara-Black/Brown, and Clinique Airbrush Concealer-Fair

5. Is it more important in your relationship to be loved or understood?
To be loved. I want to be loved even when he doesn't always understand my actions, or what I'm saying, or when my emotions are crazy.

6. Parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme?
Basil

7. What do you do when you feel angry?
Get flustered, try to argue my point, sulk, throw my arms in the air, cry. Feel bad about how I acted, apologize.

8. SPRING IS COMING! That wonderful groundhog didn't see his shadow! Click here to watch his hopeful prediction of better weather around the corner!

Blank Canvas

I have a blank boring wall behind my couch/bed.

What should I put there?? Opinions and suggestions are appreciated. Here are some of my ideas.

Option #1

A shabby-chic gallery wall with an assortment of framed photographs, prints, fabric, album covers.

Option #2

Wall decal (Urban Outfitters), wall paper (Anthropologie). Probably not the best option unless it was easily move-able/reusable since I will not be in this apartment forever. (Thank goodness.)

Option #3

I could paint just that wall and solid color. This would really make the couch/bed pop. The down-side of that idea is that I'd have to paint over it when I move out. Colors I like:

Option #4

Your brilliant and creative suggestion.