Girl and Dog

A party on my fingertips

2010-10-06T14:51:00.001-04:00

I will try not to rant. I STILL don't have a job. Really, really, really, really, really frustrating. I just want a paycheck. Oy. It shouldn't be this difficult.

No paycheck of course means no new clothes (it's been a really, really long time since I've gone shopping for anything other than groceries). I know. I have clothes to wear. I have a car to drive. I have a house to live in. I am so blessed and so much more fortunate than many, many people. I know this. But I also feel like I have been wearing the same six outfits for the last five months. I'd like to wear something my friends haven't seen 847 times already. I would really like to buy something new. Do you hear me, employment fairy? This girl wants to work!!

Anyway, since new clothes are not on the agenda for the foreseeable future, I bought some new nail polish. It was 97 cents. And it really did brighten up my day. Worth it. It's called Sparked by Wet n Wild. I probably won't be wearing it to any job interviews (unless I'm applying at Shotgun Willie's), but for happy fingers while sending out yet another resume? You betcha.

PS Don't click the Shotgun Willie's link if you're at work. In fact, don't click it at all.

Okay, back to the resume revamp. Obviously something isn't working, so I'm redoing that bad boy.

2010-08-02T18:26:00.001-04:00

Three in the bed

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Guess who's back

2010-08-02T17:56:00.000-04:00

It's me! I finished the bar exam (holla!), so I have found myself with a bit more free time. It feels awfully good.

Let's see. Other than the whole bar business, summer has been pretty awesome. I am a nice shade of brown (I know... skin cancer, wrinkles, blahhhh). I'm upping my running mileage again in the hopes of maybe tackling a half-marathon or two this fall. I'm planning to climb a few more mountains before winter sets in. And I'm going to land some sort of job in the near future (I hope).

I'm going to try a little something new: posting from my phone once in a while. I'm always taking pictures on my Droid (which I love by the way, when it works, which is most of the time). I can send them straight to my blog, so expect some pictures to show up once in a while from here on out. I'm not sure how it will work, but I'll give it a shot. If there are some hiccups along the way, I apologize.

Okay, that's all for now. Later gators!

The latest wants

2010-04-09T12:42:00.003-04:00

As per usual, my taste and budget do not align. Time for a little virtual shopping since I can't do the real thing. Being on my blog is *almost* as good as being in my closet. Okay, not really, but I've gotta work with what I have. :) Here is my current wishlist in no particular order.

prAna Chandra hoodie
The pictures do not do this hoodie justice. It is waaaaaay cuter in person. I tried it on at REI.

Note: I was too lazy today to embed the links in all the images like I usually do, so just click the text links instead. Links should show up in gray.

J. Crew Taryn dress
Possibly the perfect LBD. I could wear it to a cocktail party (since I attend so many of those), the opera, an evening wedding, a hot date, my graduation. Endlessly practical!

Yogitoes towel
I get ~~a little~~ incredibly sweaty during yoga. It's a bit disgusting. This would prevent the whole slipping on my mat issue.

Sanuk Fraidy cat
Adorable. And I live in flip flops. Nuff said.

Slim hangers
My closet is approximately three inches wide, so space is at a premium. These hangers would definitely free up some extra room. Plus I have a SERIOUS crush/case of closet envy on this closet. I have a BB&B gift card that's been hanging out since Christmas. I might actually make the hangers happen without even spending a dime.

Twist-front halter top
I love this. I actually have a couple VS "secret reward" cards to use this month, so if they ever get around to offering another free shipping day, this top could be mine for next to nothing.

Gerard Butler
Hellllo there good looking. And oh dear God, he has a pug? I knew he was my dream man.

Outfit lust

2010-03-25T17:23:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I stopped into the always-dangerous Target to pick up a few odds and ends (and attempt to steer clear of the Easter candy). While I was there, I saw a girl with a fabulous outfit. I'm terrible at putting together "outfits." For work, I generally put on khakis or dress pants and a top or sweater. For casual, my standard uniform is jeans and a cotton shirt of some sort. A fashionista I am not. And accessorizing? Fugetaboutit.

Anyway, this girl looked completely casual and comfortable, and yet completely put together. A tunic top, leggings, Uggs, and a cute hoodie. So simple, and yet it looked so good that I had to resist the urge to follow her around for a better look.

I did my best to recreate her outfit. She didn't have a headband, and I didn't notice her purse, so I used a little creative license. Also, her hoodie was actually olive green, but you get the idea.

So cute by girlanddog featuring Old Navy hoodies

Items in this set:
Old Navy Womens Active Zip-Pocket Hoodies, $30
Fab Leggings, $4.50
Fab Knit Cami, $2.50
UGG Australia Women's Ultra Tall Boots in Sand, $225
Forever21.com - New Arrivals - Accessories, $33

Lately

2010-02-28T18:11:00.001-05:00

Aye, I know it's been ages since I posted! Lots going on. Mostly good. :)

Things that are making me happy right now:

1. YOGA
I have totally become one of those yoga-obsessed people. I've only been doing it about a week, but I am already getting stronger and more flexible, and... I know, listen to me rave here... my head is so much clearer. My mind usually runs about 1000 miles an hour, and yoga seems to just quiet it down. I go here. Love.

2. The dogs
Georgia now has two canine roommates, Gracie and Sam, and having three dogs in the house is endlessly amusing/adorable/crazy. They're always doing something entertaining, whether it's wrestlemania in the kitchen, tug-of-war with anything they can find, or all three napping together in the living room. Georgia loves it. I love it. Good stuff.

3. Numi toasted rice green tea
I know I just talked about my love of Stash tea, but I've discovered another amazing delight. I'm thoroughly obsessed with this stuff. So good.

4. The Olympics
I'm not a TV watcher. At all. But I've been loving watching the Olympics the past couple weeks. I don't ever remember watching as much of it as I have this year. We keep it on in the house most evenings, and I've seen quite a lot. And loved it all.

5. Kettle corn
I forgot how much I love it. The microwave that I had all through law school couldn't do popcorn (burned it every time and only popped about 1/4 of the bag no matter low long/short I left it in or how I adjusted the power). Yesterday I got a craving for kettle corn and happily discovered that our microwave does a lovely job of popping a bag. I predict several more bags will be consumed in the near future.

6. Committed
I adored Eat, Pray, Love with reckless abandon. Adored isn't a strong enough word. I am also loving Committed. I think Elizabeth Gilbert can see into my soul.

Have a cup and relax for a few minutes

2009-12-14T20:54:00.000-05:00

Eeeeee. I'm smackdab in the thick of finals week, and boy am I feeling the heat. Why the h-e-doublehockeystick are you blogging, you ask? My brain filled up. I needed to decompress for a few minutes. So I made some tea, and I'm taking a quick breather.

Actually, I wanted to talk about tea. I have gotten on a MAJOR tea kick lately. I've been a tea drinker since middle school, but lately I've become a serious everyday tea drinker. Something about the cold, nasty weather combined with the necessity of sitting inside to study for long hours, I suppose.

The only tea I drink these days is Stash tea. I'm not saying that other teas aren't awesome, but I am just hopelessly in love with my Stash. So good. My favorite favorite is chai green tea, but I've also been drinking pomegranate raspberry green tea and lemon ginger herbal tea. All are delightful. I just get them at the grocery store, in case you are feeling inspired to try some yourself.

Okay, back to learning sales. It's going to be a late night at my place! Please send positive thoughts and your smartest brainwaves my way for the rest of the week, especially Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

Gift giving

2009-12-11T18:15:00.000-05:00

Is there anything wrong with buying yourself a Christmas present? (This is a serious question, by the way.) I mean, I enjoy buying presents for the people I love, and I've been trying hard lately to love myself a little extra. It's been kind of a tough year. I just feel like giving myself a little something special. Something that is just for me, from me. This necklace is what I have in mind. It's not expensive. At all. But I think it's perfect anyway.

[I'm not revealing the source because I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea and think that they should buy it for me]

I'm not going to get into all the reasons I love it, but I do. It represents a lot of things to me. And besides, I think it is so delicate and pretty. And I've been good this year--mostly.

My lucky day

2009-12-06T14:48:00.000-05:00

If you're not aware of my undying love for Victoria's Secret, please allow me to enlighten you. I LOVE that place. Of course their, ahem, undergarments are fantastic, but they also have great clothes in their catalogues and online. Since I am such a faithful customer, they send me coupons in the mail from time to time. Usually they are for $10 off a bra or a free pair of panties. (Incidentally I HATE the word panties, but that's what the coupons say. I am just quoting.)

I got a coupon the other day that was a "secret reward," which meant that I wouldn't know how much it was worth until they scanned it at the checkout. It said it was worth a minimum of $10, so naturally, I just assumed that they're only ever worth $10. Well friends, that turns out not to be the case. Mine was worth $50!!!! Fifty dollars to spend at my favorite store--no strings attached. I felt like I had won the lottery!

The moral of the story (there's always a moral, right?) is to check on the value of those little coupons! You might be throwing away $50!

Oh, are you wondering what I got? This. In pink with black polka dots. I am going to have to practice my sultry look. Hahahahahahaha.

Something for baby

2009-11-19T13:33:00.000-05:00

I mentioned a while back that one of my best friends is pregnant with her first baby. Her shower was last weekend (in Colorado), and since I couldn't make it, I spent the day on Sunday whipping up some baby gifts. I use the term "whipping up" VERY loosely. Everything took a lot longer than I expected, but I was really happy with how it all turned out. She doesn't know if she's having a boy or a girl, so I stuck to gender-neutral colors. I got all the supplies (except the thread, which my mom already had) at the evil giant, Walmart.

I used tutorials found here and here and made her some burp cloths and pacifier clips. Yes, I actually sewed! All by myself! My mom is an amazing seamstress, but it's something that's always completely intimidated me. I couldn't even fathom how to get the machine all threaded and hooked up, let alone use it to actually attach one piece of fabric to another. Turns out it's not impossible though! Proof below.

Go with the Flo

2009-11-01T13:05:00.001-05:00

I haven't turned on my TV since sometime in July (seriously), but even I know and love Flo, the Progressive Insurance girl. If you have been living under a rock (or if you are my mom) and don't know who she is, see the video below.

For Halloween, I decided to channel my inner bubbly brunette. I layered on some red lipstain and eyeliner and gave it my best. I don't have any white pants, and good luck finding them for sale in the frozen north in late October, so I reused the white skirt I wore last Halloween. Not bad at all, if I do say so myself!

The real Flo:

My version:

So... what do you think?

The lips have it

2009-10-31T09:07:00.000-04:00

I can't wear lipstick. It's kind of a bummer because lipstick looks fabulous on most people. Not so much on me though. When I smile, my top lip disappears. Not a big deal, and you'd probably never really notice, except that when I wear lipstick, it looks ridiculous. Something about having color on the bottom lip and no top lip. I don't know. You just have to trust me on this one. It's not pretty. Lip gloss is fine, so I usually stick to that, but my Halloween costume this year requires red lips. (Details about the costume to come later. Maybe tomorrow.)

I'd read about Covergirl Outlast Lipstain, and it pretty much got rave reviews. I thought it might be worth a try since it seemed to look a little less flashy than lipstick. Reluctantly, I plunked down almost $8 for it. I think it was the most expensive part of my costume. My color choice: Flirty Nude. Sounds very naughty. I was worried that it was going to be a waste of money, that I was going to look like a clown and hate it. Well, not so. This stuff is AWESOME.

I applied it a bit tentatively at first, just dabbing it on and then patting it in with my fingertip. It gave me a nice, natural-looking bit of color, something I could actually wear every day. In my quest for truly red lips, I kept going. I got bolder, painting it right on. I applied many coats. The more I put on, the darker the color got, but it never looked clownlike, and even when I smiled and my top lip pulled its disappearing act, it still looked okay. Success! And the lips just might make my costume.

Woo!

2009-10-17T10:22:00.000-04:00

After months where I swore it was not growing at all, suddenly, overnight, my hair is shoulder length!

[Sorry about the bad photo quality. I should have cleaned my mirror first. It's a bit cloudy.]

Yummy boots

2009-10-13T22:00:00.002-04:00

Let's just say that you happened to love these boots. I mean, well, obviously you love them. They're fabulous. But you have no interest in paying $218 for them.

Frye, I know you're high-quality and classic and all, but most of us don't have that kind of change rolling around.

Not to fear, girls. Target's got your back. These are a dead ringer. And the price? $50. Holla!

Target is currently sold out online, but I have heard through the grapevine that they're still in stores. Get thee to Target though, because they probably won't last long!

Jump rope like you've never seen it

2009-10-09T18:25:00.000-04:00

I know eight minutes is a long time for a YouTube video, but seriously, you have never seen anything like this. Or at least I sure hadn't. Amazing! I remember feeling really cool just doing double dutch when I was a kid. They make double dutch look like, well... just watch.

And she's baaaack

2009-10-08T21:28:00.000-04:00

[picture source]

I have a crush. Just a tiny one. Nothing serious. Not going anywhere. But it's fun. And you know what having a crush means? I'm really and truly pretty much over the guy that did a number on me this summer. Indeed. :) And THAT, my friends, is a very good thing that I did not expect to happen this soon.

The object of my crush happens to be a law student, and I have a personal rule that I don't date other law students (plus I'm moving soon, I don't have time to date, etc.), so nothing is going to happen, but crushes are always fun just the same. He pokes me on facebook pretty much every day (how I love cheesy virtual flirting...), and did I mention that he has a yellow lab too? He does. The crush was pretty much instant once I found that out. And he's genuinely cute, so that doesn't hurt either.

Like I said, nothing is going to happen. But it's still fun to have someone cute that makes you smile. And it's beyond good to know that my heart is moving on.

Imaginary shopping spree

2009-10-07T21:19:00.001-04:00

Due to working my tush off nonstop lately, I have found myself with a bit of free time tonight. Yes, there are things I could be working on, and I'm going to work on some of them in a little while, but I decided to take a brain break and indulge in a bit of imaginary shopping.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, I'm still moving to Denver at the end of the year. YAY!! Pretty much the only downside, however, is that the closest Ikea is more than eight hours away. I seriously had a minor freakout when I discovered this. How am I going to keep up with my interior decorating habit without the bargains at Ikea?? There is supposedly an Ikea opening in Centennial in the future, but they haven't even started construction, so it will be at least a couple years yet. By that time, hopefully I will be able to afford nice furnishings and won't need to shop at Ikea!

If I could, I would go on a shopping spree to stock up before I move. Not so much in the budget, but I'm allowed to dream, right? Some items on my shopping list:

I know it's not my dream sofa, but it's a slightly more realistic option for me right now. $500 instead of $1500. And I've heard really good things about it. Comfortable and pretty durable! Sigh. I sure wish I could take this with me! My current sofa is not exactly comfortable.

Karlstad sofa

For some reason, lamps are ridiculously expensive. Not at Ikea though. I have one of these on my nightstand right now, and I'd like another for the other side of the bed.

Januari table lamp

And maybe a simple white lampshade to top it.

Ripe shade

You can never have too many of these. Or at least I can't. Cheap and simple. They do the trick. Black frames are everywhere, but white ones are surprisingly difficult to find.

Ribba frames

My ideal apartment is going to have hardwood floors. (I'm dreaming here, remember?) Those require a rug or three.

Egeby rug, Erslev rug, Jorun rug.

My (imaginary) sunny Denver apartment is going to have a kitchen windowsill where I can grow little pots of herbs. For some reason, white pots are almost impossible to find anywhere but Ikea. Believe me, I've looked.

Kardemumma pots

A couple of these stools stacked next to the sofa. Yep, they are stackable. They can be used as a cute little side table or double as extra seating, plant stands, a step for painting... endlessly useful!

Frosta stool

My dream apartment is going to have an extra bedroom for all my friends and family who come to visit! Friends and fam need somewhere to sleep. I like this platform bed because it doesn't require a box spring (more affordable that way, and box springs are a pain in the butt when you have to move).

Trondheim bed frame

My guest bedroom will also be my office, so I could use a desk. I've seen other desks that I love more than this one, but it would be functional, and it's not too bad looking.

Vika Amon Vika Alex desk

My current apartment came equipped with vertical blinds that I am not allowed to remove per my lease. Functional but UGLY. Some real curtains would be nice for my new place.

Stockholm Figur curtains

And a bench for my entry. A place to sit down to tie my shoes and set my purse down when I get home. Could also go outside in the summer.

Norden bench

Hmm, how many thousands of dollars have I spent? I guess I'll call it good for now. :)

Comic relief

2009-10-06T21:50:00.000-04:00

Now THIS is the kind of headline I can't help clicking on. Who comes up with this stuff? Hilarious.

"Who Wears Her Muppet Dress Better: Lady Gaga or Katy Perry?"

I am still alive...

2009-09-29T11:34:00.001-04:00

Just busier than I have ever been. Someday I will have time to start writing on here again! At least one member of the household has plenty of downtime.

Just call me crazy

2009-09-10T20:01:00.002-04:00

When I promised that I'd start posting regularly again after Labor Day, I did not take into account the fact that I am taking six difficult classes this term. So long, free time. Three classes is considered to be full-time. Four classes is doable. Five classes is a HEAVY courseload. But six? Six law school classes? Turns out that's just pure insanity.

Do you know what else is pure insanity? These dogs... or more accurately the people that did this to them.

I don't know HOW they did the head on this dog. The poor thing looks absolutely miserable.

But I have to admit, Captain Jack Sparrow is a little bit badass.

[picture source]

Roid rage (Polaroid, that is)

2009-09-03T18:38:00.000-04:00

Here is a fun little gadget that couldn't be much simpler to use. Poladroid. It turns ordinary pictures into Polaroids... well, digital images that look like Polaroids anyway. Which can be fun.

You can go from this:

To this:

With a few clicks.
Sweet.
And it's free (which you know I love).

The only thing I wish it did (that it doesn't do) is allow you to put words on the image. I know; it takes all of a few seconds to do with any image-editing software. But it would be nice if it was built right into the program. Otherwise, it's pretty perfect.

Glamorous!

2009-09-02T18:32:00.002-04:00

I got my first manicure last week for the wedding. I'd had pedicures before but never a mani/pedi combo. What a treat. I felt spoiled rotten. I got a french manicure on my fingernails, and it looked so great. I have really bad nails--they're always chipping, breaking, and peeling--and I'm always self-conscious about them. Every time I caught a glimpse of my perfect, white-tipped nails, I couldn't help but smile. French manicures never last long, and I had to take the polish off today since they were looking kind of sad. Adios, lovely hands. I felt so put together with my pretty nails, but going to the nail salon every week isn't in the budget right now (and even if it was, I would probably be too cheap to actually do it on a regular basis). So I decided that I need to attempt it on my own.

The lady who did my nails globbed on the white polish and then used a little brush and nail polish remover to clean up the edges. I went to Target looking for a little brush so I could try it on my own, but I saw something that looked even better--if it worked as promised.

Turns out it does! While it doesn't look quite as nice as my professional manicure (and my left hand looks considerably better than my right), I think that with a little more practice it will be a pretty close substitute. It was super quick and easy--much less work than applying polish, letting it dry, and then trying to take it back off evenly. It dries really quickly (I'm talking 30 seconds or less), so the risk of smudging is low, even for someone like me who ALWAYS smudges nail polish just when I think it's dry. It was $6, and it looks like it will last for dozens and dozens of uses. A steal! And now I can have pretty hands all the time!

Double duty

2009-09-01T22:11:00.003-04:00

I already said that I'm in love with my new straightener. After this past weekend (a wedding in Minnesota), I'm really head over heels. Not only can I use my straightener for, well, straightening, but it creates the most beautiful curls! Who knew?? It works better than any curling iron I've ever used, and the curls end up natural-looking and bouncy, not flattened and crispy (think prom hair).

Please ignore the fact that I'm feeding Halley a hamburger, and just look at my hair. (Also, don't worry. I wore heels, not flip-flops, for the ceremony, but I didn't want to put them on until it was necessary.) I did it myself, and it didn't take long at all. I can't wait till it gets longer. I think the curls will really be fun then.

Another view. This is several hours later after a lot of time spent outside in the wind. And they're still holding up!

On body image

2009-08-24T21:37:00.002-04:00

First, please take a minute to read this article and look at the picture of the beautiful girl who inspired it. One of the quotes in it really stood out to me. "With all the six-packs out there, do you even know what a normal belly looks like anymore--other than the one you see in the mirror?"

I was struck by the fact that I don't. I have no idea what a normal woman's stomach looks like. I know what mine looks like. And I know what the stomachs of Victoria's Secret models look like. (And I know that mine looks nothing like the models'.) But really, where are the pictures of normal women? I LOVE Victoria's Secret. I love their bras, love their undies, love their clothes, love their swimsuits. But whenever I look at a catalog, I always struggle to imagine what the items will look like on ME. I don't have D-cups or wear a size two. I think, "Sure it looks great on HER, but how will it look on a real body?"

Lately I've been feeling a little disheartened about how hard the world is on women. Everywhere I turn, I'm being told that I'm not good enough.

Cleavage enhancing bras. Translation: my natural cleavage isn't good enough.
Skin firming lotion. Translation: my skin isn't tight enough.
Diet pills, weight loss clinics, metabolism enhancers... I'm not thin enough.
Articles about better workouts... I'm not fit enough.
Self-tanners... my natural skin color isn't sexy.
Volumizing/lengthening mascara and even prescription eyelash enhancers... my eyelashes aren't long and lush enough.
Face cleansers and acne medication... blemishes are ugly and undesirable.
Deodorants, perfumes, body sprays... I have to smell like something other than myself.
Articles and TV shows about fashion... I need the latest styles to be accepted.
The latest diet, the latest hair product, the latest workout...

Need I go on?

We're told that unless we're thin, fit, muscular, tan, cellulite-free, with big boobs, shiny and voluminous hair, straight, white teeth, clear skin, minty-fresh breath, completely free of hair anywhere on our bodies except our heads, wearing makeup, and oh yeah, confident but still feminine, we're not the best version of ourselves.

I'm tired of it. I can recognize it for what it is, but that doesn't mean that the messages don't get to me. Where do they find all these hundreds of models that are supposedly perfect in appearance? And how many of them are actually healthy vs. starving themselves with an eating disorder? Where are the real girls who show me that women are beautiful simply because they are female?

I don't really want to see any more girls that make me feel like I will never achieve looking like they do. I would rather see women of all shapes and sizes with big smiles on their faces, showing me that beautiful isn't about being a certain jean size or having a certain skin color or being flawless. Flaws are beautiful because they make us unique. In fact, I don't even want to call them flaws. They're not FLAWS. They're distinctions, features... the stuff that makes us individuals. What a boring world it would be if every woman was exactly the same shape and size, with the same hair and the same style.

I've also realized in the past several months that changing your body does not change your body IMAGE. Since last November, I've lost almost 15 pounds. I know. I would never, ever have thought that I had that much weight to lose, but I've been working really hard to eat healthy and exercise consistently, because ultimately, I feel so much better when I do. And as a result, I've lost weight. I've dropped a size or two in jeans, but I don't actually feel any differently about myself.

I used to always think that if I was 10 pounds thinner, I wouldn't have any body issues. I would just feel great about myself. Turns out not to be the case at all. I still feel just as self-conscious about all my perceived problem areas--my love handles, my cellulite, my thighs. And sometimes weight loss brings on new issues. Some of my friends have told me that I now look a little TOO thin. And I have NO idea if that's actually the case, because I have no concept of what a normal, healthy body should look like. I just know that I don't look anything like the Victoria's Secret models, and I don't have six-pack abs. And I still have cellulite on my butt and flubby thighs and a little roll around my middle. And the media is constantly telling me to eat healthier, exercise more, dress better, and put on more makeup.

I also worry about the effect the media's portrayal of women has on men's perception of us. The women pictured in men's magazines sure don't have bodies like mine. And actresses and other celebrities are almost universally tiny. Men are seeing these images of what "beautiful" looks like just as often as we are. So do they still see normal girls as beautiful? Or are they also looking for perfection?

From the sounds of that article, maybe, just maybe, magazine editors are starting to take notice that we're tired of seeing unattainable bodies. That instead of being told what we have to do to improve ourselves, we want to hear that we're beautiful and desirable... just the way we are.

One more term under my belt

2009-08-24T18:39:00.004-04:00

Here's a baby picture of Georgia, just because. It's hard for me to believe she was ever little. I did not take nearly enough pictures of her when she was a wee pup, and she grew up so fast! Aww.

I'm officially done with another term of law school. Taking five classes over the summer was not the best idea I've ever had, but I made it out alive, if a little worse for wear. I won't find out for over a month if I passed everything, so I am praying desperately that I did. Failing a class at this point would throw my life off completely. So... I am just going to hope with all of my heart that there are no Fs on the list when my grades post.

It always takes me a couple days to wind down from the madness of finals. I'm still in the go-go-go mode, but I'll settle down soon. It's starting to sink in that I don't have to spend every minute studying anymore.

In other news, I'll be winging off to Minnesota early Thursday morning for a fun-filled wedding weekend. I'm so excited!! So many great things planned, and I get to wear an adorable red dress. Woo!

Also, after being vacant for almost five months, the apartment next door to me has a new occupant. He looks like he is twelve, but whatever cologne he wears smells amazing. I always smell it if I'm in the stairwell after he went through. So far he is very quiet, so I can't complain at all. That's always a concern when you share a wall. My last neighbor liked to play very loud video games, and I always thought it was thundering until I realized it was coming from the wall, not from outside. It didn't really bother me, but I definitely heard him regularly.

I'm trying to psych myself up to actually start an assignment, but I don't know if it's really going to happen tonight. I have assignments posted for all of my classes that have to be completed by the first day. They spend maybe 10 minutes going over the syllabus and then dive right into the material. I think assignments should be outlawed on break, but I don't think my opinion matters much to the law school. Oh well.

Breaking up is hard to do

2009-08-20T20:44:00.001-04:00

(A girls' guide to getting over a guy)

I've alluded to a situation in my life that was getting me down... not hard to guess that it involved a guy and a wish that things had gone differently.

I've done this whole getting-dumped thing a time or six, and you know what? It doesn't get any easier. I still end up brokenhearted and in tears and wondering how I'm going to keep breathing. But I have learned that it WILL get better and there are things I can do to help along the way. So without further ado, here are my suggestions on how to bounce back from a breakup.

Realize that it is going to take TIME to recover. There is no way to speed the process. You can make the ride a little smoother (keep reading for how), but ultimately, it's still a long trip. It might take weeks. It might take months. It might even take several years before you're really and truly over him. But pretty soon you'll be going 15 or 20 minutes without thinking about him. And then an hour or two. And even a whole day. Just trust that it WILL get better, and you just have to keep doing your best to live your life in the meantime.
Exercise. A lot. As much as you have time for. Twice a day if you can. You don't have to do a major workout every time; even an evening walk or some pushups to get your blood flowing will help. It can be hard to get motivated when all you want to do is sit around and mope, but I cannot stress enough how much exercise will help. Not only will those endorphins help your mood, but exercise will help your self-confidence too. Getting dumped is a big blow to your self-esteem. It will NOT help to sit around and eat ice cream and feel lousy. My mind clears when I'm out running, and even when worries cross it, they don't have the stress-effect. They're more like thoughts just passing through. And plus, you're a single gal now! You want to be looking your best, and that's not going to happen wearing sweats and sitting around. That said...
It's okay to take a few days for yourself to just grieve. If you want to buy a bunch of candy or take three bubble baths a day, go for it. Treat yourself with the utmost love and care. Spoil yourself a little. Let the diet go. BUT... don't do this for more than two or three days. Trust me. You need to get back in action, and it can be way too easy to fall into the habit of being lazy and eating junk food. So mope for up to three days if you need to, but then stop. End the moping phase and move on. You can do it.
CALL YOUR GIRLFRIENDS. As often as you need to. Also your mom if you are close to her. All of them every day if you need to. Cry to them. Lean on them. Let them be there for you (and of course you will return the love when they need it). Listen to them when they tell you how wonderful you are and that this guy is a fool for not recognizing that. But don't let them sugarcoat the situation too much or tell you that maybe this isn't really the end. This is about recovering from a breakup, not dragging out the hurt of a relationship that isn't meant to be. After you know it's really over...
DO NOT CALL HIM. Or text him. Or send him a message online. Or a card. Or an article from the paper that you know he'd like. Girl, keep your dignity. Why would you want to be with someone who doesn't want to be with you? The very best thing you can do is cut the cord completely. It's over. Accept that and move on without bothering him. No good will come of trying to prolong the contact. If you think you can be friends down the road, fine. But give it a couple months. You can't be friends right now.
Get out of town for a few days if you can. Go visit a friend or your parents or go to a different town for the weekend. A change of scenery can really give you a better perspective on the situation. Sometimes it's hard to see it clearly when you feel surrounded by it.
Stay as busy as possible. Exercise, go out with your girls, take a class, volunteer, walk your dog, send care packages or cards to your friends, go shopping (if you can afford it), paint your apartment, throw yourself into work or school or whatever it is that you do. Don't give yourself too much time to dwell. I know it's impossible not to dwell to some extent, and you need to take some time to process and work through things, but getting through a breakup is all about passing the time until you start to feel better. And time passes much more quickly when you're busy.
Buy yourself something that you've been longing for. Don't go into debt to do it, but use a little cash that you've been saving for a rainy day. If you can't afford something big, buy something small--a new tube of lip gloss or some hot pink nail polish. You deserve a treat. If you can make a bigger purchase, I say do it. It's a way to associate this breakup with something positive. "If he hadn't dumped me, I never would have gotten these awesome jeans/this fabulous purse/a new comforter/whatever your heart desires."
Buy some new underwear. Something adorable like these little hiphuggers that Marisa Miller is sporting.

My friend Rachel taught me this one. She's right. A breakup means it's time to freshen up. Do you really want to keep wearing that pair he loved and thinking about him every time you put them on? The answer is no. Besides, you'll always feel better about yourself when you know you're wearing cute undies (even when no one sees them), and these suggestions are all about getting your mojo back.
If you have anything that's his or that smells like him, take one last deep whiff and then give it back or wash it. Yes, you miss him. You miss his smell. But if you keep it lingering around, it's that much harder to move on. Tough love, my friends.
Take some time off for yourself. A dating diet if you will. Make a pact with yourself (girlfriends can help to enforce this if it's going to be a problem) that you're not going to date for a month or three or six. Whatever feels right to you. But I think this is important. You need to rediscover who you are and who you want to be without the influence of a man in your life. Let's be honest. We're women. When we're with someone, we always make plans with him in mind. So really, take some good time to regain your confidence and sense of self and re-learn that you can do it on your own.

These are things that work for me... but I would love to hear what works for you! Any great ideas that I've missed?

So smooth

2009-08-19T22:45:00.001-04:00

I mentioned before that I rarely make an impulse purchase. For several years I've had a cheap flat iron for my hair that snags, rips, drags, and doesn't do a very good job of actually straightening. My hair stylist of course has a professional model straightener, and my hair always looks AMAZING when she's done with it. I used to think it was just skill, but really, I've had a lot of practice straightening my wavy mop. I think it's the straightener. I've been wanting a nice straightener for a long time, but they are over $100, so I couldn't justify it to myself.

Call it retail therapy (as a result of something I did NOT want to happen that recently did) because truthfully, that is exactly what it was, but I finally ordered a really nice flat iron. :) I'd been reading reviews for a while, so I knew that I either wanted a CHI or a Sedu. Sedu seems to win overall in customer satisfaction, so I made my decision.

Yep, it was expensive. BUT... I got 15% off with a promotion they were running, free shipping, and a free two-year extended warranty. Also, I recently sold my old skateboard from college on ebay, which brought in 77% of the purchase price. (Yes, I just did that math. I'm a dork.) So it cost me $27 out of pocket. I probably should have saved the money from my skateboard for groceries or something more responsible, but I didn't. I'm planning to eat cheap for a while. :)

Now that my hair is starting to get longer, I don't want to be ripping it and frying it with a cheap straightener anymore. And I further justify it by saying that I need to look professional when I start my career next year. Frizzy, fluffy hair isn't as professional as sleek, straight locks. And the reviews say that this baby seriously cuts down on straightening time, so I'm hoping that will mean a few extra minutes of sleep on work mornings.

I can't remember when I bought my old straightener, but I've had it for at least four or five years. If a $15 straightener lasted me five years, I figure an expensive one should be good for a LONG time. It hasn't arrived yet, but when it does, I'll let you know how it performs. It does have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if it's terrible, I'll send it back. I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it though and will probably wish I'd sprung for it earlier.

Update!!

I started writing this post before the straightener arrived. It came today, and I couldn't resist trying it out right away. And oh my gosh, I think I could rave on for a good page or two about how incredible it is. Seriously. I had NO idea that it would really make that much of a difference, but I feel like a new woman.

I didn't realize how bad my old one was until I tried out this one. I kept waiting for it to snag or drag, but it slid through my hair like magic. It was just incredible. It didn't take five passes on a section. One. One pass, and my hair was straight as a pin. It's ridiculous. And SO fast. It cut my straightening time from 15 minutes to five. FIVE! And it looks 1000 times better than it used to. Can a flat iron change your life? Because this one just did.

I think there might be a little something to the whole retail therapy thing.

Awww

2009-08-19T21:09:00.000-04:00

Animals amaze me. This makes my eyes a little misty.

PS I'm done with three of my five finals, and I am still alive. Barely. One was a take-home, so I turned that in last week, but I had two today. Two finals in one day is two too many.

Keeping on

2009-08-17T07:44:00.005-04:00

The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances.
-Martha Washington

It's finals week, also known as HELL. I'll be pretty busy trying to cram my head full of as much law as it can hold and hopefully passing every single one of my four finals. I'll be finished at about 5pm on Sunday (yes, a final on Sunday. I have one on Saturday too. Boooo.), so please send some thoughts/prayers/positive energy my way this week.

Also, I'm struggling big time with a situation in my personal life. Lots of hurt and confusion and frustration and worry. So I could use some good vibes in that regard too. I'm trying to just breathe deeply and remember that I am loved and that it's going to be okay, but sometimes it feels like I am suffocating. I will get through it, and it will be okay, but right now it just feels like too much to bear all at once, and it's hard to remember that the sun is going to break through the clouds soon. It can't stay dark forever.

Once I get through finals, the other thing will be easier to deal with and it won't feel like I am being crushed with everything at once, but I just have to keep trucking this week. And finding the bright spots to keep me going. :)

My public service announcement

2009-08-11T12:55:00.001-04:00

If you're not reading texts from last night, you are missing out.* Unless you're either a) over age 35 or b) have never had a ridiculous night/sent a regrettable text. In that case, you probably won't get it. At all. The rest of you, get ready to laugh.

*Warning: Texts from last night is not recommended reading during law school classes or work meetings. It's liable to cause uncontrollable giggling at inappropriate times.

Grossed out

2009-08-10T21:08:00.003-04:00

Tonight I opened a sealed container of lettuce to make a salad. I'm too lazy--I mean busy--to wash, dry, and cut up lettuce, so unless I buy the pre-washed stuff, it just sits in my fridge and doesn't get used. Well, I have now lost faith that the lettuce is indeed pre-washed. The carton was full of teeny tiny green bugs. SICK. Can I repeat that? SICK!!!!!!!!!

The only thing grosser I have experienced is the time I found a caterpillar in my lettuce when I was in college. I STRONGLY dislike caterpillars to begin with. I've actually had nightmares about them. Put it in my food? It's lucky I didn't throw up on the spot. Actually, I'm pretty surprised that I didn't, although if I'd actually eaten any of it before discovering the myriapodous monster, I'm sure the result would have been, ahem, somewhat different.

Ugh. So much for my salad. It's amazing that I can still consider eating lettuce at all after these two experiences, but really, it would be tough to be a vegetarian and not eat lettuce. "Yeah, I'll have the salad, but no lettuce please." Riiiiight.

But from here on out, I am washing my own lettuce people. Mark my words.

PS No picture with this post. Y'all do not need a visual. Trust me.

Here we go

2009-08-08T15:21:00.005-04:00

I would be a horrible fan if I didn't at least mention the passing of John Hughes this week. He's the man behind some of the greatest movies of all time including my personal favorite, Sixteen Candles.

In other news, don't be alarmed if my posting becomes sporadic to non-existent over the next few weeks. Finals week starts the 17th, although it sort of already started for me since I have a take-home exam due this Tuesday. A few days after finals end, I'm flying to Minnesota for the wedding of one of my best friends, and I will probably not be spending a ton of time in front of the computer during my two-week break between summer and fall terms. I'm sure I'll pop in here and there (and I have a few pre-written posts waiting in the wings), but I'll back in full force after Labor Day.

Chill

2009-08-07T12:36:00.000-04:00

I'm off to the pool for a couple hours. I need a little break this afternoon. I took the MPRE this morning, and I have a take-home exam to complete later today. But for right now, I am going to do a little relaxing.

If you can't hit up the pool, spend a couple minutes checking out this amazingly talented kid. And listen to some beautiful tunes while you're at it. If you don't feel a little more relaxed afterward, then you must be stressed beyond all help.

Get on the bus

2009-08-06T14:29:00.001-04:00

I've been blogging my little heart out so that I would have enough posts up when I finally decide to go public. It's nice to have something more to read than just "Welcome to my blog. Check back to see what I've written!" I'm thinking today might be the day! It makes me feel a little nervous, probably like sending your kid off to school for the first time. Here go my words, thoughts, and suggestions out into the great big world to fend for themselves. Be kind to them. :)

Patience

2009-08-06T13:13:00.009-04:00

(Wherein I reveal an actual picture of myself. Yikes.)

I've been wearing my hair in a very chic chin-length bob for about a year-and-a-half. I really liked it for a long time. It was the first time in my life that I felt like I had an actual style instead of just, you know, hair hanging there around my face. At the beginning of this year, I started to think about growing it out, and by February, I decided to do it for sure.

I just realized I actually took this picture sixth months ago to the day. This was my last haircut where I kept it short.

[February 6, 2009]

So here we are, six months later, and my hair is nowhere NEAR where I want it to be. It's growing, for sure. But at a snail's pace. I am swearing up and down to never cut it short again because it is SUCH a pain to grow back out. I have to look at pictures to prove to myself that it really is considerably longer than it was, but it's hard to think about how much further I have to go.

I don't have a great recent picture, but this one at least shows what my hair looked like a couple weeks ago. It looks pretty much the same now, although I'm sure it's grown a minuscule amount since then. (By the way, the extra shoulder in this picture belongs to Sean Astin, but that's a story for another time). And please excuse the crummy red-eye correction job. Picasa didn't quite get it this time, but I didn't feel like photoshopping it.

[July 23, 2009]

It's definitely longER. It's almost brushing my shoulders now, but it's nowhere near being "long" hair. I'd like to look like this:

[sorry, I don't have a photo source, but probably People.com]

Or this:

[clipped from the hottest video in all the world here]

Yep, Jennifer Aniston's hair is totally attainable. As is Shakira's. Indeed. But hey, it never hurts to have goals! In the meantime, I will keep taking prenatal vitamins and getting a little trim every eight weeks. And reminding myself that I am never. cutting. it. short. again.

My new chairs

2009-08-05T22:57:00.007-04:00

[I lined them all up for their photo shoot, but they're now located around my kitchen table, replacing the wood ones I had before]

For at least a couple years, I've been sort of obsessed with wanting to own some classic pieces of furniture, especially a set of Eames shell chairs. Sure, I could get the reproductions from Room & Board or DWR, but (1) they are EXPENSIVE, (2) I really wanted vintage fiberglass rather than the plastic reproduction, and (3) I don't particularly like the Eiffel legs that the new versions have (and they aren't stackable).

After the fourth of July, I got home from up north and checked my Google Reader. I have a feed from the three closest Craigslist sites so that any listings that include "Eames" or "Herman Miller" show up in my reader. I've had it since probably the beginning of this year, and up until that night, there hadn't been anything I was interested in. I created the feed specifically to look for shell chairs, and lo and behold, there was a post that a guy named Kyle in a town about 30 minutes away had "a small army" of chairs for sale. He was asking $50 a piece (a steal) and would entertain offers if you wanted to buy more. So I called and offered $150 for four chairs. I didn't think he would take it, but he said, "I can probably do that." SCORE. These chairs would probably go for $100+ PER CHAIR on ebay, and then you'd have to pay shipping which isn't cheap since they are big and heavy.

I thought long and hard about whether to spend $150 on chairs that I didn't need, but I knew I couldn't pass this chance up. I have wanted these exact chairs. They couldn't be more perfect. They have the base that attaches to other chairs so you can put them in a row (there are a few different leg styles, and that was my preference), they are fiberglass, they have original date stamps (May 15, 1958), they are a lovely off-white color (as opposed to some of the uglier colors like orange or avocado green), and they are in great condition, especially considering they are over 50 years old.

The next day, I drove to pick up my babies. I was soooooo excited. I got a STEAL. They are perfect. I am in love. Kyle realized after talking to some people that he was giving me a heck of a bargain, but he honored his word. Thank you, Kyle. You have made me an incredibly happy girl. I asked where he got them, and he said that a power company was auctioning them off. He got outbid by a guy that wanted to use them for his son's graduation party. The guy didn't realize what he had and sold them to Kyle after the party. He had 33 chairs total, and I'm sure he made some serious money on them.

Who knew that chairs could make a girl so happy? Oh, and they are COMFORTABLE! I'm now using them as my kitchen chairs, and my kitchen table is also my desk, so I spend a lot of time at it. I hoped that someday maybe I might be able to have a set of these, but I never dreamed it would happen so soon.

Slick sheets to unslick your skin

2009-08-04T11:54:00.008-04:00

Once upon a time, I bought some face wash, and there was a free package of these included. So I gave them a try. And they are great. Here in Michigan, we have this thing called humidity. It can leave you feeling a bit greasy. These little babies really do the trick. I love it when a product does exactly what it says it will. They come in small package, so you can easily toss them in your purse for touch-ups on the go. Because nobody wants a shiny forehead.

How not to spend money on entertainment

2009-08-04T11:30:00.002-04:00

[picture source]

Do you use your public library? Yes? Good for you! No? Why the heck not? I'm always surprised when people buy every book they read. Yes, some books are definitely worth owning if you're going to read or reference them again and again. But you can always make that decision later. If you're not sure, get it from the library. It's free. Free! You can't beat free. Most libraries also have a pretty great selection of DVDs, music CDs, and audio books too. (Audio books, by the way, are fantastic for long car trips. They make the miles FLY by.) Sometimes the DVDs will cost $1 to check out, but that sure beats the $4 you'd pay at Blockbuster.

I can't speak for all libraries, but my library could not be more convenient to use. I don't have to go in and roam the shelves looking for what I'm after. I just go online, do a quick catalog search, and then place a hold on whatever I'm looking for. They send me an email when it's in, and I walk in the door and find it sitting right on the hold shelf under my name. They have a self-checkout which takes approximately 2.5 seconds, so I am usually in and out in under a minute. What could be easier?

And did I mention that it's free?

Fleecy

2009-08-04T11:01:00.006-04:00

I rarely make an impulsive purchase. If I buy something, it's usually something I've had my eye on for a long time and have debated about for months. Occasionally I snatch something up the first time I see it, but that's usually because I've been looking for something that fits the bill for a while. Ex: here and here.

I've been eyeing this fleece since this spring. I have an old, black fleece, which does not comport well with a yellow dog. I got the fleece long before the dog. I'm always covered in dog hair, despite my best efforts with a sticky roller every time I leave the house. I've been wishing for a lighter colored fleece for about four years now (Georgia's age, coincidentally ;).

Despite the fact that I want it, it seems like one of those things that I don't really need. Granted, I buy a lot of things that I don't really need, but I just haven't gone for the fleece yet. I am severely tempted right now, though, because it's on sale for HALF-PRICE here. Should I, or shouldn't I? On one hand, I've been wanting this fleece for months, and you generally don't do much better than half-price. On the other hand, August is going to be a very expensive month for me (flying to a wedding in Minnesota (yay!), buying next term's books) and I spent way more in July than I usually do (shower curtain, shoes, new swimsuit, wedding present... all good stuff, just much more than I usually buy in a given month), so I think I'm probably going to miss out. That's called being responsible, I guess. Not always fun, but often the better decision.

Cool(er) runnings

2009-08-03T16:50:00.011-04:00

I got a new laptop in January after my old one kicked the bucket. It runs really hot, as I hear that Dells are prone to do. The fan was running almost constantly, and aside from the noise factor (kind of annoying), I need it to last me a few years without burning up. I thought about getting one of those cooling pads, but they just have more fans (so using one wouldn't eliminate the noise issue), and I wanted something more portable to take with me to class.

I found a slick little product called "Cool Feet" that is just what I was looking for. I love it when I find something well-designed that exactly solves I problem I was having. The rubber feet attach with suction cups to the bottom of my computer and can be easily popped on and off. They raise the laptop up so that air can circulate underneath. Simple, easy, perfect. An added (and unexpected) bonus is that they actually put my keyboard at a more comfortable typing angle. I give it two thumbs up.

Accessorizin'

2009-08-03T15:45:00.004-04:00

Georgia has a small wardrobe of collars. Small. But she does have more than one. I haven't bought any new ones in at least a year (showing remarkable self-restraint), but I have a few from Lucky Fiona. Their selection changes often, so I recommend checking back if you don't find anything you love. I have the one shown below, and Georgia looks beautiful in it.

Sofa city, sweetheart

2009-08-03T15:14:00.009-04:00

One day, probably several years down the road, I'm going to furnish and decorate a lovely place. Most of my furniture pieces right now are hand-me-downs, which is as it should be for a student on a budget, but I very much look forward to the day when I can splurge on some gorgeous pieces that will last for years.

Just for fun, I browsed sofas online a while ago and found one that I love at Crate and Barrel. Crisp and modern-looking without being cold. Very nice. I might get it in a different color, but I've been on a real gray kick for quite some time now. It's my favorite neutral. (Did I just admit to having a favorite neutral? Oh man. I spend too much time thinking about home design.)

(The post title is a line from my favorite movie ever, in case you didn't catch it, which you probably didn't unless you have the entire movie memorized like I do.)

The grape lady

2009-08-03T14:58:00.005-04:00

I am probably going straight to Hell for laughing at this poor woman, but this is one of my favorite YouTube videos ever. The sounds she makes send me into hysterics every time. And the news reporters trying to hold it together afterward? Priceless.

For the love of pugs

2009-08-03T14:33:00.011-04:00

[picture source]

Yesterday I was running along my regular route with Georgia (I am a creature of habit), when out of nowhere, a little pug was chasing us. Had it been any other kind of dog, I might have kept on running, but I love pugs. LOVE them. Love them with the kind of reckless abandon I usually reserve for Sunshine Wheat, Victoria's Secret, and my best friends. Especially fawn-colored pugs, which he happened to be. This little pug wasn't barking or pretending to be threatening. He was just wagging his curly tail and wanting to make friends with Georgia.

I couldn't very well run away with him (although believe me, I WANTED to), so I did the thing I couldn't resist doing. I scooped him up. (Plus, I didn't want him to get hit by a car running around out in the street. That's my justification.) He was the perfect size for holding. Not too heavy, but compact and solid. A little bagel of a dog. I knew what direction he'd come from, so I started walking back that way when a man opened his front door.

"Excuse me," I said. "Do you know whose dog this is?"
"Yes..." he responded, sounding slightly embarrassed.
"Is it yours?"
"Yeah."
"Oh good! He followed me, and I didn't want to just run away with him." (secretly I did, but I didn't tell him that)
I set the little guy down, and the man called, "Charlie, come here! Thanks! Sorry about that!"
And I was on my way. But oh, how it made me want a pug.

For practical purposes, a pug would be no good for my lifestyle. I want a dog that can run and hike with me, and little pugs just aren't cut out for breathing hard. But maybe if I had two dogs, one could be my running buddy, and the pug could stay home sometimes. Would it feel too left out? I'm not sure. But in the next couple years, I might just have to find out.

Blowing off steam

2009-08-02T22:26:00.004-04:00

It's finals time 'round these here law school parts. Also known (not so) affectionately as anxiety season. Yup, it's brutal. See, in law school, your entire grade is based on one exam. No mid-terms. No quizzes. No homework. No class participation. One final exam covering the entire course. You need to know your sh*t.

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by it all that I feel like I don't even know where to dive in. One thing I discovered my very first term is that spontaneous solo dance parties can really take a bite out of the anxiety when it hits. So I spent a few minutes tonight crafting a killer dance playlist and then shaking my tailfeathers to it.

For some reason putting up a blog post really calms my mind down too. Whatever works! :)

The perfect swimsuit

2009-08-02T16:33:00.010-04:00

Ladies, you know what a nightmare it can be trying to find a swimsuit that is flattering, not see-through, and stays put if you want to do more than just lounge on your beach towel. (I am all for lounging, but sometimes a girl needs to take a dip or play a game of frisbee.)

Stress no longer. I got an email from Victoria's Secret a while back with a coupon code for $10 tops and bottoms on certain swimsuits. Well... as you will quickly learn (if you didn't already know), I can't resist a bargain from VS, and I've been wishing for a plain black suit for a while. I always buy patterned suits, which is kind of odd, because I almost never buy patterned clothes. Anyway, whenever I see people in plain black suits, I always think they look really great, so I thought maybe it would be worth a try.

I picked out this top and bottom. Let me tell you, this is THE MOST FLATTERING SWIMSUIT I HAVE EVER OWNED. Yes, that requires all caps. I'm not sure if it is flattering on every figure, but I thought I would share because it is definitely flattering on me. It's like the LBD of swimsuits. The open sides on the bottom make my legs look about a mile long, it somehow manages to MINIMIZE my hips (not an easy task), and the top actually accentuates what little I have up there rather than making it disappear. All in all, it just might be the best $20 I've ever spent.

The $10 promotion expired, but it's still less than $30 for the whole suit. Not bad at all. It comes in other colors too, but I think there might be something magical about the plain black. It's sure working for me. Happy splashing!

The countdown begins

2009-08-01T22:54:00.005-04:00

My rent is due on the first of the month... which means that I paid today. Woo, exciting. Well, maybe just a tiny bit. See, my rent went up $50 this month, which is not something I'm excited about, but bear with me.

I've lived in my place for two years now, and if you renew your lease for a shorter term than a full year, you have to pay a $50 per month "short-term lease fee." I'm now on a short-term lease--because I'm moving back to Colorado in five months! It's really going to happen, and I'm so excited about my dreams finally coming true.

After graduating from CSU, I never, ever intended to end up back in Michigan for this long. The whys and hows of still being here are a story for a different day, but I haven't truly felt at home in the mitten for a very long time. It's like I've been treading water for ages, and I'm about to get picked up by a boat. Don't get me wrong. There are things about Michigan that I love, but there are more things I love in Colorado.

At any rate, the future looks bright, and although I'm trying to live in the present and not rush the time between now and then, I sure wouldn't mind if it speeds along pretty quickly.

The eyes have it

2009-07-31T23:57:00.006-04:00

For years and years, I have been faithful to L'Oreal Voluminous (waterproof--I'm emotional. I don't need black streaks). I've tried other brands, but I always go back. I have decently long lashes, so I am after volume more than length. This year, though, my loyalty has wavered. My trusty L'Oreal now flakes all over the place. Have I had bad luck and ended up with old tubes from the store? Did they change their formula? I'm not sure what's going on, but no one looks good with black specks all over their face.

I pitched the question to friends. Two people recommended Covergirl Eyelights, so I gave it a shot. It doesn't give me the volume I'm after, but it does add a bit of sparkle, so I've been layering it over the L'Oreal. I hate spending money on something only to get home and find out it doesn't work for me, so I haven't tried anything else yet. If funds were unlimited, I would buy one of every brand and do a trial of them all. I hear raves about Dior, but I won't spend $24 for a tube of mascara that I have to throw out in three months*.

So... mascara recommendations? It has to be waterproof, give great volume, not flake, and not be expensive. Is that too much to ask?

*By the way, did you know that after three months, your mascara has unsafe levels of bacteria and needs to be replaced? It's actually regulated by the FDA, apparently.

The real deal on Accutane

2009-07-31T22:56:00.010-04:00

For the past five-and-a-half months, I've been enduring the torture known as Accutane. If you click that link, scroll down to "Accutane side effects." It's nasty stuff and extremely unpleasant to be taking. It works though. This is round two for me. I did a course when I was 21, and my skin stayed clear for about a year, but then I started breaking out again. I'm sure law school doesn't help. I hemmed and hawed about whether I really wanted to do another round of it (it really is that bad), but in the end, the hatred for my awful skin convinced me that it was worth it. I'm an adult now. I've had terrible skin since I was about thirteen. That's long enough. I'm over feeling like a pimply teenager and seeing ugly red spots in every single picture of myself. Vain? Maybe. But improving my skin has done wonders for my self-esteem.

My dermatologist (I love her, by the way) said that less than one percent of people have to do a second round of treatment. Most people's skin clears up permanently after one round (usually five months). I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. (Insert sarcastic laughter.)

After five months, I was still having breakouts (although nothing like I did before), so I decided to stay the course for one more month. The stuff is extremely tightly controlled, and six months is the longest you can take it. I think six months will do it, because in the last two weeks, I've had only one little blemish pop up. I am counting down the days till I'm finished for good though. Fifteen more.

The following is intended more for someone who's thinking of taking Accutane and wants to know what it's really about. If you have great skin, you'll find it yawn-worthy for sure. Either way, it's a bit graphic. Probably TMI. Continue at your own risk.

In case you're curious (or thinking of taking it), it is a major pain in the butt, but it will almost certainly work. Doctors won't prescribe it unless you've tried other prescriptions that haven't worked, so be prepared to be patient and keep trying. If you're a woman, it's a much more complicated process because it causes severe birth defects if you get pregnant. They will only dispense one month at a time, and every month you have to go in for a pregnancy test and blood work. If everything checks out okay, you have to go online and answer questions about taking the drug and using birth control. Only then can you pick up your prescription.

The most common side effects (that everyone I know who's taken it have experienced) are extremely dry skin and LIPS. The lips are the worst. I can't go more than two hours without putting on some type of lip balm, or my lips will literally be cracked and bleeding. And they are constantly peeling. It's disgusting, but there is nothing you can do about it. You can even scrub them with a pumice stone (yep, tried it), and they will be peeling again within a few hours. That's really the worst of it. Other bad (but somewhat more manageable) side effects that I have are:

Super-sensitivity to sun. I burn very easily... not the case when I'm not on Accutane. Be careful and wear sunblock. You can fry in an hour or two outside.
Very fragile skin. My sports bra chafes my skin raw every time I run, and if I nick my hand on anything, it inevitably takes a chunk of skin off.
Cracks inside my nose that don't heal. Eww, I know. And painful.
Cracked toes and feet that won't heal. Also unattractive and painful.
Dry, dry skin. Already mentioned briefly above. I recommend Cetaphil cream (comes in a jar) and Vaseline lotion.

The best lip stuff is Aquaphor or good old Vaseline. If you want a stick, Palmer's cocoa butter lip balm is really great.

Is it awful? Yes. It is worth it? For me, yes. My skin is at least 95% better, which is a HUGE improvement. I probably won't ever have perfect skin, but I am SO happy with it compared to before. I feel pretty instead of feeling like my skin is a flashing beacon that everyone is staring at.

Indeed

2009-07-31T16:25:00.003-04:00

I saw this bumper sticker on a car the other day, and I liked it. Good reminder.

Yes, please

2009-07-31T15:58:00.009-04:00

I'm always thinking a good six to twelve months down the road. I can't help it; it's just how I function. I know it's not even August, but it has been bothering me that I don't have anywhere to write down events for next year yet. I do use Google calendar, but I really like to have a wall calendar in front of me where I can see a whole month at a glance.

I stopped at Barnes & Noble to get one when I was out running errands. I've bought the same wildflowers calendar for the past few years, and I planned to just get it again. (Once I find something that works, I tend to stick with it for a long time. It's easier that way. I hate making decisions.) They didn't have the wildflowers calendar though. I almost left without one, but then I saw a Charley Harper calendar. Blew the wildflowers out of my mind. Oh, it is gorgeous. I feel like I should frame the pages instead of writing on them. Actually I haven't ruled out the idea of buying another one to do just that. I'm ready for it to be 2010 so I can start looking at it every day.

Might I suggest

2009-07-31T12:58:00.014-04:00

I'm a bridesmaid next month, and I ordered the cutest shoes to wear with my dress. As previously mentioned, however, comfort almost always trumps style for me. I know, I know, heels make legs look faaabulous, but they hurt after awhile, and if I'm in pain, I'm too unhappy to care about fabulous legs. These shoes aren't actually too uncomfortable, and they don't rub anywhere, but I could tell right away that the balls of my feet would be killing me after an hour or two in them. Enter Dr. Scholl's.

= Happy feet

These cushions are just the thing. Admittedly, I will probably still switch to flip-flops for dancing (I don't want to end the wedding with a broken ankle), but these should get me through the ceremony and photos looking and feeling fabulous.

Future ram

2009-07-31T11:16:00.009-04:00

My freshmen-year roommate in college (who ended up becoming one of my very best friends) is pregnant with her first baby. I want to get her a baby outfit from our alma mater, and I found the perfect little onesie set, but it has been out of stock for weeks. I can't find it anywhere else, and I can't find anything else that I like as well. Everything else I've found is either very gender specific (cheerleader outfit v. football jersey outfit) or more expensive and not as cute. Here's the one I want:

This always happens to me. I get something in my head and then can't find it, and nothing else seems as good.

This is the closest I've found, and it's probably going to have to do. But seriously, I really got my heart set on the original. HUGE brownie points (and maybe even an actual reward) if anyone can find the top one for me!

Oh, Hollywood. You always give me something to talk about.

2009-07-31T01:23:00.008-04:00

For some reason it really annoys me when celebrities smirk instead of smile. This might be partly due to the fact that I end up looking like a total dork in pictures anytime I attempt an expression other than a smile. I often look like a dork when smiling too, but not 100% of the time. What's your opinion on the calculated smirk? I submit the following for your examination:

Renee "Queen of the smirk-instead-of-smile" Zellweger

Kristen "I am SO over being a celebrity" Stewart

Okay, I have to say, I kind of secretly love Kristen Stewart. She makes me aspire to be more of a badass. I think I'm going to start practicing my "pissed off" expression.

And finally:

Megan "I hate having to interact with mere mortals" Fox

New kicks

2009-07-31T01:07:00.011-04:00

I'm really not a shoe girl. Not like a lot of girls anyway. Comfort pretty much always trumps style for me, so my go-to summer shoes are flip-flops, and my go-to winter shoes are Uggs. End of story. Well, not quite. Then there are those awkward in-between seasons called fall and spring when it's too warm to wear Uggs and not warm enough to wear flip-flops. Which means that for approximately half the year, I never feel like I have the proper footwear.

When I was at Target buying my shower curtain, I may have wandered into the shoe section. Purely accidentally of course. And I may have happened upon a really, really cute pair of little flats that would be pretty great for fall. Maybe.

They were only $20, so I bought them. Adorable, no?

Welcome to my bathroom

2009-07-31T00:45:00.008-04:00

Okay, really, I apologize. I'm about to write about a shower curtain. You've been warned.

I've been on the hunt for a new shower curtain for months. I just couldn't find anything I liked that wouldn't clash with my towels (they are "pale emerald," which doesn't appear to be offered anymore). Turns out that they are a very uncommon green.

Lo and behold, Target came to the rescue last weekend. I found this shower curtain online, and I hardly dared to hope that the green might actually be the right color in real life. But it was EXACTLY the right color. Fancy that. I didn't LOVE it at first, but after looking for so long, I was just relieved to find something that would work. Now that I've had it up for a week, it's grown on me. It might not be love, but I've settled into a comfortable appreciation.

Rumer Willis is "that girl"

2009-07-30T23:24:00.008-04:00

This is hilarious. You just know McLovin wanted to kill Rumer Willis for getting in the middle of this photo.

Yum

2009-07-30T22:56:00.007-04:00

I have been lusting after this purse since the first time I laid eyes on it. Definitely not in my budget (even on sale), but it sure is fun to look at!

Here goes nothin'

2009-07-30T20:55:00.004-04:00

I have started and quit blogging several times now. I always end up getting creeped out at putting myself out there publicly or I look back at what I've written and decide it's all stupid and want to take it down. But there are so many really, really great bloggers out there that I keep getting inspired to try it again. So here I am. Giving it another shot. Bear with me!