Quickie

It took me about 20 minutes to get dressed this morning, which is a LONG TIME considering i wasn't getting dressed for a date or anything, just a normal Tuesday at work. My closet now resembles a Forever21 store. (you know, piles of clothes and hangers everywhere)

And? I hate my outfit today. It's one of those boring, skirt/tank/cardigan/scarf combos that is so matchy-matchy i feel like i belong in a Dillard's catalog. Le sigh. I desperately need Spring/Summer-friendly work clothes, but i hate spending $$ on crap i would have never bought in my former life.

All this being said, i AM still uber grateful for my job despite the fact that i'm spending my prime years forced to conform to this horrifically conservative and completely uninspiring notion of "business casual".

I abhor business casual.

Gratitude Journal

I haven't done this in awhile and need it now more than ever so here i go!

I'm grateful...

-that despite years and years of laying out in the sun and even tanning in a tanning bed (i know, i know.. terrible), i have zero sun damage on my face. (Had the BEST facial tonight and will never go elsewhere. If you're ever in Austin, make an appt @ milk + honey spa)

-that despite this awful economy, i still have a job and have a truly amazing boss. Oh and a kickass secretary/legal administrative assistant.

-that Lola's tummy trouble seems to have been a one-night fluke. :-)

-that my next couple of months are filled with fun events like a quick weekend trip to the beach with my Bestie, a bachelorette party and lingerie shower hosted by yours truly, a Memorial Day weekend in beautiful California, a big birthday bash, Easter weekend with my parents, and hopefully an entire weekend in Dallas devoted to friends + shopping. ;-)

-for my recently acquired 5'+ poster of Edward Cullen... currently posted on my bedroom. No. Lie. (in middle school it was Leonardo DiCaprio and in high school the Backstreet Boys)

-for this teasing brush that guarantees me some seriously big Texas hair. Holllaa!!!

i heart T.S.

Am i the last one to get on the Taylor Swift bandwagon? For the past year i've seen her win a number of prestigious music awards, hear her on the radio (romeo romeo, yes yes i get it), and see her face almost EVERYWHERE. But never once did i bother to actually listen to her music b/c, well, let's be honest, i wrote her off as another tween/never-gonna-be-Britney-Spears/Miley Cyrus-esque pop star. That is until i saw an E! True Hollywood Story on young stars (don't judge!) and learned that Taylor is not only sweet and down-to-earth, but she actually WRITES HER OWN MUSIC. Huh? That's pretty much unheard of when it comes to these young/of-the-moment pop stars. Then i gave her latest album, Fearless, a listen and well, the rest is history. It's been on repeat for the past couple weeks. It's the perfect sunny, breezy Spring day, riding in your car with the top down (ok with the sunroof open), belting at the top of your lungs and loving being a girl type of music. Not to mention i love the fact that she writes about every boy encounter she's ever had and is the first to admit it. Je l'adore. My faves include: "Hey Stephen", "You're Not Sorry", and "The Best Day". If you enjoy the Dixie Chicks, Carrie Underwood, etc., then i think you'll dig her as much as i do.

Crayon Rings

I am totally digging these crayon rings! Eager to purchase, i clicked away (on some tres poorly designed sites, btw) until i got here and discovered they cost a staggering $50. Uhhh, do you KNOW how many crayons i could buy for $50?!?!?!?!!

Needless to say, these sweet thangs will not be adorning my fingers anytime soon, but they are pretty cool, huh? I especially love the packaging. :-)

Nouveaux Amis

I just love budding friendships, don't you? Isn't getting to know someone, and then realizing how much you have in common or how much you don't have in common and how much you can learn from said someone, soooo great?? Is there any better feeling? (Ok perhaps falling in love... but let's save that for another post, shall we?) I had dinner tonight with a new friend i met via another friend, and it was like a GREAT first date. Talking talking, so much to talk about! And oh, you think so, too?? How funny! YES i agree!!! I know we definitely should try that together. I love it, too! Mmm oui oui, making new friends is wonderful. :-)

On top of that, i have a couple of old and very dear friends in town this weekend, and i'm thrilled. Meeting one for an early hotel breakfast tomorrow morning before work and another for brunch on Sunday - yay! Am not looking forward to how early i need to be up tomorrow, but it'll all be worth it and plus, tomorrow is FRIDAY!! Hasn't this week flown by?

Hope yours was a good week (mine was!).

xoxo,
C

Atlas Shrugged Le Movie?

Just heard (this may be old news) that tehre's a movie adaptation of the book "Atlas Shrugged" in the works. This is one of my faaaavorite books (if not my #1), and i'm tres curious as to how this would translate on the big screen. Honestly? i don't think it can...

D-I-Y

Bonjour, mes amies!! I'm in a delightful mood, despite my face's slight resemblance to a marshmallow (still un peu puffy from this morning's dentist visit). The sun is SHINING, work email is DOWN which means i can't stress about anything @ work, and i am pleasantly sore from my workout yesterday with Deb (my kickass friend/trainer). Plus it's hump day, which means this work week is mostly over. ;-)

How are you guys doing? Cannot believe it's already April (Happy April Fool's!) and officially Spring. Where has 2009 gone? Am hoping to spend some time revisiting my 2009 intentions/goals/resolutions tonight and perhaps create new ones (tennis lessons? french classes? oui and oui!). Also want to start one of my many DIY projects. Here's an idea of what i hope to create...

1. STUD-MANIA - In case you haven't heard, i. love. studs. And so does the fashion world right now b/c they are EVERYWHERE. I am (patiently) awaiting my stud order from studsandspikes so i can stud the following: faded denim shorts (also plan to distress via razors and sandpaper), vest, white hobo handbag, purple AA "laptop bag" which i intend to use as a sporty handbag, and the list will go on and on... Voila some of my inspiration!

*Studded bag by: Park & Cube*


*Studded denim shorts from: Urban Outfitters*


*Studded chuck taylors by: Karen from Where Did U Get That*


*Studded black blazer by: Gennie from Maison des Reveries*


2. LE SHREDDED TEE - Um... i tried this on some white Hanes t-shirts over the weekend and failed miserably. Juley suggested i try with a 50% cotton 50% stretch material. I have the perfect Mossimo tank and will be attempting le shredded tee part deux tonight!

*Shredded White Tee (that i couldn't master) by: Camille from Childhood Flames*

P.S. Camille's tutorial rocks! i think i just suck... this is also why i don't know how to sew a button.

*Shredded Scarf by: Juley from Swank Heights*


I've done fairly well mastering some DIY design projects so i'm convinced that i too can become a studding/shredding queen. We shall see...

3. CRAFTING - Am also planning to FINALLY start my Bar Trip 2008 Scrapbook chronicling my adventures in the South of France, Lyon, Paris, and London! I'm pretty good at scrapbooking, if i do say so, and have boxes of stickers/embellishments/goodies at my disposal. Will definitely show upon completion :-)


Happy Hump Day!!