Monday, May 4, 2009

Tears then a Fort

Quel weekend!

Saturday night i had a bit of a breakdown once i realized i couldn't swing the DC trip in June. A little background info: no doubt you've noticed me blogging about Kimberly Wilson a number of times. I could list all the reasons she's the most incredible woman i've ever met (aside from my dear mother), but for the interest of time (and your attention span), let's just say that she changed my life. Simple as that. These days i'm lucky enough to call her a friend and been fortunate enough to attend two of her retreats - a week in Costa Rica in September 2007 and a weekend in upstate New York in March 2008.

Lately i've noticed my priorities getting out of whack and some unhealthy habits rearing their ugly heads. Wanting to "retreat" in every sense of the word, i considered the Texas Yoga Retreat being held at an ashram right outside of Austin. How perfect, no? A weekend of educational modules, oodles of yoga, healthy vegetarian eating, and ample time for reflection. But once i crunched all the numbers, i realized that my weekend in Austin would cost me more than dashing off to D.C. for Kimberly's Summer Solstice Staycation. Given the choice of spending 2 1/2 days retreating in Texas vs. spending one day with Kimberly in D.C., well, I choose D.C. and Kimberly. So i got all excited, looking up flights, making plans to stay with a dear friend, and was even going to leave Friday after work so i wouldn't have to take any time off (which also meant i'd basically only have Sat/Sun to play). It wasn't until later that evening when i realized what i was trying to do. Spend $400+ for 2 days in DC? 7 hours with my #1 Girl Crush/mentor/inspiration? She's worth every penny, no doubt, but i'm in no position to be so fiscally irresponsible. Reality hit and ow, it hurt. Maybe a year ago i would've spent this money without a second thought, but now that i'm finally financially independent and trying my darnest to save and get out of debt and be an adult, well, i just couldn't justify it.

Naturally after making this very mature/adult-like decision, i broke down in breathless, hiccupy tears just as i used to when i was about 4 years old and didn't get my way. Lola, being the sweet SWEET doll that she is, immediately perked up at the sound of my sobs and insisted on perching next to me in bed, frantically licking my tears away and nuzzling my neck. I decided right then and there to stop feeling sorry for myself and instread, pulled out some comforters and sheets and built myself a fort (easy to do considering i have a canopy bed - making it tres suitable for draping). Inside the fort i brought: Lola, a cup of tea, yummy snacks, my hot pink macbook, my copy of Hip Tranquil Chick, journal, colored pens, and lots of pillows. And that's where i spent the next 15 hours.






And then i woke up Sunday morning (okay, maybe closer to afternoon) in a much better mood. Made myself a cup of iced coffee to celebrate. Spent my Sunday doing laundry, cleaning, catching up on episodes of Gossip Girl (SO good these days, n'est ce pas??), Whole Foods-ing, and cooking a chicken enchilada casserole (stay tuned for recipe and pics).



How was your weekend?

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Death Cab: A Mini Review (before i pass out)


Music: Overall incredible, amazing, as good as i remember, love Ben Gibbard, love love him. (P.S. is it me, or has he gotten cuter??)

Atmosphere: Shit-tastic. I wanted to stab several people around me in the neck. Seriously. Screaming at the top of your lungs DURING the concert? Plus there was that one girl standing directly in front of C who refused to move even though she clearly had no seat. Oh and the 12-year old boys with greasy/shaggy hair and really, really bad acne. Gew.

Experience: Good and bad. I managed to zone out and enjoy the sweet, sweet sounds, but once reality crept in, i had to try *really* hard to keep my hands to myself (aka not strangle my fellow concertgoers.)

Wow - am i old or what?

And now, a pictorial journey!


My nails newly painted in Essie's Punchy Pink (you can't tell from the pic but they are NEON pink - looove!)


My Schiap toes and C's badass green boots.


Moi & C before people got super annoying ;-)


I will possess your heart, baby.


Bedtime! Gotta wake up for 9:30 SPIN. Xoxo darlings!!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Bay House

WARNING: There are A LOT of pictures in this post. But the house was just so beautiful that i couldn't help myself. Plus the pups were all so adorable!!

Anyway, highlights of the weekend included (in no particular order): blowing bubbles, fresh fish (literally caught earlier that afternoon!) for dinner (with delicious cheese grits), feeding the seagulls, laying out and catching up, beaucoup de vin, ping pong, hammocks and swings, stepping in dog poop with my bare feet (AGAIN), a really fun trip to the Galvy Wal-Mart (tacky city but where i found a TWILIGHT game!), sleeping w/ Lola in a delicious king sized bed, having to get towed back to shore by a crab fisherman b/c our jet ski died in the middle of the bay, shrimp cocktail/fresh berries/gourmet cheese, frozen margaritas on demand (bestie's dad ROCKS), and lots and LOTS of girl talk. I love my Pony/Bestie. Can't wait for Round Deux!!



















P.S. Yes, i realize i take a LOT of pictures of dogs, particularly my dog. But she's just so darn cute!

P.P.S. There are no human pics b/c (1) Bestie would kill me if i put them up here and (2) we were mostly makeup-less, sans blow-dryer, aka not in our prime. ;-)

I'd Like You To Meet...



...my new pink HOLGA!! After much deliberation (okay maybe not that much), i took the plunge and bought myself this adorable pink holga camera. After hearing such rave reviews about it, i figured it was an inexpensive way for me to have some fun with photography. Plus in this cotton candy pink color, how could i resist?? I am definitely going to name her, as i enjoy naming my inanimate objects. My darling white/pink beach cruiser? Her name is Sylvie. My newish purple ipod? Sofia. As for this baby, i'm not sure... Any suggestions? I'm particularly fond of French names :-)



P.S. Get your own here!



P.P.S. Aside from this purchase, i've cut back on my shopping BIG time. Yay moi.


P.P.P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH!! If you don't know Sarah, she's kind of like, stunning, uber talented, and has an incredible blog. (And also one of the sweetest bloggers you'll meet) Head on over and wish her a happy bday!


Wednesday, April 29, 2009

My Car :-(


Well the mood from my previous cheery post has soured. I walked into the parking garage at work only to discover that my car. had. been. hit. Was there a note on my window? Mais non, of course not. Were there any vehicles around with suspicious dentage/scratchage? No. You can see from the picture that it's not a devastating blow (physically), BUT it's the bumper and undoubtedly will cost more than $1k to fix. I've had my car for less than 4 months. FOUR MONTHS!! Le sigh. I can't help but ask... why me?? Grr.

Another List

1. Luckily this week has not been as stressful as i anticipated. Still have loads of projects but have been dutifully checking them off the list. Yay progress!!

2. Have been *SO* good about eating at home for dinner this week. Monday night = fajita steak salad with sliced avocado and caramelized onions and a side of steamed broccoli (trying to get in as many greens as possible). Tuesday night = bowl of Special K Red Berries, roasted asparagus and a couple of hard-boiled eggs (got home late). Am planning to swing by Whole Foods on the way home tonight and get some shrimp for dinner - will pair it with leftovers avocado, probably steam the rest of my broccoli, and who knows what else!

3. Have another *blog crush* post coming soon - you. will. love. it. !!!

4. Tomorrow is Sarah's bday, and she's going to be celebrating in Austin!! Hope we can *FINALLY* meet :-)

5. Hope to upload my Galveston pics tonight so you can see the beautiful bay house in which i spent last weekend!!

6. Got this fun tripod recently so hopefully i'll be adding more pics to the blizzog. (P.S. i really want an old polaroid camera. do they come in pink?)

7. I plan to take a photography class, tennis lessons, and a Bollywood Bhangra workout class this summer. Woo hoo!

8. I love making lists. Maybe all my posts will be lists? Maybe not. Did i just hear you groan??

9. I'm itching to travel... future itineraries include: another week-long retreat in Costa Rica, another jaunt to NYC (mostly for the overrated Topshop, teehee), a spring trip to Paris, and maybe long weekends in D.C. and L.A.. A girl can dream, n'est ce pas?

10. I love y'all - my fab readers. :-) Hope you have a deliriously happy hump day!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Are You A Shopaholic?



From Secrets of Simplicity (which i am FINALLY getting around to reading):

"The questions below will help you recognize the signs of an unhealthy shopping habit that may be around you and help you to release.

1. Is most of your free time spent either purchasing or returning items?

2. Do you use shopping to change your mood?
[Ok seriously, what girl doesn't?]

3. Do you have a junk room, junk drawer, or storage unit that has unknown contents?

4. Do you hate to wear things twice for fear that someone will notice?

5. Has your credit card debt become excessive?

6. Do you hide your shopping habit from loved ones and friends?

7. Would you be embarassed to ask for help to curb your shopping habit?

8. Do you avoid inviting people to your home because of your accumulation of purchases?

9. Is shopping one of your top five favorite things to do?
[DUH]

10. Is reorganizing a weekly ritual for you?"


Now - the most important question of all. How many "yes" 's = unhealthy habit??