Todays’ post is all about my mom, Darling. Why? Just because I feel like it and I know that I’m incredibly blessed to have a mom like her. So, here’s the list of why my mom is fabulous:
* She reads Vogue which makes her an excellent person to turn to for fashion advice.
* She introduced me to Sex & The City.
* If it’s your birthday, you get to request your favorite dinner and cake with homemade icing.
* She loves Jack as if he were her own dog.
* She’s the best cheerleader I know.
* We have our own rituals. Like shopping & IHOP the day after Thanksgiving. Hot fudge sundaes once a month, just because.
* She was the one who encouraged me to blog.
* She calls me on my bad moods and bullshit (rare that I’m that way, but it happens and she tells me so).
* We laugh so hard it hurts more often than not.
* She has a pink cell phone.
* She wrote me a children’s book, just because. I have it tucked away for if/when I have kids.
* Darling knows when to hold my hand through certain situations and when to let me fly (and maybe crash) on my own, but she’s always there to pick up the pieces.
* She’ll gladly get on stage to sing with my dad’s band. She’s also pretty darn good at it too.
* She’s given me a list of nicknames as long as my arm, including things like Beeps. Smoodgie-San. Laser. (And no, I don’t know what they mean specifically.)
* She has a kick-ass blog. No, really. You should read her especially if you like photos, book recommendations, poems and anything else literary.
* She still gets excited about Christmas and repeatedly tells me and my brother NOT to go in my parent’s closet because we’ll run our surprises.
* We share our movie collections with each other (and not surprisingly, love the same kinds of movies).
Who is the most influential woman in your life? Does she read Vogue?
Current Book(s): Work in Progress: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, Haruki Murakami;
Finished: Club Dead, Charlain Harris (I’m in a bit of a reading slump currently)
Current Music:
The Beatles
The Supremes
Marvin Gaye
Stevie Wonder
Current Colors:
Sunflower yellow is quickly growing on me
Current Obsessions:
Cleaning/organizing
Baking
Reading cooking magazines
Thinking up crafty projects
Current Drink:
Water.
100 calorie Coca-Cola if I need one
Slim Fast
Current Songs:
A Little Less Conversation, Elvis Presley
Current Movie: Duplicity.
Can’t wait to see Away We Go
Current TV Show:
Sons of Anarchy
Current Wish-List:
I’d like my hair to grow faster and stop growing gray hairs
Believe it or not, more hours in the work day
Current Needs:
Sleep, always sleep.
To plan my week long vacation at the end of October
Current Triumph(s):
Slaying work projects left and right.
Conquering new dishes in the kitchen.
Staying in better touch with friends and family.
Current Bane(s) of my Existence:
Not enough time in the day to read books, catch up on blogs
Current Goal(s):
Lose five pounds by December (I’ve lost a few in the last two months)
Read a memoir by one of my favorite political figures or actors/actresses by end of the year
Current Indulgence:
Homemade chocolate chip cookies
Current Blessing:
It’s fall!
Current Slang or Saying:
I’m not sure what I’ve been saying a lot of lately.
Current (Fav) Outfit:
I’m digging the preppy look: black pants, white blouse, argyle sweater/vest and lots of fun jewelry to go with it
Current Excitement:
Birthday celebration with the family this weekend.
A fun, graphic desinger wedding to attend in two weeks
Visiting my BFF and her husband in three weekends for winery trips, a pumpkin patch & corn maze excursion and lots of relaxing
I admit I wasn’t organized enough to find a photo of myself as a young girl for today’s post so a photo of me from my 21st birthday will have to do:
I’m 26 today (and the end to the birthday-blogging theme)! The last year has been one of the best years in my twenties and I’ve enjoyed every moment, new opportunity, my new and old friendships, my fantastic family, my amazing dog (who I’m convinced is a Border Collie mix after much discussion this past weekend), Irish, this blog, my readers, and the many new experiences I enjoyed.
A quick, down n’ dirty list of things I’ve learned over the years:
* You can’t go wrong with hugs.
* Baking is therapeutic.
* Sex & The City relates to my life more than I would have thought (or cared to admit).
* Sleeping in until noon is rejuvenating.
* Love is worth the fall.
* Getting a Blackberry will change your life, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
* After a long day there’s nothing like a hug from your man and smooch from your dog.
* It’s true: if you pluck one white hair, at least three more grow in its place.
* Sweatpants are fabulous.
Birthday request time! If you’re a reader but rarely comment, please, let me know who you are. If you’re a regular reader/commenter please share your words to live by or favorite life advice for me to add to my arsenal.
You know the moments I’m talking about. They reaffirm that you are doing just what you should be doing with your life. Or remind you that yes, this person really loves you. Or that your family really is kick-ass, hands-down the best family out there. I’ve been noticing these moments more and more as I reflect on my last 25 years and prepare for the 26th one that’s right around the corner. Here are a few of *those* moments that have really stood out to me over the last few weeks…
* Small Mexican restaurant. Me. Irish. The couple that set us up. Beer, salsa, tortilla chips. Laughter. Looking over at Irish and he winks. And then he kisses me on the cheek and he held my hand under the table. It was one of those moments where everything just felt right. Sometimes the craziness of the world can really interrupt the flow of a relationship so these moments where it’s just natural, normal and great? Well, they are really special to me.
* It’s not often that I get a day out of the office to attend client meetings but when the client has just renewed three contracts with us, I get to go to the meetings. This particular meeting took us to a town only 30 minutes away from where my brother is attending school so my boss (my dad!) and I met up with him for a late lunch at a very local, very Greek, very awesome restaurant. We were sitting on the patio chatting about politics, healthcare, college girls, bumble bees and who knows what else (all the while sending picture texts to Darling so she could see photos of “her boys” together) and I had that ah-ha moment. I felt blessed. I felt loved. I felt honored that my 21 year-old brother thinks it is cool (or at least humors us) and wants to spend time with us. This is my family and the older I get, the cooler they get. Funny how that works.
* I’ve been living at home for almost three (!) months now. There have been a few adjustments here and there but surpsingly no rough patches. It’s amazing to me how quickly I’ve adjusted to living with my parents again. I don’t feel like a 25 (almost 26!) year-old loser. In fact, I feel more responsible because I’m saving money, paying off (and not using) my credit cards, contributing to some of the daily chores around the house, and feel stable. I loved living in apartments but it always seemed semi-permanent. I love staying with Irish but due to some reservations on his family’s side that can’t be permanent (at least not yet), for awhile. I was really quite nervous about the move but on Sunday night, I had one of *those* moments where I realized I had done the right thing. I spent most of the day with Irish wandering in and out of bookstores, enjoy lunch and just having fun and when I got home my parents and I had a pizza party complete with a girlie movie. (My dad consented to watching Sweet Home Alabama with us.) We were all feeling the Sunday Evening Blahs and so I offered to make us a pot of tea. Hanging with my parents, the dogs, getting play-by-play updates on the Cards game from Irish and sharing a pot of tea brought tears to my eyes.
*This here blog started out over four years ago as a place for me to sob via the internet. No, seriously. I went through a horrible break-up and I boohooed my feelings and thoughts all over my blog for a good six months. After that I started making “blog friends.” In the last year I’ve opened myself up to meeting ”blog friends,” calling them and sending them real mail. I remember when sharing your address or phone number with people you’ve met online was totally batshit crazy but now not so much. I went from calling people “blog friends,” to “my real life friends.” In the last few months several of those bonds have grown even stronger thanks to GChats, texts, phone calls, emails and girls’ nights for those that live close to me. Not to mention the just knowing that there is a huge support group of women (and men) out there if I ever need them. It doesn’t feel funny to me that some of my best friends are people I met on the internet. It actually feels pretty damn awesome.
So, tell me, what are some of *those* moments for you recently? What kind of things do you notice more as a birthday appears?
….bookaholic. Shopaholic. Cheeseholic. Sleepaholic. Pictureholic. Animalaholic. VictoriaSecretaholic. Struggling to be a runningaholic.
Normally these “addictions,” don’t cause me a lot of problems since I’m pretty good at keeping them in check. (Unless there are amazing sales, coupons for Barnes & Noble in my email, my favorite cheese in the fridge, or a rainy day.)
Well, that was until this past weekend when I was browsing dogs from various rescue shelters online with Darling since they are ready to begin the search for a new addition to our family. There were big dogs, little dogs, puppies, middle-age, old-age, short, fat, tall, skinny dogs. All for ADOPTION!
Some were for free (oh, how I want to go rescue that 12 year old dog who has limited time left, just so she can be loved for the remainder of her days. Oh, the heartbreak), others were on special since they are black and have a stupid societal stigma associated with them, and others yet were close to $200 to take home.
Darling and I diligently got up early on Saturday morning to visit a PetSmart adoption event to view some of the dogs we’d been keeping tabs on. And I fell in fast, insane, puppy love.
I made the mistake of holidng a three month-old terrier mix pup who was white, with black spots on his back, floppy ears, blue eyes and a brown/black face. He licked me. He put his head in my hand. He followed me to the other side of his cage after I put him down.
I fumbled for my phone to get Irish’s opinion of the pup but forgot he was at a bachelor party and couldn’t talk so I had to deal with sporadic texting and realized I can’t make a decision like this without his input. I walked away, mopey, but told myself that if he was there on Sunday morning, he was meant to be mine. (He wasn’t. A family with kids adopted him, or so they tell me.) Unfortunately the puppy bug has been planted firmly in my brain and despite the obvious obstacles and challenges to being a Dog Momma again, I can’t quite turn off the thoughts of adopting another one soon.
For the time being Darling and I are turning our backs on our animalaholic tendencies and instead attending the volunteer orientation that will hopefully allow us to be Ranch Hands, once a month, at a nearby animal rescue farm where there are thankfully no dogs. We’ll be surrounded by horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, geese, ducks, chickens, roosters and any other possible farm animal that needs to be rescued. We’ll be cleaning stalls, feeding and watering animals and leaving covered in mud, poop and straw I’m sure. We could have opted for a position at the various dog and cat shelters in the area but we would surely wind up with more dogs than we could handle, so farm animals it is! I’m excited to see and work with goats & pigs; Darling loves horses and donkeys. I have no idea what this adventure will hold for us, but I’m excited to support an organization I believe in.
Oh, and it helps that we receive some perks like discounted adoptions which we had no idea where were eligible for.
Confession time: What’s your biggest addiction and what sets it off?
1. Nailing a work presentation on Friday night thus freeing me to ignore work all weekend.
2. A blessing in disguise when my Blackberry stopped receiving work emails meaning I could really ignore work all weekend.
3. Going to a bar to see my dad’s band play with my mom & Gram. Bonus: my mom got on stage and sang an Irish ballad with the band. Double Bonus: my dad introduced the “three generations of women,” that he’s proud to have support him & his music career.
4. Puppy shopping with Darling. She’s looking for a new dog to add to the family, preferably a Border Collie Mix. We didn’t find the right one this weekend, but we are on the right track. I may or may not have fallen head over heels in love with a Terrier Mix puppy but wound up not adopting him because he was spoken for come Sunday morning. (I really wanted him but trying to be a responsible adult wanted to discuss it over with Irish who was at an all-day bachelor party.)
5. Enjoying the huge Art Fair StL puts on each September. Four or five streets are filled with Art vendors, music (live & DJ), food and of course, amazing people watching. Best person watching: Adult male, mid 50s, long white curly hair, non-descript hat. Ladies short shorts and black high heels with a white tank top. The reason I noticed him? He has better legs than me and walks in heels better than most girls I know.
6. Finding a birthday present for Irish and a unique wedding present for our friends who are tying the k not in less than a month. Irish is nearly impossible to buy for so I always go out on a limb with some of the presents I get him; I think he’ll like this one.
7. Taking an afternoon nap with Jack while listening to Felicity (almost done with the show!) in the background followed by a brisk 2-mile walk.
8. An hour long chat with Kyla. Eye-opening, inspiring, heart-warming and lovely. (Those words describe both Kyla & our phone call.)
9. The quiet of my parents’ house which I find rejuvenating.
10. Seeing Irish after being apart for five days.
What’s your Grace in Small Thing from this past weekend?
Following Tabitha’s lead it’s time for me to stop slacking and write a proper post. About Me (duh). Specifically, what’s new and what’s up with me:
* Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Two of my best friends brought me good news this week. One is moving in with her boyfriend this weekend which is a great next step for them. The other one called to say that she and her husband are taking a walk down Baby Lane. I literally did happy dances for both friends when I found out.
* I’m hooked on phonics. I have a book glued to my hand as much as possible. I’ve started taking one to work for the rare occasions I enjoy a “real” lunch hour, leave one stashed in my purse and have at least four ready-to-read books at Irish’s and a large pile at my parents.
* Follow your Feet. (Can anyone name what movie that line is from?) I haven’t posted a lot lately. The biggest reason is stress some of which is from work, some of which I bring upon myself. When I feel like that I don’t want to overshare or be a debbie downer, not to mention my creative juices are totally sucked out of me by the end of the day. Over the last few weeks I’ve been acutely aware of the fact that I can indeed control my stress and anxiety levels so I’m taking it one day at a time. I don’t make myself feel bad if a project takes longer than I thought or if something unexpected takes place. I make my daily to-do list in the morning, rather than the night before. The result: I’m sleeping better, planning less, thinking more positively and breathing easier. I’m just reminding myself to put one foot in front of the other and taking it one step/day at a time.
* Fall. It’s coming. Leaves are changing from green to yellow, orange and red. The mornings are crisp, car windows are fogged up and evenings call for sweatshirts and jeans. Jack is extra cuddly. Irish and I are making grand plans for the next few months (trip to Chicago, visit my best friend & her husband for a fall winery weekend, MU Homecoming and more). The social calendar is pleasantly filling up and I’ll be taking a look at my graduate school options too.
* Slim Gym. So my body, which is normally pretty cooperative, decided to get one whopper of a strep throat/sinus infection combo (which is 90% of the way gone now) and has killed my exercising efforts for the last two weeks. Starting next week I’m reorganizing my health & fitness goals. Irish and I are challenging each other, in the most friendliest of ways, to each give up one thing we know we enjoy a bit too much/too often. I’m going to the gym four days a week again and if I have time for more? Great. If not? I won’t make myself feel bad about it. I’m contemplating starting Bikram Yoga to help with the relaxation of the mind and body. I’m a bit behind on my 5k training as a result but I’m still going to give it a go in October especially because this particular 5k benefits the school one of my favorite kids that I used to watch. Above all, I’m going to remember to take it nice and slow. Change won’t happen over night, but attitudes can.
* Twenty Faux Birthday. My birthday is in less than three weeks. I’ll be 26 on the 29th. I kind of want to hold onto to 25 because it’s been one hell of a year for me. I’m not really sure how I feel about this birthday; I have no big plans other than having a mini-party at my parents house with Wii games, beer and delicious dinner cooked by Darling. 26. Weird.
And no, I didn’t forget what today is. I just know that even eight years later I still can’t do what/how I felt (feel) justice in a post but suffice to say:
August!? Already!? I have no idea where the summer time has gone.
Current Book(s): Finished in August- Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris; Lover Eternal, JR Ward; Chocolat, Joanne Harris; Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Started: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, Haruki Murakami; Girl with No Shadow, Joanne Harris
Current Music:
I’ve been listening to a lot of mixed CDs this month and each CD has a combo of hip-hop, alternative, relaxed music (Ben Harper/John Mayer) and a miscellaneous category that I don’t really know how to define but that rocks my socks off on my way to work each morning
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:
Pinwheel cookies. (Downside to living at home: my parents buy all the goodies I loved growing up and Pinwheels are one of those things.)
Current Colors:
A bright maroon and not-quite-teal-blue
Current Obsessions:
Reading anything I can get my hands on
Gilmore Girls (started it over from the beginning)
Buying books
Wandering through the Twilight section at Borders just to see what new things they have come up with to sell
Current Drink:
Water, water, more water. Haven’t had a caffeinated soda in over 10 days!
Current Songs: Three More Days, Ray LaMontagne
Current Movie: Julie & Julia. Pretty awesome movie. Meryl Streep as Julia Child is perfection.
Current TV Show:
True Blood. Only one episodes left!
Current Wish-List:
Unrealistic: a trip to the beach; a new laptop for my birthday
Realistic: Massage! Facial!
Current Needs:
Unrealistic: more hours in the day; an office assistant
Realistic: Take better care of myself this month
Current Triumph(s):
I have my finances in order and it’s an awesome feeling. So blessed to be able to save money right now.
Current Bane(s) of my Existence:
45 minute commute, one way
26th birthday in 4 weeks and 1 day
Current Goal(s):
Continue to write more cards/notes for friends & family
Finish two or three books this month and stay on track for the Japanese Reading Challenge
Current Indulgence:
Mint chocolate chip ice cream (in moderation)
Current Blessing:
Irish. Family. Jack. Friends. A comfortable bed to lay my head on each night and unconditional love from many people in my life.
Current Slang or Saying:
I’ve been dropping the F-bomb a bit lately at work (to myself, of course) as it’s been a tad stressful
Current (Fav) Outfit:
I bought this awesome top from The Limited the other day; it’s probably my favorite even though I haven’t worn it out yet.
Current Excitement:
Irish & I are going to visit my brother next weekend to celebrate his 21st birthday (which is on Tuesday, 9/1!)
26th birthday in 4 weeks and 1 day
Entertaining a possible trip to Florida for Thanksgiving
1* I’m at my happiest when I have little or no obligations, plans or monotonous chores to get done. This also means I laugh a little louder, stay up a little later, and feel genuinely rested.
2* Getting up at 9am and taking an afternoon nap is preferred to sleeping the day away.
3* I thrive in 70-something degree weather.
4* It is possible to finish an entire book from start to finish in one weekend provided the first thing learned is present. What did I read? Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris. I may or may not have purchased the second book on Sunday, though I haven’t started it…yet.
5* It’s also possible to start a new book in the same weekend and become so enthralled by the writing and imagery that you are 50% of the way through it by Sunday night. (The book in question: Chocolat, by Joanne Harris. Yes, I’ve seen the movie but I want to read this book before I move onto the Girl with No Shadow, the sequel to Chocolat by Joanne Harris.)
6* There is wine named after me! Nora wine! How cool is that?
7* Impromptu picnics complete with wine, cheese, crusty bread, blanket + pillows, as well as a few books and my fabulous man are my new favorite thing. Bonus for finding some amazing cheese at a local smokehouse.
8* Quentin Tarantino is seriously disturbed but has an amazing cinematic eye just the same. Go see Inglorious Basterds. It’s worth the 150 minutes of your time.
9* It’s okay to make a meal out of appetizers while watching True Blood with my boyfriend.
10* Jack is more of a cuddle whore than ever. He is now attempting to cuddle with me while holding his new toy (a stuffed goose) in his mouth.
11* Irish & I have a book buying problem. We’ve made a pact to not set foot into nor buy another book until my birthday which is in one month and five days.
12* Watching Six Feet Under before you go to bed is a bad, bad idea. Cue insane nightmares and waking up gasping for air.
13* Staying in on a Friday night is totally acceptable.
14* There are never enough hours in the weekend but a perfectly unscripted weekend is much needed at least once a month.
Current Book(s): Lover Eternal, JR Ward
Club Dumas
Current Music:
The Fray; Coldplay; Elvis Presley; anything jazz
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure:
Pita Chips with pub cheese
Current Colors:
blue, my go-to color
Current Obsessions:
Weeds (on Season 4)
Finishing Felicity (also on Season 4)
Training for the 5k’s that are coming up this fall, which is really my transition into half marathon training
Current Drink:
Water, Rich Chocolate Royale Slim Fast and if I need a soda, Diet Cherry Coke
Current Songs: Green Eyes, by Coldplay
Current Movie: This it totally pathetic but I just bought Son-in-Law. The movie always makes me laugh.
Current TV Show:
Rescue Me and anxiously awaiting Sons of AnarchY
Current Wish-List:
Not feeling so exhausted after I get home from work
Current Needs:
Vacation. Irish and I are in the process of planning one. Remote lake vacation, here we come!
Current Triumph(s):
Loving living at home. It’s really pretty awesome, my parents are great, and I’m saving money. Couldn’t be better.
Current Bane(s) of my Existence:
Living out of a suitcase half of the month
My brother is leaving for college next week (great for him, but lonely for me)
Current Goal(s):
Get together a half-marathon training plan
Learn to be more patient at work with certain co-workers
Current Indulgence:
$5 movies on sale at Target.
Shoes on sale at Target
Pretty much anything on sale at Target…
Current Blessing:
I have a personal day next week to help my younger brother move into his new apartment at school. It will certainly be an emotional day but I’m glad I can be there for him
Current Slang or Saying:
Splendid!
Current (Fav) Outfit:
Strapless navy dress I bought at Target. It’s comfortable, fashionable and I pretty much love it
Current Excitement:
My brother is turning 21 in a few weeks so Irish and I will be visiting him to help him celebrate
October trip planned with Irish
Jack received a clean bill of health at the vet last week (taking him to the vet always makes me nervous)
Current Mood:
Relaxed
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Ashley tagged me in the 5 Sexy Things meme.
The rules are plain & simple:
* Write 5 things that make you feel sexy.
* Post a pic if you dare!
* Pass it on to 5 lovely bloggers.
Things that make me feel sexy…
1. My little Black Dress
2. How relaxed my body feels after a good run (at least 2.5 miles)
3. Doing my eyeliner and eyeshadow like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
4. When I channel my Domestic Diva
5. Rain (big surprise there!)
As for the tagging aspect, if you are up to it, have at it:
