A twentysomething Southern girl's take on the finer things in life

What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up?

2011-09-26T19:56:00.000-05:00

"wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"

Hear that? That's the sound of me blowing the dust off my blog because it has been that long!

Honestly, I wasn't sure about staying with the whole blogging thing (I'm still not sure about it). But sometimes I think I really enjoy writing about some things (almost like getting it off my chest).

What is currently weighing heavily on my mind? MY CAREER! In fact, this has probably been the topic that has most plagued me for the past two years. My job is going to be up in January. I've been applying to a few things here and there, but I'm not naive. I know this job market completely sucks. I've even expanded my search to other states (as far off as Montana-I figure I'm young, nothing holding me back-why not?) But I think the real problem is: I have no idea what I want to do with my life.

If I'm going to be completely honest, I don't want to work. Ever. I don't want to have a career. I want to be someone with a trust fund or a rich husband who can spend their days doing whatever they want. I realize how bad this sounds. But I'm going to be honest; that's the way I feel.

The other day, in an attempt to help me decide what to do, my mom asked me what I would do if money didn't matter, but I had to work. Here is what I came up with:

1. Own a really big farm and take in all the dogs, cats, horses, etc. that needed a good home. I would take care of them and keep them and/or give them to a good home.

2. Be a librarian

3. Be a writer

What I gather from this list is: I like working by myself, and I like quiet environments.

FYI: I did not go to college to be any of those things.

My Katrina Story

2011-08-29T20:18:00.000-05:00

This past June, I had to do research for work that included looking at newspapers from September through October of 2005. The majority of the paper covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was so sad to see all over again, that I actually sat there and cried silently in the Archives building while I did my research! It was 6 years ago, and I wanted to do a blog on my Katrina experience. I realized that, unfortunately, I have already forgotten details from the few days before and after Katrina hit.

I love this state more than I have ever loved a place before in my life (I've lived in 8), so I feel particularly sensitive to the devastation that occurred.

Here is a map of Mississippi. Keep in mind I was in Starkville, which is Central - East of the state, in Oktibbeha county (about two counties above the MISSISSIPPI text).

Source

Some background information: In August of 2005, I had started my sophomore year at Mississippi State University. I was 19. Katrina hit on August 29, so I had been in school for probably about 2 weeks before then. My parents were living in Florida at the time, and I had no family in the state.

I was an idiot when I was 19. I never watched the news. In fact, that semester I was rarely even home to watch TV period. And if I was watching TV, it was probably Gilmore Girls or my Sex and the City DVDs. So I really wasn't caught up on how intense Katrina was supposed to be. I do know my mom would talk about what she had heard in the days leading up to the storm. I heard people talk about it in class, but I did not pay much attention, especially because I was so far from the Coast.

I attended a meeting the night before the storm was supposed to hit. Our group President was from the Coast, and she kept leaving to talk to her mom. I remember she told us that if anyone needed to leave to make phone calls, to just go ahead and do it. This was different from the way our meetings usually ran-very serious, and your cell phones had to be on silent. Her mom and sisters were driving up to Starkville, and her boyfriend was a police officer on the coast. He was staying behind, and he was trying to get her mother's cats. I remember thinking "What the hell? How could you leave your animals behind?" But later I realized they were probably outdoor cats, so they weren't necessarily at the home. I also realized people knew they had to just get the hell out of here.

I went to my apartment that night, a little bit concerned about what I needed to do the next day. My mother had been bugging me about not staying in my apartment because the hurricane was supposed to be bad, and rain and other bad weather was going to hit us hard. I made arrangements to stay at my good friend Katie's dorm the next night. She was an RA that year. Our other good friend Loren was going to stay with us as well.

The next day I drove to campus and went to class. Afterwards, I went to Katie's dorm and waited for her and Loren to return from lunch. I even had her bring me food because I was starting to get really scared and nervous about being away from the dorm. Outside, you could feel it in the air-something big was about to happen. Katie and Loren returned and we sat in a mutual friend's room, who was also an RA. Her mother lived in New Orleans, and she wasn't going to evacuate. P. kept trying to call her mom, and you could tell she was pretty worried.

Later on, I decided to get my car from the commuter parking lot and park closer to the dorm. Katie and I ran to my car, laughing because we were in our Crocs shoes (they were very "in" in 2005) and it was already starting to rain. I distinctly remember that although I was laughing, I felt very nervous about what was to come. The sky was ominous, it had started sprinkling, and you could just feel it in the air.

We hung out in Katie's room all evening watching the news. All three of us were constantly on the phone with a family member or friend. Both Katie and Loren's family lived in Jackson. Around dinner, we ordered pizza, and by then the storm had already hit. It was raining and blowing so hard I can't even believe the pizza company let their drivers deliver. Honestly, I can't really even describe how bad it was. It was also never ending. The wind and rain seemed to last forever. I hate that I can't describe it better because if it was that bad 260 miles or so north of the coast, can you imagine how the rest of the state was faring?

I think I talked to my mom a few times that evening. My dad, who was working in Ohio that week, even called to make sure I was okay. I knew that if my dad was all the way in Ohio, and he felt the need to call, the news must be really bad. I can't remember if our TV worked all evening or not. I do remember I saw the weather at least at one point, and they were constantly predicating what category it was going to be as it got closer to New Orleans and Mississippi. My best friend from Alabama called as well. As an older adult now, I really appreciate the concern that came from my friends and family who were out of state. At the time, I just keep thinking, gee, this has to got to be pretty bad if I'm hearing from people in such a short time span.

Source

At one point, Katie's windows were leaking with so much water, we had to move to a vacant room across the hall. I think we eventually fell asleep, but I don't think we slept much.

By the next morning, the weather had cleared. We didn't have electricity, so we really had no idea what was going on because we couldn't watch TV. Loren and I eventually left. We walked out to the back parking lot and an entire row of cars had their driver and back left windows completely blown out. Again, Starkville is about 260 northeast of the coast. Loren and I had parked out front, and luckily our cars were fine.

I was really nervous driving back to my apartment, unsure of what I would find. Starkville was like a ghost town. I am not kidding when I say the air felt heavy with sadness. I got to my apartment and saw that everything was okay, except I didn't have electricity.

I called my mom to give her an update (how my cell phone worked, I will never know). I remember walking around my quiet apartment and telling her it just feels really weird. Everything feels weird. I got off the phone, lit a candle for my bathroom and took a shower. I had not showered in over 24 hours. About 20 minutes later, the electricity came back on.

Unfortunately, I can't remember what I did the rest of the day. I know school was cancelled, and I think Katie and I may have gone for a drive around campus to see if there was any damage. I'm pretty sure school was cancelled the day after as well, but unfortunately, I am having a hard time remembering details.

For Katie and Loren, their families in Jackson went without electricity and water for over two weeks. It may have been for over three. I remember Katie telling me that her mom went to stay at a friend's house because her dad was leaving their doors open at night because it was so hot. There were news stories every day of looters and people just going sort of crazy, including people in Jackson. There was no telling who could just come through their house. Loren's mom was a nurse at a hospital, and they couldn't flush the toilets.

My mom would tell me in the days later that the news really wasn't covering our coast's devastation, mostly focusing on New Orleans. That is something that makes me really mad to this day. To clarify, the majority of the hurricane passed over Mississippi towns, and to the east of the eye (our coast) was the worst damage. New Oreans's biggest problem was their levee didn't hold up, and the town flooded, which I know is horrible, especially since New Orleans is a beautiful city.

Katie and I were in my Jeep a few days later, trying to get gasoline. My parents were urging me to fill up because we didn't know how much gasoline the town had left, nor did we know when we would be able to get more. I drove over to Wal Mart, and their gas station was packed. I was really starting to panic, but I easily got gas at another station. Looking back, it was silly for me to panic. All the professors and staff at Mississippi State were beyond understanding about what was happening, and if I couldn't get gasoline to get to class, well, I couldn't be the only one. That semester, they allowed anyone who was from the coast to drop a class without a W or grade, no matter how much time had passed that semester.

I remember being in my French class a few days later, and one of my classmates was from the coast. She was talking about her family, and she just started crying in class.

My cell phone did not work days after Katrina hit, which was odd because I had a Florida area code at the time, and it was working the day after the storm. Also, I want to say my friends' cell phones were working okay, but I could be wrong. My parents made me go to ATT and get a temporary cell phone.

This hurricane was truly a freak of nature. I have heard of so many accidents that happened to people because of the storm, but not from the storm itself. I know one woman who is now paralyzed and in a wheelchair because she got into a car accident on her way to Mobile, Alabama to escape the storm. My neighbor's sister-in-law went outside her house after the hurricane to check the damage, and a tree fell on her, leaving her paralyzed.

There were some miracles that happened, though. The Biloxi lighthouse withstood the storm, and it's been our license plate for the past few years.

Source

This is a series of 46 comics that Marshall Ramsey did on Katrina. Some of them capture what happened so well.
My favorite is the Rural Mississippi one that says "Help us." I heard Marshall Ramsey speak once, and he said he did it because Mississippi was getting virtually no help. We had so much damage very far inland, and I don't think the news did a very good job covering it at all.

I am thankful we had the Governor that we had at the time. When you look at how he responded compared to the Governor of Louisiana, there is no comparison. A friend of mine who lives in New Orleans told me that the Governor of LA looked like "a deer caught in headlights."

What a story. What else can I say? You had to be there.

What Do You Find Attractive in the Opposite Sex?

2011-08-08T20:27:00.000-05:00

On my way to work this morning, I was thinking about some of my favorite real life couples, and I started wondering what people generally find most attractive about the opposite sex. Is it blue eyes? Blonde hair? Curls? For me, I love to admire men with smile lines. I'm also a fan of general lines in a man's face. I know it sounds weird, but I like what I like. When I see a man smile and they have lines pop up all around their face, my heart gives a little flutter.

Men with good smile lines include:

Jake Gyllenhaall

Source

Dennis Quaid

Source

Daniel Craig

Source

If I'm at work or in a social situation, and someone has fantastic lines, I will (secretly) blatantly stare at him and think how handsome this man is. I have no doubt I'm the only one admiring this trait, but I love how individual people's tastes are.

So tell me, what do you find attractive in the opposite sex?

It's Black Tie Dah-ling

2011-07-30T20:25:00.000-05:00

I've been invited to my first black tie event event. It's a wedding reception that will take place in New Orleans the beginning of December. Here are the dresses I'm contemplating:

J.Crew Arabelle Long Dress in Graphite

J.Crew Lydia Dress in Dragonfly Blue

Mika Dress in Champagne

(can't get picture)

Bhldn Valenciennes Dress

These high heels are adorable, but they're way too expensive. A girl can dream though.

Bhldn Moonlit Peep Toe High Heels

It's 4 months from now, so I'm sure my wish list will change a bit in the meantime. I have to admit, it is fun to get ready for black tie. I'm pretty sure this will be the only one I go too.

Exercise To Do List

2011-07-16T08:52:00.000-05:00

I meant to post this Thursday, but time got away from me. You know how I talked about my poor dog's eye? Monday morning it wasn't any better, so my mom had to take her to the vet for me because it was the first day at my new job. Turns out she has an ulcer on her eye-it's basically like she punctured it. There is a lizard in the backyard Annie is obsessed with, and she sticks her head in these bushes with leaves that have these pointers on them, so I'm sure that's what happened. Needless to say, I am a little irked at the brush off I got when I called the emergency vet.

For this week's To-Do list Thursday, I'm going to write out what my exercise to do is for the week. This is the typical schedule I like to try to keep:

Sunday: Swim
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Run
Wednesday: Full body weights
Thursday: Run
Friday: Full body weights
Saturday: Total Sculpt class & Zumba class

I probably end up doing only 5 days of exercise instead of 6, but this is what I like to shoot for. I finished my swimming lessons, and I'm really glad I took them. Next week, I'm looking into tennis lessons. I took them once the summer after 4th grade, and I really enjoyed them. I have no idea why I didn't continue. I have a friend who told me I can join leagues and play with people once I have a few lessons. Figure that might be a nice way to meet some people.

Bon weekend mes amis!

Thank you, Filofax!

2011-07-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

I had a bit of an emergency (to me) this morning concerning my dog Annie. She woke up and her right eye was completely swollen shut. Something similar happened the other night, so at first, I didn't think much of it (she has pretty bad allergies). But I could tell it was really bothering her, and it was not opening. When her eyelid would open up a bit, her eye had a weird film on it. I got a wet washcloth to dab over it, but I was concerned that maybe I had kicked her in the middle of the night or something, and it was more than a swollen eyeball.

Luckily, I have an entire page devoted to all things Annie with veterinary information, her location chip info, plus the emergency vet. My Filofax was already out on the coffee table (since I keep it open all the time), and I flipped over to her page and called them up.

The lady I talked to told me to apply the wet rag and see if that helps. I'm sure she thought I was a total moron, but I don't care. I would rather call and make sure everything is okay than not call and the worst happens. I applied the rag to Annie and she seems to be doing better.

Thanks to my Filofax, I did not need to waste any time figuring out which emergency care service to use, or look up a number. That would have definitely taken me several minutes.

I keep her information behind the Life's Little List's tab:

Merci beaucoup Filofax!

To Do List Thursday!

2011-07-07T17:02:00.000-05:00

This day ended up being crazy. I got a new job (!) this morning. Basically working for the same people, but in a different location, more money, and I actually have insurance now! What a relief. I start on Monday.

Then I check my online bank account and I am OVERDRAWN $3. I usually always balance my checkbook, but I let it go these past few weeks. I quickly transferred money from my savings to checking, and I'm hoping it's okay because the thing I was overdrawn on was still under pending. I.Almost.Died.

Today I'm just going to share my to do list for this today through Sunday:

I'm kind of stressed about the new job because I have always worked in a very relaxed environment, and I don't think that's going to be the case anymore, so I want to make sure I have everything done this weekend, especially my last three papers for my economics class.

Also, I want to explain what "pay parents" means because I feel like it looks very juvenile: My dad is generously paying for my grad school, and I am slowly paying him back.

Au revoir mes amis! I'm going to do a quick run at my gym.

Bet You Didn't Know

2011-07-04T11:11:00.000-05:00

Happy 4th of July everyone! How have you celebrated this three day weekend? I took a delicious nap on Saturday, and spent most of the weekend reading and relaxing. Unfortunately, I also have a little studying to do for a test on Wednesday.

For fun, I wanted to share a few things most people probably do not know, nor expect these things about me:

: I want to own a few acres of land. If I could ever afford it, I would have a house on some land, and I would adopt a lot of dogs, cats, and some horses that need a good home. I would also get some cows and chickens. (I would never use them for food though. They would have a lovely life eating grass and lazing about in the sun. But I would use eggs from the chickens). I would love to be able to grow vegetables and herbs and use as much food from my own land as I could.

: I am a Diet Coke fiend. My whole family is. I will get a 44 oz. Diet Coke from the convenience store every day. And it has to be from a fountain. I love the fizziness of it.

: I love going to the movies by myself. I actually like it better than going with people.

: I am extremely shy and quiet. I have been shy all my life. I do not like talking about myself, or contributing to group conversation. Ironically, this has served me well. When I got my first job out of college, everyone who was in the field I worked in was very loud and gregarious. I definitely did not fit in, but eventually I was accepted. Honestly, I think part of the reason why I was accepted so well was because being quiet made me different and unique. My point is that sometimes being quiet and shy isn't a bad thing. :)

: I love, love, love men with beards. I think it goes with the whole outdoors-y, wilderness thing I enjoy. A nice beard on a manly man. :)

: I was thisclose to working on a Presidential campaign. It was the most amazing experience I have had in my young life so far, and it's something that I can't wait to share with my children one day.

: I am very girly in that I love make up, love being pampered, etc., but I never get pedicures. I can't even remember the last time I had one. I think it's because I don't like going by myself, and I don't have anyone to go with.

: I regret not joining a sorority in college. I didn't join one because I didn't think it was my thing, especially since I am so shy, but now I believe it would have completely changed my college experience, and it would have been a great thing for me because I am so shy.

: I am a total homebody. Basically, I would rather hang out with my dog and read and watch TV then go out with friends.

: I never got drunk once in college. The first time I ever got drunk I was 24. I'm not saying getting drunk is something everyone should do, I just know most people I was around in college got drunk pretty regularly in college.

: I am really type A, but I have a crazy imagination, and I daydream all the time. Maybe it's because I'm a Pisces? :)

: I have two bachelor degrees, one of them in French. Even though I don't use it for my job, I'm really happy I stuck with it in school.

: I have a cheap cruiser bike that I would ride everywhere if I could. Unfortunately, I do not live in a place that accommodates bike riding at all.

What are some things about you people would not know at all?

Have a happy 4th of July! Know that we live in the best country in the world.

To Do List 2011

2011-06-16T09:23:00.000-05:00

For today's To-Do list Thursday, I decided to address my goals for 2011:

I'm sorry about the poor quality of the pictures. I'll retype them below.

1. Incorporate more variety (in my workouts) such as classes, weights, bike, etc.

- Done! I've already made it a habit to take classes, I ride my bike all the time. Now I need to focus more on weights.

2. Read more biographies, political books, etc.

- Oof! I've done a terrible job of that. In fact, I've only been reading complete garbage all year! My plan is to dedicate more time to the "serious" books after my summer class, and maybe focus on that the rest of the year.

3. Attend all meetings of the groups I'm involved in

- Done! Since I have gotten out of school, I've become more involved in my community, and I want to make sure I take my commitments seriously.

4. When I have a to do list, make more of an effort to finish everything, and also make an effort on my long term to do list

- Hmm...If I were to grade myself on this goal, I would give myself a C. I've been better about finishing my everyday to do list, but there is a lot I put off for days on end, sometimes even moving it to the next week, or even later. I really want to be better about that.

5. Be on official no buy

- Eh. I am definitely doing better about not buying make up. But the Kindle has made it very difficult for me to not buy books constantly. Also I have been having trouble with having to replace a cosmetic, or skin care item, etc., and I end up buying other things along with the item I originally needed to replace.

6. Take Metformin every night

- I need to work on this

7. Wear more high heels

- I've been good about wearing wedges, but most of the time, I just don't want to deal with walking to the office in them

8. Dress nicer

- Honestly, I just haven't been that into my appearance lately. I need to work on this goal.

9. Reach goal weight

- Ha! Moving on...

10. Keep eyebrows plucked

- Yes! I have completely rocked this superficial goal

11. Pray

- Yes! I pray all the time!

12. Read 12 books in the year

- Yes! I have already read 11. Some of my favorites have been:

Heaven is for Real
The Snowman (This book was so freaking good. Highly recommend if you like mystery/thriller. Also recommend if you loved The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
The Lincoln Lawyer (Good twist)
The Fixer Upper (This is a good, light Southern book)

13. Be more philanthropic

- I can't think of one example where I have been philanthropic this year. Must work on.

14. Visualize (positivity), be positive

- I am a big believer in the thinking behind Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking. However, I have done a terrible job of thinking positively. I am really miserable right now with my career (that's coming up in a future blog post!) and basically every day is a battle for me to not want to jump out the window (kidding).

15. Be a better Christian-read the Bible everyday, etc.

- This goal kind of ties into other things I've mentioned: philanthropy, praying, keeping a positive attitude, etc. I have yet to read the entire Bible. I have a great app on my iPod that has a reading plan where you can read the Bible in a year. I've still been bad about reading every day.

16. Keep spaces picked up

- In general, I am a very clean person. Since I started working full time, I have been really bad about not putting things in their place immediately, which just causes chaos as more things are added to the "put away pile". This is something I could definitely still work on.

Have a good Thursday everyone! My weekend plans include my first adult swimming lessons, and studying all weekend for my first test since 2009! And just because she is super cute and adorable, here is a picture of Annie chewing on a bone the other night:

I Secretly Want These...

2011-06-14T16:50:00.000-05:00

Hello Kitty Vans! I have a blue pair of Vans, and they're awesome, but not as awesome as these:

Source

Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

2011-06-12T12:43:00.001-05:00

Excuse the weird spacing and whole words on two separate lines!  I don't know what is wrong.

Hola senors and senoritas. I am not sure why I've been bitten by the blogging bug again.  I think it's those dog days of summer. Time is a little bit slower, and personally, I know I'm happier when the sun is shining and it's warm. 

I wanted to share my outfit of the day. I just came back from brunch with my mom. I had a seven grain bagel with garlic and herb cream cheese. And it was heavenly.

Baseball Hat: From the Beach Club (Gulf Shores, AL)
T-Shirt: Southern Belle (A local brand)featuring my college (Go State!)
Capris: Russell Brand exercise pants from Academy Sports
Shoes: Laceless Converse
Lipstick of the day: Laura Mercier stickgloss in Brown Sugar (added just for fun)

Confession:  I could not have enough colorful tennis shoes (even though I know gray is really a neutral).  My style of clothing is what a lot of people would probably call "preppy". In one of the style books from Lucky Magazine, I would be in the category "American Classic."  I wonder if colorful tennies fits into either category?  I would say yes, most likely it does. 

What does this week hold for me? Adult swimming lessons. Yes, it's true. I took swimming lessons when I was a kid, but they never stuck. I know how to do careless swimming, dog paddling, etc, but I've never been able to swim correctly. And it is another exercise I would like to add to my regime. So I've got lessons Friday and Saturday for the next 4 weeks.

Today is going to be really relaxing.  I was at a music festival all day yesterday, in the hot Mississippi sun, and I am exhausted.  I'm about to go to Sephora to pick up some new mascara with my mom.  My mom and I have not been able to spend any time together because we're going in a million different directions, so I have enjoyed brunch and shopping.  Afterwards, I'm going to go for a run and study for class.

A Letter to My Twenties

2011-06-10T21:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Twenties,

In the past 5.3 years that I've known you, I've learned a lot. And I want to thank you.

Thank you for allowing me to have had a few adventures on my own, without the supervision of adults. Five weeks in Quebec learning French and going to my first "discotheque".

Thank you for a weekend in Washington D.C. with two dear friends. It was honestly one of the best weekends I have ever had in my life. And the first time in my life I ever threw up from drinking too much.

Thank you for seeing me through a horrendous relationship the first three years we were together. To quote Fleetwood Mac "Never going back again."

Thank you for allowing me to see that it is okay to be on your own. If I had let fear drive me towards marriage, I would probably be divorced.

Thank you for showing me that as you get older you get wiser.

Thank you for the chance to prove myself to myself. Even though I was obviously not a part of the "in crowd", I stayed true to myself and eventually charmed them. Now I have some wonderful friends.

Thank you for strengthening my faith in God. I've gotten through some tough times because I know He is guiding me through life.

Thank you for bringing my dog Annie Joy to me. I had no idea I would ever love a dog so much in my life.

Thank you for making my body young so that I could stand the training it took to be prepared for a half and full marathon. It was brutal, but the experience was worth it.

Thank you for my cowboy boots.

Thank you for keeping me in Mississippi. The only state I've lived in that truly feels like home.

More specifically to my mid-twenties, thank you for making want to learn and study because I'm enjoying grad school way more than I ever enjoyed undergrad. Maybe my late twenties will send me to law school at Ole Miss.

Thank you for giving me time to be on my own. Honestly, I'm enjoying the chance to be selfish and not having to worry about anyone but myself. And my dog.

So far, you've been the most confusing time of my life. But I feel assured that my twenties were made to be confusing, to make choices, to make mistakes, to study, learn, and work. To make mistakes in my career. To further my education, and to continue to grow as a person.

Love,
Mallory

To-Do List Thursday + The Way I Do Things

2011-06-09T09:22:00.000-05:00

As someone who adores making to do lists (and reading others), when I saw this, I knew I had to participate. Check out socrateas for more To-Do list Thursday.

Here is my to do list for this Thursday - Sunday:

I hate how messy it looks. I think my handwriting is too big for the space and I keep scratching things out and moving items.

I want to explain a little more about how I use my week on two pages.

1. I always write down "regular" to do list items. Basically, anything that comes up during the week that I need to get done. Also, now that I'm in grad school, I write down what I need to do at the bottom in black pen so it's easier to spot. I'm determined to make all As for my Masters, and I'm trying really hard to keep up with everything, but it's hard when you work full time. Thank goodness for my Filofax. :)

2. There are a few things per week that I always do on a set day. For example, I try to always clean on Thursdays. I always check my bank account on Fridays and balance my checkbook. My "beauty" day is always on Sundays. Sometimes I write out what I need to do, sometimes I don't. The list consists of 8 items (such as manicure, pedicure, face mask), that I try to do every Sunday before the work week starts up. If I have a particularly busy weekend, I will write out the steps so I get a better sense of how to utilize my time.

3. Rarely do I put down my exercise every day. However, I notice that when the weekend rolls around, I usually mark it down to give me a better idea of what my day will look like.

I also purchased the day on one page schedule from Filofax. I did this because I realized I really enjoy marking my day out and the specific times I do things. Here are a few examples:

It drives me a little batty that I now have so much paper to flip through, but I don't think I want to forgo the schedule. What's a girl to do?

My Skin Care Routine

2011-06-08T17:04:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share my skin care routine because I like reading what others are doing, and I thought it would be nice for me to share what works for me. I am someone who loves to try different products for make up, hair, and skin when I am out of something. However, about a year ago, I found products that worked really well for me. Then I noticed that when I tried to change the routine with a different product, my skin reacted negatively. I decided to quit messing around, and I've been very pleased ever since.

My Skin Type:
I have very normal skin. It's not oily, not dry, not even a mix of in between. Although, in the winter, my skin gets very dry and I have to deal with eczema every year. I rarely get acne, and my skin is fairly even toned, especially when I have been out in the sun. I think because my skin is so "normal", it explains why these products and a simple routine work so well for me.

My Morning Routine:
1. I wash my face with Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap in Mild.
2. I moisturize with Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer for Normal Skin.
3. Occasionally, I will scrub my face before I wash it with Clinique 7-Day Scrub.

My Evening Routine:
1. If I'm not in a hurry, I will take a cotton ball for each eye and use Clinique's Take the Day Off Makeup Remover to take off my eye make up.
2. I apply Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing milk. I use dry hands and apply to my dry face. I think this makes the cleanser more to take my make up off.
3. I wash thoroughly with my Clinique Liquid Facial Soap (same morning cleanser).
4. When I get out of the shower, I take a cotton ball and apply Clinique's Clarifying Lotion 2 to my face. This gets off any make up I may have missed. IMPORTANT: When it is winter, and my face is dry, I do not apply because my skin literally hurts. It seems like once winter rolls around, my face turns into a dry, sensitive mess.
5. My favorite product: I moisturize with Mario Badescu Chamomile Night Cream. This is the most soothing moisturizer I have ever used. Sometimes, in the winter, I literally rush to apply this after I wash my face because it makes my skin feel so much better. It was like we were made for each other.

That's it! I like to think it's fairly simple.

Okay, I'm off to class. Peace out. It's been real.

Rawr! Going Primal

2011-05-16T08:53:00.019-05:00

First, I want to give some background information on myself:

I love food. Really, truly love to eat good foods. I'm also an emotional eater. Those two dynamics come together to create a problem for me. I've always sort of struggled with my weight, but in high school and the first couple of years of college, I was healthy and looked good, especially my sophomore year of college, I was probably at my lowest. Unfortunately, I never weighed myself, but my size 12 J.Crew jeans (which I think run small anyway) were really loose, and I definitely could have been a 10, maybe even an 8.

The last 3 years in college sort of went downhill, particularly my second senior year (yes, I was a superstar senior-in school for a total of 5 years.) I was in a bad relationship, and I didn't know how to get out of it. So instead, I ate. And ate. And ate.

Fast forward two years. I attempted to lose all the weight I gained, but I was just having too much fun going out to eat with my mom, having drinks with co-workers. Plus, I live in a state that invented fried pickles. Clearly, the food here is awesome.

I started Weight Watchers in November 2010. I did really well, but then the holidays came up, plus my birthday. Fast forward to May, and I'm basically the same weight. The only positive thing I can say, is thank goodness I am fairly active, because I am probably not as jiggly as I should be.

I also have a really hard time losing weight anyway. I have PCOS, plus I am certain I have issues with my thyroid, although a doctor will not give me a complete thyroid panel.

One more thing I want to add before I go into the true topic of this post. I, like many others, love bread. And carbs in general. But something strange happens when I have too much of it--my personality changes. Literally, it affects the way I act. I become horribly cranky, negative, snappy. In fact, this past Mother's Day, I feel like I ruined it because I was in one of my Mr. Hyde moods.

I knew something had to change, and I had already been thinking about going primal. From what I have read on the Internet, you eat like your ancestors (cavemen) did before grains came into the picture. I have decided to just go ahead and do it, and I wanted to share my plan/ideas on how this is going to work best for me, as an individual.

Before I begin, I want to give credit where credit is due. Check out marksdailyapple.com for information.

This is how I am going to "go primal":

I am eliminating/limiting the following:
-Bread
-Processed foods
-Sugar
-Grains
-Legumes
-Potatoes
-Beans
-Canola
-Margarine, etc.

My goal is to eat like this 80%-95% of the time. The reason I don't want to go all out is because I really don't think a lot of those things are bad for you, especially in moderation. But I do think they affect me differently than the majority of others, so I feel this is the best way to do it for me.

I am adjusting to Primal by doing it in steps. I will concentrate on making Primal my lifestyle by doing it one meal at a time:
-I chose breakfast first. I feel I have already shown myself how to eat breakfast
-Snacks are second. I feel this will be the hardest for me to deal with because I often like to reach for some sort of grain or processed product. I need to change that to reaching for fruit or veggies
-Lunch
-Dinner. I think dinner will be easy because I kind of already eat primal. Lots of fish, chicken, salad, and steamed veggies.

I really hope this is something I stick to and be happy with.

Glee, Zumba, & Blog What I Eat Tuesday

2011-05-10T20:29:00.000-05:00

Greetings! It's currently 9:30 a.m. on a beautiful Tuesday morning. I wasn't sure if I was going to stick to the whole blogging thing (still not sure), but in some ways, blogging is very helpful for me, so I'll blog as I see fit. ;)

Tonight I'm looking forward to Zumba with a friend. Then it's Glee, which I actually haven't been into lately, but for some reason still feel the need to watch.

Now, for my BWIET (For those wondering, I type this out through the day, as I eat):

7:30 AM: Hard Boiled Egg (2 P+)
   1 Piece of Wheat Bread (2 P+)
   1/2 t Land O Lakes Spreadable Butter (0 P+)
   Coffee with 2 T Fat Free Half & Half (0 P+)

12:00 PM: Salad -- Lettuce, radishes, carrots, celery (0 P+)
   2 T Rice Vinegar (1 P+) with 1 T lemon juice (0 P+)
   1 T mixed shredded cheese (1 P+)
   1 Greek Yogurt 6 oz (3 P+) This was a doozie. It took all my super human strength to get this stuff down. Really tested my gag reflect. It's the first time I've tried Greek yogurt. It seems so much healthier (less processed than other yogurts), so I'm really hoping it grows on me. Too bad frozen yogurt isn't super healthy ;) Thankfully, I also had....
   A handful of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries to put on it (0 P+)

2:30 PM: 12 oz Coke Zero (0 P+)

5:45-6:30 PM: Zumba (4 AP earned)

7:00 PM: Stuffed Sole (7 P+)
   1/2 cup corn (2 P+)
   cucumbers (0 P+)

8:00 PM: 1 Square Dark Chocolate (4 P+)
   Mini Bagel (3 P+)

Total: 25 P+

Good night! I need to get cleaned up after Zumba (which was awesome, BTW) and get to bed.

My Love, My Filofax

2011-05-09T11:14:00.002-05:00

I'm going to try really hard not to over sell this: FILOFAX. IS. THE. BEST. THING. EVER.

All my life, I have purchased agenda books, planners, planners specifically for school, notebooks, Post-Its, pens, etc. There was no end to my love of planning supplies. Then I discovered there was a whole world on the Internet catering to people who shared my love for all things lists and organization. From there, I discovered Filofax.

I spent hours debating on what planner to get. I finally chose the ever popular Personal Raspberry Metropol. There were a few more that I preferred, but I didn't want to spend the money. Maybe when I marry rich. ;)

In the card slots, I keep all my coffee gift cards. The purple Pilot pen on the left is for my to-do lists. The pink Le Pen on the right is for my calendar appointments. I wish there was one more pen slot somewhere. I would like to keep a highlighter in the Filofax to cross off my to-do lists because I scratch and re-write so much, it becomes a mess. I also keep Hello Kitty stickers and Puppy sticky notes from cutetape. Because really, what 25 year old girl doesn't carry around Hello Kitty stickers?

I have a picture of my best girl Annie Joy.

I have all the 12 month calendar in the front. I keep a tab sticker to hold the month for me so I can quickly turn to it. I always have to have a 12 month calendar because I like to quickly see what my month looks like, plus it's easy to glance down and see what you have going on.

Next I have the Week on 2 Pages, also marked by a sticky tab. This is where I keep my to-do list. I only carry 3-4 months in the Filofax, and store the rest. I also tear them out when I'm done. I do this because I never refer to my to-do list, plus I like that it just allows for extra room.

Following my Week on 2 Pages, I have 6 Dividers. The first is labeled "To-Do" and this is for my long term to do lists. Again, I "decorated" with supplies from cutetape. I use the term "decorate" loosely, because clearly I have no creative skills. However, all I really wanted was to add some pizazz and color to the blah dividers.

Next tab is for my shopping lists.

Next tab is for Books and Movies. I use it to write down a book that sounds interesting, or maybe a movie I want to add to my Netflix queue.

Next tab is "Life's Little Lists". This includes wish-list items, ideas, products I want to review, etc.

Next are my goals for 2011. I write my goals in a notebook I keep, then I also write them in here so I can glance at them often and keep them in my memory. This tab has a quote that is a favorite of mine, and the one I also used for my senior high school quote that was printed in the yearbook. "I was given a chance and I took it." -Coco Chanel. Love it.

Last tab is labeled "The Rest" For example, I have my gym's classes written down, extra paper, etc. Also, I purchased some colored paper, and I cut it do fit my Filofax and hole punched it. I use it for scratch paper, or if I want to write out a specific schedule for the day. It's really handy, and less expensive then purchasing more paper from Filofax.

Since this Filofax is purely for personal use, I don't mind using the crazy stickers or colorful decorations because I will never pull this out in front of someone I work with. For work, I don't need to keep a schedule, and any to do list I have, I just use a legal pad for.

I am glad I was able to share my Filofax love with you all.

A Day in the Life of Mallory

2011-04-13T11:36:00.000-05:00

Here is a schedule of what I wish my day looked like:

5:00 AM : Wake up & get in an hour of exercise.

6:30 AM: Eat a healthy breakfast and proceed to get ready for the day

8:30 AM: Work

5:30 PM: Leave work and head home

6:30 PM: Eat a healthy dinner and be super productive and finish my daily to do list

8:00 PM: Hang out with my awesome dog Annie Joy

9:00 PM: Take awesome dog to bed, read for an hour, watch The Golden Girls, and promptly fall asleep

What my day really looks like:

5:00 AM: My alarm goes off because I have the best of intentions, but instead I shut it off immediately and try to sleep through the new puppy's obnoxious barking

6:30 AM: Attempt to awake again, only to find that I'm even more exhausted than I was at 5 because I never really went back to sleep until about 20 minutes earlier.

7:22 AM: Finally wake up and now running really, really late

7:30 AM: Take Annie Joy out, who does not want to cooperate. Finally bring her back in

7:40 AM: Run into shower, get ready as quickly as possible

8:02 AM: Out the door with slightly damp hair

8:30 AM: Get to work on time

Don't know the time PM: Because I never know when I'm getting off work

6:30 PM: Really want to go to the gym, but I'm just too tired

6:30 PM: Sit on my ass the rest of the night and watch TV

10:00 PM: Drag Annie Joy upstairs, read & watch The Golden Girls

11:00 PM: Sleep

I hope you find my life as funny as I do.

Two and a Half Month No-Buy Assessment + Sunday Update

2011-03-20T11:51:00.001-05:00

I can honestly say I have not purchased anything make up or bath & body related (except a few birthday goodies) since January. The amazing thing is when you put off purchasing something you're just dying to get, you kind of forget about it and save money!

I'm going to Nashville on Thursday for a weekend of wedding festivities. That being said, I am finally purchasing my Louis Vuitton Speedy at their store in Nashville. I'm really excited and I feel that this is going to be a great investment piece that I will have for many years.

I moved over to my new office Tuesday. It is a completely different environment. Not to sound really dramatic, but it was exhausting. I never know what time I'm coming home and I miss my friends at my old office. That being said... it's time for my Goals & Accomplishments!

This Week's Accomplishments:

I really managed to track all of my Weight Watchers points. I felt like was getting back in the groove.
I went to my first fitness class at my gym & it was awesome! Like I said in my last post, I burned 595 calories! I'm so proud of myself for finally getting the nerve to go. I'm also really happy to know that I enjoyed the variety, and I can't wait to try more.

The Upcoming Week's Goals:

Go with the flow. Take it one day at a time. For example, I already know I have to work late tomorrow, so I'll be too tired to make it to the gym. So I know I need to plan to get up at 5:00 AM tomorrow.
Continue tracking points.
Buy my Louis!

Oh Speedy 35, I love you already.

Source

I have a busy Sunday ahead of me. Lots of wedding shopping and dying my hair. By the way, this is the dye I use:

Color: 21 Chocolate Creme

I've been gray since I was 23, but it's always been on one side of my head, and I could part it to cover it. Last year, I decided I wanted to enhance my color as well as cover the gray. I love this stuff. It's darkens and enhances my hair color, plus it's gentle and makes my hair really shiny. It also covers the gray well. I have to use two boxes each time I dye because I have so much hair. I highly recommend this line.

The Lip Scrub :: A Review

2011-03-13T22:53:00.002-05:00

The Lip Scrub is a wonder invention by a lady named Sara Happ. I have had this cute little jar for a couple of years now, and I have barely made a dent in it. Here is what the consistency looks like:

I dip my finger in, grab about a nickel sized dollop, and spread it across my lips. It has tiny sugar granules which help smooth my chapped and dry lips. My favorite part is the consistency-it isn't runny at all. I wipe it off with a tissue or wash cloth, and I love how moisturizing my lips feel afterwards.

I know a lot of people complain that you can easily make your own lip scrub with olive oil and sugar. But I do not want to mess with making my own, sure to be messy, concoction. I love that I can keep this on my bathroom sink at all times, and it's ready to use whenever I want.

I usually use it once a week in the evenings, but I would like to start using it every morning while I apply my make up because it would create a nice, smooth palette for my lipstick or gloss.

They come in a variety of flavors. I purchased mine in Vanilla Bean which smells absolutely heavenly.

The Lip Scrub can be purchased here.

In other news, I went to my very first exercise class at my local gym! It was the one I've been interested in the most: Body Fit. It is described as:

"Head-to-toe, muscle-sculpting workout! Non-stop, toning moves with short cardio intervals will take your toning workout to the next level. If you’ve ever wanted to try P90X or Crossfit then this is the class for you!" It was an hour, and it was difficult. According to my Polar, I burned 595 calories! I actually had to stop for a few minutes because I was seeing spots! I really liked what it incorporated, and I plan on doing it every Sunday.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Cha-cha-changes! + Sunday Update

2011-03-10T17:02:00.000-06:00

I know it's not Sunday, but I already know that I'll be spending mine cleaning like a mad woman because my grandmother and great-aunt are visiting next week. Plus, I love the uniformity of "Sunday Update". Sunday's mark the beginning of a new week, a fresh start.

I received some big news at work today. I'll be moving into a whole other office building, and I'll pretty much have a new boss and be working really closely with a lot of people. This is good news because:

It will probably be really good for my career
That means really big things in my field are probably going to start happening
I'll be busy

This is bad news because:

I'll be really busy
I'll have to start dressing a lot nicer
I won't have the leniency I've been used to for the past year and a half. I established trust with my boss, and I could pretty much come and go as I pleased because the work was getting done. I have a feeling I'll start working much longer hours, and I can no longer come and go. :(
No more awesome iPod music to listen to
No cute little office all to myself
I doubt I'm going to have time for my MBA now

I'm really scared and nervous. This is unchartered territory for me. I haven't moved yet, and I'm already getting a million emails of things I need to do. So of course I'm already stressed out, let alone the fact that my office is a complete mess and I'm probably going to have to come up here Saturday and organize some things. This also means I need to get my act together in a real serious way. No more crapping out of my to-do list, no more not exercising in the mornings (because I can already tell 5AM is the only time I'll have from now on).

Accomplishments

I've been drinking a lot of water this week, and I attribute it to my handy dandy new cups. Sounds silly, but it works for me.
I had a really good work out this past Saturday morning. There is nothing like waking up on a weekend, no plans in place, and making your way over to your gym, sans make up, sweating your heart out, then being done! And then you get to reward yourself with a nice shower that you actually feel worthy of taking and maybe a nice latte, too.

Goals & What I Would Like to Work On

I have not been taking care of myself. Dressing like a slob, doing nothing to my hair, not wearing jewelry, minimal make up. Thank goodness my face if still naturally gorgeous ;) Anyway, it's got to stop because it only makes me feel low that day. Now that I have a new job location, it's really got to stop. Plus, there's a boy. A really, really cute boy who I don't want to look like a slob in front of. I'm sure my co-workers would appreciate it as well.
EXERCISING. Did it only one day this week. Hoping to get up tomorrow morning, plus Sat & Sun to get a good work out in.
Weight Watchers & Eating Right. Really have not been tracking. I think what's worse than not tracking is not caring. I need to find that same drive I had when I first started in November. I am sick of not wearing the clothes I want to wear.
I think I need to go clothes shopping the weekend after next. I have a wedding coming up in two weeks, plus I probably need a few more work pieces. Ugh. I don't enjoy shopping to begin with, so this is really going to suck since I am not happy with my size.

Little Weekend

2011-03-04T17:19:00.000-06:00

I'm really looking forward to this weekend. Not only is my great plan to stay hunkered in the house all weekend, it's also supposed to be stormy weather! Perfect for a hiding in weekend.

Here's my proposed schedule for the weekend (because I love to plan):

Friday:
-Watch TV (Gilmore Girls on DVD) and relax from the work week

Saturday:
-Hit the gym and tan
-Take Annie to the vet, which always leads to...
-Bathing her, which she hates, thus making it 10x more difficult
-Spend as much delightful time as I want on my new Filofax
-More Gilmore Girls and Netflix
-Try a little reading. I have yet to complete one book this year!

Sunday:
-Spa time in the morning! My plan is to do my Sunday night routine in the morning, but also incorporate a really luxurious bubble bath.
-Complete my to do list
-Tan
-Exercise
-More lazy TV watching
-Reading
-Spend quality time with my best girl Annie Joy

What are your plans this weekend? I hope everyone has a great one!

It's finally almost Friday + OOTD

2011-03-03T13:05:00.000-06:00

I purchased two of these groovy cups (the other is purple).

It's 20 ounces. I like drinking better with a straw, and I wanted something I could put a lemon in to make water more fun, especially at work. Anyway, it's funny because I started drinking water first thing this morning (instead of my usual coffee and Diet Coke), and I think I actually feel better. I've been craving water lately, which I always take as a signal that I haven't been giving my body enough. I thought it was interesting observation.

Cardigan, Tank, and Skirt: Talbots

Heels: Steve Madden

This is the first time in awhile I have felt like my outfit was worth of a post.

I am so ready for the weekend! I'll thrill you all tomorrow with my plans.

What's In My [Make-up] Bag

2011-02-27T18:03:00.000-06:00

Here are the lippies I had in my make up bag for February.

Laura Mercier Lipstick in Audrey

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Rose

Chanel Glossimer in Giggle

Chanel Glossimer in Glaze

Audrey is a really pretty berry rose color. It's a very polished looking color, and I think it's something that would look good on everyone.

The Laura Mercier Rose lip gloss is almost like the lip gloss version of Audrey. It's a beautiful berry-rose, and it's nicely pigmented for a lip gloss. As always, it feels so good and moisturizing on your lips.

I can't take pictures to save my life.

LM Lip Glace in Rose

Chanel Glaze is really just a clear gloss. What I like about it is that it feels really, really good on the lips. Imagine a thicker vaseline, and that's what it feels like.

Chanel Giggle feels as good as Glaze, but it's a really pretty nude, "My Lips But Better" color.

Chanel Giggle and Glaze

I didn't get nearly as much done this weekend as I had hoped. Next weekend won't be much better either because I plan on spending the weekend hunkered down in my house with my dog and some Netflix.

Sunday [Friday] Update: What's shakin'

2011-02-25T16:13:00.000-06:00

I'm doing my Sunday post tonight because I'm trying to get my life back on track/organized just for my peace of mind. (I'm very obsessive about stuff like lists, planning, etc.)

This Week's Accomplishments/Happenings:

I turned 25. I had a bit of freak out, but otherwise it was a good day.
I got to ride my bike for the first time since winter started. I love my bike and it's become one of my favorite Sunday/weekend activities.

I've designated March to be: Try out all possible classes I can! month. This is so I can decide what classes/times are best suited for me. I created a super cool (my words) Excel sheet that has only the classes and times I'm interested in.

I might have to start Flickr account since doing a screenshot doesn't let me resize it properly.

I can even filter so that only classes at a particular time shows up. I like things that I can read quickly and gather the information I need. Also, I realize for the past 2 months I have talked about going to a class, but I think if I can plan my schedule out in such a way that it is more likely I can go, I'll do it. I think I'm bad about planning too much into a too little time frame, and it causes me to panic and combust, ultimately resulting in nothing done. Must.Be.Brave.

In other news, I'm going to have to deal with being by myself for a week, which means meals, exercise are all on me. It's not like they aren't anyway (especially exercise), but I do have a lot of trouble with eating really healthy when I'm by myself. This may explain why I gained about 20 pounds in a few months during my last year of college (among other reasons).

Goals for the upcoming week:

Work on eating breakfast in the mornings. Basically, my whole schedule has been off for weeks now, for one reason or another, and I've only been getting coffee in the morning. I think breakfast helps curb blood sugar issues and hunger throughout the day
Stay focused on taking the weekend (when I'm alone) and the following week one day at a time
Not having so much on my "Goals for the upcoming week" and on my to-do lists

I'm doing a blog soon that showcases the tools I use to stay organized, and how I live my day-to-day life. If you're into calendars, lists, etc., it's sure to be a crowd pleaser!

I'm doing my Sunday update today because I'm crazy like that. It's really because I (once again) put everything off this week and now have to do it all during the weekend (See bullet point 3 under Goals). Must work on this.

Any delicious plans this weekend? Mine include tanning, trying to do an outside run, writing many thank you notes, cleaning, and a long list of not fun things.

Bon week-end!

Typical Tuesday [BWIET]

2011-02-22T19:24:00.000-06:00

I got on the Weight Watchers website this morning, and I realized I had actually missed writing all my food down and discovering what the points were. Au revoir birthday week, bonjour healthy life!

Here is my BWIET:

7:30 am: Coffee (0 P+) with 2T Fat Free Half and Half (0 P+)

11:00 am: Snack baggie of carrots and celery stalks (0 P+) with 2 T Creamy Italian dressing (4 P+) **This was such a good idea, and I need to remember to do it more often. I was getting pretty hungry, and this was just perfect as I messed around on my laptop.

And a mere 30 minutes later...
11:30 am: I was the only one in the entire building, so I helped myself to some candy. Oy!
3 Reese's Cups (4 P+)
2 Milk Chocolate pieces (2 P+)

Back to my regularly scheduled lunch:
3oz Turkey breast (3 P+), 1 T Miracle Whip Light (1 P+), 1 Whole Wheat Tortilla (3 P+)
12 oz Coke Zero (0 P+) **I already had my 44oz Diet Coke this morning, too, and I really don't advocate drinking so much coke, but today was one of those days.

6:30 pm: Sole stuffed with Scallops and Crabmeat (7 P+), 1 Cup Wild Rice (7 P+), Green beans (0 P+) with 1 T sliced almonds (1 P+)
Total: 32 P+ (right on target!)

After work I had a crappy work out that garnered only 3 Activity Points.

Again, I want to state that I drink water throughout the day.

I had 6 P+ worth of candy, which brings me to something I want to chat about. This is why I really like the new version of WW because something I should not be eating (processed food/candy) is really high in points. So not worth it, plus not good for the body!

Good night! I'm going to flip through the book my awesome BFF got me for my birthday!!

Not Just a Pretty Face Giveaway

2011-02-21T11:25:00.000-06:00

Please check out this lovely lady's contest & blog:

http://prettyface59.blogspot.com/2011/02/whats-on-sale-at-shopbop-want-100-gift.html

Please follow the instructions for the chance to win a $100 gift card from Shopbop.

I'm hoping for a pair of my favorite designer's flats: Tory Burch :)

Hello World, I'm 25!

2011-02-21T06:59:00.000-06:00

It's weird to officially be in your "mid-twenties." I remember a Sex and the City episode where it's Carrie's birthday, and at the table next to her is a girl celebrating her birthday as well. She says "25?! F---, I'm old!" And I remember watching this episode thinking "Wow, 25 is old. I can't imagine being 25." I was probably a college freshman or sophomore during my obsessive re-watch of every single SATC episode. I also remember thinking that I would:

Be married
Have a job in some sort of business field
Probably living some place fabulous and in Europe

Ha! Just goes to show you never know where life will take you.

Instead, I:

Am single and pretty darn fabulous
Have the most fantastic job I could ever have even imagined. I am doing something that people usually don't get the chance to do in 5 lifetimes. I really cannot say enough about what an amazing career opportunity I have been given.
Do live somewhere fabulous: Jackson, MS. Honestly, I could not be happier living in Mississippi. For someone who has lived in 8 states by the time she was 18, I just assumed "home" would be wherever my family was. Not true. I consider this state to be my home. Sometimes I don't even feel like I lived anywhere else. When people ask me where I'm from, I answer "Mississippi."

Take it from me, do not be afraid of where life will take you. I believe in trusting in God and going wherever the road takes you.

Sunday Funday

2011-02-20T13:42:00.000-06:00

PSA: I'm not completely satisfied with my blog's design, but I can't figure out how to do a lot of things. Please bare with me as I wait until I can get my BFF to help me. ;)

I wanted to share a little shopping I did yesterday and today.

First, my Ulta haul. It's one of those times where I am about to run out of a lot of things at once. Unfortunately, that means a lot of money spent at once whereas normally it would be a couple bucks here and there. My repurchases of Holy Grail items are:

Frederic Fekkai Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner
Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream (the original, average size bottle has lasted me almost 7 years! That's why I got the travel size this time)
Mario Badescu Chamomile Night Cream

For fun, I purchased the new spring colors for Essie. They're adorable and I can't wait for spring to get here.

Before you all say "But Mallory, what about Louis?", have no fear. I'm still purchasing one, but I figured my birthday was a good excuse to buy a few happies. I have no doubt I still would have spent a lot more than a LV costs if I wasn't on a no-buy.

So what did I haul today? Oh, that's right, nothing! But I did spend a short part of my afternoon writing a complaint to Sephora because I could not shop today. Why? Because they are supposed to open at noon on Sundays, but no, not today! I don't want to re-type the complaint I sent them, but I was Not. Happy. Especially being a VIB member, they should know I was planning on spending about $100 today. Please understand, I LOVE Sephora, but I was really mad that it was something as simple as store hours and opening on time.

I'm spending my last day as a 24 year old reading blogs I just discovered, hanging out with my dog, and giving myself a mani/pedi.

"...you should only glance before you leap."

2011-02-18T19:02:00.000-06:00

Today's blog title came from my horoscope today. I thought it was pretty cute: "Unless there's really something vital at stake, you should only glance before you leap." I'm feeling a little contemplative today as I gear up for the 3 day bash of my last days of being 24.

My 15% off Anthropologie birthday card came in this precious little cloth envelope thing. "What's in the stars for you, Pisces?"

I feel pretty darn good about turning 25 on Monday. I have a feeling it's going to be a great year. My birthday weekend plans include Mexican food, margaritas, a little bit of shopping, and whatever else I want to do!

What are your plans for the weekend? I always love hearing what people are doing.

Arrivederci!

Nail Polish Organization

2011-02-13T17:52:00.000-06:00

These are two of the three organizational trays I purchased last weekend from Bed, Bath & Beyond. I was surprised that I couldn't get my entire collection in the two trays.

I have poor storage options in my bathroom. I needed something that I could easily take out so I could see all my polishes. Like I've said before, I like to give myself a manicure and/or pedicure on Sundays before the work week starts. These trays have helped tremendously in two ways--First, they've freed up a lot of space in my bathroom cabinet. Second, it helps me see every polish I have when I'm trying to choose which color I want to wear.

I managed to get all my cleaning done, exercise, and everything else on my list. It is such a great feeling to know your week is going to start off on the right foot! Now I'm going to give myself a mani/pedi. If you have a question about a specific polish you see, or about anything else, let me know!

Toodles!

Sunday (Saturday) Update: This Week's Accomplishments & Next Week's Goals

2011-02-12T15:44:00.000-06:00

Greetings! I have a lot of things I need to get done this weekend, so I'm writing my usual Sunday post now so that I can have an uninterrupted week end of getting things done.

Weekly Review & Accomplishments

Well, I had a whole lot of fun! I had something 3 nights this week, including a delicious, home cooked meal by the mother of a friend/co-worker. Other than that, it was a very regular week. Because of our winter weather, my gym was not open regularly. That, in combination with my busy week, meant I only exercised one day this week. That is just one more lesson that I need to get up in the morning because I never know what the rest of the day will bring, and I can't rely on the fact that I can go after work.
I didn't do too well with my limit on alcohol. The deal I made with myself was I could have beer during the weekend (as long as it was within my points), but I needed to abstain during the week. Well, I ended up having a beer on Tuesday and two on Thursday night. That's 12 points, plus 5 for the one I consumed last night. So 17 just on alcohol. When I look at it like that, it's just not what I want to be putting in my body a lot during the week.

This Week's Goals

This week is all about preparing for my birthday celebration, also known as "Mallory-palooza."

My birthday is a week from Monday, on the 21st. I think birthdays are really special and should be celebrated.
I want to make sure that every day during this week on WW, I only eat my daily alloted points (now 32 since I lost more weight). I want to save any activity points I earn and my 49 weekly extra points for my family birthday celebration on Saturday. I also plan on going out with my mom on Sunday, then out with friends for Monday.

I want to make sure I exercise Sunday, Tuesday-Friday for a good hour each. This week is also going to be warmer, so I plan on riding my bike in the evenings after work.

I need to take care of quite a few things this weekend--cleaning, etc. Ready to start the week fresh and it will be a great way for me to help with the goal I made last week of taking care of myself.

I leave you with a picture of my dog. Have a great weekend.

Striped Shirt :: Part Une

2011-02-11T19:19:00.000-06:00

I want to break up the monotony of my Sunday updates with an Outfit of the Day. I've been too busy to do more posts, but I snapped a quick picture this morning.

Shirt: J.Crew

Jeans: Talbots

Shoes: J. Crew

(How cute is my dog?! She was a wild girl this morning as I was getting ready.)

I love stripes. My all time favorite style is nautical. This is just one of many looks you will see featuring a striped shirt.

My Friday was a whirlwind and I can't wait to snuggle with my dog and watch my Netflix DVD. What is everyone's plans for Saturday? I have some serious crossing off of my to-do list to accomplish.

Bon soir!

Sunday Update: This Week's Accomplishments & Next Week's Goals

2011-02-06T18:06:00.000-06:00

What did I accomplish this week?

I applied to grad school. MBA, here I come!
I had a great work out today: I ran for 30 minutes, then I did the "Heart Hill" program on the stationary bike for 30 minutes (it's a program that simulates going up hills on a bike)
I managed to read a little bit of one of the books I'm working on. I'm trying to focus on one book, and I'm currently reading The Innocent's Abroad. It's by Mark Twain, and it's hilarious. The entire book is about a journey he took around the world. It's a true story.

My goals for the upcoming week & what I need to work on:

I did a poor job of tracking this week. That is an absolute necessity in being successful
I did a poor job of exercising. I work best when I get up in the morning at 5:30 and I can get my work out done and out of the way. I don't like going to the gym in the evenings, and I don't even push myself as hard or stay as long when I go after work.
I need to start spending at least an hour doing physical activity
I need to make an effort to exercise 5-6 days a week. I've already got one day knocked off!
I am not spending enough time taking care of myself or my environment. I have not been utilizing my time. Instead of taking an hour to give myself a manicure, put on a face mask, keep my eyebrows plucked, etc., I just sit and watch TV. I do not like being that kind of person.
I want to get back into my long distance running. My goal for this week is, weather permitting, I go out for a jog out on the Natchez Trace trails. I want to see how far I can go, so I can gage what I need to work on. It made me sad today to realize that I used to love running long distance, and I haven't done it since October 9th, 2010.
I need to stop drinking so much alcohol. It takes up too many points, plus it is seriously screwing up my blood sugar. I exerted a lot of energy today at the gym, and the rest of the afternoon I was sick to my stomach. It's a hard feeling to describe, but those who have issues with their blood sugar probably know what I'm talking about. I've been consuming way too much beer, plus the occasional glass of wine or martini when I go out with friends.

Those are a lot of goals I have. The good thing is they are all things that are easy to take care of and they are all things I'm used to doing.

Today, I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond, and purchased 3 organizational trays. My bathroom has terrible storage, so I purchased the trays to keep my make up and nail polish in. I will have to do a post on that later.

This week is going to be busy. I have something after work at least 3 nights this week, which makes it difficult to get a lot of to-do's in. So for tonight, I'm going to give myself a manicure and watch the Glee episode airing after the Super Bowl.

TGIF

2011-02-04T20:08:00.000-06:00

I didn't go into work until noon today because of the weather. That fact, in combination with the fact that it is Friday, meant casual clothes:

Oxford cloth button down: Polo Ralph Lauren

Jacket: Polo Ralph Lauren

Jeans: Talbots

Shoes: Uggs

My birthday present to myself: Michael Kors watch. I think birthdays are meant to be celebrated. I always buy myself something special. I thought a watch was a great way to commemorate my 25th birthday coming up.

I left work at 4 today with a friend I work with and we met another friend for late afternoon cocktails. It was the perfect beginning to a relaxing weekend. The rest of the weekend will consist of Netflix, the gym, and shopping with my mom. I'm sure I'll throw a latte or two in there somewhere.

Bon week-end!

Now This is What I'm Talking About!

2011-02-03T17:32:00.000-06:00

Mes amis, this is the kind of outfit yours truly should be wearing at work:

Cardigan: J.Crew

Pants: Talbots

Flats: Tory Burch

The quality of my iPod camera is terrible. I need to start setting aside time to take pictures with my real camera. These pants are courtesy of my sweet and lovely mother who got them for me. They are really a black tweed, but you can't make out the detail in the picture. I also have on jewelry (a Tiffany bracelet, my pearls, and hoop earrings) and curled hair to complete the look. The only thing I'm missing is a great pair of high heels, but I wasn't thinking this morning. All I could think was "I look fabulous!" :)

When I look and feel good like this, I always wonder "WHY are you not doing this every day? I think it's a couple of things: I'm lazy in the mornings. I don't like to get up early, therefore, I don't have enough time to get ready. Also, I barely have any winter clothes that fit. I made a rule that I was not buying clothes as I was getting bigger because I did not want to make it easier to "be fat". I realize now that it would behoove me to feel good about myself while I become healthier. I can tell I have more confidence in my day-to-day activities when I look nice.

Okay, kids. I'm going to enjoy a nice beer and hope I don't have to come in to work tomorrow because of weather.

I Want Summer

2011-02-02T17:01:00.000-06:00

Dear friends, as I've grown up, I realize my tastes have changed. From perfume to colors to clothes, they've all changed. One of the things that is different is my favorite season. My favorite season used to be fall. I still adore fall. Truthfully, there is something I adore about each season. But my absolute favorite season is summer. I love feeling the heat of the sun, seeing the vibrant colors of the South's foliage, and the sun staying out longer. I can't wait till it's summer and I can get off work and go ride my bike!

My ode to summer for today stems from the fact that it was in the twenties right now and very gray outside. So is my outfit:

Sweater: Banana Republic
T-shirt: Polo
Pashmina: J.Crew
Pants: Talbots
Flats: Tory Burch

I have to go to the gym after work today, which I hate, but I can not get up at 5:30 for the life of me lately. I don't know what I'm going to do about that because working out after work really does not work for me.

Toodaloo!

My Little Happies [January edition]

2011-01-29T20:23:00.000-06:00

I've been sick since Thursday. This is the second time in a little more than a month that I've gotten sick, which freaks me out. I used to never get sick. I blame it on the weather and the drafty, cold building I work in. I really think I need to start taking a daily vitamin.

Since I've been out of commission for the past few days, I don't feel like doing my usual Sunday update tomorrow. In lieu of the update, I'm going to share some of the things that have made me happiest this January. In my opinion, one of the benefits of being girly is enjoying the little things in life that bring you that extra sense of happiness. It can be a beauty product, a piece of clothing or accessory, or anything really. Here are some of the things that helped put a little smile on my face this month.

My iPod Touch

I got this as a Christmas present, and it has become one of my many inanimate best friends. I take it with me everywhere. I play games, surf the internet, listen to the radio, and keep track of things.

Glee Radio

I love Glee, and I really love the music. Most of today's music is quite stinky, and I love how they redo old classics. Half of my iTunes library is probably from Glee. I couldn't believe when I downloaded the AOL Radio app on my iPod Touch that it came with a GLEE RADIO STATION! Not only does it play Glee songs, but it also plays some of the original songs they redid. Best of all, this app is free.

Sharpie Pens

I'm very particular about my writing utensils. I've always had an affinity for school and office supplies. So I was delighted when I finally found the elusive Sharpie pen. I bought 2 packs-one in black and one in blue. They're perfect for work and for keeping in your purse to jot down notes or to write a check.

Natural, Un-styled Hair
I don't have a picture, but I've been rocking the natural hair look lately. Usually I style my hair with one of four different types of heat stylers: blow-dryer, curling iron, hot rollers, or a straightener. I got my hair cut pretty short (I usually keep it fairly long) and I'm growing it back out. It is at this length right now where it has a lot of body. I think it's because of where the layers are. Anyway, I am taking advantage of giving my hair a break from the heat. My hair routine is:

Wash my hair at night with Frederic Fekkai Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner
Let it air dry overnight, brush it in the morning, and rub a bit of Fekkai's Glossing Cream on the ends. Voila!

Hot Tea

I like to drink a cup of hot tea every night during the winter months. I like all kinds of tea, but my absolute favorite is Earl Gray. I love when you can taste the lemon. My mom bought this sweet toile cup (and a matching red one) for my office at work. This past Thursday and Friday when I was sick, I was drinking hot tea like crazy.

Dark Pedis
I took a picture of my pedicure today, but some of the polish had worn off and it looked too gross to post. I'm loving dark pedis right now because I like to go through as much of winter as possible without polish on my toes. I like to give them a break before the warmer months when they're polished all the time. But a dark pedicure looks so polished in the winter. And even if my toes aren't sticking out, I see that my feet are taken care of and that makes me happy.

It really is the little things in life.

What are the things that are making you happy right now? Here is a picture of something that makes me happy every minute of the day:

My dog Annie Joy!

Happy Saturday! I'm going to drink some tea, watch the Britcoms, and snuggle with Annie.

BWIET

2011-01-26T18:48:00.001-06:00

I have not been myself the past couple days-I've been a glum chum. I am really in the mood to completely disconnect myself from the entire world, but then I decided maybe doing something within my normal routine would actually be of help to me. So, here is my Blog What I Eat Tuesday: (***This is being posted today because I went out to dinner with friends after an event, and I did not get home until very late, so I was not able to finish the post until today.) ***Also, sunny skies are here again in my world. I am no longer a glum chum.

8:00 am: Coffee with Fat-Free Half and Half (0 P+)

9:00 am - 11:00 pm: Went through a 44 oz Diet Coke (0 P+) I'm sure this is detrimental to my health, but I refuse to give up my daily Diet Coke.

10:00 am: 20 Almonds (3 P+)

12:00 pm: Romaine lettuce, celery, carrots, & mushroom salad (0 P+), Seasoned Rice Vinegar and Lemon Juice (1 P+). Pepper jack Cheese Stick (2 P+)

1:00 pm: Starbucks Venti Latte with Non-Fat Milk (4 P+)

8:00 pm: Grilled Cajun Mahi Sandwich with fries (**This is only my best estimate using WW tools) (23 P+)

Total: 33 P+

Whew. I am so glad I did not drink last night because I would have gone over. Now I see that it was a good choice. Alcohol makes up for a lot of calories.

Here is my outfit of the day for Wednesday:

Cardigan: J.Crew

Skirt: Talbots

Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace: Pearls from my dad as a Christmas present last year (From Zales)

I wore heels! All day! Go me!

I have been kicking myself for months because I did not buy a pair of nude round toe heels from Jessica Simpson. They are out of my size (which is probably the nation's average, so of course they'll probably go out of stock first). Anyway, I found these this weekend, ordered them, and they arrived yesterday. I got the 3 inch heel, which is much short than I was anticipating. Since the heel is shorter, these shoes are a BREEZE to walk in. I think they're perfect for work.

Cheers my dears!

Sunday Update: This Week's Accomplishments & Next Week's Goals

2011-01-23T16:11:00.000-06:00

What did I accomplish this week?

I tracked everyday this week-even when I went over my alloted points. This is a big accomplishment for me because I did not "hide" the fact that I ate too much.
I wore high heels one day this week! This is my OOTD for Tuesday:

Dress: Land's End

Cardigan: J.Crew

Heels: Nine West

The heels worked out pretty well. I wore flats when I had to run to another building for work, and the post office. It wasn't difficult to wear them around the office.

I did not attend any fitness classes, but I did get to the gym 3 times this week.
I feel 100% mentally ready to go all out with my fitness and healthy eating. I'm glad to finally get back to my positive thinking because I believe that contributes to your success
I could not concentrate enough this week to read. I have 3 books I'm currently a few chapters into. I can't even concentrate enough to finish only one book! To add to the craziness, I purchased a huge book yesterday on United States history (I'm very nerdy).

My goals for the upcoming week:

Continue tracking all 7 days, AND keep within my alloted points
Attend a fitness class at least one day this week
Do better about reading :)
Continue my adventures in wearing high heels
Apply to graduate school!

I always knew I wanted to get a graduate degree. It was a toss up between my MBA or law school. With my current job situation, law school is not an option. I had an epiphany this week that if I don't go ahead with my MBA, I will never get it because I'll probably be juggling a family.

I had a great work out today. As I was leaving, I saw the beginning of the Body Fit class I've been dying to take. I simply must be brave next Sunday and do it. It looked like a lot of fun, plus a great work out.

Have a lovely Sunday!

January Grayness = Pretty Pink Lippies [What's in my make-up bag]

2011-01-22T12:37:00.000-06:00

Every month, I put different lippies in my make up bag for my purse. For the month of January, I thought about what I wanted. I usually have the after holidays blues in January, plus the month is usually gross weather-wise. So, I decided I wanted pretty pinks to make me feel better.

L to R : Laura Mercier Baby Doll lip glace, MAC Just Superb Cremesheen glass,

MAC Lustreglass in Flusterose, Bobbi Brown Pretty Pink Metallic lip color

The whole she-bang: everything I carry in my cosmetic bag for my purse. I normally don't use the things in here (besides the lippies) except for emergencies.

Neutrogena Shine Control blotting sheets, Band-Aids, Bath & Body Works White Citrus Anti-bacterial gel, Tide To Go stick, Advil, NARS Lip Laquer Palette, Bobbi Brown mini pot rouge, mirror compact, Kiehl's #1 Lip Balm in Vanilla

Close ups of the colors:

I actually ended up finishing the MAC Just Superb Cremesheen. The Laura Mercier Lip Glace is part of a 4 gloss set I purchased over the holidays. LM is turning out to be my favorite lip gloss brand. They feel really good on my lips. Plus, they come in flattering colors and smell delicious.

These pinks are flattering on my warm skin tone, and they're great pick-me-ups during the day. They all feel moisturizing and they wear well.

Have a lovely Saturday!

TWIET (Tweet What I Eat Tuesday)

2011-01-18T19:32:00.000-06:00

One of the ladies I follow on Twitter does a Tweet What I Eat Tuesday. Every time she eats, she shares what it is and how many PointsPlus it is. I don't feel comfortable tweeting what I eat because I hardly have any followers (so I don't see how it could be beneficial), plus out of the followers I have, I can guarantee they do not care what I eat.

So, I have decided to establish BWIET! I will Blog What I Eat Tuesday. This can give people an idea of how I eat on WW, plus I want to eventually share some of my favorite recipes.

Before I get started, let me state that I am allowed 33 PointsPlus per day, 49 Weekly PointsPlus Allowance (these are points you can keep or spend if you want to go over your daily alloted points, or if you have a special event, etc.), plus any Activity Points I earn

12:00 pm: 2 Cups Romaine lettuce (0 P+), 1 Cup shredded chicken breast (5 P+), 3 Tablespoons Kroger Creamy Italian Dressing (6 P+)

6:00 pm: 1 Cup Fat-Free Refried Beans (4 P+), 2 Mission Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas (6 P+), 1/4 Cup Fat free Shredded Cheese (1 P+), Homemade Salsa (0 P+)

7:10 pm: Mini bag of popcorn (3 P+)

7:30 pm: 2 WW Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (5 P+), 1 Cup Skim Milk (2 P+)

Total: 32
Activity Points Earned: 3

Attention: Putting Things into Perspective

2011-01-17T10:25:00.000-06:00

I had a horrifying thought yesterday. With all the money I spent in 2010 on make up and bath products alone, I could have easily purchased the Louis Vuitton Speedy 35 bag that I want. I probably could have purchased a wallet to match, as well.

What does that mean? It means that if I am successful on my no buy in 2011, I am taking a special trip to New Orleans in December and purchasing the bag from the LV store down there.

Is there something you've put off purchasing because you thought it was too expensive, but realized you had been wasting money on other things? I know many people who spend a lot of money eating out. I do this too, but I've been trying to be more economical (and healthier) by bringing my lunch to work and not eating out for dinner.

This year, when I want to spend money on products I really don't need, I'm just going to think about my lovely new purse.

Sunday Update: This Week's Accomplishments & Next Week's Goals

2011-01-16T15:54:00.000-06:00

One of the health blogs I follow (and am obsessed with) always does a weekly update of their accomplishments and what they want to work on for next week. I would like to incorporate this into my own blog because I think it will be another way to hold me accountable, and if possible, I would like to help someone else out the way her blog has helped me.

What did I accomplish this week?
Nothing! Haha--not to be negative, but I failed miserably this week. I did not wear heels. I was not able to give myself a mani/pedi. I chickened out of Zumba. I did not keep track of my PointsPlus for WW. I'm not going to dwell on any of this though. Instead, I'm going to get back on track today. I can tell that I am finally back in the mental place I need to be to be more disciplined, which I think is so important. I have found that my mental state contributes the most to my success when I have goals.

My goals for the upcoming week:

I WILL wear high heels at least one day this week!
Track my PointsPlus every day
Attend at least 2 exercise classes this week

I plan on trying Zumba this Tuesday. I must be brave and not be intimidated! I would also like to attend the Yoga/Pilates class Thursday evening, but I'm not going to hold myself to it. I also plan on attending BodyFit next Sunday afternoon.

Reading. I really need to get back into reading. There is a great website called www.goodreads.com. You can create a profile and keep track of the books you read. I have always been a voracious reader, especially when I was younger. I would read 2 or 3 books at a time (usually The Baby-Sitters Club, or Nancy Drew). I joined their 2011 Resolution, which is where you can name the number of books you would like to read this year. I said 12 because I want to read at least one book a month. I adore television, but I need to make sure I work my brain in the evenings too, instead of being a complete vegetable when I get home from work. Can I also mention how ashamed I was when I said 12, and everyone else had 25 or 40, sometimes even more?

So, what did I accomplish today? I wrote my thank you notes for Christmas presents. I am shamefully late this year, but better late than never. I am big on thank you notes--mostly because my mother taught me to be. I think you should ALWAYS send one for a gift, even if you have already told the person "thanks" in some other form. Send a note. It's the Southern thing to do.

I tracked my food and drink so far. Sunday is the day I weigh in for Weight Watchers, and start fresh, so I feel good about keeping my food tracked today. Even if I overindulged on a Newk's Pimento Cheese sandwich.

I'm definitely giving myself a manicure and pedicure. I have a Sunday beauty routine that consists of 8 steps, and a mani and pedi are always involved. I'll do a blog on my Sunday routine soon, and I will showcase the products I use. Today's manicure will feature Essie Geranium, a really nice, bright coral. My pedicure will feature Chanel Blue Satin. I really like dark colors for my feet.

I was really wanting to go to a new fitness class called Body Pump. The class description is "Head-to-toe, muscle-sculpting workout! Non-stop, toning moves with short cardio intervals will take your toning workout to the next level. If you’ve ever wanted to try P90X or Crossfit then this is the class for you!" This really appeals to me because I cannot stand doing the weight machines, but I know it is imperative to alternate between that and cardio. I think this class will be a great way to tone without forcing myself to do weights for 30 minutes. The only time this class is offered that I can actually attend it is 2:00pm on Sundays. Unfortunately, I had a little too much fun last night, and the thought of jostling around was more than my stomach could take.

Okay, I need to get back to cleaning, a Sunday ritual for me.

Have a lovely Sunday and a lovely week.

Outfit of the Day: Jewel Tones

2011-01-13T19:56:00.001-06:00

I was not going to do an outfit picture today because I'm only wearing jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt, but I changed my mind because I like the color combination. The color of the shirt and pashmina are so much more richer in person. My camera did not do it justice. They are both true, rich jewel tones.

Shirt: Polo Ralph Lauren

Pashmina: Not sure

Jeans: Talbots

Cowboy boots: From a store in New Mexico

Here is a better shot of my boots. It is my opinion that every real Southern girl should own a pair of cowboy boots. Real cowboy boots-not Jessica Simpson, or some other brand. (Although I would kill for a pair of Frye boots)

Yes, my pashmina matches my polo horse guy perfectly.

I am not doing well on my New Year's resolutions! My outfits are not creative and there is no way I will make my goal of wearing high heels this week. For one thing, it is bitterly cold in Jackson, Mississippi. Plus, I am going from building to building this week at work, and I can't be bothered with heels when I have to run inside to escape the weather. I am way too delicate. I also have not been able to give myself a manicure or pedicure, or attend a fitness class. Yikes! I'm hoping to make one either tomorrow or Sunday, and I will definitely be able to paint my nails.

I am so glad tomorrow is Friday! Even though it looks like I'm going to have to work Saturday morning, it should be a great weekend nonetheless.

Have a lovely evening!

Why, yes, I do like big pearls

2011-01-11T19:24:00.000-06:00

Here is my outfit of the day:

Oxford cloth button down: Polo

Sweater: J.Crew

Jeans: Talbots

Shoes: J.Crew

Headband: J.Crew

I wish I had taken a picture with my real camera and not my iPod. I have in my huge pearl earrings that I purchased from Belk. They're so big, I can hardly talk on my phone! I love them, but I don't wear them too often. In my opinion, this kind of outfit is the epitome of preppy, and that's why I love it!

I'm heading to bed soon. I have an early start to my day tomorrow.

Have a lovely evening.

Snow Day!

2011-01-10T15:24:00.000-06:00

Whew, last week was a doozy. I was all set to begin my New Year in a positive, fabulous manner, and it just did not happen. Between oversleeping and unexpected events in the evenings, I barely made it through the week.

This weekend, I re-energized by starting my Saturday with a Cafe Latte from Starbucks and a run to the grocery store. The rest of the weekend I hunkered down at home, escaping the cold weather. I even had my cell phone off all weekend. It was wonderful.

I really want to give blogging a shot, so I'm going to try to do better this week with a couple more posts. For today's post, I will share my OOTD from last Friday:

Dress: Land's End

Cardigan: Talbots

Ballet Flats: Talbots

Close up of flats:

These flats are a unique mix of light pink and beige. They're fun.

And because I was having a fabulous hair day:

Hair Clip: J.Crew

I didn't have to go to work today because of the weather. Since last week didn't quite go as planned, here are my mini goals for this week:

Attend at least one fitness class this week. I usually go to the gym every morning before work, and I want to start incorporating at least one class a week in the evenings for variety and fun. This week, I plan on going to Zumba tomorrow.
Wear high heels one day this week.
Start counting points for Weight Watchers!!!! This is a big, important one because I really slacked off last week.
Give myself a pedicure and manicure. I can't stand not having my nails not painted!

Have a lovely day.

Let Me Introduce Myself...

2011-01-01T20:43:00.001-06:00

I love making New Year's Resolutions. This year, mine are probably a little different than the usual "be a better person", etc. While I did include some goals of that nature, a lot of mine have to do with beauty, fashion, and health:

Keep my eyebrows plucked.

Yes, this probably sounds really silly and superficial. I usually pluck my eyebrows every Sunday, but throughout the week, they will begin to sprout and look disheveled. My resolution is to look more groomed. In addition, I love anything beauty related, and will begin showcasing my favorite products.

Start a no-buy

I love make up and bath products. I am sticking myself to a no-buy because it was getting to the point that every Sunday was Sephora Sunday, and I was spending too much. I will purchase fun things every now and then, but I really need to tone it down.

Start wearing high heels more often.

I am probably one of the only gals I know who does not know how to properly walk in high heels. I am a wimp and I cannot take the pain. I've decided I need to suck it up. High heels are gorgeous, and I need to implement them in my wardrobe. I will begin including my Outfits of the Day later.

Evolve my style.

At the moment, I would say I dress in a mix of casual/preppy/classic. I work in the arena of politics, and it does matter what you look like. However, the building I work in only has 2-4 people at a time and it's very casual, so it is easy for me to fall into the trap of jeans and Uggs. Yes, I sometimes wear Uggs to work. Not good. As I lose more weight, I believe it will be easier to wear the clothes I want to be incorporated in my look.

Become a healthier person

I have battled my weight all my life. My last year of college, I tipped the scale at 200+. I'm only 5'6. I became very active in the past year, even training for a marathon and completing a half marathon. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, I joined Weight Watchers and lost 9 pounds in two weeks. I did not count points during the Christmas holidays, but I'm ready to start fresh, and I'm really looking forward to it. I love being active, and I enjoy a variety of activities. I will begin including my adventures in fitness and health.

For my first OOTD, here is my New Year's Eve Outfit. I stayed in last night, but I went to lunch with my parents for their wedding anniversary.

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft

V-neck tee: Polo Ralph Lauren

Jeans: Talbots

Ballet Flats: Talbots

Nail Polish: Sephora OPI in Metro Chic

This is a pretty typical look for me.

Close up of my flats:

Close up of one of my favorite pairs of earrings: (From Tiffany's)

I'm still new to the whole blogging world, so please bear with me. I'm still trying to figure out my design, how to take the best pictures, etc.

Have a lovely evening.