verbal heave

 Let's just call this a verbal heave.  Not verbal vomit, which would imply there being some substance here, but instead a heave.  Not too much substance, but that's all I've got right now.

Last week was my busiest time of the year at work.  I survived (obvi), had awesome help & support, it was a great event, and now I'm done with it for 10 more months.  Most everything else I do professionally was pushed to the back burner, so I spent this week getting my office back to order.

This is my file organizer.   Each of the "areas" I support gets a box, for the most part.
I support seven people directly, and a tower that high would probably fall and crush me.

Every year I have to bring in an 8-foot table to accommodate all the extra stuff.
It's thrilling on the day after the project ends to spring clean away all that stuff.  #ilovetopurge

I've picked up a delightful phrase from a co-worker, "I've got nothin."  She, an English major, knows that it is not proper English.  I know that it's not a grammatically correct statement.  But that doesn't mean that I don't love it and use it frequently!  Fun around the office, but I'm scared that friends and people not associated with work think that I'm an idiot.

Because of working a TON of over time I had a half-day off on Tuesday.  What did I do with my big afternoon off?  Organize my blogs, Pinterest boards, and draft emails.  But this week wasn't a total wash.  The school group I'm starting had an open house on Tuesday, and Thursday I went to Terrapin with the girls.  Speaking of delicious, a certain delicious food group is no longer part of my diet for the foreseeable future--fried food.  Ever since Bali having ANY fried food has resulted in highly uncomfortable stomach problems and cramps that double me over.  What's next, an aversion to ice dream?  Oh wait, that's happened too.  I just don't know who I'm becoming.

Bestie and I keep sending each other pictures in the morning of our outfits each day:

Last week.

Now, don't be concerned "she's wearing a lot of color, is she sick?"  Last week at work I had to wear certain colors each day (well in the morning I had to wear a turquoise t-shirt over my top then I changed in the afternoon).  Well, I didn't HAVE to wear a certain color each day.  But it's more fun to be a team player.  And you know who has only three red things in her closet--this girl.  And who's okay only having 3 red things in her closet--this girl.

This week.

Back to normal--white, gray, blue, black, and stripes.

*The sunglasses picture was because I had to replace my prescription ones that the river ate while kayaking last weekend.  

**And I was actually wearing capris that day because I had to do so much moving and cleaning in my office.  Aside from running shorts, that's the only time I've worn shorts/pants in weeks.  Yeah!

Off to run!

on hostessing with the mostessing.

The title of this just sounded fun.  Making sense is optional.

One of my favorite things about blogging are finding good, practical things.  Since I like to over-share things that I do which are successful, here are a few wins I've encountered in the hostessing arena:

• BAKE the bacon.

Y'all.  I've heard about baking your bacon in the oven but I always thought it wouldn't be as good, as tasty, etc.  Well, I baked bacon for the first time and it was INCREDIBLE.  (Don't think that baking it makes it healthy.  It's bacon, folks.  Grease is still there.)  Baking bacon resulted in flat, crispy pieces of bacon and the easiest clean-up ever.

To bake, cover your lipped-cookie sheet well with foil, put on the bacon, bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes (I flipped them over at minute 15 for giggles), take it out and put it on paper towels, and serve.  A while later after the grease has cooled, roll up the foil and toss it, then put away your clean cookie sheet.

• DIY pita chips

Whenever I serve hummus or a spread I always "make" my "own" pita chips instead of buying a bag.  I buy whole pitas (whole-wheat), cut them in half then triangles/shapes, put on a LIGHT coat of olive oil (I drizzle my {clean} hands with a little olive oil then rub them over the pitas), sprinkle on some kosher salt, and place the pita pieces on a lined cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 5-10 minutes.

• Citrus in water

In water pitchers, some sliced citrus goes a long way on upping the pretty level.

fashion week summer edition wrap up.

so, I spent a LOT of time in front of the computer today.  I am at the point right now where my eyes keep un-focusing on the screen, so please let me know of any (glaring) typos.  Haha!

Fashion week wrapped up last week.  Fashion week was fun (obvi), but the whole shingles thing--too much professionally going on--exhaustion--hard runs took it out of me.  I tried, but I'm going to set the bar a bit higher for myself next time.  I feel like today I was already back in the game.  Oh well.

thursday
office wear with the cardigan:

and without.

Dress:  Gap (A few years ago) | Cardigan:  Gap (even longer ago) | Shoes:  From a company that starts with a "C" and rhymes with "bark"

This is one of my favorite dresses in my closet.  It's not particularly flattering, but it's so flowy!  It's seersucker!  And it has pockets!  I wasn't able to wear it comfortably for a long time because I wouldn't wear it without a camisole, which made it bulky, it'd roll-up (the cami), blah blah blah.  I've since discovered (and now own) a bandeau top.  If you don't know what it is, it's basically just an stretchy tube top that covers your bra and cleavage so you can wear low cut things modestly.  I love mine.  Modesty FTW.

friday

Skirt:  Banana Republic (clearance rack years ago) | Cardigan:  BR Outlet | Tank:  Old Navy | Shoes:  from where else?

Speaking of favorites, this is one of my favorite skirts in my closet.  Eyelet (I'm harping a lot of eyelet and seersucker....my southern side is coming out), good length, high waist...happy-happy-happy.

fashion week, summer edition, part one

When you work with fun people, fun things happen.  Like fashion week.  Erika and I seasonally dress up particularly cute for a week, take photos of each other, and then blog about it.  Fun, right?  RIGHT!   Added elements of hilarity are when we're 1.) caught by our co-workers, 2.) attacked by birds, 3.) realize that twirling is not the most appropriate thing for ladies of our age.

Regardless, here's summer fashion week!  I like summer fashion week more than winter fashion week because if you haven't been able to tell yet, I.  love.  dresses.  And cardigans.  And not wearing pants.  The summer wardrobe > than my winter wardrobe.  This fashion week is a welcome distraction in the mornings during an incredibly busy work season.  So while I'm loosing some hair this week, I'm at least looking good.  I hope.

monday

I don't wear color.  Well, I used to not wear color.  I was at Gap a few weeks ago and came across this yellow dress with pockets and fell in love.  HARD.  But y'all, it's YELLOW.  Like, "lookatme, lookatme, lookatme YELLOW."  When I was getting ready to wear this I was going to pair it with a navy blue cardigan and bubble necklace, but it was just too much, so I toned it down with the oatmeal and brown pieces.  Baby steps...baby steps.

Outfit:  Dress, Cardigan & Belt--Gap | Necklace--Made by my grandfather | Shoes--Clarkes

So one of the reasons I fell for this dress was because it twirls.  

Not that I should be twirling.

tuesday

I don't like wearing pants, but I knew that I'd have to be on the ground a lot Tuesday, so hence the (baggy) capris.  And have you noticed featured prominently in all these photos is my friend shingles?  Oh, if you get in a bind/drop something important it's fun to say "oh shingles."  Maybe it's only fun to say if you have them.  

Outfit:  Cardigan/Cami/Pants--Loft (A side effect of having a fried brain right now is being unable to mix up the brands, apparently.  Oh well).  |  Necklace--Sam Moon | Shoes--Clarkes

wednesday

I also paired this outfit with a lavender cardigan. I know, SOMUCHCOLOR.

Outfit:  Shirt--Gap ($2.45, holla!) | Skirt--J.Crew Factory | Shoes--Clarkes (where else?) | Scarf--present from Italy | Necklace--present from Katie

my make-up routine.

I don't know about you, but I LOVE reading about what products other people use.  One, I'm nosy, but I know I'm way more inclined to use something if I have friends who have used it (imitation is the best form of flattery), and I like getting ideas from them.  So here's how I currently am taking care of my face:

clean-up & moisturize & prep

I usually troll make-up blogs or the isle at Target to see what to get/is on sale when needing a face wash.  I've discovered the face wash above recently and am liking it a lot, but I think I need something more exfoliating.  (Well, I say that, but I have super-sensitive skin to random things and the last exfoliator made me get a rash and then breakout.  Fun!)  I am a huge fan of the Neutrogena moisturizer--solid SPF (I wore it in Nassau last year as my sunscreen and it worked really well) and it is supposed to help with wrinkles.  I haven't noticed mine getting worse or better, so I'm going to keep on keeping with it.  I was sold on the primer at Sephora, and think that it does keep my makeup on far better with, than without.

makeup

I'm in with both feet in the Bare Minerals camp.  And seriously, be good at washing your brushes in you're in the Bare Minerals group.  It feels night and day different to use clean brushes as opposed to ones that haven't been washed in a couple months while.

eyes

Totally sold on the Naked palette.  I've used the same eyeliner for years, and have consistently heard that the mascara you use doesn't make a huge difference.  This was on sale at Target a few months back  in a double pack and I like it a lot.  What I do find makes a huge difference with mascara is the use of the eyelash curler. I felt obnoxious the first time I used mine.

lips

This is what I don't do great on.  I'm usually running out the door and forget to put on lipstick, am not consistent, et cetera.  However, this lip balm is perfect--subtle color and I can put it on in a hurry without looking like a clown.  For heavier products I've always been a fan of Clinique lip colors.  They last well, and I don't seem to have a lot of trouble finding a natural looking one for my skin tone.

So that's what currently goes on my face!

I'm not drowning.

I'm not drowning, contrary to what I may be feeling.  Last week I walked out of my office and said to a friend, "it just ticks me off that I can't do everything!"  But I wasn't stressed.  Or so I was thinking as I was coming down with shingles.  I'm going to gloss over the seeming connection there (and appreciate you doing the same), but seriously.  I do not feel stressed.  I'm almost stressed at how unstressed I'm feeling.  I mean...

• I'm asking for help all the time at work (and dying to myself by the moment).  
• I'm looking forward with excitement at coming professional (new boss people) and personal changes.  
• I'm having a ball with clothes recently (summer wardrobe > winter wardrobe).  
• Heck, I'm even budgeting well!  

But I still feel like I'm drowning most days.  Drowning, not stressing.  What exactly is the difference, and what gives?  I feel like when I'm stressing I'm being driven by anxiety.  My fuel is worry (which is SO ungodly), and rest is far from me.  But this drowning feeling?  I'm resting-exercising-HAPPY, but I feel like I am on a constant tight-rope.  A slack on one thing will lead to something falling which will start a lot of other things falling.  Hmm.  Shingles are beginning to make more sense...

The quote that I wrote in the top of my work planner this past week was "peace is the atmosphere of Heaven."  I believe that, and believe that I can and am fully experiencing that in the here and now--even at my busiest.  My default "feeling" may be that I feel like I am drowning, but I know that that is not my reality.  The peace of Heaven is surrounding me even now.  I'm calling down that reality to where I am here and now.  So, ha-ha drowning feeling.

Now, onto lighter topics.  Like clothes.  I didn't have a ton of time most mornings because of some great runs but here I am...

Observations:

• Thank you Gap & Loft for being the main players this week.
• Tuesday's black dress is going to the swap-pile party.  It's one of my favorites,  But it's obnoxiously too big.
• I was pretty proud of pulling in stripes on the cardigan with stripes on my skirt.
• I wore a LOT of pink this week.  Friday's shirt is a blush pink (my favorite shade).  When I saw some other gals at work also wearing pink I got excited and said, "oh we're all in pink!" but I was knocked down as not being pink.  Boo.  
• The shingles on my neck kept me from wearing necklaces.  Whomp.  Thursday & Friday needed one.

Get excited!  Next week is Fashion Week : Summer Edition with Erika!