Friday, May 28, 2010

Smile Friday

The lake is one of my absolute favorite places to be. I love everything about it. I love the friends and family you'll find at the lake... There is never a dull moment and always great company. I love floating, catching rays, sitting on the dock, swimming, delicious food & libations, jumping off boathouses, boating in general, jet-skiing, tubing, watching others ski & wakeboard and waking up the next morning knowing you get to do it all over again.

Being at the lake makes me smile - a lot.








Needless to say this is where I am happily heading for the weekend. Gaston Lake here we come!!

Happy Memorial Day weekend to you!!

Charleston Who-o-o



My mom spotted this in Charleston this past week. I think it would be most practical and unique to carry while traveling. The ease of a swingpack. I love him... He's funny.


My friend Kat saw the above owl necklace in Charleston too!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Currently Reading



For Book Club... It's different. It's written completely in letters. I can't wait to see where it takes me. I will share with you my review soon!

HDH



Ashton Kutcher. Love his movies... Especially Just Married!

Speaking of W-A-N-T-S!

I've been craving blueberry pancakes and/or waffles:


But I also really want this swimsuit:


Sadly, these don't seem to mix.

Although, I would say the below swimsuit could mix with blueberry pancakes (maybe):


If I ever came across this swimsuit I would be in shopping bliss. It's Loeffler Randall, and it was last spotted for 75 percent off!! Can you imagine? Just add a skirt and head to a cocktail party!

Monogram It

"When Charlotte really liked somebody she said their whole name. It helped her picture their future monogrammed towels." - Carrie [SATC]

This is me right now!! I am currently monogram and personalization-sessed. If you have a celebration coming up, watch out, because you will be receiving something cute & personalized.


Our friend's engagement gift just got delivered to the house this week, and we gave it to them yesterday! They were in love. Their gift turned out so classy. So classy that I had to unwrap it all and set it up on my python tray and pretend like it was mine for a just minute. Then I wrapped it all back up again : )


I'm also excited about going to The Merry Martini store opening in two weeks. Hopefully I will score 40 percent off from their coupon bouquet. I really want the above kiwi monogram serving tray with a white fancy monogram like the one here:

Pump Prowl

I'm on the prowl for some fabulous pumps. I actually need some nude pumps, because they are perfect for work & play! I'm going to check into these this week:


I also wouldn't mind if I snagged these along the way:

Monday, May 24, 2010

Petite



These were way too cute not to throw in the grocery cart last night (and at a dollar a piece you can't really lose). One is the perfect size to cure that after dinner sweet treat craving!

Weekend Recap: Insane Edition

Now I know how much people love rice... Especially Mahatma America's Favorite Rice... I had no idea!! Our booth was by far the most packed all weekend. We had lines that went on for days. Our pounds upon pounds of rice ran out early both days as did all promotional items. It. was. crazy. Here we are in our booth we set-up:


It was all about the displays. Tablescaping is only one of my favorite things to do!



Mahatma has a really fun logo... The Mahatma Genie. At least that's what I named him... Creative right? Someone asked me what his name was and that's all I could come up with.


Mahatma also has a ton of followers. One person even sang us the Mahatma jingle from an old radio commercial. Talk about brand loyalty! Engaging the crowd:


It was a busy, busy rice kind of weekend!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Thursday, May 20, 2010

For the Record

American Idol Edition:

At least one of my top five picks of the top 24 (posted here back in February) made it to the finale!! Whew...

Music

Music has always been a huge part of my life, and I am definitely looking to bring it back in. In the midst of college, starting my first job and learning to live in this city as a townie rather than as a student, I let a few of my hobbies and loves fall to the wayside. I literally find myself being annoyed sometimes on my ride home from work because I have to listen to the same songs repeat themselves over and over on the radio. This wouldn't be a problem if I was listening and singing to a CD of my favorite jams!! I also use to play the flute, and there was a point when I was really really good at it. Now I probably would struggle to successfully play Jingle Bells (that may be an exaggeration, but I wouldn't know.) I want to do 800 million things in a day, and there just isn't enough time. One thing I will make time for is music. Discovering new music, listening to others favorite music, playing music, going to more intimate concerts at smaller venues, music, music, music. I would love to take guitar lessons (and enroll in tae kwon do classes too), but I guess you have to pick your battles.

I rarely listen to the country music station, so I will add this song to my CD. Everyone definitely has a Hillbilly Bone. I really enjoy the music video:


I also love Everything by Michael Buble. Possible first dance candidate? I think so. I'm not a fan of the video, but I included it here just for easy listening:


You're a falling star, you're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy but it's kinda cute.
Ah,
when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend that you don't know it's true.
'cause you can see it when I look at you.

[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word,
you're everything.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.

And I can't believe, uh that I'm your man,
And
I get to kiss you baby just because I can.
Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do.


[Chorus]

So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
You're every song, and I sing along.
'Cause you're my everything.
Yeah, yeah

So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

Psychology 101

It's so hard to really live in the present. To not worry or think about things in the past - they have already happened. To not worry or think about things in the future - they are yet to come. To live for right now, in this very moment, seems so calming and blissful and yet so difficult to achieve. I'm a planner, but I think you can be a planner and still live in the present. I think about all the times that we countdown to a certain event. I know it's normal to look forward to these things and get excited about them. It seems sometimes though we are looking so forward to these things that we miss the current present moment and all of its excitement it could hold for our life if we just pay attention to it.

I would love to follow the teachings and practices of Eckhart Tolle. He really has it. He sees that we live almost entirely in the past or in the future because the past is what defines us and our hopes are for fulfillment in the future. Eckhart Tolle believes "now is the most precious thing there is because now is when your whole life unfolds. Life is now. When you are fully present in the now, all problems are gone. You can feel who you truly are: something immeasurable, indestructible. It's enormously liberating to be fully present in the now."

I'm not one to harp on the past, but I definitely look towards the future. I am going to make an effort to live more in the present. I am also adding The Power of Now to my reading list.

"Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life."

- Eckhart Tolle

P.S. My psychology class at Carolina was definitely a wow class, and one of my favorites. I fully appreciate it, and I am so glad I chose it.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Can You Imagine?



Strolling up to the beach in all of this? With big black sunglasses? It would ruffle some feathers... In a great way!

Hump Day Hottie



I love some John Mayer. I definitely agree when people say he robbed the gene pool. He is hot*, smart, a talented musician and hilarious.
*Hot - One of those guys that are not super hot, but when adding in their culmination of talents, it makes them hot. There has to be a name for this? Do you know it?
Every time I order a book from Amazon, I always debate on putting this in my cart to help me get to $25 for the free super saver shipping:


I haven't won yet, but maybe one day. I could totally see myself playing this while cooking, cleaning, relaxing, getting ready to go out, about to take a nap... JM is for every moment. Here he is covering Free Fallin'... Oh, how I love...

Hallelujah

I started out really into Idol this season, and then I completely fell out. When Lee came on last night singing Hallelujah it actually made me look up and pay attention. It was really good.



Now I'm a fan, again, and I will definitely be voting for him from here on out. It's never too late to start, right? And The Biebs is performing on Idol tonight... Hallelujah for that!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Mahatma!

This weekend Hank and I are working a rice booth. It's so funny because every time I tell someone this they have the same reaction, "A what, a rice booth?" You know - Just to clarify. I can definitely understand the need to clarify because it is very random. I'm surprisingly excited about this event though because I always thought it would be fun to work a promo booth (and it pays great). They are everywhere for every product, and I love marketing (because it really works). When we were at a bar in Athens, GA, for example, the Ladies of Landshark Lager were there giving away free beer, temporary tatoos and taking pictures of you enjoying their brand. This is what we will be doing for Mahatma Rice at Wellness Weekend this weekend at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. We have lots of free samples to give away, coupons and a fun jeopardy game for people to spin to win prizes.

All of this to say here is a section of our garage right now:


It is home to a lot of rice. I'm sure our neighbors were thinking what in the world when all of this was delivered to our front door!!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Helmet the Turtle



I love this guy! I saw this at Hank's sister's house in Athens, GA, and I immediately fell in love. I have a knack for unique finds, and this is too great. I decided this metal pet needed to come live at our house too, so that's what I used some birthday money towards : )

"This patriotic turtle is doing his duty to keep America beautiful by being 100 percent recycled and reclaimed. His shell is an authentic World War II U.S. Army helmet; his feet are hard rock mining drill bits; and everything else on his nutty-bolty body was once a functioning machine part. Hilariously hefty, he longs to be drafted into your decorating scheme."



I love what the artist, Fred Conlon, said about his work on this turtle, "It is very satisfying to transform something once used in war into a peaceful garden decoration."

When I was deciding which one to pick at the store, everyone was walking by, looking at the turtle and just laughing, because his head just bobs away. He is too funny, and definitely a fun edition to our decorating scheme!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Watch out The Biebs!!



Have you already seen this?

I love the blonde smiling throughout this, but most of all I love how Greyson just gets up and walks away at the end like he didn't just give the performance of his life!!

I hope Justin Timberlake is already on this kid - he missed out big on signing The Biebs... Obviously!

Smile Friday!

I remember how I felt at this exact moment. I was undeniably happy!


I just graduated from Carolina. I just found out I landed my dream job. I was in Florida/Disney for an entire week. I was surrounded by the ones I love most. I did not have a care in the world! AND I was paddling around in a FLAMINGO paddle boat!!


I hope you have an undeniably happy weekend!!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Bachelor Party

Speaking of quotes... I just remembered that I forgot to blog a funny quote from our friend the other weekend:

"My Bachelor Party was so lame, I drove myself home."

I don't know why, but every time we say this around the house it still makes me laugh.

Winnie The Pooh



This little guy has some of the best quotes:

If you live one hundred years, I want to live one hundred years minus one day, so I never have to live without you.

Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift, that's why it's called the present.

Things are always so much more grand and wonderful when your friends are there to share them.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Birthday Love!!

As I mentioned before, I enjoy birthdays very much! I had so much fun on mine, and I was showered with birthday love! Thank you!!

I started off my morning with a birthday breakfast from my department at work. At the office:


Then Hank came to pick me up, and we headed to Crossroads at The Carolina Inn for lunch.


I loved it!! I already can't wait to go back. I had The Carolina Inn Burger that I blogged about previously here. It was really great. When I asked the waiter for suggestions, he said, "Ohhh, The Carolina Inn Burger is da bomb." How could you not order it after that?


After work I came home to a lovely display complete with princess wrapping paper!!


We had my favorite Tuna Salad that I always blog about for birthday dinner... I may be obsessed. We had 3-2-1 Bay Breezes to drink:

3 Cups Pineapple Juice
2 Cups Coconut Rum
1 Cup Light Cranberry Juice


I forever love the BIRTHDAY SONG!! Especially when my friends and family call to sing it... So special!!


This is the last year I only need one pack of candles. You know you're getting old when...


My friend Maura sent me Eleni's from New York! They are "playfully unique cookies."


Too cute...


My fam gifted me this super cute vanity redesigned by my favorite lady at Furbish Studio:



Complete with owl knob (of course):



Here is my birthday Elaine O'Neil art from HANK!! He hung them so perfectly... My human calculator : ) I love coming upstairs to see this playful reminder of all that is beautiful at UNC.



Birthdays are all about celebrating your life, and I felt very birthday princess on mine : )

Tuesday, May 11, 2010