Tomato Pie and the life of a Modern Day Grandma

(via)

Last weekend I made a tomato pie and celebrated my 80th birthday. Jeff and I were about to go out of town, but had 4 tomatoes threatening to go bad while we were away. So, while flipping through Southern Living (and watching Golden Girls) I found this recipe and altered it to ingredients we already had. The result is below.

4 medium tomatoes, sliced

1 onion, sliced

1/2 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 cup light ranch

1/4 cup cilantro 

1 cup Gruyere

1/4 cup parmesan

Preheat oven to 350. (I omitted the pastry portion of the pie, but you can use homemade or store-bought, whatever your preference.)

Salt sliced tomatoes and place in bottom of dish (or pastry shell). Place sliced onions over tomatoes.

Stir together mayonnaise, ranch, cilantro and gruyere. 

Spread mayonnaise mixture over tomatoes and onions. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes and let cool 5 minutes before serving.

It resembles a healthy pizza and is perfect for summer days. There are many variations that are worth sampling. 

I promise my next post will be wildly irresponsible in hopes of maintaining an audience under 75. Wild.

life is a balancing act, thankfully.

Women need their financial independence. It gives a person confidence and security within themselves. Dependence is dangerous.  Thank you Cosmo radio. 

Traveling for work has many perks. I get to explore the East coast, meet new people and listen to XM radio in my rent car. This is my first work trip as I’m usually bound to my desk with endless emails and phone calls. This is a welcome change of scenery.

Back to Cosmo. I think this is a valuable point for the radioshow hosts to make, but, after championing the cause of women pursuing their careers over anything else, my opinion evolves.  Everyone needs a purpose.  Something beyond relationships, but not something that may merely pay for your lifestyle, it’s whatever it is inside that builds a sense of unique self.

(maybe it's camping in your personal library?) 

And while love is important and a career is important, balance is crucial. Balance helps give way to an overall purpose, a feeling of being needed. In my humble opinion, the most important thing for me is to have balance among many areas, not to “put all my eggs in one basket” so to say.

Sometimes (every-single-day), Jeff leaves hangers on the door handles in the bathroom. This bothers me. But, then I go meet my friends for happy hour and the hanger fiasco no longer matters. (And I’m less outraged when I bring it to his attention.)

With this balance, it’s easier to live and let go, while not getting caught up on little things, but allowing myself to enjoy the bigger picture. I’m a worrier and it’s been a challenge to not stress over small things, but this is the best solution I have found in my 25 years.

(or sailing?)

Of course, there are bigger items that I apply this to. But right now they’ve slipped my mind because I’m feeding my “writing” purpose.

The Playlist of Summer 2011

(via)

Summer always goes hand in hand with music. Pool parties, road trips, late nights, they all require the perfect soundtrack. 

Here's my take for Summer 2011:

Hello- Martin Solveig & Dragonette

Every playlist needs a dance.

Knee Deep- Zac Brown Band (feat. Jimmy Buffett)

The perfect summer anthem/attitude.

Everlasting Light- The Black Keys

Rock that means well.

Heaven- O.A.R.

"No direction" is a good summary of summer.

Silly Love Songs- Wings

From Moulin Rouge to Glee, I always love this song.

I Don't Feel Like Dancin'- Scissor Sisters

A song for saturday: morning, noon and night.

I Wanna Go- Britney Spears

I love Britney. I love Bravo. (and summer camp)

That Was Just A Dream- Cut Copy

A soundtrack to my daydream.

The Cave- Mumford & Sons

Best lyrics of the bunch.

Back to Bonnaroo

25 is shaping up. My new job is great (and time-consuming, hence my neglected blog), while Dallas is slowly growing on me. Last weekend I went to a music festival, Bonnaroo, in Manchester, TN. The music begins Thursday night and goes on until Sunday night. Exhausting. Jeff and I drove 12 hours through Texas, Arkansas and finally Tennessee to get there, and camp. Yes, you camp at the music festival. And you have to pay for private showers, an investment worth making. 

The heat was horrendous and I went home with a face so sunburn that it was swollen. And I wore sunscreen. The music plays all day, but the big shows start near midnight and last until 4 a.m., yes, 4 in the morning. However, I was so exhausted that I never had a problem sleeping in our tent. Arcade Fire, Mumford and Sons, The Black Keys and Walk the Moon were my highlights. Arcade Fire put on an amazing show and were just interesting to watch. Mumford and Sons sounded better live, which is a hard feat to pull off. The Black Keys were perfection, but didn't play the whole set, so I'm upset with them. And no one had heard of Walk the Moon, so we were able to stand right next to the stage! 

All in all, it was a great experience, but we are both on the fence as to whether we would ever do it again. I doubt it. From now on I will stick to Austin City Limits and enjoy going home every night, sleeping in a bed and taking a shower every morning. 

There was also Yoga every morning with coconut water and I will be forever grateful to Bonnaroo for getting my boyfriend on a yoga mat! Mission accomplished. (He wouldn't let me take a picture.)

live the questions

And the point is, to live everything. 

Live the questions now. 

Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.

-Ranier Maria Rilke, "Letters to a Young Poet"

Happy 25!

 While this is a rather scary birthday for me (quarter-life crisis), there are so many wonderful things going on.  I lack the words to describe the bittersweet feeling that kept me up all night, so I will countdown the thankful moments I'm sure of.

1. George, and every moment he is in.
2. My Family and their support.
3. My friends, they keep me smiling.
4. Birthday flowers sent to work, complete with a cheesy balloon.
5. Champagne toast last night at midnight.
6. Planning a surprise party for a dear friend.
7. Homemade macaroni and cheese, with truffle oil and chipotle tabasco (I'll post the recipe tomorrow)
8. Discussing wedding dresses for a friend's wedding, and sending endless e-mails with new ideas.
9. Bridal Shower Invites, love a good party.
10. Planning a friend book for someone's birthday, so they can be constantly reminded how many lives they've touched.
11. Passive aggressive behavior via facebook. It's hilarious.
12. Co-workers taking me to lunch.
13. My last day writing about politics!
14. The opportunity in starting my new job next week.
15. Surprise birthday dinner tonight!
16. Legally Blonde. It never gets old, although it was a little cheesier than I remembered.
17. Shellac manicure, my birthday present to myself.
18. Spa week facial tomorrow morning!
19. Taking the rest of the week off to do whatever I like.
20. Wine and cheese night with the girls tomorrow.
21. Mailing letters via snail mail.
22. My books arrived from Amazon! Just in time for vacation days.
23. Starting a new list of goals for this year.
24. Snickerdoodle cookies I made for the office. I get to eat a few and am not tempted to eat all two dozen.
25. Mad Men watch party.

Tomorrow dreams!

This is my dream for tomorrow, and it will get me through today! There will be cappuccino on a little table outside. I'll wear a dress, as always, and enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of a patio. If only I had an umbrella that delicately gorgeous.

Tomorrow, I'm taking a personal day. I have to use up my vacation before I start my new job, so I will be relaxing by the pool, strolling over to Starbucks and then hopefully cleaning up the apartment a bit.

Tonight I'm making cinnamon rolls to cook in the morning, and jump-start my mini-birthday vacation!

But, in the event that I actually live in the present moment for once, today includes drinks with friends, dollar days at Jimmy Johns and RHONY!

opportunity, please meet preparation

(weheartit)

It's official. The exciting news I briefly mentioned yesterday... I accepted a new job in Public Relations! I'm giddy with excitement. While my current job is great and the people are great, I'm growing a little tired of the politics world. So now I will be moving forward to handle the public relations for a restaurant! Food is much more my speed. Yum. 

The past couple months, preparationas I searched for jobs, were discouraging to say the least. It was one of those times where everything seems to be happening to everyone else. But I persevered with a bad attitude and finally found a new opportunity for me. 

Life needs a good does of healthy change every once in a while.

Happy Monday!

That is the first, and very probable last, time you will ever find me using "happy" to describe a Monday. But, with birthday month in full swing and the most fantastic news this morning, this is a very happy Monday.

The past three months were not the greatest and maybe it's this spring weather that has put this "spring" in my step. I promise never to do that again either, some puns are never punny. Ok, I'll put the coffee away.

Here are two fantastic products for this happy spring day:

Skin Renew Anti-Puff Roller
Garnier

While I was skeptical to try any of the Garnier skincare products, this was a pleasant surprise. The little rollerball is amazing, glides on smoothly and gives immediate results. It definitely reduces puffiness and refreshes the eye area. It's handy to carry in my purse and apply throughout the day, but the real magic happens when you leave it in the refrigerator.  As the temperature is steadily climbing down here in Texas, there's nothing quite as refreshing as a cooling little eye massage. Sounds weird, but it's awesome. Don't knock it till you try it.


Let There Be Light- Radiant Skin Lotion
Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden is a classic. The best facial I ever had was at the Red Door Spa and I easily recall my first purchase of the 8-hour cream. In line with the reputation, the radiant skin lotion is fantastic. The iridescent lotion creates a subtle glow. I mix it with my foundation, or wear it alone on top of moisturizer during the weekend. This is also a great summer product because it provides SPF coverage without the smell. The light consistency also allows for easy layering over moisturizer when skin is dry.

Birthday Month, Day 1: Buy every magazine of interest

It's birthday month! 

One day just isn't enough. There is too much pressure on a 24-hour period to be spectacular, so I celebrate the entire month. It's what I do and I think you should too. 

For the kickoff of birthday month I'm heading to the nearest Barnes & Noble to collect every April magazine on the shelves (within reasonable interest). I've always had a thing for magazines. They're like a vacation from reality, a power nap for the soul. Not to mention the undeniable wisdom in the horoscopes, and this month, the Aries paragraph will be twice as long! It's a treat, and much less fattening than cupcakes. 

win win movie review

I ventured out to see this movie last night (on a weeknight, crazy cats). It was a great movie. The characters were endearing, the situations were realistic and the off-beat comedy was perfectly balanced.

Paul Giamatti plays a lawyer struggling to keep his own practice afloat. When he claims to become the guardian of an elderly man solely to collect the pension, everything spins out of control, subtly. "Quiet comedy" describes the film accurately, and it is best for a relaxing weeknight out. There are no surprises in the plot and it's free of feel-good gimmicks. But, the writing is fantastic and keeps the audience listening for a bit of advice. Amy Ryan, of The Office fame, and Jeffrey Tambor, of Arrested Development, were pleasant surprises in their supporting roles.

Tuesday SXSW Tunes

Don't let me fool you. I did not attend SXSW this year. However, with the beauty of technology, I can pretend. After scouring reviews, watching videos and listening endlessly to various acts from the impressive lineup, I've correlated a list of my potential favorites. Just because I wasn't there, doesn't mean I can't pick a favorite or two. Poser? yes.

Walk the Moon- Anna Sun

It's love. The video made my day.

King Charles- Love Lust
"lust only grows like anger and revenge or beauty comes and goes but love stays until the end."

NewVillager- New Doors

Haunting, good beats, best for late night driving.

The Walkmen- I Lost You

Classic rock...eventually.
Gemini Club- Future Tidings

a dance/techno jam
Meiko- Boys With Girlfriends

I've been listening to Meiko for a while, good for rainy days and cooking adventures.

The Chain Gang of 1974- We at the Disco

A song for your goofy dance, or maybe that's just me.

Calvin Harris- I'm Not Alone

Interesting.

David Donero- South of the South
Amazing Songwriter, sounds similar to Bright Eyes.

Ellie Goulding- The Writer

A song for dreams and sparkels! First heard here.

bangles of inspiration

(via)

 These bracelets just stole my heart. They're like inside out Kate Spade bracelets. "Live your dreams" and "Miracles Happen" would be great daily reminders to wear around my wrist without the permanence of a tattoo.  

I love them and with all of the occasions (graduations, birthdays, weddings) coming up they would make such a special gift.

Twelve Commandments

Say what? There are ten commandments. True story, but this is in reference to The Happiness Project. In the book, she lists a personal twelve commandments by which she directs her life. The idea is interesting, and I think it's important to have little reminders of who you are, who you want to be and who you want to become. I think the personal twelve commandments idea helps harbor this motive. So, without further adieu, my twelve commandments, which are sure to be altered with time.

Enjoy the process.

Gracefully accept change.

Dream big.

Do not dwell in the past, but learn the lessons and move forward.

Stay active, whether through physical or mental exercise, keep moving.

Talk to strangers as I would a friend.

Hold off on complaints and listen.

Wear sunscreen.

Smile through adversity.

Focus on the ones I love or want to love.

Enjoy moments and be thankful for them.

Do good.

health news

I've tried a fair share of green juice/superfoods in my day, but this is by far the best tasting. I mix it with almond milk, add agave and cinnamon, and shake or stir till it's (mostly) dissolved. With low expectations for the chocolate flavor, I thought it tasted like a chocolate milkshake. If you are looking for a nutritious supplement, this is a great option. Not sure if it's giving me more energy, but it does curb my appetite and is very filling (hello, swimsuit season). 

Here's the product description:

One serving gives you the antioxidant equivalent of 7 servings of fruits and vegetables and helps you hit your daily quota. A full spectrum of alkalizing green super foods, antioxidant rich fruits, and support herbs unite with Acai and Maca to provide a powerful dose of whole food nutrition. Complete with pre and probiotics and digestive enzymes to ensure rapid nutrient absorption and healthy digestion. 



In other news, went to bodypump class for the first time a few days ago and was a little disappointed with the results. I wasn't sore. Now call me crazy, but this is a big deal to me because 
a) it means I got a great workout 
b)exercised new muscles and 
c) I don't have to work out the next day.  (rule of thumb)

So, I might go again and add cardio, but after an hour class that's a tall order for my attention span. Or I will just stick to hot yoga, which is love.

Tracy Anderson has videos on youtube that I might start doing in the comfort of my own living room. I did a few of the exercises at work (don't judge me, it was during my lunch break and I was tired of sitting) and was sore the next day. Results. I like that.

Making Monday Beautiful

Beauty Flash Balm

Clarins

This is a miracle worker. I wasn't sure what to expect at first. It sounded like an upcoming disappointment with the advertised claim: "An exceptional beauty booster which immediately eliminates all signs of fatigue: facial features appear rested and smooth." But, fear not, it's truly fantastic. The primer goes on smooth without clogging pores, preps skin flawlessly and lasts well into the night. And after a dull Monday, the mask leaves my skin glowing.

Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup
Dior

This is my favorite foundation. It's hydrating, provides full coverage and doesn't feel caked-on. I'm not a foundation everyday type person, so when I wear foundation I want it to cover up all my little freckles and spots. This feels like a tinted moisturizer, but with full-coverage. It leaves a glow and is the closest to an air-brush finish that I've come across.

Complex 15 Therapeutic Moisturizing Face Cream

Now this is fantastic. With spring/summer upon us, and me nursing my first sunburn (thank you six flags), moisturizer is on the brain...face? My skin is not nearly as dry in the summer, and so I'm always searching for a basic, light moisturizer. Complex 15 is perfect for this. It's moisturizing, but goes on light, allowing me to layer on sunscreen or foundation. It easily compares to Dermalogica's Active Moist, but is under $10. Steal. I've only ordered it online, so not sure where else you would purchase it, but at this price it's worth a try.

Why is it hard to write a personal statement?

After a whirlwind weekend, I've come across a revelation. There are a lot of negative moments surrounding my life and I constantly feel them pulling me down. I try to dispel them with positive thoughts or distract myself with reality television (RHOC is on tonight!), but these are obviously not enduring.  What then? For the past two years my life feels like failure after failure. I've applied to a graduate school program and hundreds of jobs in hopes that either option would create more fulfillment in my life, but nothing has worked out just yet. And then, this quote:

 "Research shows that the more elements make up your identity, the less threatening it is when any one element is threatened." - The Happiness Project (Rubin 78)

Elements will be threatened. That's life. But my entire identity for the past 20 years has always been based in school, work or internships. That was a constant. And these elements are threatened. I'm no longer in school, so that's out for now and I'm not happy with my job, which is 70 percent of every weekday. So, no wonder I feel defeated on a daily basis. There's nothing helping my identity along during these challenging times, or encouraging me through each failure. I have wonderful friends, a perfect dog and a beyond understanding boyfriend, but my own identity is lacking. 

All this to say, I need more elements, something to build an identity around, get me through failures as I take chances. My life needs challenge and accomplishment. 

forgot to wear green. not too worried about it.

Today is St. Paddy's Day!
Tomorrow is Friday!
The next day is Six Flags!

Pretty good line-up ahead of me. In recent news, I've decided to try BodyPump classes. Anyone? I'm a little nervous about my survival rate during this hour-long intense exercise, but it will help me with my new goal: a six-pack. Want one. Swimsuit season is scaring me, so here's to hoping this calms the fears a bit.

In other news, merely two months after I died my hair brown, blonde is calling my name. This is sure to only become more pressing as summer approaches. Why do I do this? My indecisiveness is being obnoxious on purpose.

Cloudy Weather Music

Till the World Ends- Britney Spears

Love when Britney gets it right!

I want to dance till the world ends.

The Call- Regina Spektor
Great lyrics, perfect voice.
Mushaboom-  Feist
"Watching the fire as we grow.."

Each Coming Night- Iron and Wine
As close to a grownup lullaby as they come. goodnight.

Don't you Want to Share the Guilt- Kate Nash

The breakdown near the end is rewind-worthy.
Trouble- Coldplay

Perfect Rainy Day/Driving song.

I Know I Know I Know- Tegan and Sara

"This love isn't good unless it's me and you."
Roll Away Your Stone- Mumford And Sons

The whole CD is beautiful: lyrics, music, voice.
Wild World- Cat Stevens

It's a wild world.

Pocketful of Sunshine- Natasha Bedingfield

Easy A nailed my feelings for this song exactly.

And I'm doing this later. Join me.

blogger book club

The Happiness Project. This book is everywhere. 

The concept of creating your own happiness intrigues me and the author flushes out the idea of acting how you want to feel. There is a lot to be said for finding joy in the little things and keeping a negative attitude in check. Anyway, I think the book presents an interesting idea and I will share my thoughts here as I read.

A few of my friends are going to read it with me, and I'd love for anyone else to join the discussion!

Self Portrait

It doesn't interest me if there is one God
Or many gods.
I want to know if you belong -- or feel abandoned;
If you know despair
Or can see it in others.
I want to know
If you are prepared to live in the world
With its harsh need to change you;
If you can look back with firm eyes
Saying "this is where I stand."
I want to know if you know how to melt
Into that fierce heat of living
Falling toward the center of your longing.
I want to know if you are willing
To live day by day
With the consequence of love
And the bitter unwanted passion
Of your sure defeat.
I have been told
In that fierce embrace
Even the gods
Speak of God.
 
~ David Whyte ~

If you risk nothing, then you risk everything. 

-Geena Davis

power of thought

Hoping for wonderful things today. And hoping those thoughts produce positive outcomes. I have many opportunities and it's easy to forget when the daily stresses are weighing at you in every direction. Things always turn out well and the rain always brings a rainbow. 

Cheesy? yes. Lovely at the same time? yes.

never settle for anything less than butterflies

(via)

There are two responses to listening: advice and agreement. That’s my personal diagnosis and I would like to use the disclaimer that I have no idea what I’m talking about. In my personal experience, people will either agree with you or give you advice. There is a time and place for both, but more often I’ve found it’s a matter of personal preference. Listening is one of the most crucial activities in any relationship with friends, family, co-workers, etc. It either opens the door for more discussion or slams it shut. 


A close friend of mine has said that she likes when people just allow her to vent without giving advice. This directly stems (she says) from her parents consistently giving advice every time she approaches them with a problem. 


I am the exact opposite. I want an action plan. I want someone to tell me exactly what to do with specifics on how to remedy my dilemma. This could be a result of my parents hesitating a bit with advice. I’ve always had elaborate plans for everything, down to which order I need to run my errands (ridiculous) and I would imagine there was rarely room for advice. But when things crumble and I fall, I need someone to tell me where the stairs are to get back up. I guess I could just "PLAN BETTER," but let's separate ourselves from #teamsheen for a moment.


One summer when I was in New York for an internship, a fellow intern humored me by listening to some drawn out dilemma. I asked what I should do and the reply was: “You already know what you want to do.” This has stuck with me through every obstacle I’ve faced since. No one knows you more than yourself, and the options have been selectively weighed in your mind. That statement does both, it agrees with advice, and I think that’s the best thing to say.


How do you listen?

sometimes your words just hypnotize me

What day has the best happy hour specials? Tuesday. Welcome Tuesday! Here's a lovely little playlist for the rest of your workday/school-day or the drive home (to freedom). 

Heads Will Roll- Yeah Yeah Yeahs

22- Lily Allen

Laughing With- Regina Spektor

Marchin On- OneRepublic

Ain't No Sunshine- Bill Withers

Such Great Heights- The Postal Service

Don't Panic- Coldplay

Mr. Pitiful- Matt Costa

Ready for the Floor- Lissy Trullie

Colorblind- Counting Crows

Naive- The Kooks

Foundations- Kate Nash

And I was a terrible picture take, as per usual, so here's a little glimpse of the Garden District in New Orleans while we wait for a parade.

product, product, happy tea!

Good Monday to you! Hope you had a fabulous weekend that will get you through the work week. Last week there were no products, but this week there are three! Lucky ducks.

The Good

Volume Spray 25

Kenra

Most fantastic hairspray to ever grace my thin baby hair with its presence. It smells good, gives your hair volume and hold, with the love only a hairspray can give. My indecisive nature often comes into play, and this wonder-can allows for recreation without creating sticky starch hair. Love.

The Bad

Definity Intense Hydrating Cream

Olay

As the temperature dropped, my skin slowly required more and more moisturizer. After reading some rave reviews about this Olay Definity Moisturizer, I picked some up at Ulta with decent expectations. But this was a disappointment from the beginning. The consistency lacks any creamy nature. It is water-like and not at all "intensely hydrating," as it claims. This may be better for the summer, but I was not satisfied, and, after a couple months, there was no change in skin tone.

And then if you're ever having a bad day, because it's a Monday perhaps, drink this:

Woman's Energy

Yogi Tea

Works every time. But make sure honey is added.

It's magic tea: turns that frown upside down.

Weekend Trip to Nawlins

Happy Weekend! 

I'm headed to New Orleans with a group of friends from college! New Orleans is different every time I go and that constant evolution makes for an interesting and enjoyable experience each time. Last year I went with a friend for a relaxing girls' weekend, and it was fabulous.

 Hopefully this trip includes:

a relaxing escape from the real world 

a hurricane or two

laughter with friends

Cafe au lait at Cafe Du Monde

browsing through the French Quarter

Gumbo or Po' Boy

street performers

live jazz

Hot Off the Press, in low viscosity rayon

(viThis morning the Today Show was on in the background as I chose an outfit in which I would attack the day. Then, following a brief update on New Zealand, a story began on the Lilo saga. Apparently she’s going back to jail for stealing a necklace and you’d think the story would end there and preferably on E! News. 

Lohan is either in jail, rehab or the club, not a huge surprise these days. But, for the Today Show, this is a breaking story that deserves our undivided attention. I listened as the report recounted every detail of her outfit, compared the ensemble t to her previous courtroom outfits, and then surveyed her jailhouse possibilities. Why? 

I don’t know and was immediately offended that this was the story that made the air. Out of 7 continents and 192 countries filled with possible stories from the previous day, we are discussing Lilo’s v-neck and pant option for her court appearance, which will likely result in jail.

It’s probably a matter of ratings. The American public wants to watch that, like a train wreck. Maybe it’s because the news is softer, fluffier and everyone is familiar with the main character (albeit tired of her). There’s little, if any, controversy and the opinions are linear. I don’t know, but I think it’s unfortunate.

Obviously I enjoy fluff and subscribe to a fair amount of fashion/celebrity magazines, but in the appropriate format and prefer fluff topics that are not yet exhausted. Grain of salt.

pay it forward

A stranger paid for my coffee this morning. Have you ever had a morning that just set a magical tone for the rest of the day? This was one of those mornings. Every moment aligned into a picture.  I woke up, fully rested before my alarm went off, and left early for work with George, who was all set for a day at Doggie Day Camp.

The employees at PetSmart all greeted George by name and he wagged his little body into the play area. I love him. Ok, no more George tangents.

As I take my exit for work, the split decision is made to pick up a misto and muffin at Starbucks.  Roughly 500 cars were in the drive-thru, but I had my satellite radio readily entertaining me so I joined the masses in line. Then, the most magical thing of all happened. I pull up to the window to pay for my goodies and the driver in front of me had already paid my bill! A stranger had picked up the tab, without even a honk.
“What?” I questioned as the barista explained the good deed once more.

I was stunned and pleasantly surprised by the kindness of a stranger. It’s as if Dallas were trying to prove me wrong, claiming, “See how great we are? You just need to be open to it.”

Then the Barista asked if I wanted to pay for the person behind me, and so I did. Pay it forward was happening in real time, and who knows how long the good deeds went on. I like to think it lasted all morning.

Recipe for a Perfect Night

Yoga on Netflix

+

Glass of Wine

+

Face Mask

(Amazing at home recipe: Mix 1 tbl sugar with 3 tbl honey and apply to face, 10-15 minutes, miracle!)

+ 

Salad (which justifies chocolate chip cookies for dessert)

+ new episode of Glee

=

Perfect, Relaxing Night

Tuesday Tunes, hollaback

~This week is a little more indie. 

Enjoy and if you have an addition, 

I'd love to hear it~

Rolling in the Deep- Adele 

 Beautiful, powerful, I love her.

Time to Pretend- MGMT

Take me back to college, please.

Gimme Shelter- Rolling Stones

Classic Rock always gives the day a little more edge.

E.T.- Katy Perry (feat. Kanye West)

Love this before it's overplayed on the radio.

Your Song- Elton John

Warm and Fuzzy.

We Used to Wait- Arcade Fire

They won a Grammy for a reason, and it's about time.

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien- Edith Piaf

Pretend you're French and belt it out with no regrets, ehem.

World At Large- Modest Mouse

They are so quirky and great.

I'm in Here- Sia

A bit haunting,but wonderful.

Forget You- Cee Lo Green

Anything that's good enough for Gwyneth is good enough for me. 

(Although the unedited version is a bit more empowering.)

15 step- Radiohead

Refresh your Radiohead love. Namaste

Good Morning, Monday.

I will tell you something about stories. They aren't just entertainment. They are all we have to fight off illness and death. You don't have anything if you don't have stories.
-Leslie Marmon Silko

drink wine day

 Today is...

National Drink Wine Day

My recommendation: 

Cupcake Red Velvet

I sampled it at a wine tasting for Valentine's day, it's delish.

Last night I had the strangest and most vivid dream. The people, conversations and situations were so real that I sat in bed thinking about everything that had just transpired for part of the night. Does it mean something? Dreams are never fully understood, but their mysterious messages always leave me contemplating the possibilities. The decisions are mine and the ideas are mine, but where did that combination come from? Either way, I love the rare occasions when I remember my dreams.

Happy Friday!

oh hey there dream world!

And this is what life is like in my dreams: Strolling the streets of New York City, newspaper in hand, with the perfect dress that both flatters and indulges my inner girly girl.

Reality:

Newspapers (in paper form) continue to dwindle.

Hats look terrible on me.

I live in Dallas and rarely stroll without George dragging me.

But I always find the perfect dress.

inspiration

I am only one,

But still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something;

And because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

       - Edward Everett Hale

Tuesday Tunes

This week is dragging on a bit. Here's some music to either jump-start your day or keep you going.

Fancy- Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz
Because we're fancy. (And I love Drake)
The Show Goes On- Lupe Fiasco
Perfect drive to work/school/errands beat. Just get it done.
Dancing With Myself-Glee Cast
This song puts a smile on my face instantly. Every time.
Revofev- Kid Cudi
"No need to stress."
Dirt off Your Shoulder- Jay-Z
Classic.
Rhiannon- Fleetwood Mac
Will you ever win?
Show Me Love- Robyn
Please take me back to 6th Grade.
Firework- Katy Perry
A song for the Happy Dance.
Silly Love Songs- Glee Cast
Bringing back memories of the Moulin Rouge Soundtrack.
Here Comes the Sun- The Beatles
Because every playlist needs a little Beatles.

product, product, product (valentine's day edition)

Happy Valentine's Day! Hopefully you've found something fabulous for tonight, like manicures and cocktails at the W Hotel or a night in with a special valentine. Jeff and I are cooking some fancy schmancy dinner at home which should be delicious.

Product, Product, Product will be my first weekly installment on this ol' blog and hopefully there will be more to come, organize the madness a bit. So without further ado...

The Good News:

Chanel 

Rogue Coco Lipstick in Rivoli

Simply put, this is a tube of statement.  After realizing no amount of bronzer was going to conceal my paleness without leaving a Jersey Shore impression, I turned to lipstick. The right color dresses up the whole face and this packs a punch.  While the price tag is a bit hefty, it's worth it. While I've always been a lipgloss girl, which is pretty basic and fool-proof, lipstick is a bit more technical. I quickly realized the quality difference in drugstore and department store lip color. This is moisturizing, doesn't smear all over my face and withstands a night on the town.

The Bad News:

Revlon 

Matte Lipstick in Strawberry Suede

As my initial lipstick adventure, this led me astray. Maybe I was too inexperienced for such a bright statement, but it was not user-friendly. The Strawberry Suede is no longer available on the website, and so perhaps the bright coral pink I encountered is being reconfigured. The color is fun, fabulous and girly, but the results were embarrassing. It did last for a good part of the day, but the color was easily transferred to the rest of my face. Many reviews have been written highly recommending this lipstick shade specifically, but I was disappointed.  

sweet valentines

This morning I received this sweet little notice from Kate Spade. The rest of my day has been spent sending each of my favorite people valentines (without hunting down stamps!).

Don't you just love Thursday?

age ain't nothin' but a number

Flipping through a fluff piece on celebrities turning 25 this year, I feel vaguely unaccomplished. In April, I will be 25. That’s hard to type. It seems so old and established. Meghan Fox is turning 25. Meanwhile, I look 12.

And while sometimes I wish there was a little more sophistication to my baby face, there’s more to it than that. There are so many things that I anticipated for 25 when planning out each breath of my life. But, here I am, holding on through a recession that is readily compared to history’s Great Depression. Who would have imagined that?

 Last night, I had dinner with a few dear friends. We are all in similar positions, wanting a more fulfilling career, but subjected to the economy’s harsh realities. We daydreamed about what type of business we would start before our thoughts faded as we slowly rendered the ideas useless. As I drove home, my dismal attitude struck me. This is it. There’s no use constantly shooting down daydreams. Daydreams are important, if only for the dream.

I realized how much there is to be thankful for and how important it is to not get bogged down with life’s obstacles, because that’s all this is: a little obstacle of life. Maybe 25 is that final hurdle, and once I reach it, all of these windows will begin to open up, big bay windows with window seats and bookshelves! There was a fire in the fireplace this morning as I got ready for work. And that was beautiful.

teach me how to snuggie

This past weekend some friends and I participated in a Snuggie Pub Crawl through Uptown Dallas. It was a bit ridiculous. Most people were trying to celebrate Super Bowl weekend, but we had bigger plans. The stares were priceless, but I promise there were a respectable number of us bar hopping snuggie-wearers. And please take note of my blue tie-dye snuggie! Who knew they were so fashionable? (They also have pockets now.)

product, product, product

One of my lifelong obsessions is products. I love them. The beauty aisles call to me. Even when I was younger my mom would have to tear me away from the makeup/skincare/haircare aisles every time she took me grocery shopping.

All this to say, I have acquired an embarrassing amount of personal knowledge when it comes to any type of beauty products. In attempts to justify my purchases and countless hours reading reviews, I will begin showcasing the biggest hits and the most disappointing misses.

Bad News:

Clinique 

Self Sun Face Tinted Lotion

My paleness is leaving me desperate for color, and while I would like to be tan, I would like for it to come without skin cancer. Enter a sunless tanner specifically designed for the face. Clinique maintains a solid reputation for quality. The brand has an extensive skincare line and I've always been completely satisfied with any Clinique foundation. So when shopping for a good, non-orange self-tanner to brighten up my ghost-face, this seemed like an obvious choice. The instant bronzer leaves a fool-proof, even application and the color is natural and glowy. But, the magic ends there. Every time I use this, my face breaks out. Every. time. My skin is not problem-skin, but this definitely irritates something in my pores. Use sparingly. We are in the dead of winter and desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

Good News:

M.D. Forte 

Facial Cleanser II

After over a month of consistent use, my (pale) skin is able to go out in public without foundation. When my dermatologist recommended it to me I was skeptical, mostly because it was available for purchase in his office. However, the results left me pleasantly surprised. The soap- and fragrance-free cleanser is extremely gentle, removes makeup, and, thanks to the glycolic acid, it has evened out my skin tone.

What are your favorite beauty products?

lost

"Adopt the pace of nature: 

her secret is patience."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes a conflict erupts and leaves me feeling lost. Lost in what it all means. Lost in where the fight leaves us. We didn't say terrible things, or utter a mention of any permanent consequences, but the feeling is hard to shake. It's a process of patience, and probably maturity, simultaneously. But those moments of patience, where I wait for things to make sense again, are confusing. What does it mean? What is right? Where is my guidebook to life? Then, as I think of what can be done, the answer comes to me. There is nothing I can say/do/think that would be right. It just takes patience. And the patience brings peace, and in the moment a hot bath and Vogue will do the same.




Because when real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep walking. -Sex and the City

Snowcation 2011

The past two days have brought quite an unexpected interruption to the regular schedule and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It was nice to wake up early and not have anywhere to be, to relax and let the day happen.  My daily routine has become increasingly mundane, which makes me uncomfortably restless. I always felt this way in college, when I thought that school was keeping me away from the “real world.” Surprise, the real world is rather boring.

But is it my fault for making it boring? So much of life seems to entail patience, which I’ve never been good at. There are little moments that make up a life and each opportunity has the possiblity to breed more opportunity. And maybe it’s about not losing hope in the possibilities, not giving up by accepting the routine. Maybe the search is what keeps life interesting. To keep searching is to keep living. 

"It will normally happen over time. And it's the getting there which has been the most fun. You've got to be patient and enjoy, as I said before, the process of getting there. Because I promise you, it's a lot more fun than being there." -Simon Cowell, on Master Class

My little moments of escape:

Enjoyed migas for breakfast, both mornings.

Drank french press coffee.

Read.

Listened to Enya and Iron and Wine.

Made Ina's Mexican Chicken Soup.

Baked Brownies (without eggs, because they were used in the migas), with chocolate icing.

Watched Master Class on OWN, which I thoroughly recommend.

Worked out.

Wrote a couple articles (worked from home).

Spent both days with my loves, Jeff and George.