Sunday Morning/ Pre-Vacation

I'm having some early Sunday morning quiet time before church and trying to prep for vacation. Friday we are off to Beaver Creek in CO for my cousin's wedding and then Vegas before we head home.  I'm super excited as this is our only big trip for the year  but does anyone run into pre-vacation stress? It is real! The house is a small disaster in our high traffic areas, organizing pet sitters, library trips, trying to pack and make sure everything is taken care of before we go so we don't come back and are miserable...I'm hoping big lists will help! If you could tell me why I thought it would be a great idea to go through refinancing our home right now I'd be grateful.  

I'm hoping that a great sermon today at Revolution, lots of coffee and a pedicure this evening with The Housewife will smooth everything out.  Matt is off pretty early today for a weekend so I'm sure we will have some quality time tonight too.  

• In other news...I'm really enjoying a blonde moment in my life.  I really have bumped up the brightness in this mane for a much needed hair change.  I'm really feeling it. 
• I read this book but it was just okay....but have this and "Girl on the Train" coming from the library today. 
• The Housewife has me addicted to Podcasts and I seriously enjoyed some back episodes of Call Your Girlfriend while I was in the office for a bit yesterday catching up on some items. 
• The JCrew sale did not hurt my feelings the last few weeks.  I'm having a moment with basics lately.  The sale is good people - this comes from a girl that normally buys all her J. Crew on Ebay.  I have the following en route to my house: 

J.Crew Amalia High Heel Sandals

J.Crew Boy Shirt in Tidewater

Little Things for Monday

Mostly this weekend I was thankful for time at home, for having a home to decorate for Christmas, the simple pleasures of book, my sweet dogs, laughing with Matt. Here are a few things that caught my eye -- we will go with some pretty light fare for Monday after a holiday weekend. 

I found a link to the cutest video -- and I don't even really like videos.  However, the New York Times treated some second graders to a tasting menu at a Michelin star restaurant and I got really sucked in.  It's long -- but worth the time. 

I don't know why I am seemingly obsessed with the color red lately but these pants are in my head and they won't leave...

JCrew Tailored Wool Pant

The wedding is close. Less than two weeks.  (!!!!!!)  When I start to get worried about small details I want this to be my mantra: 

See -- short and sweet.  I've got 5% battery power and my charger is so far away I'm not getting up to drag it over. 

Happy Monday! 

~the engaged gal~

{saturday}

happy weekend, everyone! 

i am not sure about you but The Housewife and I have a busy schedule this weekend.  little sister is in town -- small family cookout is planned for this afternoon.  it's a bit busy to get ready for after our 8 miles and i also have a baby shower to go to with 3 putt later as well.  if you need me this weekend i'll be wrapping gifts, running, cleaning the house, catching up with family and celebrating life with friends.  hoping to squeeze in brunch with Elise before i leave and finish my ikea shelf...but i'm probably dreaming if i really think i can get all that done! 

meanwhile...some quotable quotes and thoughts for your weekend.  (read: things i just like!)

Truth!

love you. mean it. 

~the single gal~

Friday Words. Happy Weekends.

I wanted to do a quick post on a quote that I saw on Tumblr this morning.  I've been trying so hard lately to focus on life and all the great things in front of me, but it's hard for my type A personality to ignore all the other things that need to happen to make sure life is "in order" -- chores, bills, budgets, is the house clean enough, am I working enough and hard enough, not being ok with a day off from the gym and feeling guilt over doing something else.  But the words below were refreshing.  

I want to spend less energy trying to make sure the floors are mopped every two weeks and vacuuming twice a week and working through my lunch several days a week.  Obviously I have responsibilities and that's OK.  But I want to embrace surprise dinners and pop over to The Housewife's more to watch #1 paint dinosaurs and not guilt myself over the calories in two glasses of wine or a bowl of cheese dip or how I look in my swimsuit. 

“I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does. It doesn’t come in an envelope. It’s ushered in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird, or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen. It’s the invitation to actually live, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day. Nobody turns down an invitation the White House, but I’ve seen plenty of people turn down an invitation to fully live…”

Bob Goff

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Thanks to all our men and women serving our country right now and all those that have served in the past.  We can celebrate by truly living this weekend. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

"Important Things to Remember"

Part of me doesn't even know what to write about after our nation had such a super sad Friday.  In light of a devastating tragedy I know a lot of people have a lot to say about things like gun control, politics, mental illness, etc.  but I think that it's most important to just think of those families that have experienced a terrible and awful loss rather than to pay so much attention to the individual that committed the act itself.  My heart worries a lot about the media inadvertently glorifying these people.

I saw this quote on Friday and I think it really sums up a lot for me. 

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”

—	Mister Rogers, in his book The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember

So today I am going to hug my loved ones and pray for others as I continue to get ready for Christmas.  

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

How is it that 2012 flew by so fast?

~the single gal~

Cozy Saturday

I'm incredibly sad to report that while all my friends are in the mountains for a wine tasting free-for all this weekend for my friend's 30th birthday I am stuck here at home.  I can't seem to shake this horrible head cold.  It's not the worst I have ever had regarding the runny nose/sore throat -- but the headaches and the exhaustion are definitely there.  After taking it easy all week I expected to feel a lot better. I'm also staying home in my already mentioned paranoia in which I am terribly afraid to be sick for Thanksgiving and my NYC trip.  I must get better. 

So...with that said, Hogan and I are trying to get extra cozy this weekend. 

A few necessities:

Lots of fluids.  Lots of hot tea and water with lemon! 

Time for copious amounts of reading.  And when I'm over that, I have plenty of DVR. 

"You've Got Mail"

Let's not forget the value of that movie you've seen a thousand times already that they are playing on TV.  You can take your sickly nap and wake up finding you haven't missed anything as a result.  You've Got Mail was on last night and I adore this movie so much!  I especially adore Tom Hanks in anything.  I just love the end when she says, "I wanted it to be you.  I wanted it to be you so badly." 

Now if I can find the energy to do some laundry so I won't feel like today was completely wasted. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions: Closure

Y'all I actually took like 2 hours on Friday night to catch up on some DVR! I am one of those people that records all their favorite shows and then waits like a year to finally get through a season.  I think I had "Burn Notice" Episodes from summer of 2011 that I just started watching in May.  But I'm not here to obsess over "Burn Notice".  

I am here to obsess over Brenda Lee Johnson -- The Closer. 

I finally finished the series finale on Friday night.  I had about 4 episodes to catch up on.  This show is SO good, y'all.  I started watching it years ago when I graduated from college and was living with my parents.  I think I even had a season I missed that I need to go back and watch, but still -- great, great stuff here.  If you are looking for something to delve into on Netflix download every episode you can!  Brenda Lee and all of the other characters in the supporting cast are all quirky and lovable in their own right -- even her parents.  They investigate some intense stuff.  And I don't usually like crime shows.  I was really sad to see this one go -- or close, if you will.  

So, I've "closed".   And it made me think a lot about closure in general.  I'm trying get out of town, relax at the beach and come back with a better outlook on life. I'm attempting to give myself a "mourning" deadline.  It may work.  It may not.  I know at the end of the day, you feel how you feel.  And while some days I do a great job of staying busy there are some things I am still having a really hard time with.  I want to make a better effort at letting go of it all.  

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Tuesday Thoughts

Things on my mind this week: 

“If you expect honesty, be honest. If you expect forgiveness, forgive. If you expect a whole person, you have to be a whole person.”
― Kristen Crockett, The Gift of Past Relationships

Happy Tuesday! I am off to The Spence tonight for Atlanta Supper Club! 

{more on all that to come!}

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

For Sunday...

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Paradise

I hope they aren't running computer reports today at work, because I never blog at work but I am today. But if anyone asks, it took me less than 5 minutes, I'm on my lunchbreak, and it's nothing offensive.

I found this quote today and I think it may be the sweetest thing I've ever seen, and if I were ever to get married, I would be happy forever if my husband said this about me.

"This morning, with her, having coffee."

~Johnny Cash, when asked for his definition of paradise.~

Love you. Mean it.

~the single gal~

What Happens In Punta Cana...Stays in Punta Cana*

I thought this week would never arrive!! Wednesday this Single Gal is leaving to spend 4 nights and 5 days in tropical paradise.  All drinks included. All food included.   Fun also included. 

Hopefully I will just have to sit by the pool and glance at a cabana boy who will automatically know exactly what I want and bring it to me as soon as humanly possible.  I can't wait to be on an airplane with Little A for our big trip for R&R. I am in desperate need of this vacation. It is starting to make me physically sick to listen to my phone ring incessantly at work and then come home to a giant "to do" list.   The only thing on the "to do" list this week involves having a pina colada for breakfast. 

Note to self. Stay away from the casino. 

Anyway, in honor of my trip I thought I'd do a small montage of my some photos that should make you sufficiently jealous and some words of wisdom from Kenny (F*ing) Powers and The Hangover (if you make it down to the asterisk).

 "Once again I'm with the hottest chick in town, buyin' the most expensive fashions, dinin' in the fanciest food places, riding around on goddamn jet skis. Rainin' trim. Hallucinogens. Jet skis again. Throwin' heat. And getting laid."

-Kenny Powers

*"Except for herpes. That shit'll come back with you."

-love you. mean it.

the single gal