Hey...It's OK

To cancel a visit to Grandmother's when she starts acting cray. 

To hold on to good memories. 

To listen to Miranda Lambert's "More Like Her" on serious repeat. 

To be insanely excited for the start of college football. 

To have an absolute fit over the fact that your Lilly Pulitzer order placed last week STILL hasn't shipped. 

To laugh out loud at every single Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercial. 

To be excited about long runs yet simultaneously complain about them. 

To be pissed 2012 will pass without a trip to Vegas. 

To take a moment and absorb yet another emotional kick in gut.  And to not quite be over it yet. 

To throw your hands up at any talk of politics.  

To eat more pizza than your guy friends at dinner. {oops.}

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Bump Update: 27 Weeks

I'll cue the embarrassing pictures in a moment. While I don't think I'm incredibly huge I think strangers are giving me a complex. I want a t-shirt that says, "my bump is not an invitation for you to talk to me."  It makes me feel really good when I hear, "Oh, you've got a ways to go still." Then I fess up to having twins and proceed to tell Turtle while we are out shopping that he should not be concerned when I move my due date to October. I have 10 to 11 weeks left at the most. It doesn't seem like " a ways to go," especially when anything can happen. These girls could be here at 36 weeks....I don't have a crystal ball.   I can't predict if my blood pressure will stay down or if both babies will continue to grow at rates the doctors are pleased with at that stage.

these are unedited so pardon if color etc look off

Weight gained? 27 lbs (what...I like brownies.....a lot right now...with ice cream)
Miss anything? my waistline
Cravings? sweets and more sweets. but I'm trying to control myself.


Nursery you ask? Um........definitely not finished by any means. The major stuff is done and we are waiting to pick up some cribs from a friend who's twins are done with them. So it's an empty room. Turtle can start getting down some of #1's old clothes so we can wash and take inventory and get the swing/bouncy chair out. Don't worry, it won't take much to get it done. It's really low key but I'll be sure to do a full post on it when it's finished. 

Monday Obsessions: The Perfect Blouse

Happy Monday, friends! I was racking my brain to think of something for this post all night and then I started to drift into online shopping mode and I realized that I had something after all.  I was able to snag a Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Pintuck Blouse a few weeks ago on RueLaLa.  And now that I have it I really just want to wear it every day.  {We won't talk about how I already have to take my white blouse to the cleaners and beg my lady to see if see can get NARS Dragon Girl (!!!!) velvet matte lip pencil out of it. FML.}

I want one in every color.  I take that back. I need  one in every color.  I tuck it in skirts and I love it.  I wear it with jeans and I love it that way, too.  I want to wear them all winter and throw different chunky cardigans over them.  Or wear them with shorts in the springtime.  

Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Pintuck Blouse

The one I purchased was white.  But they come in all different colors and even gorgeous Lilly prints.  They are pretty true to size but may be a little on the small side -- I wear a medium.  Y'all don't make fun of me because in my mind I look just like this girl when I throw mine on with my messy bun {don't kill the dream people}.  All she needs is Kendra Scott earrings to look like me. 

I am probably going to cave and get another soon.  But seriously it's one of the best basic blouses I have found.  And if you stalk RueLaLa and learn to speed shop and throw one in your bag as soon as the sale opens, they are very reasonably priced.  The plain ones run about $138 not on sale.  Kinda steep...I know.   But Lilly always has great sales so stalk, stalk, stalk!!! 

What are you guys obsessed with this week? I'm tired of hearing myself talk. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Good Dip = Popularity at Parties. Prep for Labor Day with the Single Gal.

Happy Saturday!  I  seriously can't believe it is almost time for football season and fall weather! Where has summer gone?! The Housewife and I will be drawing our SEC battle lines by next week.  My 1/2 Marathon will be here sooner rather than later {which means I should probably register for it instead of spending my money on Lilly sale items}.   It's clear I need to get organized.  

Since football season will be here and Labor Day weekend is always full of  invites for cookouts and parties I wanted to share a recipe with you that I got from my cousin that is a serious crowd pleaser. She brings this fabulous black bean, corn, and feta dip to tailgates and any other occasion and the best part -- it takes like 10 minutes to make.  Actually, I make it a lot at my house to just eat over the weekend.  All for me.  I don't even take it anywhere.  

Black Bean, Corn, and Feta Dip

*note, photo not mine. this stuff is so good I eat it all before I can think of taking a food picture.*

1 can of black beans, drained & rinsed

1 can of white corn, drained & rinsed

1 6 oz package of feta cheese, crumbled

4 scallions, chopped

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup olive oil

pinch of sugar

directions: chop scallions, mix with black beans, corn, and feta. whisk together vinegar, olive oil, and sugar. pour over ingredients. toss. chill and serve with tortilla chips. 

*side note, if you don't dig onions lose the scallions.  i have made it both ways due to laziness and it still tastes perfect to me. also, i prefer blue corn Tostitos for the dipping.



Go forth and be popular at your parties and tailgates. Trust me.

Love you. Mean it.
~the single gal~

I've been debating a lot about this post.  Tactically speaking I love to use humor to displace my sometimes uncomfortable Single Gal situations, conversations, and just plain awkwardly painful encounters with the general public.  But really, the last two months have kind of been shit.  And I know that when I write this post I'm not the only one who has been here.  I get it.  But at the urging of The Housewife you get a post that may very well bare a good portion of my soul.  But seriously if you read it don't accost me about the post in Target or at dinner for God's sake. Let's just keep it in the inter webs for now.  Between inter web friends.

One of the greatest things about being 29 and staring at another failed relationship that you spent almost two years on-- that same relationship that maybe was never really a relationship or it was which is still up for debate -- is that since you are no longer in high school where your life really did consist of long phone calls with your loved one, notes in lockers, and making out in move theaters the actual reality of it is this:  you've got a lot of other real life shit to do.  Go to work, clean the house, pay the bills, catch up on DVR, see your friends so they don't move you off their social calendar for being a real lame ass, etc., so you know life does go on and will go on.  You also usually have less evidence to destroy -- because hey, why take pictures together anyway when you just have to send them to the city dump? Live and learn. Save the environment.  Don't forget to embrace The Breakup Diet either -- nothing slaps the hungry out of you like cold, hard, rejection.  

Ok, so maybe there are about 2.5 great things about the situation and life isn't complete shit.  The hard parts? Well, those are a bit more numerous and complicated.  

It's hard to talk about it to people -- especially when you are aging 29.  You see, your friends that are getting married and having babies and buying minivans and thinking about their second babies and preschool and new houses -- they have the trump cards.  So know that your allotted time for talking about "just another breakup" is going to be pretty limited if you are in the minority of major life events. I don't think it's meant to be hurtful, its just the way of the age group.  Eventually conversations basically all fall into the standard responses -- but all in one text of course.  "He's an asshole. We hated him anyway. Just get back out there! You'll feel better." 

It's hard to end up at home after the umpteenth colossal argument. That final argument that was really dispirited to begin with because it was the moment you realized that while there are a million things you want and feel you need to say, you just give up and recognize the wasted breath and the deaf ears involved.  You will sit there in silence instead and feel the entrance of that Relationship Grimm Reaper.  You guys know what I'm talking about.  I really believe you can sit in a room and just feel a relationship die. 

You think that after you drag yourself home and get through those next three days that it has to get better because surely that was the worst sting of it all.  You think the hard part is over. You revel in that misplaced confidence that you will have more than two weeks to recover before a new girlfriend shows up {and don't we all know that in this wonderful age of technology she will show up everywhere. EVERYWHERE.}.  You really will think that because you have seen plenty of them,  you can ace Breakup School no problem.  But the fact of the matter is all breakups still suck.  A lot.  It sucks to feel used.  It sucks to feel discarded.  It sucks to have to find that place in your life where you lived without that person and make it happen again after the fact.  And then you feel like an idiot all over again, because you loved and supported that person.  Because you would have been just as happy at Waffle House with that person as you would have been at the nicest restaurant in town.  Because you adored how they kissed you every time you waited for the car to come back from the valet.  Because Christmas morning may never come without remembering that one breakfast.  Or the freckles on their shoulder.  Or exactly how their hands looked.

Love you. Mean it.
~the single gal~

Wordless Wednesday

The Single Gal said I could just post photos today. I'm good at taking directions.......most of the time.

Accessorizing with the Single Gal

Sissy

The next Missy Franklin with our Swim Lesson Certificate of Achievement'

Monday Obsessions

Go ahead and take that shocked look off your face -- almost 3 Single Gal blogs in a row.  I'm trying to come back to life and be a good blogging partner to The Housewife who has really been putting in a lot of work here lately. {Thank you Housewife!} 

First, I want to be very up front {upfront? one word? two? discuss.} about the fact that I realize I am late to the "OhMyGoshJohnGreenIsAmazingAndPerfect" YA Party.  My friend Em has been praising his genius for, well, a really long time and I just now picked up "The Fault In Our Stars" this past week.  It's about two kids with cancer.  And they fall in love. And I haven't finished but it's so beautifully written.  And I am basically scared to keep reading because I know I'll walk around the house crying for days. I can just feel it. {not that I can even say I haven't been doing a lot of that lately but whatev} Anyway, I haven't even finished it and I am obsessed.  

I am also obsessed with the mere thought of my upcoming vacation with The Housewife.  It seems like everyone on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram is all "Oh, look at my awesome view from our condo." or "Leaving for the beach all next week." Well people.  It will finally be my turn in several weeks.  I'm trying not to hate everyone already on their vacations, but it's really hard for me not to. 

So, in the meantime, I'll just have to look at beach pictures on Pinterest like these: 

One other thing -- I am ridiculously obsessed with the song "Some Nights" by Fun.  The beat makes me happy. I'm not sure why.  But I'm not questioning it, that's for sure.  It's straight up on repeat in my car for always right now. 

What is everyone reading these days? I will obviously need some more books since I will have plenty of time to read during my week long beach trip. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Weekend Recap

Happy Sunday everyone! This past week was filled with social engagements. Super fun stuff but I got in ONE workout and spent almost all my time away from work with friends...except that one day I was in bed with a migraine.  

I actually had my first social engagement last Tuesday.  While this wasn't necessarily part of the weekend I wanted to throw it out there because one of my favorite Atlanta restaurants, Noche has 1/2 priced bottles of wine on Tuesdays.  I went out to catch up with C and we had a blast.  They have several locations around town and my bill for the night was insanely small when all was said and done. We left with my favorite doggy bag of all -- our leftover 2nd bottle of wine that we didn't finish. 

Friday I went out with work friends for Happy Hour at PURE Taqueria because sometimes you need some more girl talk, cheese dip, and the absolute best margaritas on the planet. 

Saturday morning I woke up for an early morning hair appointment.  Y'all -- I haven't had a damn haircut since March.  It was time.  And since I am in desperate need of some life changes what better thing to do that get a little color? I'll try to post some pics -- but I haven't had my hair colored in about 8 years so my adventure into ombre hair is really pretty subtle. Like you may notice if I told you to look closely.  But I adore it so I may go back for something more in a few weeks.  {Definitely try out my awesome hair place JH Design Studio. I love Whitney to death!} 

Saturday night was seriously too much fun.  Em and I went to the Yacht Rock Revue Revival at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park.  It started at about 4 but we figured we wouldn't get there until a little bit before the headliners came on which really was a mistake.  Never in my life have I seen so many people at Park Tavern and never have I ever had so much fun at Park Tavern. Great mix of people of all age groups, wonderful people watching, and a seriously good band. I've been wanting to go to this event for a while but never made it last year. There were seriously so many people out that I legit had to park practically in front of an ex's house on Charles Allen Drive.  And then we promptly saw him walking down the street. NBD. 

A good time was had by all. 

I was the DD last night so fortunately I am not suffering from the massive hangover that most Atlantans are likely experiencing today from last night's party.  In light of that I'm going to try to get this house cleaned up, give myself a manicure, hit the gym, and read my book.  

**side note -- I am not paid or given any perks for promoting locations, hair places, etc. these are just things I like.**

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Single Gal Archives

So, I swore to The Housewife last week that I was going to get some awesome posts up.  Never happened.  Mainly because I still am not sleeping a lot and spend most of my time at work, working out, or being ridiculous on Twitter (my new accidental hobby). However, due to the joys of Facebook I saw that my ex-boyfriend got engaged last week.  Not as in 3 Putt, but my last super serious relationship.  Then I remembered that a few of our lovely readers that aren't family and friends don't know about that. So, I thought we would do a little "Single Gal" history today. 

Little known fact: I could be Married Gal right now instead of Single Gal. 

In 2009 I was in a serious relationship.  A and I had been together for almost 5 years.  We were planning on it being forever.  So much so, that when I picked out the town home I am sitting in right now to write this post, it was a "we" thing. Like "we" will  live here together and then "we" will get married.  Everything is rolling along just fine -- we closed in May.  Everyone's happy. 

Fast forward from May to September. I go on a big girls vacation. We. Have. So. Much. Fun. I meet new fun people.  I come home. But I'm sad.  I remember getting out of my car and thinking, "Is this it for me?" I really don't know what made it happen.  I felt like maybe I had been in a little bubble the last few years and not looking outside of it. Obviously no relationship is perfect no matter what; however, suddenly there were some glaring issues that in hindsight were probably there all along, but suddenly seemed to be everywhere. 

So, I walk around being a bitch to A for the next month.  And then one day he asks me what the hell is wrong with me. I don't have a good answer.  We are about to go on vacation together.  And then it happens....

A:

"I was planning on proposing to you when we were in New York."

"I called my Dad last week.  I know money is tight and we can't afford a ring but they are mailing my grandmother's to me so that you can have it."

Me:

Y'all, I would have killed to see my very own panic stricken face. Seriously.  I feel like it's every girl's dream to receive a proposal or hear the impending proposal news.  I had nothing to say. Nothing.  I was standing in my (ours at the time) kitchen hoping that he had not just said what I thought he said.   That's when shit got real.  And fear invaded my entire body.  I didn't even know I would react like that but there was no way in my mind that it was ever going to work out.  In reality, I should probably thank him for asking.  Because it made me realize that it was time to end the relationship.  A was not a bad person, but it just wasn't in the cards for us.  

I tell you this so you know a few things.  First -- someone really did like me enough to want to marry me! Kidding...{sort of}  Second, I really was happy to hear the news -- initially I spent a lot of time worrying about how I probably wasted A's time and it wasn't ever my intention to do so. I'm glad he has moved on to find a lasting relationship.  Last (but not least) -- it's so good to still look back and know that I absolutely made the right choice and I wouldn't change it for anything.  It feels good to know that your gut will not steer you wrong in the end. 

And that, my friends, concludes our history lesson for the day. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions: Random Things

I was at Home Depot for some nursery project supplies when I glanced up at the mirror section and saw  this. It was love at first sight for $34.97. I almost left it because they had three of them but you know how that goes. I'd never be able to find another one in the greater Atlanta area.......ever.

Martha Stewart Living Sunburst Mirror 26 x30

I got this lipstick back in June but I'm really in love with the everyday-ness of it. MAC Lustre Lipstick in Lovelorn.

I have not been too fond of much of anything maternity wise this time around but while I was perusing through Target I found these Liz Lange white jeans on sale for $11. I wish they were not so "boot cut" and more skinny but for $11 hard to pass up. I'm sure Turtle is glad I have something to wear other than Nike Tempo shorts and Gap Body maternity tanks.  And who knows, maybe I will try to make them skinnies via a pinterest tutorial myself. I'll let you know if I get all Project Runway.

Y'all have a great Monday. I have lots of nursery projects that need to be started around here but we are making some progress. Do I really only have 13 weeks left.........at the most? Yes. Scary to write that out.

The Housewife

Hey, It's OK...

I know lots of bloggers do their ode to Glamour magazine and make their own "Hey, It's OK..." list.  I'm also here to tell you that I'm not too good to make my own, and frankly, I could use some "Hey, It's OK..." reinforcement in my life right now. 

Hey, it's

...to miss him.

...to not make up the bed before you leave for work in the morning. 

...to have deep conversations with the dog. 

...to buy pretty things because it makes you feel just a little bit better about life.

...to want to tell someone to spare you the "You'll find someone/He's out there" conversation. 

...to want to tell the New Girl that once upon a time he thought I was perfect, too. 

...to de-friend people on Facebook.

...to cry about it. 

...to wash your hair twice a week.

...to love Instagram like everyone else. 

...to be angry sometimes. 

...to skip a work out.

...to read Fifty Shades of Grey -- it doesn't diminish your intelligence or appreciation for proper, well-written novels. 

...to come home and do nothing after work every once in a while. 

...to not want to talk about it. 

...to go a little over 3000 miles before that next oil change...just a little though.

...to want to travel back in time to those undergrad years some days. 

...to miss him some more. 

24 Weeks

I went to the gym today and one of the main childcare ladies was commenting on how I was already "really big." Gee, thanks. I'm not sure how to take that because as this is a twin pregnancy, I missed the memo where I'm supposed to look "small." I think it's only fair to assume that two babies would equal a  larger stomach and I feel that I look appropriate and not too terrible yet. It makes sense to me but who am I to say such? So here is my bump..........go ahead and point your fingers and say, "whoa she is enormous!"

it's actually sort of difficult to take self photos

I get that no one wants to get incredibly large when they are pregnant. I'm worrying about a lot more than my "size" or what someone thinks my size should be at this point. My nursery is a wreck, how am I going to breastfeed twins with a 2 year old so I don't spend insane amounts of money on formula? And lets talk about my c-section nightmares. No, it has not been determined I have to have a c-section yet but tell that to my subconscious. I'll be glad to have large and developed babies so they don't have to go to the NICU. To be honest, I'm feeling great and not uncomfortable at this point at all. The only annoying thing is the restless leg syndrome deal; it drives me crazy at night. #1 is starting pre-school soon and we are going on vacation in September. Trust me, I have plenty on my mind without analyzing every love handle and the size of my stomach. I am sure I will start to get very uncomfortable and large in the 3rd trimester. So what? And no, you don't have to tell me that I'm going to get even bigger. I kind of figured that out- but thank you for your public service announcement.


Weight gain? Eh, probably 20 pounds. I only weigh at the doctor and that is Friday.
Cravings? Definitely into sweets right now. As in I may go to the grocery store to make some pumpkin coffee cake I pinned on pinterest this week.
Genders? all things pink
Movement? most definitely
Miss anything?  running and not being treated like a state fair exhibit and regular clothes
Pregnancy woes?  occasional round ligament pain, heartburn and restless legs

If you need me I will definitely keep lying to complete strangers by moving up my due date and by saying I am only having one girl.

The Housewife

Monday Obsessions

Happy Monday, everyone! We are wishing you all a wonderful week and may this day be over soon and be without too many ailments. 

I finally bought this album over the weekend. I like it's soulful, folky-ness (You can just make up words on Mondays, right?).  I don't think I have liked anything so much since I bought the Mumford and Sons album about 2 years ago. 

You can find their website here. 

They are coming to Atlanta August 25th -- not yet sold out! Also, playing at the Fabulous Fox Theatre which is one of my favorite venues. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Neighborhood Watch

This is yet another post about how I manage to get in the most awkward situations ever.  The Housewife has been keeping the blog in business and getting all kind of traffic with her cute baby posts and the like. What do I have to offer you? Updates on yellow jacket nests, a small twitter love affair with the head chef at The Optimist (I kid...sort of...), and a neighborhood stalker. 

Y'all seriously -- I feel like over the last few years mere politeness has been getting me into terrible situations.  It started at my old job. I used to get to work just before 7 when the night security guard was just ending his shift. As I had to stand in front of the man to sign in I would say a quick "Morning" before hopping on the elevator.  This escalated into him asking me out.  An old, short, chubby, bald guy.  I had to start taking the stairs and he still tried to give me a Christmas present. 

Thus begins my other story. Neighborly "Hello's" and short, pointless 2 minute chats.  This is what happens when you have a dog people.  Everyone wants to pet the dog and say hi blah blah blah. Enter Neighbor Steve.  He has two cats, plays volleyball, a beautifully groomed yard with pretty plants, and wears a single diamond stud earring to go out. I seriously thought he was gay. Or more gay than straight anyway. He wanted to go to brunch (again...thinking he was gay) and I said yes thinking this was the road to listening to Cher on the back patio once or twice a month and drinking white wine spritzers with the guy while we talk about our favorite SATC episodes.  

Something like this: 

So we are on the way back from brunch when dude drops the DATE bomb on me. Like, he's late 40's and he actually thought we were on a date.  He has no hair and he thought we were on a date.  I tell Neighbor Steve politely but pointedly, that I am only interested in being neighborhood friends and not dating. He says he "appreciates my honesty." 

Except he apparently doesn't. Because he called me Wednesday (ignored and not called back) and then puts a note in my mailbox on Friday.   About how he had fun on our date (WAS NOT A DATE) and couldn't believe he waited so long to ask me out. And that he would call me when he got back in town this week.   And he wants us to do something this weekend.  It was a typed out note. Like serial killers probably write.  Or that dude creeping Whitney in The Bodyguard. Except he had hair. 

So maybe this happens next? Yes? Anyone Kevin Costner-ish??? Bueller???

 I am not on a date just because you are a member of the opposite sex and we happen to be getting food. It doesn't qualify. I am really kind of pissed off.  There is no way anything I did even constituted flirting with this guy.  He is old. Ugh.  And now I am scared to even walk the dog for fear I will have to speak to Mr. Overzealous-and-Not-Gay.

Why me?!?!

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~