Monday Obsessions: Cargo Jacket

Good morning, everyone! I promise to get travel posts up super soon but I am finding comfort in routine and grasping for it lately because of the whole no job thing so we are sticking to schedule today.  Sorry for the lack of posts while I was gone but The Housewife was on dog duty and I understand that she had zero time to blog.  So here we are -- Monday.  Obsession time. 

I originally thought I did an okay job of packing but I really kind of sucked at it.  By the middle of my trip I was sick of looking at my winter white coat in all my pictures and a bit sick of wearing it (obviously it was needed as February in Scotland so lots of cold and rain).  Finally made it to Glasgow and ran into H&M for a life saving update to my wardrobe -- the utility coat/cargo jacket.  For the great price of $39.95 you can have one, too.  And it will be a great spring transition item as well. I'm already picturing it with my white jeans...if only I could find them. 

//h&m cargo jacket//

Things I really loved about this jacket: 

- it has a high collar

-it has a gather in the waist at the back

-great structure and color

-you can roll up/cuff the sleeves easily

Looks I love: 

Let's all go forth and user in some spring weather shall we? 

~the single gal~

Winter Reading

I'm trying not to be fooled by these few nice days that we have had here in Georgia so I thought I would do a little reading post.  Even though they don't seem to be our most popular.  Just go with it.  I have hunkered down and really devoted myself to some seriously consistent reading the last few years (or maybe this isn't different from any other year of my life from third grade on) and just wanted to share some of my reading list! 

//the rosie project//

I absolutely adored this book about a quirky professor who essentially has Asperger's Syndrome and is looking for a wife.  It was very funny at times and also heartbreaking at times.  It's only $1.99 on your Kindle.   

//the art of fielding//

This was a bit of a different book for me.  I usually read a bunch of YA Lit and historical fiction mostly but I really enjoyed this novel.  It takes you to a small university where a young guy goes to college to become a baseball star.  Except an accident during a game derails him.  There are 5 main characters that are all affected by this accident -- mostly dudes.  It was a very masculine read for me.  It didn't have a super quick pace but I really enjoyed straying from my normal routine.  

//fangirl//

No book list of mine would be complete without some YA Lit.  I eat it up.  The books are usually excellent prices and great reads.  The genre has really come a long way since Twilight  (still a special place in my heart).  I loved this because it was about a girl who was a twin (le duh) who goes off to college and really struggles with the transition, her changing relationship with her sister and family who loses herself writing fan fiction.  I don't know a lot about fan fiction but thought the book was well done.  Plowed through most of it during what I will now refer to as The Great Sinus Infection of February.  Also note Rainbow Rowell's other acclaimed novel Eleanor and Park is only $5.00 for your Kindle right now.  

What are you guys reading while the weather is still gross?  Will winter ever end?  I feel like it won't. 

~the single gal~

Wedding Wednesday {guest list drama}

I have to admit I kind of scoffed at myself a little for even doing one of these posts.  And I actually don't expect most people to really care about my wedding.  That is super fair and I guess confirms I'm not as vain as I thought I was (although some may disagree).   Actually, since the wedding is so small and not super traditional there probably won't really be a ton of these.  Unless my mother calls again and makes me insane.  Like she did on Saturday.  So let's have some real fun and see if anyone is talking to me after this post.

This post is all about Guest List Drama.  

I had previously heard from some of my dear friends about Guest List Drama.   I thought it couldn't happen to me.  Guest List Drama is actually one of the things I have heard the most about from my friends that have already walked down the aisle. I can see why people elope.  They are truly the intelligent beings in our society.  They are probably the only ones that will survive nuclear warfare if the world ever ends. 

But seriously y'all -- I guess I just get super worked up because of a few things.  3 Putt and I are essentially paying for this party.  We are not into stress.  More people = more stress.  More people = more money.  (Obviously most of my good readers are following my storyline without that information as I know you to be very intelligent and respectable people.)  The one exception is that my father very kindly offered right away to give me some money towards my dress.  This is super sweet (read: Dad is SUPER excited that I won't be a spinster even if he did have to wait 30 years for me to marry) and a huge relief.  I am very lucky this is even on the table.  I feel very loved.  

Let me tell you what does NOT make me feel very loved: 

When you call me to ask WHY someone isn't going to be invited.  

When you call me just to mention to me and to make sure I know that so-and-so is just SO disappointed that they aren't going to be able to come. 

That you would assume that it was not incredibly difficult for us to not invite some people that maybe we would like to have there. 

If you really want to press all my buttons, you will suddenly say "Oh, well I will pay for that person to come!" 

So, you didn't feel kind enough to offer to pay for anything until I didn't invite someone that YOU would like to see.  To make the day something that YOU want.  Sure.  Thanks.  

...

Our entire guest list will only include 35 people.  This is pretty much immediate family and some friends that are essentially family.  3 Putt and I are actually included in this number so really only 33 people.   I actually want to challenge you right now to try to make a guest list of 33.  I just cannot believe in my heart that anyone in my family that I know and love would think that I am trying to be mean, that I don't care about them, that I don't love and appreciate them all because I just want to have a very small wedding.  And because this is essentially all the money I am willing to put into this celebration because hey -- I'd rather pay down my mortgage or build up my savings account for the future with my partner.  Because I am thinking about life past one day here.  I am thinking about a marriage. 

I'm trying not to let it get to me.  At the end of the day, I'm a grown ass woman and 3 Putt and I will make the wedding choices that are best for us.  I don't need anyone's permission.  I don't need to justify any of my choices to anyone.   But still it kinda makes me crabby.  

And now I've written the post and everyone will be like this: 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the not-so-single gal~

Life Updates {single gal edition}

I know what you're thinking -- you just got a life update from me.  But cohabitation adjustments are certainly not everything happening here.  I know I don't go into super detail but y'all know I worked for a small insurance company.  We were also working with a small group to get a start up business going to process claims 3rd party.  Well, the little company that was supposed to sustain us until we got the other stuff going has folded.  As of last Friday I am jobless.  I always knew this was a big risk.  So, it wasn't a total surprise, but I did think I would have more notice.  So that's that. Turns out I am on early vacation.  

The last week went better than expected.  I filed for unemployment for the first time in my life, so that was an experience.  I imagine it will continue to be one.  I'd like to think I have a pretty good professional network built up in the industry so I'm trying not to totally FREAK OUT on 3 Putt on a daily basis.  Turns out its good that he is moving in.  Too bad he has a dead-beat fiance.  I kid. Sort of.  I have been a real gloomy grumpy person but I think that is mostly because of my nasty sinus infection.  So, I anticipate a hard few months, but I think we will be okay.  Monday was a hard day for me.  I am always working.  Have been for many years.  

I think for now the big stressors will be: saving for the wedding, hoping we don't have to have any large/unexpected vet bills, and selling some of my fave jewelry and purses.  That kinda sucks but I have super good credit and I don't mess around with that crap.  And, I know that in time these things will come back to me.  This is temporary. (Hopefully super temporary.)

The good: I am excited to see me and 3 Putt work through this together, praying a lot, got a tax refund to tide me over, and having a bit of time off work since I have been working for years with little vacation.  

Good thoughts are appreciated! Anyone been through this before? I guess the house will just be super sparkly clean all the time now.  Maybe I will get back in shape? 

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions

// all the wire double or nothin necklace //

I ordered this necklace on Friday. All the Wire is the jewelry company Tori Gonzales, from Courtney Loves Dallas, and her sister started. I am having #1's birthday stamped on one bar and the twins birthday on the second. I can't wait to receive it. 

*offering 25% off for President's Day*

code MERICA at checkout 

via

// Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor //

I have a fancy Garmin which, I do love, but when I'm in the gym the satellite won't always sync up so I can get the heart rate to record. It keeps reading, "searching for satellite." It annoys me severely. Since my little tax deductions are pulling their weight this month I ordered this. Single Gal wedding count down is on. It's time to work. I've been slobbing around and super grumpy with these snow storms keeping us  Southerners trapped inside for days at a time. I ordered mine off Amazon. 

via

// Embrace Messy Hair print by Hello Tosha //

I've been finding some fun instagram accounts to follow and when hellotosha posted this picture I immediately thought of The Single Gal. Granted, I want one too. These are limited edition so if you like it, better grab one. It's $25.00

via

We are so looking forward to the warmer weather this week after snow, ice, rain and a small earthquake from last week. That's Georgia for you. I did order the phone cover I blogged about from Mulberry Press Co last week. I'm going to try to stop eating all the things and drinking all the wine, which is no fun honestly. 

{cohabitation update}

I totally have SO much to update you guys on -- seriously, I do.  But today I thought I would  donate some time to new relationshipy-stuff.  Before I continue, please forgive my sudafed-nose spray-overdosing brain today.  I have some sort of gigantic sinus flare up that I am trying to kill before my trip.  I haven't had a lot of sleep, my stomach is wrecked and I just feel plain gross.

Ok.  Back to relationshipy-stuff.  (Hopefully 3 Putt won't take the ring back after he reads this. I kid.  I hope...) 3 Putt and I both knew that we would definitely move in together once we got engaged.  Although he is not technically moved in he has really been at my house ever since.  In my defense I have lived with a boy before...but holycowitwasa reallylongtimeago. It's actually been really nice -- mainly because he is so helpful and its super nice to just open the pantry and see that the garbage has been taken out or seeing him walking in the door with a pile of mail for me (I never really check the mailbox unless I'm expecting a package.).  But wow y'all -- I just kind of assumed that we already spent a lot of time together.  But I guess we really were not all up in each other like I thought. Really and truly this isn't a bad thing -- its just REALLY different.  You just get used to having shit your way all the time when you live alone.  So, yes it's a good different; however having said that I was kind of losing my mind on our snow days/me working from home days.  I'll just give a few examples of adjustment:

a) I normally go days without ever turning on the TV.   With 3 Putt I'm pretty sure that thing is always on in the background.  I had to walk out and shovel the driveway Thursday.  And tell 3 Putt it was driving me super nuts.  Because OH MY GOD ALL THE TV.

b) I'm still trying to make myself realize that we have not combined household items yet.   His clothes are here.  That's it.  It's a big adjustment to make the space.  To even think of it really.

c) I know dudes think bitches be cray but we HAVE to work on pre-bedtime straightening.  Poor guy is coming into a really anal and particular (yet not hostile) location.  But in all seriousness we cannot come downstairs in the mornings with all the pillows still on the floor that were moved off the couch during evening TV time.  

d) All good times can be spoiled by The Great Wedding Ceremony Debate.  This may be a recurring 2014 theme.

Having given these examples,  I kind of want to interview 3 Putt for a pseudo-guest post about all of the adjustments that poor guy is going through.  I really kind of pity him for having to live with me. I am not the easiest roomie.  I am sure that even though he really may be the most relaxed, gentle, kind, thoughtful guy I have ever met he has had several moments of great frustration and reminders that I can be straight batshit crazy over things like vacuum lines, the exact position of a chair in a room, and any spot that ever got on my new bedding or that may be on it in the future due to humans not being observant and preventing the dogs from doing stupid shit around said bedding.  Or the fact that I try to give a grown ass man specific linen washing instructions down to the number of times the large king size blanket should be dried.  

There are good lessons to be learned here.  I need to make a special place I can go while 3 Putt watches the TV.  He is a great roomie.   He folds laundry that I leave in the dryer.  He makes a real effort at making the bed and putting the pillows the way I like them.  He thinks every dinner I make is good or at least he doesn't say otherwise.  He always makes breakfast on the weekends and doesn't turn on the TV during this time.  If anything, this should be a lesson in what I can do for 3 Putt and help make his transition better and more comfortable.

Still,  it's not always easy to live with someone.   If anything, this relationship has taught me about deep breaths and priorities.  And I want to appreciate adjustments more -- this is the first time we will move in together.   I want to live in that moment. We won't have it again.   So remind me of that when I come downstairs tomorrow morning and the pillows are off kilter.



~the single gal~

snow days

Well the weather here in Atlanta certainly isn't improving. Par for the course this week for me. I am lucky enough to be working from home which is a blessing. I also took the time for some networking and tax completion. No workouts so far and that's going to get me crazy really fast if I don't try something to get my blood flowing tomorrow at all costs.  

Here are some pics of late.  Is everyone weathering the storm? 

Made some awesome chicken tacos on the fly with no recipe. 

Took some snow pictures. 

Sent awkward selfies to Little A to show her my new plaid scarf. 

More selfies. This one from our little sister's baby shower this past weekend. Had a good hair day. Can't ask for more. 

Ate a lot of leftover cupcakes. 

-the single gal-