Weekend Recap

I've Started to Dread posting my Weekend Recap because I've discovered that I might be the most boring person/blogger ever.

Saturday Morning Started Out At School Working On An Oral Argument...

I then made my way to Ann Taylor to work for a few hours

Elisa and I both showed up to work in Green and Black...and had more than enough time for an impromptu photo shoot.

After that...I played with the doggies (Bailey and Zoey) that I've been pet sitting

and then I got to baby-sit some of my favorites:

We played a super intense game of Life, hide and seek, "O" and I did our nails, french braided hair, and we all played a game we made up called "little minion" (random fact: Minion is one of my favorite terms of endearment) and started to watch Ice Age 2.

Sunday I tried out a new church with my manager from Ann, and one of the girls I work with. My favorite part of church was this song:

I then ran to Ann Taylor to buy this beauty:

And spent some quality time with these two cuties:



For the rest of the day I studied Business Associations, worked on impeaching a witness, and read some articles on various International Law Policies...

Oh, and I worked on finishing up my package for Kappa Prep's "Pink Swap..."

And I caught myself singing along to this song:

("Drive By" by Train)

And This One Too:

("Glad You Came" by The Wanted)

Happy Monday Friends!!! Here's to hoping each and every one of you had a great weekend!

Thanks for Reading!!!

Thursday Inspiration

I'm Gonna Dork Out For A Second (which I feel like I do almost every blog post)...But I'm an LOTR lover, there is a good chance I at one point wanted to get a dog just so I could name Tolkien after the great J.R.R. Tolkien.  

I first read The Hobbit when I was in 3rd or 4th Grade, and then read it again in High School (when all of the LOTR movies were coming out), and one more time right before I started law school. I love the story, the themes, and the characters... I wanted to share one of my most favorite quotes (from Sam (a fellow hobbit) to Frodo).

Frodo: I can’t do this, Sam.

Sam: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.

Happy Thursday Friends!!!

Dear Dad

Happy Birthday Dad.

Thank You For Always Walking Beside Me.

For Holding My Hand,

And Making Me Always Believe That I Am A Princess.

Thank You For Teaching Me The Impact A Smile Can Have,

How To Dance To My Own Beat,

And How Important It Is To Be A Person That I'm Proud Of.

Thank You For Taking Long Neighborhood Walks,

Always Laughing At My Jokes,

And Showing Me, Through Your Actions, What Integrity Truly Means.

Thank You For Your Unconditional Love,

Always Picking Up The Phone And Listening...No Matter How Trivial.

And For Being My Hero.

You're My Best Friend, and Best Dad.

Happy Birthday. I Love You.

Weekend (or lackthereof) Recap

I had maybe one of the most unclimatic and academic weekends ever...



Friday Night I studied with my friend TG and his roomie who is in his third year of med school. Picture 3 people sitting at a table and not talking for a good 3-4 hours...except when the boys thought it was necessary to comment on my self-proclaimed incredible taste in music.

Saturday--I went to the 7am (20 minute) mass...and went straight to school (like before the library even opened) type of early to meet a group. We had a good 4 hours of productivity...which means I get to do absolutely nothing I have a lot to work on prior to our next meeting.

Then I worked at Ann Taylor and ohmygoodness, I had to text my dad to tell me "No Shopping" like 30 bajillion times, mainly because I'm in looooove with our new line.

After work I got eyelash extensions...I've wanted them for SO long, and I figure they're a great investment in my routine (as in now I won't have to wear any makeup except lipgloss), and for the most part I stick to a pretty natural look--so it just made sense :)

Saturday Night was just as uneventful...I worked out and studied. Lame.

Sunday was super exciting...

Kidding.

I got to Panera (which was kinda exciting) at 9am, and studied there til 4.30. RKW came and simultaneously studied with me for part of the time...which was really nice to have a friend to study with.

I read for trial practice...

Read Nebraska Statutes about Juries

As shown below, tried to transfer my handwritten Business Associations notes to my PC.

Yep, I'm still confused.

Oh and I ended my studying by rewriting a (25 minute) oral argument for the 89213 time, and I read the UN's Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts....

My Study Break on Sunday was watching Gossip Girl from last Monday (and unlike those UN articles--I have plenty to say about Gossip Girl)...ohmygoodness. A few things: (1) I am so over Serena and Dan--can't she date Nate again, or Tripp... (2) Poor Chuck. (3) I loved the first Vera Wang gown Blair had on--it was stunning!!! (4) I'm really glad 'fake' Charlie is gone--she annoyed me--but it looks like (thank you foreshadowing) she'll be coming back. (5) If Blair doesn't really love Louie, I'd let him be my boyfriend, for a Prince--I think he'd be a really good boyfriend :)

That's all friends. I was officially a lame study hermit all weekend.
Please tell me your weekend(s) were way more awesome than the one you just read about!

Lady

"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t."

-Margret Thatcher

Tagged

This Ain't Yo' Momma's game of Tag

ONE. you must post the rules. (Check!)

TWO. post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post. (I’m only posting 5—I can’t tell you all my secrets or I won’t have anything to blog about, HA!)

THREE. answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

FOUR. tag eleven people and link them on your post (I’m just going to tag 5 bloggy friends for this!)

FIVE. let them know you've tagged them!

Before I get started, I do have to thank Miss sSe over at Seersuckered Sailor for tagging me in this fun game...I love reading her blog, and look forward to her new posts...plus her sweet comments on my blog always brighten my day!

Five Fun Facts About Me…

1) I drink (almost) everything, whether it is hot or cold, through a straw.

2) My New Favorite Workout Station on Pandora is the Enrique Iglesias (Don’t Judge)

3) During Spinning Class I (secretly) compete with the person beside me either with speed, or putting on extra resistance.

4) Anytime I’m on my Gmail Account I stay “invisible…” It gives me an ‘air of mystery’ that I’ll never have.

5) I’m currently obsessed with Pickles, Popcorn, and Potatoes. No, I’m not…if I were it would be immaculate.

The 11 Questions from Miss sSe to Me:

1. Favorite de-stressor?

A good workout, a long nap, a good cry (this is rare if I actually do this), or good company.

2. Diet Coke or Tea? Early Bird or Night Owl? Soup or Salad? Milk or Dark Chocolate? E-books vs. Real books? Hair up or down? Water or snow?

Diet Coke. Early Bird. Both. Dark Chocolate. Real Books. Depends On My Hair—which I swear has a mind of its own. Water.

3. What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?

I swear, I don’t have any favorites. I really try to appreciate every day/month, etc. I don’t really have a most favorite—though I am partial to warm weather so Spring through Fall is alright with me J.

4. What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod?

I can’t figure out how to figure that out, but lately I’ve been listening to Mumford and Sons, Mika and Lil Wayne for my workouts and then when I’m studying I’ve been listening to a lot of Fleetwood Mac this week!

5. Do you plan out blog posts or is it spontaneous?

I try to plan out my posts for the week about once a week (Sunday), although I sometimes get ideas that I have to write about or tell you all about and then that is slightly more spontaneous.

6. Are you and your friends like twins or polar opposites?

I feel like most of my friends have a lot of commonalities (similar background, manners, tastes, shopping habits, sense of humor, etc).  However a lot of them have different political views, different life goals, are a lot more laid back (not as tightly wound/type-a as I am), and appreciate things I’d never experience if we weren’t friends.

7. When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?

30 Minutes of Free Time: Power Nap, Watch a show on Hulu, Call a Friend, Go Shopping, Run an errand on my to-do list….

8. If you could offer a new blogger only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Be Yourself. Don’t write for your audience…write for you.

9. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

Scarlett O’Hara...or a female Harry Potter.

10. What is your biggest pet peeve?

I have a lot of pet peeves…I could probably write a book that Emily Post would be proud of…Lately, I’m super frustrated by other’s lack of punctuality—whether that is in real life, in response to an email/text, etc.

11. What’s the one blog post you’re most proud of? You Are Special To Me: http://classescasesandchaos.blogspot.com/2010/12/you-are-special-to-me.html

My 11 Questions For You:

1. Exact (word for word) coffee order?

2. What do you wish you would have been named?

3. Favorite Fiction Book?

4. Best 90s Song?

5. Favorite Type of Workout

6. What age was your awkward phase...and what made it awkward?

7. Go To Bible Verse?

8. When Someone Asks Me: "Does this make me look fat?" (and it does) what do you say?

9. Least Favorite Candy?

10. Coke or Pepsi? 

11. What is the best way to end a day?

5 Friends to Tag:
Miss Southern Prep
Carolina Accent
Defining Dree
It's The Blawg y'all
Rebeka's Reflections

Since I only tagged 5...and you feel like you want to repost this or answer my awesome,amazing,inspiring questions, then "Tag...You're It."

Happy Tuesday Friends!!!

Martin Luther King Day

Last Year, I posted about my experience with Martin Luther King Jr., Day growing up--and my current (as of 2011) perception of the day... If you're so inclined, you can read about that right here :)

via

This year, I found a couple of his quotes that I hadn't heard before that I thought were beautiful or particularly profound:

“I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”

and finally, my favorite:

 “Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.”

Today, whether you're working, at school, enjoying the day off, etc. To celebrate the memory of Dr. King, I'm going to try and take one of these quotes and embody it especially today.

Happy Monday and Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Baby It's Cold Outside

This Post Was Originally Going To Be My Normal Friday "Randomness." But after yesterday, I wanted to tell you about the weather on Thursday.  Considering Tuesday was in the 60s, Wednesday was crazy windy but still in the upper 30s, Thursday was brutal.

9 degrees (and that wasn' t even the low) with the windchill feeling like at least a -6.

I clerked before going to class, and parked in my garage parking, put on my gloves, zipped up my warm coat (which was incidentally over a jacket with a warm fur collar), grabbed my hot coffee, and started mentally complaining.

It wasn't until I emerged from a building and saw some people going into the building where I clerk, that I got a much needed reality check:

The man in jeans and a short sleeved polo shirt.

A homeless man sitting nearby wearing shorts.

The woman wearing velour sweats, a hoodie, and flip-flops.

That's pretty sobering, or at least for me it was. Especially when I was having a pity party in my mind about how I was so cold, the weather is awful, and poor me having to walk a block outdoors in this arctic weather.

So the rest of the day when someone was complaining about the weather, I wouldn't chime in like I normally might, but I'd think to myself how lucky I am for having a warm house to go home to, a warm car to ride in, warm clothing, and of course coats. 

So if you're freezing because of the weather where you are today...try and think of all the blessings that are keep you warm.

oxo and Thanks For Reading 

Thursday Inspiration

via

"Let Your Smile Change The World...

Don't Let The World Change Your Smile."

WILW

Happy Hump Day!!!

Here's What I'm Loving Today:

*School Starts Tomorrow...I know this might sound more than a little crazy, but I love the rigidity of a schedule--I'm much more productive, focused, and motivated person when I have a set schedule.

* I have to go to a class this Saturday morning, but our professor promised us she would be bringing breakfast.

*Starbucks New Blonde Roast (I add about a 1/2 inch of soy and cinnamon powder to mine)

*MyFitnessPal App which I've been using on my phone. I track the calories I ingest, expend, and have the ability to scan barcodes off of a food package--which automatically inputs the nutritional value. Oh, and the best part...it's free!

*Slimfast Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough 200 Calorie Meal Bars. (I'm not doing the slimfast diet, but sometimes I'm really bad about remembering dinner or lunch or breakfast--or what I bring doesn't sound good--or most typically I'm at work or school and can't exactly sit and enjoy a meal...and as of lately these have been (delicious) lifesavers!)

*An "Adventure" With AB That I'm Starting On Sunday...

*Spinning Class This Morning...and then a Quick Jog After ;)

Everything on this list seems pretty simple, nothing is too exciting...but that's where I'm at today! So tell me, what are you loving today?!

60 Degrees

It's 60 Degrees Where I Live Today!!!

(Tomorrow Is Supposed To Be 21 Degrees and Windy)

I was on campus earlier today, working on some research...
I drove home (windows down...sunroof open) singing along to this:

 and this:

I'm now headed to work wearing a skirt...with NO tights, and just a light fleece for a "coat."

Bliss.

 Is anyone else experiencing an January "Heatwave"!?

Weekend Recap

My Weekend Was Uneventful At Best.

Sunday I was in bed all day sick with the flu. (I still don't feel very good today, so I cancelled most of my appointments...) As far as Sunday goes, I can't lie--I totally had a hulu marathon from about 3pm-8pm when I couldn't sleep--I watched 5 episodes of "Fairly Legal" about a Mediator--and started a Lifetime Movie.  My dad also made me hot chocolate, and brought me a mini Diet Coke...and Mom made me Chicken Soup. (Reason #34029480923 why I love living at home).

Saturday was eventful.

7am-Mass

8am-4.5 mile run with RKW in Record time (35 minutes!!!)

930am- Coffee with PCS

I ended up buying one of these tumblers after PCS told me it was her new favorite glass. And, it was on sale, and I recently broke my indestructable Camelbak...so it just made sense!

I ended up studying for a bit, painting my nails and toes, and taking a nap. #bliss.

That night, I went out (against my better judgment--I already had a fever) with a few good friends. We hung out at LJ's apartment and talked and talked and talked some more.  And ate some chips and dip and drank some cookie dough vodka mixed with Diet Cream Soda... delish.

LJ, JM, RW, and Me :)

I think this week looks like I'll be trying to play catch up before school starts (Thursday): Oil Change, Hair Appointment, Dentist Appointment, Reading for Classes, etc.

Fill me in friends...how was your weekend?!

Oh, and I just need 6 MORE Followers Before I do my first giveaway...so help me out :)

Flu

Sick In Bed With The Flu All Day Sunday...

I can think of more enjoyable reasons to stay in bed all day, or a more enjoyable way to a flat stomach.

Sigh.

Thursday Inspiration

The Most Colorful

There is a song by Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, I believe it's called "colorful..." A long time ago, well a few years ago anyway, my dad told me some of the song reminded him of me. 

At the end of my day yesterday, I realized that it really was a good day.

Nothing special: I worked, I worked out, I cleaned/laundry-ed, watched the new Biggest Loser (amazing), and I did a few things that made my day a little more "colorful."

I made Cake Batter Cookies...with Extra Rainbow Sprinkles!!!

Let me know if you want the Recipe--they're Phenomonal :)

I made some stationary/notecards to use as Thank You Notes, (or because I do love sending and recieving snail mail)...to send to someone (snail mail style) and brighten their day.

So Why Was Yesterday Such A Good Day? Probably Because I Kept A Little Bit Of It Colorful.

Resolute

Res.o.lute adjective 

1) Firmly Resolved; or Determined.

2) Characterized by Firmness and Determination, as the temper, spirit, actions, etc. 

I love goals, lists (if you follow my blog or if we're real life friends you know my crazy obsession with to-do lists), and planning.  New Year’s Resolutions aren’t quite my thing. However as I already stated—I do like having goals (which might seem more resolution-esq than I would like to admit)…so I want to share some goals with you for 2012. I decided to stick with five because that feels less daunting then a list (like my list of crushes) that never seems to end.

1) Be Fearless (no T-Swift jokes here please). What you ask…Great Question. I’m open to suggestions—skydiving, bungee jumping, a real haunted house, etc. I don’t know what I want to do—but I know it want it to involve the concept of me being fearless in the moment, and I wouldn't mind an adrenaline rush on the side :) (I really want to do BMW M School, but on a law school budget that's laughable).


2) Talk Less. My Grandma Rose always used to say, or so my dad tells me: "If you don't have anything nice to say...don't say anything at all." Unfortunately I haven’t been very good at following that adage. One of my buddies told me when we're together, he would prefer to hear more about me…not other people. I've also come to realize when I'm with other friends who like to gossip, I'm going to try and focus more on them, and their lives versus what they know about other people's lives. Granted I’m try and stay pretty positive when it comes to ‘gossip’, but at the same time, it’s something that I really want to stop doing—or at least tone it down a couple notches.  


3) Say No. To say I over commit myself would be an understatement of epic proportions. I simply can’t say no when it comes to work, school, friends, family, people I barely know. It’s not that I’m spineless, it’s just that I really like being busy, and I thrive when I am.  Unfortunately this is a double edged sword and all the commitments that I just can’t help but say yes to get less energy, focus, and effort than they deserve. I’m still going to say yes—but in more of a watered down version than usual.

4) No Regrets. I have a handful of 'what ifs', 'I wish I would haves', and 'maybe it would have turned out if...' I'm guessing most, if not all of you, feel the same way. I'm not saying I'm going to do everything I want (like a honeybadger would), but I am saying I'm going to live a fuller life--and not turn down things because of what other people would think, or because other people want me to--but turn them down, or do them, because I choose to.

5) Be A Friend I'd Want To Have. I don't have a whole lot to say about this other than, I think it's probably my most favorite resolution, and the one I want to stick to the most.

Fill Me In Friends...What Are Your Resolutions...What should I do for my First Resolution?!

Happy 2012.