My Bad

I feel as if I owe whomever reads my blog an apology. 

As of lately, I don't know if I would actually read my blog. It seems forced, stressed, like it's "trying." I'm sorry. Or if it doesn't actually come across that way...It certainly feels that way to me.

Blogging is now something I've come to check off my never ending to do list. Something that I feel like is a must instead of a want. And it shouldn't be that way. Blogging is something I started when I started law school as an outlet. A place to sound like myself (instead of always having to write like an attorney), a place to talk about whatever I wanted to...not planning forced posts like it's (another) part-time job. 

So, I suppose I want to apologize to all of you. I'm going to make an effort to make my blog less of a "have to", and more of a "get to." So if you notice an increase or decrease in posts, more of an array of topics, or a different tone, that's on purpose.

As always, Thank you for reading.

A Little Surprise

I've talked about my friend Morgan before.

I've also showcased this picture before...It's currently my iPhone background

Morgan is my longest friend (she's the blondie on the left I'm on the right). The friend who always let me be Barbie when we played barbies (she was a really good Skipper), the friend who I started a band with ("Reality"), my favorite friend to road trip with, one of the few people who actually calls me out on numerous things...and I don't mind it, the friend who I spent every summer at the pool/tennis/golf with from 8am-8pm almost every day, the friend who I mailed a journal back and forth with during college, so we could still have those real deep heart-to-heart conversations. 

Morgan is also the friend who has lived around 2000 miles (I checked on Google Maps) away since college. We've gotten used to the fact that we see each other a few times a year (usually during the summer/holiday season when she visits home), and then at least once when I go visit  her in wine country. Thanks to text messaging, FaceTime, and hand written (gasp) letters our friendship hasn't changed in the slightest.

So when I got this text on Saturday morning, I was thrilled:

*Regarding the "h" after "Emmy"...Morgan is the only person who can get away calling me by my middle name, and  Emmy

We met at our favorite restaurant this past Tuesday. It was the Best week night I've had in ages. We talked, and talked, and talked. We laughed just as much as we talked. We ate so much delicious Mexican food... Then we talked more. It was such a great surprise, and made the rest of my week incredible. 

This coming Monday is her 25th Birthday (and she'll be back home in NorCal). So to Morgan: Happy Happy Birthday. I hope you get everything you want, and MORE this year... You deserve it. I hope it's full of life, light, laughter, and love. You are one of the most Godly, kind, happy, stylish, and beautiful women I'm blessed to call a friend. Thank you for being real, for being my friend, for always being there for me no matter what, and teaching me that inner beauty will always surpass outer beauty. I Love You Morgie. Happy 25th. 

Coffee Table Style

I've always appreciated a well-styled room. To this day, my mother has each and every tables, desks, and the like in our home styled perfectly...which has made me annoyingly extremely taste-specific when it comes to decor. Keeping that in mind, I have been so stressed excited to buy all the fun pieces since I found out the house is mine. However, I've been reminded (more than once) that I have to buy actual furniture instead of only buying the fun things. Thanks to my mama I got some new tables from PB to style just perfectly (and have a great excuse to buy the aforementioned fun things). I've been looking to Pinterest for some table top inspiration, and to try and  discover what my coffee table style is. This is what I've found so far:

Via

Via

Via

Via

Via

So what about my coffee table style? I don't like color. I like neutrals, earthy hues, and rich tones, but bright colors are a definite no. I don't like over the top when it comes to decor (my personality is a direct contrast to that). I love classic pieces, and I like the idea of incorporating little pieces of nature whether those be flowers, barks, moss, etc. Books are a must. Candles are a must. Pictures are an absolute. 

Do you have a coffee table style? Any tips of where to buy and what to buy?!

Happy Tuesday & Thanks for Reading!!! 

Weekend Wrap Up

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I was pet and house sitting, so my weekend was low-key. 

Friday Night I watched Rango...and 13 going on 30. I'm not kidding when I say that 13 on 30 put me in the best mood (isn't that weird how movies do that sometimes)...and it also made me want to learn the "Thriller" dance.

Saturday was productive: I grabbed coffee with my Mom, deep cleaned my car, ran a bunch of errands and made some yummy no bake cookies that I found on Pinterest. In the afternoon I did a bunch of studying, caught up on emails, and gave myself a deep cleansing mud mask...I also made my to-do list for the week (ugh!)

Saturday Night was spent with EH at one of our favorite restaurants eating pizza, drinking carafes of sangria, and eating creme brulee (with rumchata poured on top). EH is one of my favorite friends. The bartender put it perfectly--"every time I look over here, or come down here the two of you are laughing and seem to be having the best time in the place..." We were. 

The bartender, apparently got a kick out of us, and made us an amazing confection of jalapeno infused orange vodka, and it was pink, so it was a really good way to make our exit...

Following dinner, EH and I wandered up to a neighborhood bar where we  sang Ignition word for word, and gave R.Kelly a run for his money...we also got to see TP. On a geriatric side note, I was home snuggling with the puppies before I turned into a pumpkin. 

Sunday flew by. I spent some time with my sister-in-law and nephews (who are the most handsome, perfect, angelic twin boys in the whole wide world), had coffee with C in which we talked about everything but school, washed my makeup brushes, went to our quarterly meeting for AT (my shoes are on the left, and VTs are on the right), and studied while watching No Strings Attached. 

I also haven't been able to get this song out of my mind all weekend:

How was your weekend???

Birchbox Brag

 

I know I've shared with you how much I love my Birchbox Subscription...and this month's box was no exception. The theme was "red carpet ready" and each and every item I received made me feel like I definitely could strut out on a red carpet. 

Beauty Protector: Protect & Detangle

I normally dislike leave-in conditioner, it makes my hair feel so heavy and gross. However this product is the exception to my rule...I put it in before bed the other night and I woke up with shiny, soft, and yummy-smelling hair. Plus my hair was extremely manageable the following day. (Double Bonus)

Juicy Couture Couture La La

Juicy Fragrance has yet to disappoint me. Although I probably won't purchase this product, it's a young, summery, fun, scent, and a nice change to my normal "light blue."

My Multi-Purpose Mattifying Moisturizer

Great sample. I've used this every morning this week instead of my normal moisturizer. I noticed at the end of my 14 or so hour days, my make up isn't oily, and stays on just a little better. The one downfall with this product was the scent...It smells like fresh baked pastries, sweet and greasy.

Secret Agent Beauty Kiss Kiss Rendezvous 

I have an abnormal amount of lipgloss in my purse. About 13 or so that are my 'go to' colors. (The first step is always admittance, right?) The Secret Agent Gloss, is phenomonal, and could bring my lipgloss addiction to the single digits. It's not sticky, it goes on smoothly, and stays on. Plus it makes my lips look like they have fillers (for the record, they don't).

Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape

This moved from the box directly into my "danger" bag I keep in my purse (tide wipes, clear polish, visene, aleve, etc.) and I wish I would have bought them sooner. That annoying gap in my button down...fixed. I can't wait to use them this summer with some scoops and v-necks.

Ghiradelli Milk & Caramel Squares

Bliss. Obviously. 

So that's my Birchbox Brag for the month of February... What did you get in your Birchbox this month? Do you use any of the products I got?

Happy Thursday & Thanks for Reading!!!

Wednesday Wish List

I'm buying new tires today. (In all honesty, that may be the most depressing opening sentence to a blog I've ever written). My conversation with the owner of the tire place went like this: "You realize I could buy something really pretty with this money...like a purse, or a margarita machine, or a raincoat I've been coveting..." "You realize none of those things will save your life?" So here's what I'm wishing I was purchasing instead of tires today:

ATiffany & Co. Infinity Pendant 

A Lulu Lemon Draft Dodger Jacket

Hunter Balmoral Leather Lady Sporting Boots

Some French Macarons from Williams-Sonoma

Tickets for Mumford & Sons at one of their stopover dates

So that is just an idea of what I'd buy instead of tires today.

Happy Wednesday...What are you wishing for?

A little heartbreak

I found the above quote on Pinterest the other day. It's Perfect. 

2012 was NOT my year...Especially the last quarter.

I've begun this post over and over again, and I'm finally to a point where I'm ready to share...

2 days prior to the beginning of finals I had my first (and hopefully last) broken heart. I still have a text I sent to my older brother right after everything happened stating: "I didn't know I could hurt so big..." 

I think all my friends were waiting (some still are) for a meltdown, heartache, or sadness. I was sad. I gave myself one day to be sad. Instead of studying for finals, I cried. I had a massage--which I cried through, I went shopping with my dad, went on a long run--cried during that (which is pretty impressive), went to church, ate Ben and Jerrys while watching Lifetime (and crying)...and went to bed.

The next day I woke up, and life went on. I'm not saying I didn't hurt any less, or that I didn't still have hope, but I made a conscious decision that I wasn't willing for something which was now the past (instead of the future as I hoped) to have any negative effect on my future.  As Olivia Pope said on Scandal: "Work helps. So does exercise. Stuff that numbs you, keeps you from thinking too much. Dating also helps, but it also helps to remember that he hates you and it helps to try to hate him too..." A little melodramatic, but I agree with the premise of that quote.

Not only did life go on, but astonishing things have happened. I'm back to being my "old self" as so many have reminded me. I'm ambitious, confident, happy, comfortable in my own skin, outgoing, driven... I've remembered so many reasons of why it is important to love myself, and how to do so. And with this 'new' state of mind, my 2013 so far has been a helluva ride.

I've bought a house. I had dinner with a Supreme Court Justice (more on this once I get the pictures back). I argued in front of an attorney from the International Court of Justice...and she liked me. I'm busier than I've ever been, working more hours than I ever have, I'm surrounded by incredible people, and coming into so many amazing opportunities. I honestly wouldn't trade this part of my life for anything. Life is good. Actually, life is beautiful. 

So like the quote says...Hang in there, and astonishing things will happen... I can't wait to see what's next.

Thanks for Reading!