Back To School

Today marks my last first day of school. 

I just added it up... Between preschool, 7 years elementary school, 2 years middle school, 4 years high school, 4 years college, and 3 years law school. That's more than 20 years of my life that I've been in school. Crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

I'm really excited about my final semester of law school... I have a fantastic schedule which will permit me to clerk all the time at the job I love, and focus on the subjects I love. I'm taking Appellate Litigation, Pretrial Litigation, Defense of Criminal Cases (on the Federal Level), Civic Organizing and Democracy, and I'm the captain of, and an oralist on, our traveling International Appellate Litigation team.

What I am  looking forward to the most is the unknown (this is coming from the type-a planner). What comes after I graduate (other than the Bar Exam). The great adventures I'm ready to have, changing the world, all the things I want to, and am so excited to, accomplish during my lifetime. I have to couple my ambition with gratitude. It amazes me that I have been blessed enough to, and live in a place that allows me to, have an incredible education and all the opportunities that it has presented me. I can't wait to see what my (years of) education is going to allow me to do in the future. 

Happy Thursday & Thanks for Reading!

House & Home

I alluded to a "big girl" purchase recently.

Emily from Blue Dog Belle guessed a Chanel Bag (sigh), one of my girlfriends texted me asking if it was a Porsche Cayenne (double sigh coupled with laughter), another one emailed me and asked if it was Europe (crossing my fingers on that). Clearly my friends think I have much better taste than I can actually afford at this point in my life... =D However, I have to hint say any and all of the above would be fabulous law school graduation presents. (Now I'm sure you're laughing).

I. Bought. A. House.

Like my very own, real life, I still can't believe it, house.
(The above picture is from Pinterest...definite dream house)

I signed my end of the Purchase Agreement and put my Ernst Money down on Thursday...and Friday afternoon, I found it it was Mine (!)

My calendar now has things including "Service One," "Home Inspection," "Deep Cleaning Day..." My to-do list suddenly includes "price furniture," "setting up a security system," and "bidding painters." My outings and shopping are now done with things like "mortgage," "utilities," "HOAs," and "taxes/insurance" in mind. 

With all of these new and unknown things, I have to tell you, I could not be any more happy, excited, or scared for this adventure to start. Initially, I was going to wait to buy a house and wait to move until after the Bar Exam at the end of July.  However, the timing, price, location, size, and rates were perfect. I truly believe my Realtor finding this place for me had to be directed by Divine Intervention.

(Another Pintrest Dream with all the wood floors)

I don't have any idea what I need to know, to buy, to do...and that's where you come in! What are your hints for moving, that must have item that you never thought of, and things to scrimp on and things to splurge on...

Can't wait to hear your tips, suggestions, & ideas!
Happy Hump Day & Thanks For Reading

Vent Sesh

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Actually my bed is pushed against a wall...so I can only wake up on one side of the bed. But, with the mood I'm currently in, I think I could make Medusa look like Mother Theresa. 

I started out typing an uncharacteristically cranky post, actually a post of mini rants/vents. That's one thing (of many things) about my blog that I love. I can be honest, I can be myself, and I don't have to apologize for it. After I wrote my rants, then minimized my screen, and re read them...I deleted the entire post. 

So I'm going to tell you 5 things that are making me smile through my foul mood:

1) I have a delicious salad for lunch... Spinach with Blueberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Green Pepper, and fresh Mozzarella. 

2) My local coffee shop (which is my daily morning stop for a flavored coffee with half and half in my travel mug) was serving my favorite flavored coffee ("Highlander Grogg") this morning.

3) This Picture:

4) My January Birchbox was shipped last week, and I just checked the shipping status and should be getting it today or tomorrow (!!!)

5) I'm making myself take a dance class at Lifetime tonight.

Okay, what's making you smile today...I'd love to hear!

Happy Tuesday & Thanks for reading 

Weekend Recap

Monday (I rolled my eyes when I wrote that). I cannot believe it is already the middle of January. My final semester of law school begins on Thursday...I have started to wonder where these past three years have gone. My weekend flew by...and this week is already promising to be an extremely busy , so hopefully (the first half) flies by as well.

Friday night AB and I went out for Sushi (the roll is smothered in guac...combining two of my favorite food groups, mildly questionable, but surprisingly delish) and a Fishbowl...I promise it looks super imposed in the picture, and that it took us a really long time to finish it. The bottom picture is after the fishbowl. Success.

Saturday involved retail (work, not therapy), pet sitting for two of my favorite puppies (Bailey and Zoey), meeting my Godfather for coffee, and a little bit of fun...Moscow Mules, Curry Fries & Spicy Kabob, and spending some time with some of my favorite dudes while watching the Packers/49er's Game and schooling them at darts. 

Sunday again involved retail (again, work, not shopping), a trip to Costco with Dad--where he bought me their soft serve ice cream for breakfast (no wonder he and I are best friends), spending time with the adorable Bailey and Zoey, a coffee date with my Godmother (I had so much fun...we talked for 2 hours), watching the Golden Globes Red Carpet with my parents...and working on our Jessup International Moot Court Memorials (Briefs) that are due this coming Tuesday. 

How was your weekend? Any big/exciting plans this coming week?

Happy Monday & Thanks for Reading

Confessional Friday

T.G.I.F. Friends. This week has felt so so so long. I'm not sure if it was the "holiday hangover," where working full time at my law clerk job, and then adding on hours at my retail job, and then working out every day (yep patting myself on the back right now) caused me to be a zombie...or if it's just because the hubub of the Holidays has worn off and it's back to reality. Anywho, I have lots to say today, so I'm linking up with Leslie over at A Blonde Ambition for Confessional Friday.

I confess that I didn't quite know what to do myself during the 'winter break' for all of my favorite television shows. I am so so so happy that my tv shows are back. For example, I heard "Change Your Mind" (lyrics found here) sung by Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio this week on Nashville. Ohmygoodnessgracious. Aside from being obsessed with almost everything (wardrobes, hair, home decor, and the guilty pleasure drama...) about that show, now this song. 

I confess that I'm terrified by the ads that are popping up on Facebook and Gmail. I really dislike how my recent searches are suddenly infiltrating my sidebars.

I confess that after I heard the forecast for this weekend (frigid temperatures and high winds), I contemplated (like typed out text messages) cancelling my weekend plans.

I confess that my daddy has never ever used the terms mature or wise to describe me, or my decision making capabilities...and this past week he has used those terms numerous times.

I confess that I ate a bowl of puppy chow for dinner last night (and may have had some Hershey's Kisses for dessert)...and it was worth. every. last. bite.

I confess that I'm bursting with excitement to tell all of you about a really big girl purchase that I'm making...but need to wait just a little bit longer :)

TGIF & Thanks For Reading!!!

Be Yourself

The title of the post, is something that I've discovered to be much easier said than done... To be perfectly honest, it is something that I've struggled with over the years. Even to this day, I have to remind myself to well, just be myself. It's easy to adapt to your surroundings and emulate those you surround yourself with. Becoming a chameleon, or wallflower so you don't have to decide who you want to be is another option (this is never my go to)... or on the other end of the spectrum creating a larger than life personality that outshines so many different attributes of the real you. 

Over the past few weeks, I've had a handful of people (friends, colleagues, acquaintances, who all have a completely objective view of me) inform me that something has changed about me, and they like this version of Emily better (actually, a lot of them have used the phrase "old self"). At first I was completely baffled and slightly hurt by their unsolicited opinion(s)... but then after this subject kept coming up with different people, I realized  that they are all correct. Something has changed. I'm not only being myself, but I'm loving who that is turning out to be. 

I've been trying to put my finger on the catalyst, and I have a couple ideas what might have prompted a change, but when it comes down to it--it wasn't someone or something--but the ultimate change was within myself. The something that has given me insurmountable confidence, renewed my ambition, made me wake up each and every day with a huge smile, excited and thankful, to be alive. 

Thanks for letting me share this newfound or renewed happiness and confidence with all of you. I know it's much more personal than I normally blog about. But, it was on my heart...and since I have the propensity to wear my heart on my sleeve... I figured why not!  

Happy Thursday & Thanks for reading!

Wednesday's Wish List

Making a wish list last Wednesday was like opening up a can of worms. I've been dreaming about $17,000 tufted couches from Restoration Hardware since...but on the plus side the shower curtain I was coveting from Anthro is on sale now!!! And it was so much fun to share with you the things that I've been drooling over (figuratively drooling, I swear), so I figured why not, I love wishful thinking, so I'll do it again :)

Le Creuset's Signature Collection 6-Piece Set in "Caribbean Blue." I absolutely love Le Creuset, they have so many fun pieces...and they last forever. I'm obsessed with this shade of blue, maybe because it's the middle of winter, or maybe because it would distract from my cooking. Who knows, but I LOVE it.

This is more of a "need" than a wish... I need a new gym bag, and I really want the Do It Up Duffel from Lulu Lemon. I love the quality of each and every Lulu product I own,  I appreciate the functionality and practicality of this bag, along with the fact that it can hold so much, and that it is in black  (although they have a couple others with really fun colors and prints). I also think that this would transition really well for a weekend getaway bag...so what am I waiting for, right?

During the winter and summer months, I use a sugar scrub almost religiously (I recently stocked up on some of my favorite at Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale). After seeing so many recipes for homemade scrubs on Pinterest, I've started to research different types of sugar scrubs. I've read really good reviews about the Trish McEvoy Body Polish Sugar Scrub... like you literally glow and it smells like heaven type of good things. So I think this would be really fun to try, and compare, to what I normally use!

Farouk Touch Screen Hair Dryer. Okay I'm sure you're laughing while reading this, and I'm almost embarrassed for posting that I want this... But, like the gym bag, I really need a new hair dryer. And this one seems like a robot,  dries hair in less than half of normal drying time (hello 5-7 minutes of extra sleep)...and is super quiet. I can't quite figure out the cost, and I'm sure I don't want to...but seriously--a robot hair dryer--amazing!

I realize Valentine Candy just came out...and that I'm writing this post at 8 in the morning. But I really really really would love some of the Reeses Pieces Eggs. 

What are you Wishing for today?

Happy Hump Day & Thanks for reading =D