Guilty Pleasure

I've had that song on repeat for some time now & it never gets old. I've been waiting to see a video but nothing's popped up yet. The collab is perfect! As much as Wale can prove to be an ass with his Twitter antics, he can lay a track. Rick Ross has been on some of my favorite songs lately. Something about him seems like he knows how to be man in all situations. All girls like a man that will take care of business & just allow us to watch him put in work. (Message!) Jeremih's vocals just kind of tied the two together. Whoever put this together hit the nail on the head! My favorite line is Wale's "You'll probably find someone but you'll never find another!"

The countdown begins...(and rambling about my rambling)

I'm awfully ramble-y lately! I'm not sure what the deal is but I feel like I'm much more talkative than usual. I'm 99.9999956% sure that it's because I'm rounding my last days in my 20s. I guess instead of going out & blowing money on things I don't need, I'm gushing with random babble. God bless my friends for bearing with me. Luck for you that you only get my 2 cents if I click "publish post". The loves of my life get a dose of me by way of phone call, BBM, GChat, text, carrier pigeon and sneak attack. There's not nearly enough wine, chocolate & shiny things by which I could sufficiently repay them for the energy they expend to keep me sane (and from running off to be a nun who sneakily drinks wine in her room of the convent while waiting on the hot Italian guy who delivers the bread each day. If I'm going to finish my days in a convent, at least, allow me to view the merchandise since I can't touch it!). As I was saying, My friends are the bestest that a girl can have & I don't take them for granted a single day.

Speaking of awesome friends, I'm planning to couch surf at a friend's in the very near future. Since my trip last summer, I've spent over 365 days craving pizza from Gino's East in Chicago and I think I will explode if I do not consume it soon. So to Chi-town I will go! I'm not really up for a Dirty 30 party so I'm just going to hang with my friend, eat my way through the Gino's East menu, frolic on Pennsylvania Avenue for a few days, then bring it back home. This is how I want to welcome my 30s! I'm silently counting the days until my feet touch Midwest soil!

P.S. I got the Instructional Design Specialist position that I've been going after & I am so excited! It's taken a month of exhausting interviews, pushing myself and encouraging words from friends. Again, I feel blessed beyond measure!

Gimme that!

The other day, I had a tad bit of free time after work and I decided to swing my Anthropologie. This place normally gets me in so much trouble. (Not so) surprisingly, it's not the clothes that I have a hard time resisting. It's the random knick-knacks they sell that I must have. Only in Anthropologie would I feel completely justified in purchasing a $25 notebook. Despite my weakness, I ducked in and quickly fell back into bad habit. I resisted as much as I could by leaving with just a belt. I wore it out on a date last night. (I'll spare you the sad details of that monstrosity!) I can't wait to wear it more!

Here's what caught my eye! Maybe I'll get something with the 15% off birthday card they sent last week.

Don't act like you're surprised that I'd be drooling over a book!

Love this cute dish for keeping up with my rings!

Despite my coffee addiction, I thought this would also work as a cute alternative flower pot!

I have such a weakness for skirts & dresses!

The kangaroo pouch pocket on this Dolce Vita number is a plus!

Though I have been keeping shopping to a minimum for essentials, I did "splurge" a bit on a recent trip to Starbucks. Overall, Beyonce did pretty good with 4. It's taken me a while to like most of the songs. My favorites are Party, Countdown, Rather Die Young & Run the World. Bey rarely does wrong in my eyes & she delivered for me on this album. It's worth checking out!

Seen and Heard

My introverted personality takes pride in moving about undetected with stealth-like precision. Last week, I had a complete misfire of my ninja powers...

My alarm started blaring at 5:30 and I stumbled from the bed about a hour later. Despite the slow start, I was in great spirits & went about getting ready. I don't toil around with making perfect outfits. I pretty much close my eyes, reach in my closet & pull out something. As long as the resulting outfit covers my lady bits, I roll with it without too much additional thought. This day was no different. By 7:20, I was out the door & at Starbucks by 7:30. In that 10 minute time frame, a monsoon came through and I was taking my 2nd shower of the day. Still determined to get in my daily allowance of caffeine, I snatched up my umbrella from the passenger side floorboard, whipped it out my door & headed into the elements. Halfway across the parking lot, God must have taken a deep sigh because a huge gust of wind came through. Consequently, my umbrella turned on me & cracked me right in the middle of my forehead. So M-F'ing hard that I stumbled! Through the cartoon-like stars circling my head, I saw another Starbucks patron shaking his head in amazement at my moment of discombobulation! Not wanting to let on that I felt as small as an ant, I sauntered right into the Starbucks to get my crack...err, drink. The wind was apparently still in the mood to toy with me & was now forcing me to use my not-so-brute strength to open the door. Once I got it open, the damn wind was not letting go & causing me to yank it closed. {Insert loud boom} Gathering my composure & my cardigan (now completely twisted & exposing far too much skin for February), I let my umbrella down and tossed it next to the creamer station. {Insert nuclear bomb sound effect} Terrified, I looked around and locked eyes with my Starbucks admirer. My brain flooded with millions of prayers similar to: "GO-GO-GADGET INVISIBLE CLOAK", "PLEASE GOD MELT ME INTO A PUDDLE LIKE IN THE CARTOONS" and "WAKE UP & THIS DREAM WILL BE OVER"! I think God may have walked away from the mainline briefly because none of the above happened. I hurried to the counter to order my goods, spoke a gratuitous "Good Morning!" to my buddy then scurried to my car. Once in the safety of my car, I let out the most audible sigh in history then smacked my (still pink from Round 1 with my umbrella)forehead on the steering wheel. I want to tell you the day got astronomically better. I really do! In typical fashion, I managed to execute several equally embarrassing moments across the remainder of the day. I hit the sack around 8:00 that night to spare the lives of the remaining citizens of my dear city.

This is not an excerpt from a tween book series! This is a typical day in my life proving that you just grow older not cooler!


Photo credit: I stole this picture somewhere from the interwebz months ago. I'll find the original owner & give them proper credits, I promise!

Forgive my disbelief!

Sometimes I can't believe:

• what an awesome set of friends that I have
• just how wrong I was about life as a teen
• the awesome endless possibilities this world holds
• how much love I am capable of expending despite all the hurt I've experienced
• what a cruel world I live in
• the kindred souls I've met despite us being so many miles away
• how much I have grown in the last 5 years
• how paralyzing some of my most irrational fears are to me
• my brain hasn't exploded from all the dorky & useless info I cram into it
• how much I love sushi
• I survived my teen years without crumbling to ashes
• I have these 2 piercings and want more
• how massive my hair is
• I'm not out of these damn braces yet
• people actually care what I have to say
• I'm madly in love with someone & there's absolutely nothing that I can do about it
• God chooses repeatedly to use me bring life back to others
• that person in the mirror is me

Disbelief is the most counterproductive cognitive function! The only way to cure it is simply to do the opposite and just believe. Each day is a process that I'm willing to give my all to because I know the end result will be worth the effort.

On Repeat...

Since my new-old position kicked off, my schedule has been a bit erratic. It all happened at the time of some major rollouts so I've been spending longer days at work. Music has been keeping me sane! Here's a bit of what I've been looping non-stop:

So Beautiful - Musiq Soulchild

Slow Dance - Keri Hilson

Come Close - Common & Mary J. Blidge

More Than Love - Amerie & Fabolous

Break You Off - The Roots & Musiq Soulchild

F*ck You!

There is no other statement in the English language that's as definite as this! There is no denying what's meant when this is yelled at you! I always get a chuckle when I'm going back & forth with my BFF about some random situation & she replies "Screw them!" I know deep down inside she wants to launch a super-sized f-bomb! I'm so glad that I'm surrounded by people who are completely okay with exclaiming just how they feel. In fact, I think people should live in the moment of expressing themselves and telling someone where to park their foolery. (Not so) Shamefully, I admit that I've dropped a few f-bombs in my lifetime. It's just something liberating about the whole thing! However, I've crafted quite a few classy ways of doing it. As much I'd like to stand on a table to deliver my message (hand gestures included), I've perfected my own ways of delivering the message fully wrapped in the grace of Southern girl. Please let me know if you'd like to learn a few ways!

This video is such a gem & probably quite appropriate for someone's day!

Happy Hump Day!

Sign of the [Good] Times

For the last month, I've been hearing a weird rattling whenever I'm driving. Like the typical women, I didn't poke around to see what it was. I just figured that I'd mention it to my boyfriend* at the dealership when it was time to get my oil changed. After weeks of this noise, I reached in that little knick-knack nook under the radio and pulled out the source of this clamor. It was the remnants of my once-favorite vintage belt! Poor thing met an untimely & premature death while I was...ummm...carousing downtown during the July 4th weekend. Literally, I watched a chunk of it plummet to the sidewalk. More than likely, I yelled out in despair! Complete details on that night will forever stay under wraps! *hangs head in shame* All I have to show for it is my shattered buckle & even more randomness on my BB memory card. And to that, I say..C'est la vie! Small price to pay for good memories!

*I use the term boyfriend very loosely! The serviceman assigned to me when I bought my car is a doll & takes very good care of me so I return the favor in random snacks or lunch during my maintenance visits. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he's Reggie Bush FINE!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

Premeditated slackage alert:

My birthday is in 10 days! Depending on the trouble that I can find to get into, it could either result in complete adventure win or epic blogging fail. Whatever the case, be patient as my posts could get even more sporadic than they are now. Can you believe that?? ♥

Could it all be so simple?

I'm a mixed bag of emotions today! Instead of going into it, I thought I'd leave you with this picture of a small indulgence from last night. Thank goodness for cupcakes & Sprite!

~Tree Hugger~

The result of a cancelled lunch date & nothing else for me to do!

And then there was 1...

How often does this happen? I'm the lucky girl who gets the trolley to myself...AGAIN! I should probably be worried about what people will think of me riding the trolley alone on a Friday night. I'm not. I should probably be worried about some thug snatching my purse. I'm not. I actually kind of like this. Not even the driver has mumbled a word to me. (My guess is that he likes being alone, too.) As odd as it seems to others, I like it this way. Only when I'm alone can I really appreciate myself. Being in the mix throws in added nuisance of insecurity & doubt. Who wants to party with those two Debbie Downers? In this moment, I love that no one can be dorky, charming, mysterious and passionate ME!

Growing up, we're constantly told that we're unique & there's no one else like us. Well, I can boast that's pretty accurate for me. See, I'm part of the 1%! Not just any 1% but THE 1% that wears the label INFJ! In moments like this, my INFJ is at peace & can rest but still relish in the moment. We like the chance to just be surrounded by space. For in that space, our creativity and intellect run wild. All the problems of the world are quickly solved once space exists. I love space & it loves me. We make a powerful couple that can take the world head on. So we'll finish this ride & things will be much clearer at the end. And then I'll step back into world as just one of many but my favorite ONE!

*I wrote this last night while doing one of my favorite things in the entire world - riding the Main Street trolley. In my perfect world, I can get in one Main Street visit a week. It's only $1 each time you get on and it pays for itself over and over again. This is where I get in the best people watching and conversations with strangers. My BlackBerry is full of these random thoughts which, until now, have never seen the light of day. Eeeek!

In a nutshell...

As if, the world needs another blogger, you just got one! Lucky for you, I'm not looking to change the face of fashion or forcing the masses to go green. I'm just looking for a spot to use as my brain dump.

Random facts about me:

• Few beverages top sweet tea in my book!
• I love music that makes my hear sing but sometimes settle for what makes my hips swing!
• I'm a hopeless romantic with lots of tricks up my sleeves.
• I'm never on time (so expect sporadic posts).
• I dream of (& will) one day living in Paris!
• I hate when people ask me about myself.
• I'm as clumsy as they get!
• Unlike most girls, I'm not a fan of roses. *gasp* I prefer gigantically country sunflowers!
• A career as a Nascar driver crosses my mind, at least, once a week.
• I own more dresses than all the girls I know but you'll probably catch me in jeans most often.
• I like my hair the most when I haven't touched it in a couple days!
• If I can't laugh my way into your heart, I'll just cook my way in!

That's me in a nutshell! So sit back & let's see where this goes!