We ARE Beautiful.

I'm going to be really honest about something that's kind of personal. I don't often try to use this blog to talk about my inner most feelings because, well, I feel weird about that. But tonight I will (for a good cause).

I don't think I've ever felt that I was a pretty girl. Stop rolling your eyes. I'm NOT looking for any sort of compliment here. What I mean is, I don't think I'm unfortunate looking by any means but I've always been really insecure about my looks. And by always, I mean since I can remember. I was a goofy, freckle faced, red head with the whitest legs in the world as a little girl. And my freckles were splotchy, at best and I had a huge gap between my teeth. I was a sight to behold.

Through the years, I became less splotchy and got the gap fixed. And I'm not insecure about much in life but for some reason I have never felt that I measured up to "pretty" girl standards. I'm critical of myself more than anyone. High school and college were awesome and I had great friends and my share of boyfriends. But I always felt like the least pretty one of all my friends. I was always the funny one. Never the pretty one. Which is fine, of course. But I always wondered what it was like to be the pretty one.

Through my twenties and now into my thirties, I've really grown into myself. Like I said, I'm a pretty confident person about most things and I've come to realize that I'm who I am and that's okay. But for some reason to this day, I am highly critical about my looks. I could leave my house feeling confident and pretty and then I see someone that looks cute and immediately second guess my hair, my outfit and my makeup. I don't want this to sound like this consumes me, because it doesn't. I can own this feeling and reason it out. Because I'm not gonna be a super model or a size 2. Ever. And that's totally fine. Because what I'm lacking in looks, I make up for in my big personality. haha.

So the reason I'm writing this little confessional is because I was reading a magazine this weekend and found this article about Operation Beautiful. I was really inspired by this because this girl started a movement by posting a post it on the mirror in a public bathroom saying "You are beautiful" and posted it on her blog. Fast forward to now, women all over are leaving inspiring notes to strangers in public places about how beautiful we all are. Amazing! Can you imagine finding a note like this posted somewhere on a day that you don't feel your best? Wouldn't that make your day? I would love it if I found a note like this. So I've decided that I'm going to start doing this randomly in public places. Because it may make a difference to someone. And I'm going to order the book too. And I think the first note I'm going to write is going to hang in my very own bathroom. :)

Happy Monday beautiful people...xoxo

Weekend Wins

Well, the final weekend of the summer has come. Next weekend, I'll be welcoming new college students to campus (with a large coffee in hand, of course). I had Friday off so I decided I would go to Albany for a little back to school shopping. Really, I just needed to go to Sephora to get some makeup. And I was proud of my restraint because I only purchased the item I was in search of. Of course I hit up a few more places before heading home. I mean I did drive an hour after all. :) I was pleased to find a few cute things.
I happened upon this great jacket from Land's End. It was super clearance style (under $30). I got it in a light khaki. Love.And I finally picked up the madras tote from LLbean. I think this will be a great bag for the fall. And by fall, I mean starting tomorrow. Saturday morning was spent at yard sales for the third weekend in a row. My friend, Angie and I got a lot of good deals. This week I found a bench/trunk thing. I'm going to paint this up and use it for blankets. I'm not sure what color yet. I forgot to show my big find from last week. I have been searching for wicker furniture for my enclosed front porch. I got this cute rocking chair and table for $20. I am going to paint this because it's in need of a fresh coat of paint and replace the cushion. It's in great condition and it looks good on the porch. Gracie agrees.

I also wanted to update you on this stand that I got a few weeks ago ($5).

I painted it black and got some new knobs. Now it's the home of my nail polish collection (Yes, both drawers)Today I spent the morning cleaning and the afternoon at the lake getting some sun and relaxing. This week is going to be busy. I mean I do have a new bag to debut. :)

I hope you all had a great weekend!

Fall into Fun

It's day three of rainy, gross weather. Okay, Okay. I KNOW I shouldn't complain because the summer has been really lovely up to this point and I've been off to enjoy it. I can get down with a day of rain. The kind of day that makes you put on sweats and watch movies on the couch. But after three consecutive days (especially at the end of the summer) I'm pretty much over it. But it has made me want to compile my list of things I'm looking forward to for this fall. (I'm also looking for ways to distract myself from doing work tonight--I'm over at Cristina's babysitting Sam, who is soundly sleeping upstairs)

Fall into Fun list

• Going to to the Fenimore/Farmer's Museum with Courtney
• Going to the Cider Mill
• Running the 5K in October
• Fall decorations--it's my favorite season to decorate for
• Football games
• Rediscovering my boot collection and fall clothes
• A wine tour (definitely need to look into this)
• Pumpkin Spice coffee from Dunkin Donuts
• Going to the butterfly conservatory in town (so random)
• Going to Howe Caverns
• Shopping for new fall clothes
• Throwing a few kick ass parties (back to school, halloween and my birthday bash)
• My halloween costume (I haven't ordered it...yet)For the record I don't want to look (and WON'T be able to pull off) this touch of skank version. I'm looking for more of the good(ish) girl version. I wanted to be a cop for a few years but haven't found anything that looks classy enough. Trust me. I've googled girl cop costumes for my research and this is the best I've found. I think it's cute and it'll be fun. Plus, I've already got the shoes.

And of course, I will be looking forward to the beautiful leaves around here.

What are you looking forward to this fall?

American Honey

Another good weekend around here. I'm tired so this will be a short post. I went to a baseball game Friday night with some co workers and then spent some more quality time with Angie and Sabrina on Saturday morning at some yard sales (I got a good deal--another post soon).

The highlight of the weekend was going to see Lady Antebellum at a county fair last night. It was a great show. They have great voices and seem so down to earth. I was won over even more because they stopped a song to tell some idiot to stop fighting because people came out to have a good night. Good stuff.
I would love to see them again. I enjoy country concerts and I've been wanting to get to one for awhile now.

The ladies I went with. My friend Gillian and her friends. So much fun!Singing their first song together....All We'd Ever Need. Gillian and I. After the show we walked around the fair again (to wait for the traffic) and hit up the barns. Loved this little cow. She was so sweet. I'm a little bit country sometimes. :)
This concert was the last "fun" thing I had planned for the summer. That means it's time to start thinking about fall fun. I think I'll listen to my favorite Lady A song a few more times and savor the last few weeks until September:

"Oh nothing's sweeter than summer time and American Honey"

In the Bag

Anyone that knows me knows that I adore a good handbag. Sadly, I've been in a bag drought for a long time now. I'm talking I haven't purchased a bag in so long that I thought I'd have to change the "about me" section of this blog. I've been searching for a new bag but can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I'm over Vera Bradley these days and am just looking for neutrals. Sorry Vera, it was fun while it lasted.

Anyway, last weekend I was out and about and happened upon a brown bag that had potential (Liz & Co) It was marked way down and I was all about it but when I got to the register it was marked down even further (I'm talking under $20). I wasn't completely convinced of it's wonder but I figured it was worth the shot for the price.

Well, I'm happy to report that I'm in love. Yep. It's great. It's big and roomy and wonderful. And cute. And versatile. And as it turns out, blog worthy. :)

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend all!

Fair Enough

Well, I'm back at work for real now and that means my busy schedule is going to commence soon. But I've made a promise to myself that I will actually try to keep some balance in my life and to try to keep the positive energy going. (more on that another time)

In that spirit, instead of staying home and doing work (like I probably should have) on Tuesday my friend Jill and two of the nicest students ever went to another county fair. Now, our county fair is kind of...well, special. All the best of the county come out to show us their 4 collective teeth. We just assumed that this county would be even worse. Wow, were we wrong. It was great. I mean, there were a few questionable characters but really there are more rides and more vendors. I guess that's what you get for assuming.

Chelsey and Kelly after they rode the bobsled thing.

Chelsey and her friend.Jill and I--excited for the cotton candy Sheep in Snuggies Love the Fro How cute is this? they look so cozy.
The big momma and her babies. It was a fun night at the fair. I'm actually going back this weekend because Lady Antebellum is playing there and I snagged a ticket well before they sold out. Yay! Can't wait!

Good Stuff

Once again, had a weekend that was great, but not at all planned. The only solid plan I had going in was that Friday I was off and I had planned to have lunch with my friend, Angie. That was great because I haven't seen her in awhile and I've really missed her. Then I spent the rest of the day doing a little browsing at the mall. I ended up finding a cute dress and a new bag. (both on sale--and I had a coupon. word.)

Saturday morning I woke up early to head out to yard sales with Angie, Ava (Angie's daughter), and Sabrina. It was fun hanging out with these ladies and I actually found some things I really liked along the way. Let me show you.

A set of four cocktail plates from Pottery Barn with 4 different quotes about hosts and toasts on them.

This rocking chair was my favorite of the day. $15 well spent.
This little stand will soon become the home of my nail polish collection. It must be painted and new knobs put on, of course. But it'll be functional and cute. And only $5. Love that.

Of course I got a few little things too. I found some shutters that I may use for a project sometime. And a globe to go in my office area in my house. As the lady said, for .50 I could have the whole world in my hands. haha.

After my good yard sale luck, I had lunch with my grandma, aunt and cousin (they were passing through town on the way home to NC). While were were there, I got a text from my friend, Emily asking if I wanted to go to a benefit for the athletic department at the college I went to. She had an extra ticket. I had a new dress. It was fate.

It was a fun night. I saw a bunch of people I knew so that was nice too.

I ended my lovely Saturday with a few hours in the hot tub at a lake house that my friend's parents take care of. (I REALLY need to have a hot tub someday)

I thought today would be a stay at home kind of day but I started the day at a pancake breakfast with people from work and then spent the afternoon going to Albany to help Jill pick up her wedding dress and have dinner with some friends.

Dang, I'm tired.

But happy that life is never dull around here.

I hope you all had a great weekend too!

Wise

I don't remember how or why but when I was a little girl, I told my grandmother I liked owls. I'm not sure if it was true or it was because she liked them. Or maybe it was because I was into Woodsy Owl (remember him?) Either way, through the years I've always had something with owls. Although, I didn't want to be a collector of owls. I have this thing about knick knacks --as in I don't enjoy them. I don't like to say I collect anything because people feel like they should give you that object. Case in point--I like butterflies and for a few years I got EVERYTHING butterfly. Or when I decorated my first kitchen with apples....every gift I got was something apple. Don't get me wrong, it's so thoughtful but I guess I like to control how much of one thing I own. (I promise I do appreciate the gifts)

So anyway, back to owls. In the last few years my grandma sent up a box of owl figurines that sat in storage at my parents house. But when I moved into a bigger place this year, I decided that I needed to display the owls. (aren't they cute?)I finally realized that owls are important to me. Not because they are becoming trendy, but because they remind me of my childhood and my grandmother and I think she's one of the best woman I've ever known. She's strong and wise and I admire her more than I've ever said.

In that spirit, I've embraced the new owl trend too. Here are two necklaces I've gotten in the last year. And these sleep shorts. So cute.

So it turns out I'm going to be an owl collector after all. :)

New Looks

I love when I check the mailbox and I get one of my magazines. I flip through it once and then go back and read it for content. I spend a lot of time with mags when I'm working out on the elliptical or spending the afternoon outside at the pool. I especially like it when I find looks that I want to try out. Last year was knee socks and boots. This is what I'm loving now....

The green bow skirt. So adorable. I love the big bow and the green. I need it. And I'm also into this cute little sock and heel look. I wanted to buy a pair at American Apparel while I was in Boston, but I wasn't sure anyone would get it yet. But look...it may be time now. And it's not just this page...there were pages of little socks with heels in this issue. I was thrilled! It's almost as exciting as when I decided that knee socks were going to be my new thing. You know, last year.

I can't wait to go shopping for fall! What new looks are you into?

On the Run

Well, tonight seems like an appropriate/ironic night to post this. I'm currently sitting on the couch with a heating pad pressed up on my back. Because this morning I went to work (my first day back from vacation) and I developed some incredible lower back pain. And for no good reason. I've done nothing that would be considered stressful. Eh, whatever. I'm sure it's nothing serious. I probably slept wrong.

In any case, I want to hold myself accountable to something that's important to me. I've recently started a Couch to 5K training program. Let me start by saying that I've never been a runner. I mean, I played sports, and I like to exercise but I wasn't a person that thought running was redeeming in any way. But I decided that I'd like to actually run a 5K to prove to myself that I could do it. I know that it probably doesn't seem that impressive but I never thought I would be doing it. I picked a local race called the Pit Run. It's a big event in my community and I have traditionally done the walk...so I figured I'd stay close to home to do my first race. It's the first Sunday in October so I started my program and I'm actually a little ahead of the training. It's early but I think I might enjoy running a little. We'll see how I feel in a few weeks. ;)I'll periodically talk about this because I need to hold myself accountable. And I'm excited to try something new. Any advice from any of you that have run a 5K before?

Stay tuned for updates and thanks in advance for listening!

Weekend Fun

I didn't really have any solid plans for this weekend, but it turns out it was a busy and fun one. On Friday, I had lunch with my grandma, aunt and cousin. They got into town from NC. Then went to the pool for a few hours. Friday night a few of my friends and I went to the Drive-In Movies near us. I haven't been to the drive in up here but I used to go with my family when I was little in Virginia. It was a fun night. We saw Inception (GREAT movie) and then Dinner for Schmucks (terrible). My cousin, Hillary came with me and spent the night. That was nice to have her here. Saturday afternoon was family time at my great aunts house. It was a beautiful day to be outside together. We had a cake for Aunt Velma (she turned 95 on Friday).

My Dad and I.

Grandma, Aunt Karen, Aunt Marian and Hillary.

Sunday morning I decided that I needed to be outside in the sun all so my friend Gillian and I headed to the lake for the day. It was so nice and relaxing and the weather was perfect.

I love the views of this lake.

Today my dad, aunt, cousin and I headed to Cooperstown to the Baseball Hall of Fame for the day. I've lived here a long time and I've never been so I was glad to do it. I had no idea how much there is to see in the museum.

Hillary, Aunt Karen and Dad

Hillary and I

Dad pointing out fun facts for us.

The Hall of Fame

And me posing with the Phillies Phanatic.

So after a fun weekend, I'm heading back to work tomorrow. I have a lot to get done and I feel like I've been gone forever. But don't worry--I have Friday off so I only have a three day work week to deal with. :) I already can't wait until then to see what fun awaits!

Hope you all had a good weekend, too!

Gracie and Sadie

Gracie and Sadie. Everyone who really knows me knows that I adore these cats. And this week marks five years since they were two tiny little kittens that got picked out of a room full of kittens. I can't believe it's been that long.

My friend Andra and I decided we needed to get kittens back in August 2005 (after the pet policy was passed) so we headed to the Peace Plantation (a local animal sanctuary). Andra picked out Sadie because she was a little fat fur ball of cuteness. And I sat down on the ground and decided the cat would have to pick me. So I asked the kittens who wanted to come live with me. And that's when Gracie ran over to me and licked my leg. That was that. Gracie was the one for me.

After they came home to live in their respective homes, we got them together once in awhile to have kitty play dates (we didn't want them to get lonely after all) and they always seemed to remember each other. Which turned out to be a very good thing. A year or so later, Andra had to go home to Maine because she donated 60% of her liver to her father and she left Sadie with me during those few months. When Andi returned, she told me that she thought Sadie should stay with me because she was going to be moving back to Maine to go to graduate school. I was glad to adopt Sadie. (Thank you, Andi)

And ever since Gracie and Sadie have been the best of friends. And they provide me with hours of entertainment.

Sadie is sweet. She's always wanting to cuddle or play catch with her mouse.

Gracie is more naughty. She's often getting into trouble. But damn she's cute.
Haha. This was my attempt to take a Christmas picture. They are totally judging me.

This is when they were kittens. They were so little and cute.

Happy 5 years to my little friends!

I think this calls for some catnip.