To Do(ne)

Well, today is day 2 of being productive while perched at my desk.

I realize the fact that I've now posted two blog posts about this is slightly pathetic but I am truly amazed... which might be more pathetic than the previous statement...

But check out my to-do list!

• Print Rhetoric articles
• Read Rhetoric articles
• Look up PR company dad told you about
• Touch up/Finalize resume
• Email resume
• Email Jane Teel
• Email Ric Smith
• Touch up nails
• Print out Internship packet
• Rent the Runway meeting @ 5:30
• Gather writing samples 
• Edit writing samples

If that's not productive for a 21-year-old junior on a Monday running off of 5.5 hours of sleep and acing her french test, then I don't know what is. 

And since I've been so "Johnny On The Spot" as my mother would say, I have time for the fun things like touching up my nails (Essie: Fishnet Stockings) and going to my meeting! (Today we're planning a trunk show! How exciting!) 

Perhaps my motivation comes from the fact that I will be plopped on Kacey's couch from 7-10 p.m. watching our routine, quality and educational television. (Gossip Girl, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion and Pretty Little Liars)

Productively Yours,

-Lo. 

Productivity

I have a large hatred for studying at my desk. I don't really know how to explain it or my reasoning behind it, but I hate it.
In high school I rarely studied at my desk at home and when I was younger we always did our work at the kitchen table.

I like to be comfortable but I don't like studying in my bed because I like to keep that a place of peace and clarity for my cherished hours of slumber...

Which is why I hate having to admit something to all of you...

Back store: 
I've been on a cleaning kick which is a jaw-dropping statement to most of you who know me...

I think most ladies find that cleaning can be somewhat completely therapeutic. (I'm going to make a side note and tell you that I just now learned the correct spelling of "therapeutic." The "e" before the "u"was news to me...to a PR major this is a thrilling discovery.)

Anyhow, I cleaned out my closet last weekend, and this weekend I continued my trek and cleaned up my bookshelves, bathroom and desk area... (cue jaws music...dun-nuh, dun-uh)

I have my first test of the semester tomorrow morning (so naturally I decided to clean before studying since that will really help my chances of passing...) and I decided to try sitting down at my desk to study since my recent Netflix subscription has me glued to my bed watching The Hills...

(No but really...I even worked out in my room yesterday so I could watch...I know I know)

Y'all...I got SO. MUCH. DONE. 

It was like taking an adderall. I literally sat at my desk for HOURS studying french.

I studied, I updated the layout of my blog, I wrote my story for the newspaper I write for...it was GREAT! 

In fact I'M STILL SITTING HERE. This is crazy.

Maybe this is a sign that I'll be successful working at a desk when I enter the "real" world...

Who am I kidding, it's only day 1..let's not get a head of ourselves.

 Just thought I would share.

-Lo.

Mums the Word.

I like to describe my moods in terms of music; Genres, Artists, Decades... and yesterday was a Mumford & Sons kind of day. 

It was rainy and breezy and the nighttime was so foggy I felt I was intruding on the Twilight set. 

If you're ever caught in weather like this and you're feeling a mixture of sleep deprivation, nostalgia (an emotional combo if you aren't careful), a hint of trendiness that is flirting with the hipster side of you and a strange longing to be in a European country... dust off this album in your iPod and give it a listen... it suits your mood like a Chanel jacket suits Jackie O. 

As I listened to the genius-ness that is Mumford I couldn't help but wonder to myself who the hell this girl was they were so passionately singing about. My curiosity led to texting my friend Erin who then encouraged me to tweet this ponder. 

And here I am, days later still wondering. 

I guess I am so curious because rarely do I find such beauty in such frustrated and furious passion. 

As I stated in my tweet...whoever she is, she must have been a real trip because she sure seemed to do a number on these gentlemen. 

My thoughts then led me to this: if you were that girl, would you ever admit it? I mean think about it... the songs are phenomenal but not in the least bit flattering. 

So the question of the hour: Do you take credit for the inspiration behind this work of art? 

Or is mum the word? 

Pun intended. 

Xx,

-Lo. 

School Unrelated.

Things I've learned these past couple of weeks...

1. People aren't born with thick skin. Thick skin is earned through trials experienced in life.
2. Sometimes things don't always happen to us for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others.

If you can't figure out why something is happening to you, maybe it's happening so that you can eventually help someone else who will go through the same thing or something similar.

Someone has to be the guinea pig, and I honestly believe it means that God thinks you are stronger than the rest, and can get through whatever it is without the advice and guidance of others.

I've been the guinea pig recently which brings me to my third point that I've always known but have been refreshed on...

3. Family and friends are amazing. Even if they are over 700 miles away...

-Lo.

First Day Jitters

Ah the first day of school. I can already smell the sweet? scent of notebooks and used textbooks and hear the disgruntled student's complaints about the price of books this year...

Why is it that the first day of school is such a big deal? 

Is it really a big deal? Or did our parents just make it out to be a big deal because they could finally get some peace and quiet? 

Think about it... The ordeal of the backpack and the school supplies and the awkward yet somehow still adorable pictures of you holding up the number of fingers synonymous to your grade...(they were somehow slightly less adorable during upper middle school days)

To this day, a second semester junior in college, I get pre-first day jitters. I find myself asking the same questions I asked way back when...

"What should I wear?" "What time do I have to get up?" "I wonder who is going to be in my classes." "Where are my classes?" 

I could never sleep the night before the first day of school. 

No matter how hard I tried or how sleepy I thought I was, in the amount of time it took to turn out the lights and rest my head on my pillow, my eyes woke up, I swallowed 14 butterflies and (according to my heart rate) I ran a half marathon. 

And I know, even though I'm 21, tonight will be no exception. 

The only thing that's changed is that mom isn't here to gently wake me up, fix a hearty breakfast and tell me to have a good day. 

Instead I will receive an overly upbeat, but appreciated text message from both my parents and perhaps my sister...which in turn will only make me miss them more. 

Oh the things we learn to miss...

My dad always told us every morning before every day of school: 

"Do good. Do your best." 

And that's precisely what I plan to do. 

-Lo. 

Ashley.

I rarely dedicate posts to people. Why? Because I have so many wonderful friends that deserve their own posts that it would be impossible to do them all justice. That statement almost sounds snobby...but I'm keeping it.

Readers, meet Ashley:

Please note: Same pose, same part in our hair, same boots, I own the jeans
she's wearing and honestly...
we are probably wearing the same bra and underwear.

Ashley is truly one of a kind and quite frankly reminds me of a puppy. I mean that in the most lovable and endearing way possible. Yes I just compared one of my best friends to a dog, but I know she's sitting at her computer laughing because she knows it's true.

She has a spirit about her that you just can't kill. Trust me...you can't. She's happy and bouncy and if Barbie is ever made into a movie or musical (or movie-musical) she would be so major it's almost frightening...
Ashley loves to love. She is one of the most caring individuals I know and though masked by her bubbly persona, she is a wise and sensitive being.

Ashley is a self proclaimed serial monogamist (cue her love of love). She always has a love interest (or two) and usually winds up in some sort of pickle, a word Ashley actually refuses to say (fun fact). 

This detail (her busy love life, not the fact about pickles) is what prompted this post. Recently in my life I've come across issues in my "love" life. Issues I've never dealt with or experienced in any sort of way.

You see, one thing I can always count on from Ashley is that she tells me exactly what I need to hear. (Notice I said "need" not "want").

Most of the time her advice is short, and to the point. She doesn't sugar-coat anything. The two of us have an unspoken "no bullshit" policy with each other, so if my man-of-the-moment is being a true pill and needs the boot, she'll be the first to tell me and the first one there with ice cream and cookies for when it's over.

 It's 1 a.m. and as I sat in bed, checking my twitter feed, I see that Ashley is still awake and stressed as well...

(Another quality I love....she is somehow never asleep when I need her. It's great.)

Our conversation reads as follows: 

"Hi"

"Hi...I need you and *Erin"

"What's wrong? Me too."

"Well [insert crisis]!Why do you?"

"Well...." 

Despite our seemingly minimalist texting conversation (as if we have time or need the in-between chit chat) she gives great advice. I'm convinced that because of Ashley's love of love (and her love of psychology), she remains positive yet not falsely positive.

She seems to have the right answer for most of my concerns and she has a way of going about things that assures you that everything is going to be all right...

She always roots for love. Always. And she always follows her heart. And she does so with (what appears to be) great confidence.

Very inspiring. In fact, she has inspired me to highlight all of my friends in their own posts...

I admire this little beauty and am continuously thankful to have had such a great friend all these years... I wish all of you were lucky enough to know her; but I'm sure you have Ashley's of your own :)

Jan. 1, 2011

Still so much love a year later! 

Xx,
-Lo.

*Erin is the 3rd sasspot in our trio. We've all been best friends since high school and group message each other constantly. She'll get her own post here pretty soon...

Birthday.

The fact that I love birthday's as much as I do really surprises even myself that I haven't made my post about my actual birthday celebrations. But since it's been almost a month since the big 2-1 celebration...I'll make this "quick."

I woke up and had my favorite drink (diet coke with vanilla) and muffin (double chocolate chip, heated) from JD's ((I'm drooling all over again))

I had lunch with two of my favorite ladies, Erin and Ashley, at my favorite lunch spot- the Mermaid Bar at Neiman Marcus. Their tortilla soup is so major I can't even begin to describe. 

I came home and my other favorite lady, Savannah, came over and surprised me with the most darling of gifts- a Tory Burch wine bottle carrier! What a FAB gift to give!

Then my family and I ventured over to my favorite Mexican food restaurant, Mi Cocina, for some margs and DE-LICIOUS food! Their margs are much stronger than I anticipated (and I don't hate it) and by the end of the evening EVERYONE was merry with laughter. Even dad. 

I came home to find presents addressed to me just begging to be opened. Fabulous wine glasses from my sister, much needed riding boots from my grandparents and one more large box to open. 

As I tore open the wrapping paper I saw that it was a Steve Madden box. 

YES! The black riding boots I had been asking for! (I even blogged about them in my post about my go-to outfit!) 

I opened the box to find tissue paper. You can imagine my confusion.

My mom told me to try the other end. So I opened that end to find a little Neiman Marcus box. 

My heart began to flutter as I opened the box to find a David Yurman jewelry sack. 

Inside awaited the most beautiful ring I have EVER put on my finger. 

Wearing it makes me feel like such a diva-princess, which is how I think all girls should feel on a regular basis. 

It will look even more major (as if that's possible) when I get my mani/pedi Hayden gave to me for my birthday! 

So thanks mom and dad, for helping me feel fabulous for all the days of my life. 

Needless to say: I LOVE BIRTHDAY'S. 

-Lo.