Insta-beach

Evening ladies! I hope you've all had a wonderful week and are busy planning your fantabulous weekends. I'm still reveling in the glory of my beach getaway that was pure bliss and haven't been able to pull myself out of the beachy haze just yet to make plans for this weekend. So for now, indulge me a little and let me reminisce. I'll entertain you with a healthy dose of Awkward and Awesome! 

Awkward: 

- My recent bus rides home have been a wee bit crowded leaving standing room only. I try and remember to wear flats to make balance easier, but my post-beach brain forgot and wore one of my highest pairs on a day the bus was sardines-in-a-can (aka jam packed)! Trying to hold on and balance in 4 inch stilettos as the bus bumps along the hilly roads of upper Georgetown turns a bus ride into a workout. Well, on this particular day I was just plain tired, and not holding on very well when we hit an usually large bump. And what do you think happened? Because it is my awkward life, I toppled right on over into the seat I was standing next to... and right onto a little old man's lap. Yep... that's my life. 

- The fact that I am a blogger who doesn't know how to post Instagram photos to blogger... #embarrassing #firstworldproblems

- Discovering on Tuesday morning that I had left my deodorant at the beach. Then discovering it was 90+ degrees that day. And our usually frigid office was unusually hot. Aka I wasn't smelling pine fresh, and since I was meeting friends at the Nats game that night, I was kind of hoping to smell somewhere in the ballpark of decent. To top my stinky self off, there was a cute boy involved in the baseball festivities. 

- Having to admit to you that I wore sneakers with a dress today. Yes, I feel 50 shades of shame. Yes, it was forced upon me. No, I'll never do it again. Phew, I feel better getting that off my chest. 

For me, no beach day is complete without a page-turner, water and plenty of sunscreen. Oh, plus a great beach companion, aka my bff/brother. 

Punchy pedicures and feminine bikinis are definite beach essentials.

I was quite happy to have a driving-buddy for my six hour drive home after an exhaustingly-fun beach weekend. He was a liiiiitle sleepy though :) But it was all worth it to be home and cuddling with that face!

Awesome: 

- Beach weekend with the best people I know. Drinks were shared, laughs were heard and memories were most certainly made. I live for the nights I'll always remember with people I could never forget. 

-Quality time with my bro on our long drive together. We had one of the best conversations we have ever had, and it gave me new insight into his life and feelings about baseball I never knew he had. 

- Frozen yogurt meetings. Seriously, there is no better meeting than one that involves shoveling in spoonfuls of cold, yummy goodness topped with fresh fruit and catching up with old co-workers/friends. 

- Summer nights filled with ballparks, outdoor concerts and movies on the Mall. Is there anything better than Summer?? 

Bisous! 

Things that are awkward and those that are awesome

Bonjour kittens! I hope you are ready for a weekend, which is all yours to fill with lounging, brunches, cuddling, parties and the likes! Ah, glorious weekends. How will I be filling mine? With family time, baseball stadiums, running through cherry blossoms and indulging in a delicious post-race brunch with mes amis! Bliss, if I do say so myself. Et toi? 

So, I've been wanting to share some of the lovely awkward-filled moments that have occurred during my last few months as a fact checker, and I think there is no better time to share than AWKWARD AND AWESOME THURSDAY!! So enjoy the awkward life of a fact checker. You're welcome. 


The Awkwards (work edition)
-Asking the owner of a brewery if he served craft beer- a question that I thought was nearly rhetorical- and getting a very emphatic and offended-sounding NO!! Trying to figure out how I had offended said brewer, and repeating/rephrasing the question, and hearing a booming laugh on the other end of the phone. "Oh I thought you asked me if I served CRAP beer, and I thought that was just really rude!" Man, oh man, I don't even get the benefit of the doubt these days!
-Question to interviewee: Would you describe yourself as a shy, awkward child? Interviewee:....Um no? But thanks for telling me that someone else did...Yea, there isn't really a way to recover from that.
-Having to ask a man if he had started wearing a toupee in his 20s. Ok, so this wasn't one of my fact-checking awks, but it was awkward enough that its awkwardness seeped throughout the intern bubble and I just absorbed it right on up for my own purposes. That's called making lemonade out of some majorly awkward lemons.
-Apparently being five years old, and laughing uncontrollably asking a restaurant manager of a very fancy restaurant if he had a pianist. It gets worse. Having to hang up because I couldn't get the laughter under control, and then call back and blatantly lie, saying we had been disconnected. Yea, I don't think he bought it either. And I'm not sure he bought that I was indeed a 24 year-old-grown woman capable of not finding the word pianist funny.
-Being asked to call 16 different restaurants that pretty much all specialize in serving wings, and asking if they serve wings. No, not some kind of prank. Just my job. You know the waitress at Hooter's hung up and told her co-workers about the dum dum that had just called asking if Hooter's served wings!
*note: please don't take this as me not liking my job in any way, because I freaking love it! I actually think these moments make my days that much better!*

Denim dress (masquerading as a coat): Charlotte Russe, Lace dress (actually worn properly as a dress): Urban Outfitters, Shoes: Vintage (mumsicle's from the 80s) Necklace: Onyx Feather Belt:Urban Outfitters, Ring: gifted. 

So I made it home today just as the sun was setting, and this park near our apartment had a beautiful, clear view. It was just lovely! 

The Awesomes:

-The fact that I haven't worn tights a single day in March! Now, I have worn pants (which is kind of cheating) and there are days where I nearly froze my lil tooshie off waiting for the bus after work, BUT the  tights are retired for the reason (no ifs ands or buts) and that qualifies for an A-W-E-AWESOME!
-Shooting my first professional photography client! I met up with Jack and Sarah, friends of a friend, for a gorgeous cherry blossom inspired engagement session, and we had a blast! I absolutely adore meeting couples and working with them at a point in their relationship when they are so in love they can't even contain the giddy feelings. This couple was not only sweet and gorgeous, but also clearly head over heels in love, which made capturing moments of love that much easier :)
-Long, leisurely walks home from exercise classes. This would usually be something I despise, as I get bored so easily, but the amazing weather has just been calling my name to enjoy a stroll in DC. Last Friday I walked from Logan Circle after a barre class down to M St to meet friends for an amazing tapas dinner, and had a huge grin on my face the whole time. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery, the people watching and the cool breeze. I also really enjoyed the stop at LOFT, and my new snake skin blouse! And last night I strolled home from another barre class along M st, and somehow wound up with a new black clutch. Perhaps I think these walks are awesome because they turn into shopping excursisons...
-Birthdays filled with an overload of pink presents, including these hot pink pants, and this stunning handmade necklace! Check out more of Sola's beautiful and socially responsible jewelry here. I have my eye on another one, and can't decide if a necklace truly is more important than food...
-My thighs burning when I sit down, and my abs aching when I laugh from all these ballet barre classes I've been trying out! If I keep this agony up, I'll have a washboard stomach by the time bikini season rolls around, right?? Note: The only acceptable answer to this question is a resounding without-a-pause yes. Thank you.

The weather these past few weeks has been an itty bit bipolar. One day it is mid 80s, and the next, it is 30 when Im waiting for the bus. Today was manageable-mid 50s-and really only called for a light jacket. Since I didn't have any great options, I invented my own by using a chambray shirt dress that is currently missing a button and layering it over my favorite for-spring lace number. Belted it all together to keep my shape, added the punchy neon heels and voila! Outfit success. Added bonus: The coat added extra warmth inside our freezing office. win. 

Man, oh man does someone need a haircut or what?? If you follow me on pinterest, you might notice that I want to change things up next time I head to the salon... Thoughts? 

So bellas, what do you have planned for this weekend? High doses of fabulousness, I assume. Any super duper awkward moments you care to share, besides the fact that you just heard me say super duper? Ignore the talking head. It knows not what it says. Except for when it says to have a fantastic weekend. Then it speaks the truth! 

I am crazy about this necklace!! I had the pleasure of interviewing its maker, a few months ago, and have been obsessed with it ever since. Enter birthday present begging asking time! And my wonderful mumsicle came through, as always. Thanks mom!! And thanks to Sola for creating such beautiful work! 

Polish: OPI's Mermaid's Tears- reminds me of Tiffany blue though, and who wouldn't want to be reminded of that??

Bisous!

Loving me some awk and awes!

Aloha ahiahi! Today I am declaring it "National Speak like a Hawaiian Day." You were unaware that I had such power? Then you clearly have not been reading this little space in the blogosphere as I have previously given you International Talk like a Pirate Day and Cowboy Day! But seeing as it has been months since we have played, I decided to reinstate the games! And since aloha is one of my all time favorite words, Hawaiian Day was a perfect fit. 


And you know what other game we have not played in far too long? The beloved little jeu where I share moments that are so uncomfortable that you just have to chuckle. And the times that are so wonderful you can't stop from smiling. Yes, you know what I am talking about: awkward and awesome Thursday!! The prodigal post has returned!! 

Blazer: Shock Boutique, Tank: Banana Republic, Shorts: BCBG, Shoes: Kohl's, Ring: Grandmother's vintage, Earrings: Forever 21, Watch/Purse: Michael Kors, Lipstick: MAC Ruby Woo

Awkward:

-The lovely awkward-moment-inducing Eli (my pup for those just tuning in) hates walking up the stairs after a walk while still on his leash. And he is so good about just running about the stairs and sitting outside the door until I get there that I let him off the leash as soon as we are in the apartment. But last week when I let him off the leash he sprinted upstairs and I knew something wasn't right. So I hustled after him, but when I got upstairs he was not sitting outside of our door. Instead he was INSIDE.... of our neighbor's apartment. Yep, my dog invited himself in to a neighbor's home, that I don't know at all. And of course I had to go in to retrieve said mischievous pup. Thanks, dude, thanks.
-Remember my friend "Sheila" who so graciously allowed me to utilize her awkward non-date mishap on the blog? Of course you do because Sheila is A-W-E-AWESOME! Well, in keeping with her total awesomeness she has allowed me to share more of the awkwardness from her life. Well Sheila is a reporter for a paper (like how vague I am) and the other day she was sent to cover a funeral. She dressed appropriately for the occasion in a classy and demure black dress. The photographer that accompanied her on the outing was known for being creeptastic, and the moment she steps out of the car he decides to be totally inappropro and whistle incredibly loudly. As if that wasn't bad enough, at a FUNERAL, for pete's sake, he follows the whistle up with "Damn girl, you look gooood. Look at you working the black dress!!" Poor Sheila was mortified by creeptastic photographer's outburst and tried to slink away into the onlooking crowd. Sheila, I just want to apologize on behalf of all women who have ever been embarrassed by the insanely poorly-timed comments of creepsters. We feel your pain Sheila!
-How Christmas starts earlier and earlier every year. Now, I love me some Christmas more than most, BUT it is not appropriate to decorate/listen to christmas music/watch christmas movies until Thanksgiving evening people!! That is the law, as decreed by roommate and myself. Yes, we are a very bossy household. (Addition: Roommate's coworker supports our decree, and he is from a different generation therefore we are indeed correct.)

Considering this was my outfit for DC Fashion Week, I'd say I am way behind. Thus, why I am wearing shorts. 

Awesome: 
-Making a very exciting decision for plans in 2012!! Want to hear more?? Oh come on, I know you are hanging on my every word in anticipation :) So... I have decided.... to open a.... PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS!!! :) :) Sorry, but I literally can't contain my excitement. I never imagined myself as anything more than a hobby photographer, but the more I shoot, the more I fall in love with the sensation of turning moments into memories with my camera. I can't get enough of the smiles on my subject's faces when they see their images and I can't wait to have the opportunity to make a living doing something i am passionate about.
-Running in the National Race to End Women's Cancer last weekend! Not only did I have my best race to date (and I actually loved EVERY minute of it), but I got to run with two awesome ladies who pushed me and I had an incredible view of the Capitol for a large portion of the race. Oh and we refueled post-race with a delicious brunch from Gordon Biersch! A truly wonderful morning :)
-Starting the planning for my book!! Yes, I am keeping myself awfully busy lately and I love it! I don't want to release too many details about the book yet, but you will definitely be hearing more soon!
-Having a crush. It is just the most exhilarating feeling to have an actual legit crush after YEARS of barely more than a slight inkling of interest in a guy. Now, if he turns out to indeed crush me, I might recant this statement. But until then I will continue to live in 6th grade girl la-la-land, where I am quite content to dream about our (currently non-existent) future and doodle his name everywhere. Ok, so maybe I'm not doing the second one.... yet.
-And I absolutely must give a shout out to the Awkward and Awesome Queen herself, Miss Sydney, and say a big congratulations on giving birth to the cutest, most perfect looking little babe ever!! I hope you are enjoying every new exciting moment with little Ever, and I am REALLY loving the guest post series right now!! It just makes me even more excited to one day be a mama!!  

I have never been sure of how to pull off the blazer and shorts look, so I was quite pleased with this outfit when it came together. 

I am not usually very adventurous when it comes to my nails, but i was feeling particularly daring that night and decided to test out the one tipped nail trend. I intended for the polish to just be a light silver sparkle, but it ended up as a dark silver opaque color. I like things to be consistent, so this look was a little offsetting to me. But, I enjoyed mixing things up!

Ok, dolls, I hope you all can get a little laugh or smile out of these moments, and that your weekends are tres bien! I shall see you wiki wiki :)

Aloha nui loa!

Long overdue

Aloha chicas! I hope you have all had a superb week and are preparing for a totally rad weekend. And yes, I am most definitely bringing back words like superb and rad. Next on my list of "over the top but awesome nonetheless" words to bring back to life is tubular. Who is with me?

I don't know about you, but I think it is high time that Awkward and Awesome Thursday made a resurgence on here! And wouldn't you know it- today is Thursday! It couldn't have been more perfect if I had planned it. Oh but wait... I did.

Awkward:
-Inviting brand new friends over to my apartment last night and having the whole place smell wretched because my "special cat" had many accidents while we were gone. It was the absolute worst our place has ever smelled. Yea, we'll be lucky if they ever come over again.
-People who talk in public restrooms from the stalls. Seriously. Just do your business in silence and finish your conversations later people.
-Totally forgetting that your maintenance man told you he was going to be in the apartment when you got back from walking the dog and the conversation occurred less than 20 minutes ago, yet when you get back in the house and you see a large man in the apartment you instinctively let out a loud gasp which makes him feel very guilty and you feel dumb. Takes the awkward cake for the week I think. Or maybe poopey apartment does...
-How terribly unfunny I am in this segment of Awk and Awes. I think I am off my game. Will be ready next week to knock it out of the park!

Seeing my favorite musical with my favorite people. Doesn't get any better than that!

Fabulous night at the Kennedy Center! I love excuses to get all dressed up :)

Dress: Belk or Dillards (can't remember) Bought for senior dance in college, Shoes: White House Black Market, Necklace/Earrings: Gifted, Bracelet/Ring: Personal Accents, Headband: Target, Purse: Kohl's

I love them more than I can even express. 

Awesome: 

-If you haven't figured it out from the photos in this post by now, I got to see my favorite musical tonight with my two favorite people: WICKED!! It was just as amazing as the first time, and possibly a little bit better because I knew all the music this time around! Although, I wasn't in London and I wasn't with college roomie, so maybe they cancel each other out. Either way, the play and the company were fantastic and I want to go back! 

-The mouthwateringly good three course dinner we had tonight before the show. French food is parfait because they give you just the right amount! Tonight we dined like kings and queens and I thoroughly enjoyed my rare seared tuna, salmon and chocolate souffle! 

-Wednesday nights. Yep, they rock now that roommate and I have taken up playing kickball on the mall! Our team rocks, on and off the field and I am having such a blast making new friends. Especially the ones that put up with our "poopey smelling" apartment, thanks to tippy cat. 

-College roomie coming for a visit on Saturday!!! 

-Sitting in my room singing wicked songs in the middle of the night but trying not to wake up my roommate. 

-Truckeroo and Jazz in the Garden tomorrow! Basically just excuses to eat a lot of bad for me food and call it a day. 

I sure do have one gorgeous mumsicle! 

I am so incredibly blessed to have this kid not only as my brother, but as my best friend. Even in heels he towers over me. 

Overlooking the Potomac River. My apartment is off to the right somewhere. 

When did my brother get so handsome and grown up?? P.S. ladies... this guy is available and he is quite the catch. I'm not biased at all! :)

Bonne nuit, mes amis!

Bisous! 

Hospital funnies

Howdy partners! Yes, I bring you another edition of blog in a funny character voice. I know you have just been itching for it ever since International Pirate Day, right? No? Oh well, Cowboy day has arrived with or without your approval, but hopefully it is with :) And you know what else is making a long overdue return?? Awkward and Awesome Thursday! I imagine the heavens opening and birds chirping with joy as I typed that. Yes, I do over-dramatize everything in my head, thank you very much. Personally I think it makes life more interesting. I also blame Blair Waldorf (book version Blair, especially) for this habit.

Awkward:
-Ok this is a good one, so I apologize for the length! The brother and I got quite a laugh out of this, and considering we were laughing in the hospital you know it has to be good. So when the whole Sunday accident thing happened, the EMS team was having trouble getting a blood pressure reading over 100 for me. So when I was in the ambulance and the EMS lady (super nice, I quite liked her) took it for a fifth time and it was still hovering around 88 over 60, she finally asked "Do you exercise or anything?" And I said, "I mean I try to run occasionally, but nothing major." She responded, "Oh ok, that explains it." I think nothing of it and consider it dropped. We get to the ER and she is talking to my nurse and giving her all the details and when she tells her my blood pressure levels, she says "but I'm not worried about it now because she's a runner." Woah, woah, woah stop the horse. When the hizeck did I classify myself as a runner?? Never! And the best part is, it didn't stop! It seemed like this crazy "runner lie" was spreading like wildfire since every dr/nurse I saw (I saw like 4 different people) managed to tell me, "But I wouldn't worry since you are a runner." It was one of those things where I had let it go on for so long that I just couldn't stop it now. Brother found it quite funny and was unable to contain his laughter the last time the nurse said it, which made him the recipient of an awkward look. Oh, hospital visits are always awkward, aren't they?
-Walking around the office for half the day with a popped blood vessel in my eye (and not knowing it!), making it look as though I have been balling my eyes out. Thanks Mr. eyeball, thanks.
-Not being able to do a darn tooting thing about my lovely red eyed-ness even after said discovery and compensating with a really big smile for the rest of the day, hoping people would spend more time wondering why I was smiling quite so much and less time pondering what could possibly be making me cry at work. Oh what a problem solver I am.
-The fact that every time I talk in an editorial board meeting my entire chest gets immediately red and splotchy, even though I'm not nervous! I sure do look like a nervous nelly. What is that about, body? Explain yourself!!
-End of phone conversation at work: "Ok man, thanks a lot." ... Man? You started the call with "Hi Laura" and end it with "Thanks man"? Odd in my opinion.
-Eli's (my dog for anyone new here) ability to immediately find my undies the minute he enters my room no matter how hidden they seem to be! And his aptitude for dragging them out into the main room whenever I have company over. Thanks, babe, thanks.

Dress: Banana Republic, Cardigan/headband: The wonderful land of roommate's closet, Shoes: Bridesmaid shoes, Necklace/Earrings/bracelets/ring: Gifted, Watch: Michael Kors, Ring: Amrita Singh

Today's photo location was courtesy of roommate! She scoped it out during a mini walk with Eli today. She walks my pup and finds cute photo locales? She's the best! And no, you cannot have her.

Awesome:
-The way Eli sleeps on his back with all four paws up in the air. Cutest.Thing.Ever. I swear, you would think so, too, if you saw it.
-Giveaway starting tomorrow!! Yay for free goodies on a Friday :)
-Being in town every weekend in June!! I seriously can't wait to be able to explore DC every weekend in June. First up this weekend: Truckeroo tomorrow night, Eastern Market Saturday and church at the National Cathedral on Sunday. Excellence in a sentence, if I may say so myself.
-Being asked in the hospital to rate my pain and immediately having this pop into my head. A little obsessed? Maybe. Acceptable? Absolutely.(P.S. Brother said he had the exact same reaction to the question, so I think that makes our family doubly awesome!)
-Eli in his little life vest at the lake last weekend. Oh man, it was precious. Even though he didn't really like the water (or the vest, mind you) Mama felt better knowing that if he had a moment of bravado and leaped into the lake when I wasn't looking, he would just bob around for a bit. And let's not forget that he looks stinking cute in a life vest (aka the real reason he wore it).
-Perhaps I need to make an addition to the awkward list today: The fact that my life seems to revolve around my dog now. Totally normal, right?

Lately all I have wanted to do is throw on a dress and a cardigan with a pair of heels and call it a day. But I kept feeling like these outfits weren't "creative enough" or "blog worthy". But I realized that sometimes the simple outfits are all you need. A dress and cardigan is a classic for a reason. Why fight the urge?

Roommate found three things I love when she found this location: ivy, brick and dilapidated fences! Go roommate!!

This is one of the few shots that really shoes the detailing on this cardigan that make me love it so much. The fit is very unique and the strategic cutouts make it light and breezy. Aka the perfect summer cardi that my closet was lacking. Thank goodness for roommates. I'm not sure what I'll do when I get married and my "roommate" has to be a boy! Oh who I am kidding, I'll steal from him too!

Woof, this was a wordy Thursday, huh? I guess I was just awkwardly (and awesomely) making up for all that lost time! Wishing you a very awesome and non-awkward weekend. Although, I must say, the awkwards always wind up being better stories. I'm just saying.

Bisous!

It's Thursday, Thursday Thursday

Hiya babes! Happy awkward and awesome Thursday! You know it is my favorite day and you know why :) I just loooove sharing all the moments of my week that make me smile and those that make me say "ohhhh, owwww, yikes." Yea, you know the ones I mean.

Dress/Shoeswhite: White House Black Market, Cardigan: LOFT, Watch: Michael Kors, Pearls: China, Bracelet/Ring: Amrita Singh

Awkward:
-When "non dates" go in for the kiss. Disclaimer: this isn't my awkward story but I'm borrowing it from an anonymous source who gave permission for it be used as long as they remain nameless. Let's call her Sheila for all intents and purposes. So lets just say Sheila got a loooot more than she bargained for on her "I thought I was at dinner with a friend" evening.
-Doing FBI background check interviews for people. The interviewer always, without fail, will ask you the most random question about your friend that you could possibly imagine. So of course you pause, because you are taken aback. FBI interviewer then proceeds to glare at you and try and determine why you are pausing before answering the question and whether your answer is now a lie because you paused, when in reality it was the sheer ridiculousness of the question that caused you to pause! P.S. I am dubbing myself official background check reference girl for my friends, considering I have now done 3 of these interviews. Yep, if you need an FBI reference, I'm your girl. But if you need an FBI reference that won't pause when asked insane questions, I am NOT your girl!
-Walking around saying things like "What a beaut", "How neat is that" and the classic "G dangit" all thanks to this guy. Actually thanks to roommate for showing him to me. Gdangit roommate!!
-People who rub citrus on their feet at the dinner table because they have been told it makes skin soft. NOT inspired by real life at all. *cough cough*

Awesome:
-Hilarious old-time YouTube videos that seriously have me laughing out loud, and possibly even snorting. What? I said possibly! You have no proof that it is for sure occurring.
-The fact that the most popular search phrase driving people to my blog is "chai latte". At first I questioned what this said about me, but after hearing mollypg's sage advice on twitter that there are "much worse vices out there", I decided to embrace my delicious habit and rejoice that other chai latte addicts are happening on my little blog through our shared love of the tasty beverage! 
-Finally getting a tripod (thanks to roommate!!) and a remote for my camera this weekend! I obviously still have a lot of adjusting to do, but at least I am outside taking pictures now!!
-And the big one of the week: BROTHER'S BIRTHDAY!! My not-so little anymore brother turns 20 today and I can't believe it. Kid is growing up! I'm so blessed to have Matthew as not only my brother, but my best friend and he makes me proud every single day. Love you bro and I'm so happy that I got to spend tonight with you!

Bisous!

The one with the awkward and awesomes

Hello darlings! Happy almost weekend! Aren't they just the best :) So before we get straight into the awkward and awesome moments of the week, I have a bonus awkward story for you. I don't know how much stock you guys put into dreams and what they say about you/your life, but the mom and grandmother have always been very into interpreting them. I on the other hand try to forgot most of mine as soon as they happen because 90% of the time they are more like nightmares than dreams. I have no idea why I have such weird dreams because I am a very happy person, but either way I am kind of known as the queen of weird dreams. But last night I had one that might take the cake, and it wasn't about anyone trying to kill me so I thought I woild share it. Ok grab your popcorn and get settled in.

In the dream I was getting married to a guy I used to date (in real life I mean), but we were no longer a couple. Basically, we had been engaged and then broken up but apparently because we had been engaged that meant in this dream world that we had to get married. So, I kept saying over and over that we only had a month left to plan the wedding, except that the thing I was most worried about planning was picking a date for the actual wedding. Yet, I kept insisting to everyone around me "we need to get moving because the wedding is a month away!" So confusing! And then everytime I kept trying to call the groom to get his input on anything his new girlfriend would answer and wouldn't let me talk to him because our wedding "wasn't on his list of priorities at the moment." He was on board with the wedding and knew it was happening, he just didn't want to have any involvement in it. Friends, let me just tell you that it was the weirdest, most frustrating dream EVER!! Anyone want to be my shrink and psychoanalyze my bizarre little brain for me? Any takers?

Awkward

-The price is right without Bob Barker. I mean what were they thinking? Don't get me wrong, I love me some Drew Carey (a la Whose Line is it Anyways?) but he is so not able to replace the Barker!

-Photos where I make faces like this and look several months pregnant.Double whammy!

-Finding out that someone who I have referred to as cute on this blog knows about this blog. Never called him by name of course, so hoping he doesn't figure out the reference. And now I'm hoping he doesn't get this one either. Am I hoping for too much?
-Women who try to do the whole "let's talk while we are both in a public bathroom thing". Unless I know you super well and we are the only two in the bathroom, I don't really want to chat right now.

You may be uber confused right now, but this is possibly the most awkward thing I've encountered in my LIFE! This was the sink in a bathroom in Beijing, so no matter how you positioned yourself washing your hands it looked soooo wrong.

Awesome

-Remember how I told you I met up with some other bloggers and told you it was awesome, but didn't show you any pictorial proof of the awesome-ness? Well here you go. Don't say I never gave you anything.

Photo credit to my awesome new friend Liz! Seriously these girls are wonderful and I am already excited about the next time I see them and we haven't even picked a date! I feel like the girl who just went on a really great first date who is already planning their wedding and said date hasn't even called her since the date. Anywho, check these fab girls out! Liz, Jenny, me, Annie, Lauren, Michelle, and Liz 

-Finally figuring out how I could comment on other people's Facebook pages as A La Mode et Plus, rather than from my personal account! I know, I am a tech newbs.
-Ballerina buns have become my new lifesaver for mornings where I would rather sleep in late than get up and dry my hair. It is one of the few "non-dried" hairstyles that looks good on me and I am a fan!
-Dinner and a movie with the bestie and her hubs. Her hubby works a lot so the three of us never get to hang out but tonight was the perfect catch up evening. We just got to relax and chat and eat a fabulous dinner. Perfect Thursday evening right? We were supposed to take a photo tonight to share, but since we didn't, feast your eyes on this gem of us from high school. Oh sweet nuggets, why am I sharing this....

Oh look the babies in high school!

Ok babelicious bloggers, I'll see you tomorrow for another edition of Friend Friday. Woot woot, get excited!

Bisous!

So this one time I was awkward with a side of awesome

Hi peeps! Ugh, I actually hate peeps. No, not you fantastic people that I just referred to as peeps, but the sick nasty mess of marshmallowy goo that is everywhere during this season. Those peeps I hate. Dang I am random some nights. I guess if I am going to be random for a day then awkward and awesome Thursday is a good day to do so! 

This is me hoping you won't throw stones at me for not being "fashionable" tonight. Funny thing is I actually wore a really cute outfit today that I wanted to show you, but thought I didn't have enough time to snap pics before running. And then I wind up taking "outfit pics" anyways, just of the wrong outfit. Oh and since I know you are dying to know where I get my cutie little workout clothes: top/shoes: sports authority, pants: target.

What can I say, after 7 pm all bets are off when it comes to thinking!

You'll look at my non cute outfit photos and you'll like them or else!!

Awkward: 

-My grandfather looking me up and down and very seriously asking me, "Have you gained weight?" What is up with the men in my life who are supposed to be the ones boosting my self-esteem bringing it down all over the place?? Geezie peezy lemon squeezy, let's get it together Wainman men! Oh and he followed it up with, "I think it's just your clothes." Thanks for the double hit papa! For the record, I actually lost 7 pounds since he last saw me, so there. Winning. 

-Waiting for an elevator at work this morning and when it opened the gentleman standing next to me held the door open and waited for me to go in first and was so polite. I thanked him, of course, hopped on and we proceeded to follow normal elevator protocol by riding to our destinations in silence. All normal. We reach my floor and as I am walking out he hollers after me, "I like your white girl bootay." The doors close and I am left standing in sheer disbelief. What the fudgesicles mr?? One, I am at my place of work so referring to my "bootay" is just bad form. Actually, that whole scenario is just all together wrong. Someone please tell me why men keep talking to me like this?

-Realizing at 2 pm that my fly is down. Oh mother of pearl, that is just the pits. No further explanation needed. 

-Posting Awkward and Awesome Thursday after midnight, making it technically Awkward and Awesome Friday. That is so not the same. 

-Thinking it would be cute and creative and "different" to take pictures of my running outfit today since I had no time to snap photos of the actual cute outfit I was wearing today. Oh and on top of that, my pinks are totally mismatched. Oh and you get faces like that last one. That's my "you'll take what I give you and you'll like it face." You win some, you lose some, right?

Awesome: 

-Roommate finally being un-sick!! Poor thing has been feeling under the weather all week, and she just wasn't her cheery energetic self. But now she seems to be all better and is chatty and perky again. Thank goodness, because I was getting bummed out over here. 

-Finally running again tonight now that roommate is feeling better and hitting 24 minutes and definitely feeling like I could have kept going a lot longer. Dang. This is twice now that running has been under the awesome category. I might have to denounce myself as a proclaimed running hater and realize that I am actually starting to not mind it. I didn't say liking it yet. Very different. But I look forward to it now and that is a scary concept!

-Spending two nights with my grandfather who I never get to see! (Even if he did think I gained weight) I miss my Florida family and always enjoy any time with them. 

-My evening plans for to(night)morrow that include meeting up with a couple other local bloggers!! It will be my first time meeting other bloggers and I am syked. Can't wait to share more with you Sunday! 

-The WAY awesome giveaway that I have planned for yall next week! Trust me, you will love it. Very practical, very fun. Best of both worlds.

-Putting my "creative writing" talents to good use while making brother's resume tonight. Yep, I know I am the most awesome sister ever. And trust me ladies, it definitely took a lot of creativity to stretch that baby to a page. I'm not sure anyone has ever listed "outstanding sense of humor" under skills, but hey it might be a good interview ice-breaker right??

-Baseball season, opening day! My sox playing tomorrow night (or technically tonight). 'Nuff said.

Bisous!