Mom knows best....really....

I look a lot like my mom. A lot like my mom. People just know that I'm her daughter, even people who don't actually know me. It's crazy.

My mom just never gets tired. We're different that way. She just keeps going like some crazy person who never runs out of energy, while I prefer to mix productivity with little breaks to check twitter, and stand in front of the open fridge and eat things before getting back to work.

Last week was a breaking point for me. I love love love our little home, but the kitchen was making me want to pull my hair out and scream incomprehensibly. It was a disorganized mess. I had moved in without having very much stuff to put in the cabinets, but slowly over time with the addition of some of Kevin's stuff, plus what we got from wedding registries, our cabinets began to burst with disorganized junk. It was so bad that I just about stopped using Tupperware, because all my containers and lids were mismatched and piled up haphazardly in the cavernous cabinet next to the dishwasher, and if you opened the door even just a LITTLE bit, everything would fall out, and I'd just get angry and sad and throw everything back in and jam the door shut in a cloud of frustration.

I was blorft about my kitchen. Blorft is a Tina Fey word. It basically means that you're completely overwhelmed, but are proceeding as if everything is fine and reacting to the stress with the torpor of a possum. Blorft. I dare you to use it in a sentence tomorrow.

Then I remembered. My mom's kitchen is always TOTALLY organized. Plus, she's one of those weird people who actually like to organize messes. For some reason, I'm good at organizing messes at work, but terrible at doing it at home.

So I called her. She came over. From 10am till about 3pm we went through our kitchen and organized the heck out of it. At one point I was sitting looking totally freaked out on the step stool in the middle of the kitchen, surrounded by a pile of mismatched/broken/gross Tupperware containers, and a shockingly large collection of travel mugs that were either broken, had no lids, or leaked like crazy when you put liquid in them. PLUS, I had sent Kevin to the store to get things for our dinner with friends that night, and insisted that he bring me home a big bag of walnuts so I could make walnut orange Gorgonzola salad. Turns out I had like 6 bags of walnuts. I also had an absolutely obscene amount of chocolate chips. Do you like chocolate chips? Do you need any chocolate chips? Because I have about a trillion of them. Also I seem to be a powdered sugar hoarder. I had about four bags. There are chocolate chip cookies in my future.

Needless to say, the kitchen is super clean now. And I seriously couldn't have done it without my mom. I told Kevin after she left that if I had even attempted it by myself, I would have pulled everything out of the cabinets, crumbled under the massive overwhelming feeling of what a gross person I am, and walked out of the kitchen to go cry on the couch. My mom is just that cool for helping me all day. So much so, that I can almost overlook the fact that she seemed to be having a crazy amount of fun doing it.

My mom is the best. There's a lot that I just couldn't do without her, and I'd be a hot mess if she wasn't my mama....

On the bright side, everything is TOTALLY organized now. Kevin and I are even looking around to price out brand new cabinets and counters for the kitchen (eek!) and even though this project won't happen right away, I'm VERY excited about it.

Beyond The Pale...

I should start by saying that while I do enjoy Jim Gaffigan's stand-up Beyond The Pale, that's not what this is about. This is about skin, people. Take care of your skin!

I've always been very fair-skinned, and I sustained a few bad sunburns as a kid. I was probably 12 or 13 when my Nana took me to the Clinique counter for the first time, and bought me my first skincare products. Was I a little young for it? Maybe. But I'm so thankful that she did that! I'll never forget the crisp clean smell of the yellow Clinique bar soap, all nestled in its little green container. Or the sharp smell of the cleansers and toners in the tall sleek bottles. I remember the nice lady helping us at the Clinique counter telling me "you have such pretty pale skin, you have to take good care of it and make sure it's healthy".

I really took that to heart. I had seen people at the beach slathering oil all over their bronzed skin and just soaking up the rays, and I knew that wasn't for me. It didn't take me very long to realize that I just didn't have that kind of skin. I had the type of skin that you covered up, and applied generous amounts of gentle sunblock to. I'm an SPF 80 kind of girl. I started using Olay SPF 30 anti-aging cream when I was 15. I'm not messin' around here, folks.

So I thought I'd share a little about my skin care regimen, for those of you who are looking to give your skin a little TLC!

1. Cleanse! I can't say this enough. Leaving your makeup on when you go to bed isn't good. I'm not always a good follower of this rule, but it's important! Your skin needs to breathe while you rest. I'm a big fan of baby wipes to remove makeup (I buy the Target UP&UP brand, and they work great.) and the good ole fashioned yellow bar of Clinique soap.  
2. Oil can be good! I promise. If you have oily skin, it might be a little trickier to find the perfect balance, but it's a lifesaver for me! In the winter, the cranking furnace just makes me feel like a raisin. On days like that, I like to squeeze a little Jojoba Oil onto a cotton ball and just gently swipe it onto my dry areas before bed. I usually sleep with an old towel over my pillowcase so I don't get my pillow all oily. That's bad news.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Tea Tree Oil! I buy these amazing little Tea Tree Oil cleansing discs at Trader Joe's (I also get my Jojoba there). They're small, but packed with TTO, and they feel REALLY good when you use them as a follow up to your morning face wash. I feel like the texture of the discs really smooths out my skin, and handles any redness or splotchy areas.
   
   
   
   
   
4. SUNSCREEN. I use sunscreen EVERY day. I typically use a really great Neutrogena  SPF15 version for everyday, and I apply it to my face right before my makeup. I also use a generous amount on my neck, chest, and on the backs of my hands. Basically any area where you see an older woman get age spots. If I'm headed out somewhere in the summer where I know I'll be in the sun, I'll put on a good layer of  SPF 80, and bring the bottle with me for later applications. I'm way too fair to take any chances with sunburns that could mean skin cancer later.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Baking Soda? Yep! Baking soda! There's a big mason jar of it on my bathroom counter. It's super useful. If I'm feeling like I have rough patches on my skin, I just mix a paste of about 3 parts baking soda and 1 part warm water (just enough that you can use it like a scrub). Just be careful that you don't scrub TOO hard - you just need to rub it in gentle circles, and the baking soda will do the rest. I always feel like my skin GLOWS after I use it. You can also sprinkle some on top of the toothpaste on your toothbrush for a whitening boost while you brush, and use it as a gentle cleaner for the sink if it's looking a little gross. Very multi-purpose!
   
   
   
   
   
6. Sunglasses! They're not just to look cool. I'm always very conscious that going outside (even when it's not super sunny out) tends to make me squint a little from the brightness. I almost always have one or two pairs of sunglasses in my purse, just in case. No need to get those crinkly eye wrinkles before it's time. 
7. Humidifier! It's the middle of winter, it's cold and windy outside, and inside it's all dry and warm. Not ideal for your skin. We have a great humidifier that I keep on low most nights while we sleep. I feel like I get less problem areas when there's a good level of humidity in the house.

 Take care of your skin. Love it. Put nice things on it, and it will look good until you're old :)

All about my Dad

My dad's a pretty cool guy. If you've met him, then you already know.

My dad's actually a lot like me (or I'm a lot like him...he was here first).

Neither of us are super great at keeping secrets. Neither of us can keep a straight face when mischief is going on. If we're telling a joke that's REALLY funny, we will crack up right as we're getting ready to tell the punch line. This kind of ruins the joke sometimes. Both of us are aware of this. Still can't help ourselves.

What would my life have been like if he hadn't supported me when I floundered in my first year of college, and decided to drop out? Seriously. I was a mess for a while. No idea where I was going, or what I was going to do instead. That fun phase lasted until well after I moved to Atlanta.

What would have happened if he and my mom hadn't supported me when I decided to buy the house that Kevin and I now call "home"? I can't even imagine.

What would my life be like if his job hadn't moved us to Atlanta from Ontario? If I had stayed in school, maybe I wouldn't have moved when I did (if at all!). If I hadn't moved down to Atlanta with my family, would I have ended the relationship that I needed to end? .

I still remember the day that I decided it was time. I was sitting in the passenger seat of my dad's Mustang, we had the top down, and it was a gorgeous sunny day. We had "Thriller" playing. I don't know what it was, but in that moment, I just knew. We talked about everything for a bit, and then he astonished me with a question: "Well, what do YOU want?". I still remember being blown away. I hadn't thought about that in a long time. What did I want? Was it as easy as just saying it, then going after it? It didn't take long for me to realize that I wanted a full and happy life in Atlanta. I was ready to find the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with, and marry him. I was just ready, and I knew it. I'm thankful every day for that conversation with my dad in his Mustang, and I don't think I'll ever hear Thriller again without thinking of it.

I met Kevin a few months later in September, and by the following May, we were engaged.

Every day I'm thankful that my Heavenly Father sent me my Dad. Love you Dad!

Lovin' It!

It's Friday! Time for a few things I think are sweet!

• Love this dress from Modcloth - throw on some gold sandals and some bangles, and it would be the PERFECT outfit for date night on the Marietta Square. 
• Thanks to The Wedding Chicks for this sweet monogram!
• Personalized stationary is classic - I love this one from Minted. 
• I've been really into soup lately. It's just so cozy, and I love that you can throw a bunch of veggies in with some vegetable stock, crushed tomatoes, and it comes out tasting cozy! Love this post from Design Crush on soups. I especially can't wait to try the Brazilian Shrimp soup, but I know I'll also try the Cilantro White Bean, the Creamy Zucchini, and the Homemade Mushroom. Yum! Best thing about soup is that I always have the thick canning jars on hand, so I usually throw leftover soup in those, and we're set for lunches for the week. 
• Rotating Goal List? Love it!
• Thanks to Danielle at SometimesSweet for the link to "How To Grow Your Blog"

• I love this picture of Johnny Cash and June Carter. It reminds me of Kevin and I....
• That aqua chevron pattern in my mosaic is really pretty - used it as my blog background. Thanks to Pursuit of Felicity for that!
• Having friends over for dinner next weekend. Seriously considering serving the Brazilian Shrimp soup (even though I haven't attempted it yet, it sounds DELICIOUS) and finishing up with Chocolate Hazlenut Pudding from Joy the Baker

Aaah.....

I didn't realize until late this afternoon why I've been in such a grumpy rain-cloud-over-my-head-all-day mood. Seriously. I'm not usually like this. I'm usually pretty sunny and cheery.

So the reason for the mood?

EVERYBODY IS GONE. Out of our 12 staff members, 7 are at a conference for the rest of the week. Let's just say the environment around here on a normal day is humming with people coming in and out, stopping by my office to say hi, ask me a question, or write something funny/weird on my window with dry-erase markers. RA's coming in and singing loudly, the phone ringing off the hook.

It was just TOO QUIET. Way too quiet. It was almost deafening. I was actually glad when the student assistant at the front desk started playing a Pandora station on low. The silver lining is that I managed to get an absolutely massive amount of work completed today. Seriously. Bad news is that I get super anxious when I approach the end of my to-do list. What will I do next? This situation usually results in me completely re-arranging the already-pretty-organized supply closet, or trying to clean up the conference room. I'm pretty sure small elves come in the middle of the night and mess up the conference room just to irk me. Yeah. That happens.

I'm not sure whether it's a byproduct of my mood or not, but I was having serious carb cravings today. Like in the cartoons when someone is so hungry that everyone resembles a dancing turkey leg, except for me they're a giant dancing plate of spaghetti and meatballs, with a giant loaf of the most deliciously crusty Italian bread smothered with garlic butter.

The truth is, though, I've been having so much success with the low-carb eating. Don't get me wrong, I miss carbs SO much. I'm having daydreams about dancing pasta, for pity's sake! But I've lost 10 of the 30 pounds that I am trying to lose by April, so I'm trying to be good to myself and stay on the wagon. And I'm seeing results, which somehow is making me want to eat that pasta even MORE because I can ALMOST justify it to myself. Almost. The thought of going into the kitchen and making a small bowl of spaghetti with artichoke pesto and Parmesan cheese is overwhelming me.

Last night was a triumph of low-carb eating! Hooray! I had some special chipotle salsa I brought back from Canada, and I brushed some of it onto a nice piece of salmon that Kevin brought home. I wasn't feeling super ambitious, so we just ate it by itself with a couple tablespoons of guacamole that I had in the fridge. Perfection.

Gotta stay on the wagon....

Scary Scary Carbs!

A Day in Pictures.....

First thing in the morning - I'm almost always the first one out of bed, and Ruby stands impatiently next to me waiting for her turn to go to the bathroom. She's not subtle. If I take longer than a minute in there, she anxiously licks my hands until I relent. 

Next stop: the scale! On nice days, the number that pops up is lower than yesterday. Yesterday was a good day! (I was originally going to post a picture of my feet on the scale, but it was early, I was waking up, and I realized I don't really feel like announcing to the whole world how much I weigh.)

Time to get dressed and throw on a little makeup before heading out the door! I'm loving the Bare Minerals makeup - so light and clean looking! And of course my NARS blush - just the prettiest shade of coral pink! Usually by this time Kevin's in the shower, and I'm getting ready and listening to a podcast or some music. Ruby is almost ALWAYS laying on my feet while I am putting on makeup (I don't complain....she's so warm and cozy! Bonus when she just rests her head on my feet, and I get to feel her warm velvety ears)

Got to work to find a sweet Valentine waiting for me from my sweet coworker Stephanie. She's the only person I know who loves Valentine's Day even more than I do! My valentines were Lego Star Wars themed....

My desk at work - it's usually me vs. my inbox most days. On good days, I get down to one screen of emails, where there's no scrolling necessary. I love peeking down and seeing the wedding picture I have framed on my desk! Plus, one day while I was walking outside, I was thinking about my Papa (who has a thing for paperclips) and I happened upon a gold paperclip laying on the ground! I picked it up and I keep it on my picture frame to remind me of him (I should clarify that I attacked it with Lysol spray....who knows where it came from, or where it was before I picked it up?)

Lunch! Lucky me - I got to pick up lunch with Kevin (we had to drive to Marietta to pick up his car from the mechanic, so we were near a Chipotle, and I indulged in a delish burrito bowl with spicy steak, cilantro rice, and extra guac and sour cream). I never EVER get tired of burrito bowls....it's all the goodness of a burrito, minus the messyness. Plus I HATE when you eat a burrito, and get to the end and there's that gross knob of tortilla all wadded up. Ick. Burrito bowl solves the problem, PLUS there's less carbs. 

Quick afternoon lipstick touch-up...somehow the combination of applying a little pearly nude lipstick, plus a big cup of my new fave (ice cold water with cucumber slices and lemon slices) really helps me get past that mid-afternoon feeling....

Valentine's Day dinner! We had a couple of nice New York Strip steaks and a nice Merlot, and finished up with some blush champagne. Kicked back on the couch and watched one of the funniest episodes of SNL I've seen in a while. Loved the "2 Nick Cages" segment, and Weekend Update was really great. Plus I liked seeing Karmin as the musical guest - I used to follow their stuff on YouTube (KarminCovers) and thought they did a great performance of an original song!

Well that's it for me! Just a teeny glimpse into the day-to-day. Check back tomorrow for Random Thoughts Thursday!