Q and A

I don't have much to say today after our terrible loss to A&M last night. I walked from my office all the way to the stadium in 90+ degree heat and humidity, and wasn't too happy about the game. Oh well. I am still happy that Friday is here, and well done to all of you A&M fans (that includes my Gran).

 

 

This is a Q&A I took from Julie at Just the Joys.

 

1. What is your biggest success/accomplishment?

The thing I am most proud of is getting accepted into grad school, and the grades (aside from the C+ I made in Research Methods) I've worked so hard for so far. I am also very proud to be married to my husband, and consider myself very lucky that I met him.

 

2. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I would love to go to London and Italy.

 

3. What's your dream job?

SLP-I'm working on it!! I want to work in a hospital or skilled nursing facility with patients who have had a stroke, or Parkinson's, Huntington's, and other conditions. I am also interested in Cerebral Palsy. I feel like this will be rewarding and it pays pretty well, a win-win in my book.

 

4. If you won the lotto, what would you do with your winnings?

I would probably build a big Gone with the Wind style house, and have a beach house as well.

 

5. What app on your phone could you not imagine living without?

I love so many-Instagram, twitter, and Pandora are probably my favorites.

 

6. What is one item on your bucket list?

I guess TX is on my mind after our loss yesterday, but I really regret not going to the Alamo when I was in San Antonio in 2005, and have wanted to visit it for several years now. I am also DYING to go on another ski trip. I went on one in 2010 and it was so much fun.

 

 

7. What is your favorite holiday?

It's too hard to pick only one. I love Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter.

 

8. What is your ideal date night?

Since my hubby travels a lot for work, I treasure any time to have him to myself. I love going out for dinner and a movie.

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful LOOOONGGG weekend! Happy Labor Day!!

Home Tour {Living Room}

This is my first home tour post. As I get more of our house decorated, I will post more. It's a process! I got rid of all of my furniture when I moved into Nick's house because honestly it was beat up from college and being well-loved for many years. This house is bigger than anything either of us have lived in before, so we still need a lot. As in, I have an empty dining room, and a guest room that is also completely bare. I spent about every penny I made on our wedding for over a year, so now that that is over, I am finally making some headway on our home. I am really pleased with the progress I've made recently, but still have a long ways to go.

 

This is our house from the outside. I tried to pick two pictures that aren't too identifying, and don't show a house number. A few years ago, before I met my husband, I had an ex-boyfriend who wouldn't leave me alone after we broke up, and sometimes I worry that I am not being cautious enough by having a public blog.

 

Waterlogue app pic of our house this February when it snowed

 

 Christmas 2012

 

We got our furniture at Haverty's and it just arrived in July. Trinket is serving as your tour guide. I had been waiting on the canvas from our wedding photographer before I hang any pictures, and it just arrived, so we will actually hang pictures on the bare walls soon.

 

 Up close of some details.

 

 I am thrilled with how this chair turned out

 

 This turquoise bowl has shells I've collected from different trips, and I plan to keep adding to it

 

 This is the view coming in from the garage, the blinds and wall are damaged from Yadi

 

I took this from on top of the kitchen counter

 

One of my favorite things about the living area is the gas fireplace. I use it a lot in the winter. I just love the cozy atmosphere it provides. When I get to watch tv or relax (which seems like hardly ever), I am always down here. This room is really a lady cave for me. Nick has a man cave upstairs, and that's where he watches tv and hangs out. I very rarely go into that area when he is not home. I pass by it, since his man cave is in our loft, but I hardly ever sit down.

 

I plan on posting a kitchen tour next. I hope y'all have a wonderful Hump Day!



Weekend Recap

Hello and happy Tuesday! I had an absolutely heavenly weekend.

 

Friday evening my sweet friend Melanie came over, and we went out for Mexican. Our husbands were both out of town, so it was just us. Melanie lives on the same side of town that I do. The greater Columbia area is really spread out. For example, from where I live, it's a 45 minute drive to Lexington. It's so nice to have a friend that lives nearby. Melanie's husband travels for work, as does mine. It is really wonderful to have a friend that deals with the same things you do. Melanie and I talked about how we receive the same comments from people about our spouse being gone a lot. I get everything from "How can you stand your husband being gone that much?" to the opposite, "I wish my husband would go somewhere sometimes." My reality is somewhere in the middle. Sometimes it is hard for me, or lonely, when Nick is not at home. Other times I am super busy/stressed with school, and it works well out to have some time to devote to my studies, and not feel like I am neglecting or ignoring my husband.

 

 

Saturday I had a Me Day and stayed in my pjs until 3 pm! I NEVER EVER do this. I am always so busy with work and school that it seems like I never get the chance to just to be lazy. Saturday that is exactly what I did. I cuddled with the dogs and watched Brokedown Palace. I wouldn't have picked this movie to watch, but it was on tv, and I ended up liking it. Later I laid out, and read a Mary Kay Andrews book. I even filled up the kiddie pool for the dogs. That night we watched a marathon of I'm Pregnant and So Is My Teen. I had a bowl of cereal for dinner because I was too lazy for anything else.

 

Sunday I slept until 10. Again, something I never do! I must have been tired. I met up with Melanie again and we had a girls day. We got mani/pedis, had lunch at Miyos, and then went shopping at TJ Maxx and Target. Sunday night I watched Real Housewives of NJ.

 

Normally I hate feeling like I am not being productive, but I figure with school and football season starting this may be my last free weekend for a while. Over all it was a very perfect weekend, and exactly what I needed.

A Day in the Life

I love reading other blogger's posts about their daily lives and routines, and since I don't have much new to report, I thought I'd share mine.

 

This is my day today:

 

5:45 snooze alarm, play on phone, and pet Yadi

6:00 get out of bed

6:05 take Yadi out and get Trinket up/out (due to a few of her habits she is no longer allowed to sleep with me or roam free at night and sleeps in her cage)

6:20 - 7:15 shower, do hair and makeup

7:20 leave home

7:50 drop Yadi at Camp Bow Wow

8:10 arrive at work

8:10 - 12 work like a madwoman

12-1:20 lunch out with coworkers

1:20-5 work

5 yay time to leave!

5:30 pick up Yadi after sitting in traffic

6 arrive home

6:05 -6:30 change out of work clothes and heat up leftovers

6:30 -7:30 study (Fall semester started today {!!})

7:30 - 8:15 walk dogs/do a few exercises

8:15-9 bath

9 in bed watch tv or read

10 lights out! zzzz

 

 Tiny Dog working on her fitness

 

I sent Nick a lot of pictures of the dogs when he is out of town so he can keep up with their shenanigans

 

My husband travels a lot for work and is gone this entire week. When he is home, I try to cook an actual meal. When I on my own, I like to make dishes that I can eat for several days. I also go to pure barre two nights a week, so those nights I don't get home until 7. Yadi doesn't go to dog day care every day, but this week it is a necessity  with 100 degree temps. At times I also have to study for several hours, so not much else gets done on those nights!

 

Thanks for reading. We've almost made it to the end of the week!



Confessions

I don't have much new to report, so I thought I would do a confessions post.

 

1. Although I hate to wish away time, I welcome 2015 for the simple fact that then my graduation will only be two years away. I feel like I will see the light at the end of the tunnel when I can say I am halfway through.

 

2. I have to confess that my wedding dress is sitting in it's garment bag in a spare room. While I am being truthful, I should add that it is still littered with dirt, leaves, and twigs that got caught in the lace traipsing around outside on our wedding day. I have made zero progress towards taking it to be preserved. If you know of a cleaners you would recommend in Columbia SC for wedding dress preservation, let me know!

 

 

3. I have been meaning to take some pictures of our living room for a post now that all the furniture has been delivered (some of it was backordered), and I've been too lazy. I am trying to soak up every last minute before classes start on Thursday. Here is a peek:

 

 

4. My last confession is that aside from the Electric Feel Elsa, I am not crazy about anything LP right now. I was planning on a few new items for fall. I don't care for their current  "Resort 365" collection instead of a fall line, and it doesn't really have many fall like items. I do like the Maribel top in turquoise, so I may get it to try to get me through fall and winter. I always get a few new items for fall. I am curbing it a bit this year however, as I will not have a desk job in my future career and may not have as much need for professional clothes.

 

I am ready to get out of here. I hope y'all have a wonderful night!



TGIF!

Friends, we've made it through another week! Bring on the weekend.

 

Today is my pay day (yessss). I used to work with a lovely woman named Connie, and she told me to always buy yourself a present on pay day to reward yourself for working the past two weeks. I don't always do that, but when I can I think it's a really nice thing to do for yourself.

 

This is today's treat yo self gift, the Rayne necklace in neon pink. I love my KS Danielle earrings in neon pink so much that I know I will get a lot of use out of this necklace. Thank you Brandi and Allison for introducing me to Kendra Scott! My wallet, however, does not thank you.

 

I also ordered a few new Scentsy bars. I use my warmers a lot since we have two dogs.
 

We have a pretty low key weekend planned. I will be going to a work potluck at the lake on Saturday, and other than that I just want to take care of some errands and some things around the house.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Counting DOWN!!!

In only fourteen short days, football season will be upon us. Just two weeks - I can't believe we're so close! That also makes me wonder where 2014 is going?! It's going so fast, I can't believe it is already August.

 

I thought I might go ahead and start posting about football, beginning with today's countdown. In fact, I think I might make this a regular topic through the fall. I may have guest posts from some of y'all if you're interested, and it won't always be USC related!

 

In the spirit of getting ready for college football, I thought I would share a few pictures. I enjoyed a little trip down memory lane looking for these on facebook. I couldn't help but smile looking through pictures. We had SO much fun in college. Living in the dorms was an unforgettable time. The only real regret (other than that I would have picked a different major) I have is dating the same lame person for the entire time, but I guess all is well that ends well. I am very happy and grateful to be with my husband Nick now.

 

 Auburn game, 2006
 

Despite the fact that my Mom is a Clemson alum, and I grew up near CU, I had never been to a college football game until I came to USC. The only football games I had been to were at my high school. My Mom just doesn't care much for sports. I still haven't been to a pro football game (although I would love to go to a Dallas Cowboys game). I still remember my first USC game vividly, and it was amazing!
 

 Me and my best friend Ashley in West Quad
 

Until I met Nick, the only college football games I had ever been to were USC games. He and I went to an Iowa game in 2012. It was so cold, but lots of fun.

  

 Tailgating for a USC game last year - I miss my blond hair

Is anyone else as excited as I am for football season?

DC/Baltimore Trip Recap

We had an absolutely amazing trip to DC and Baltimore. We left Tuesday evening after my last final (!!). We spent the night in Richmond, and made it to DC by lunch time on Wednesday. We stayed in DC until Friday morning. We had great food, saw lots of sights, and of course I found a Christmas ornament to take home. I get an ornament every time we go on a trip, and I love seeing all of them on our tree at Christmas.

 

A gorgeous night in our Nation's Capital  

 

Sight seeing and Cardinals game fun  

 

 Reunited with two of my oldest friends 

 

 The last time we were all together in 2011-about six weeks before I met Nick  

 

We spent Friday through Sunday visiting friends in Baltimore. I have major pool enjoy after visiting their new house! We also got to catch two Cardinals games, which was fun, although the Cards played horribly.

 

I ended up with a B in Neuro, and a C+ in Research Methods, so I have been happy about that. Yes, I am sad that I made the first grade below I B that I've EVER made at Carolina, but I'm choosing to just be happy that summer school is over. Fall semester starts August 21st, so I am trying to enjoy myself as much as possible before then!

 

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend!



So close...

Today, tomorrow, and two finals are all that stand between me and sweet freedom. We leave on our vacation Tuesday evening after my last final.

 

We are going to our Nation's Capital, and also to visit good friends in Baltimore.

 

I haven't been to DC since a class trip in eighth grade. I went to Baltimore in April of 2010, about six weeks before I met Nick. I had an absolutely amazing time, and can't wait to go back.

 



I've almost made it through summer school! My mental state about finals and my classes is a lot better than it has been thanks to lots of preparation. I firmly believe that repetition is the key to learning. Distributed practice is where it's at.

 

I have two Babe Walker books on my Kindle, and my camera is charged. I think it is sure to be a wonderful trip.

 

I hope all of y'all have a great week! If you think of it, please say a prayer for me as I take finals.