Confessional Friday

I sooo need this Friday more than like most every other Friday. So link up with the lovely Leslie and let it out!

I confess...

1. I have helped Starbuck's stock sore this week thanks to my lack of sleep and feeling crappy.
2. I am way excited to get my first spray tan ever today for the pageant I am co-emceeing tomorrow. I am also excited to get my make up done!
3. It has been three days since I have washed my hair. I know normally my blonde, fine hair would be a greasy mess, but I have managed to dry shampoo and hot roller it into perfection!
4. sometimes I think that clients are unrealistic when it comes to litigation. I mean I get how they think they are right, but seriously? not everyone can be right!
5. my husband annoys me to death in the mornings. It's 6am... I am awake, but I do not want to talk or giggle, or be messed with. I want quietly get ready for work kiss you and the pup and get to work.
6. I bite, pick, peel my nails and it looks so bad! I am pondering fake nails again just so I do not look like a 12 year old in front of court and clients.
7. I left my Scensty on last night in my office by mistake.
8. I would rather eat a sandwich for dinner most nights then come home and spend an hour cooking something. Lazy I know, but I;ve been up since 5!
9. I turn 30 in like 2 weeks and I am still a lil scared of the sound (on another note I went to a reception to meet my law school mentee and everyone mistook me for a student)

And in other news..... I am now taking sponors! If you want to sponsor this little blog of mine you can!

I've got 3 types with differenr features, though I will still accept swaps. Click on the FAQ page above!

It's Ok Thursday

  It' Ok.....   To paint your office purple to skip a day a kickboxing because you feel like crap to sign yourself and your best friend up for bootcamp because there was a Groupon to indugle in a chai latte when your throat hurts to not wash your hair everyday (that's why the topknot is so in) to miss your hubs when he's away and then can't wait for him to leave again when he returns (luv you hun) that I am going to watch way too much TV tonight (ya Grey's & Glee) that I spent a wee bit much at Kohl's Tuesday because I went back Wednesday and they honor my coupon!! that my idea of fall is putting cute decor in my home that I could care less about the referee debacle that I just read 2 iBooks in 4 days that I am baby crazy that Saturday night I will eat some yummy pancakes from Ol South post pageant (& a cupcake)  

Fall Decor

I was so psyched up for this week of fall blogging by the SITS Girls, but alas it is very un-fall like here in the Lone Star State (to the tune of 93 degrees). However, I am bound and determined for it to be fall in my house.

After seeing so many other posts about fall decor and clothes I decided I could force fall into my house. I headed out to Kohl's and snatched up some goodies.

I snatched up this table runner for our glass dining room table



Added this lovely basket to our coffee table and put the woven balls I already had inside it.

For our dining room centerpiece I picked up this cute candleholder than can double for Halloween and Fall



Happy Texas Summer Fall to all!

The Facts of Life

Yeah not the TV show, though I did love me some Trudy... I mean the actual facts. If you read yesterday's post you saw my positive Monday mantra... well this is quickly faded as the day wore on. My optimism turned glass empty in about zero to 60. I realized the people in general are negative (myself included).

They will find an opportunity to put you down or make that off-color remark that really gets under your skin and burns. So I tried to put the smile on and float through the glorious day, but man its hard when so much negative energy buzzes around you. The fact is life sucks sometimes. I know I know I should not put it so bluntly, but come on y'all, its true.

My day which began with a skinny mocha and smile quickly went to hair in a messy ugly topknot, two huge zits and my crying profusely on the way home. In fact, the more I drove the angrier I grew. The tears turned in yelling, teeth gritting anger. By the time I got home I was so angry I could barely think. I even yelled at my poor baby girl for jumping on me and scratching my leg, when all she wanted was some mommy love.

As I walked Chloe I tried to calm down and think about what got me all worked up. I realized it wasn't one thing, it was all the little things that culminated in the traffic hell in which I live. It was the fuss over my office, the lull in work, that hubs was travelling again, that I was tired, the next door neighbor's barking dog, the work stress, the volcano I call my face these days, turning 30, the construction which had a lane change and made me miss my exit and trek 5 miles down the highway turn around and sit in more traffic to re-exit.... ya see... this is life.

The fact is that once you graduate college and go into the world life catches up with you. Sure we have those moments of fun and carefree, but life these days is just stressful. If we are not worrying about deadlines or work product, we stress about finances and the economy. We avoid outings with friends because the cost of gas is such that driving into town becomes costly. We commute in congestion and traffic and just want to veg instead of cooking nutritious meals and exercising. Life has become so complex that its not fun anymore.

My husband put some things in perspective this morning though.... breathe. Take a deep breath and remember that at the end of the hellacious stressful awful no good terrible very bad day you are blessed. When all is said and done remember what you want out of life. Sure we would love to achieve success at work, make lots of money, have nice things, but no one will remember that awesome brief you wrote, how much you had in your bank account or the killer LV bag you toted. They will remember the smile you gave them, the compliment you paid and the embrace when thigs were rough.

So, don't let the facts of life dictate your life. Traffic may suck, your boss may suck, your job may suck (not that mine do, except the traffic things) but whatever it is that gets you down, leave it there. Focus on how you want to be remembered.

Weekend Update!

Well I'd say TGIM, but we all know that is not true... but hey its another week, another chance to live, love & be happy! So here's to the weekend. This weekend was PURPLE-FILLED!

Saturday was an early workout before the TCU game! We BTHOUVA!

 

I got to see the new stadium,

Hang out with my awesome brother

 Watch my good friend Skyler and current feature twirler perform with fire (and I helped her which ended up with me having singed arm hair and two small burns, oh what I do for those I love)

worked a lil Sunday, but in my newly painted office! I've got a gorgeous purple accent wall and then rest is a subtle grey/white. (some people think its too bright, I say its my office!)

and my lil purple accent between the windows... Ok, so what do you think? The rest of the walls are pretty much white, do you like?

 

Well, that sums up my weekend! This week is going to be trial prep and pageant prep. Saturday I'll get my new titleholder and begin a year of wonderful pageant love! Hvae a fab week lovelies!

Sunday Social

1. What is something you have wanted to do but are afraid of? Opening my own firm.


2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Still practicing law, hopefully close to making partner. Have 2 kiddos hopefully.

3. What are you looking forward to before the end of 2012? Turning 30, TCU beating a couple Big 12 teams and Halloween and Thanksgiving ( I love me some turkey day!)

4. What are your hopes for your blog? To build my following and enjoy it. When it quits being fun, I'm out!

5. Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city? if you are my husband, yes, he says we won't move, just build up... But I would love to move back to Ft Worth but for now our lil suburb works.


6. What is your morning routine?

Mon/Thur

4:55am - alarm goes off, jump out of bed head to gym

5-6:45am - workout, shower, get ready

6:45 - 7:30 - drive to work

7:30-5:30/6/6:30 - work (how long I stay depends on what I have to do)

drive home

T/Wed/Fr

No workout, so up at 6am out the door by 6:45am! repeat the rest

Weekends... workout between 9 am 10am and then I do a little competative sleeping! aka nap till I can't nap no mo!

I Believe

I decided to join in Erin's fun and tell you all what I believe (plus a Friday rant).

I believe....

• that the day does not start until I've had my coffee
• that my marriage works because we both have our separate interests (and he travels a lot)
• that it's perfectly fine to cereal for every meal
• in paying good money for shoes
• in Benefit Flawless foundation
• that there is still a glass ceiling in many professions (mine included)
• that sometimes you do have to look out for yourself in order to achieve survive
• that our education system is failing the next generation
• that children should learn to write before they learn to type (just something about that hand to paper that I think is necessary)
• that sometimes its ok to use your looks to get ahead, i.e. don't be ashamed that you good and take care of yourself, just be ready to back it up with the brain
• that coincidences are God's way of taking control
• that nude pumps go with everything outfit
• in the power of positive thinking & prayer
• in dessert over alcohol
• in creating your own destiny
• in making your own family
• in role models, best friends and fur babies

*Now for my rant: I believe that its ok to be slightly upset jealous of the new guy, when I got ousted from a case that I was working on and rather enjoying because he came. I know its silly to feel slighted, and this is life, but still kinda sucked. I also know that its not his fault and he's a great guy, just feeling well ya know left out. No biggies onward, ever upward (famous words from our former law school Dean).

It's Ok Thursday {Link Up}

  Well hello there Thursday! It's time to link up with Neely & Amber! IT'S OK.....

• To eat sandwhiches for dinner every night when hubs is out of town
• To take two snack items from the snack tray at work because you know they will be gone come tomorrow
• that I put on concealer before going to the gym at 5 am when I have a HUGE ( I mean mammoth) zit on my face ( I look scary enough at 5am)
• to just throw away your travel mug that has been sitting in your office for who knows how long rather than opening it and cleaning out the science experience now growing in it
• to buy the cupcake scent air freshener for my car
• to immedialty come home from work and put on YOGA pants!
• that I kiss my pup at least 3 times before I leave for work
• to indulge in a fabulous lunch with a wonderful friend while we gossip chat about life, work, marriage and friends
• to sometimes wish I did not go to law school and had instead took a job in sales (that make buttloads people, like more than me!)
• that I get jealous when I do not get "in" on the good cases
• to have a giant sugar cookie
• to get frustrated and cry
• to take your ipad to the gym and read while on the stairclimber so you do not have to engage in conversation with early morning gym creepers
 

 

WILW

Today I thought I would take time to link up and share a few of the things I am loving this Wednesday!

Einstein's Pumpkin Smear - Yes, its pumpkin season. I want eat, sleep, eat, and smell pumpkin everywhere I go. So, I was stoked when I saw that little pumpkin delight appear at my local bagel shop of choice. It's 25% redulced fat and well, just yummy atop my honey whole wheat toasted bagel.

This super cute necklace - (don't mind the awkward photo I took w/ my phone just now) I got this in my Cake Style box 'o goodies. If you have not heard of Cake Style, well jump on over and check it out! You basically get your own personal shopper who sends you fabu outfits. You decide what you want to keep and send back the rest.

 

My Sweet puppy girl Chloe - She is growing up so much, and had her first driving lesson Monday night. My how they sprout!



 

Boots! Lots and lots of them - Just wish I could pull them off at the office more. Somehow I just cannot seem to make tall suede boots seem professional. but if I could I would want:

 

 

 

TCU Football - This one is pretty self-explanatory, but gotta love my Frogs!

True Life: I'm a Lawyer

Yup, in case you missed it, I am the notorious lawyer. Butt of jokes, bain of some existence, hated by all, but loved when we're needed. I am constantly amazed at people's reactions when I tell them what I do. Most of them assume I make lots of money (umm myth) and keep people out of jail (wrong again).

So what do I do, well I am a civil litigator. I for the most part represent businesses in several aspects. Most of it involves lawsuits, but other times its simple business transactions. As much as I would love to say I spend days in the courtroom, I don't. I spend hours behind a monitor typing away at motions, discovery and other mundane and seemingly boring written documents. But, its an art.

I get to craft arguments, express creative notions through the beauty of the written word. You may not think it important, but a judge can spot the difference between some words on paper and a well-thought out argument. I ponder over word choice, sentence structure, and yes the placement of the comma. I rearrange sentences to not start with however, and I can spout off more than 5 ways to say "said." I have to follow more rules than a 5 year old in preschool just to file a motion and maneuver the editing tools in Word like a Geek-Squad employee.

I must be coiffed just so, but not just so to as offend a jury member. I am expected to look professional, but overboard to look like I make too much money. I have to have exquisite oral skills, but appeal to Joe Schmo from the sticks. I have to convey complex concepts to a panel of 12 people with an average 8th grade education all while making my client feel like I put forth my all. I am the quintessential mutli-tasker and jack of all trades.

I am a lawyer.*

*I drafted this at 6am and just now hit send because well I got busy drafting a zillion things and totally forgot about this.

Weekend Update

 

 

The skinny on my weekend, we did mostly nothing. I mean we watched some football (both our teams won), we ate some food, I baked, and we went to a movie. For once though we did not have some huge plan, no one was out of town and nothing phenomenal happened.

 

Hubs and I admit we are sometimes, well less than exciting. We both work 9-10 hours a day, we both commute, we both are exhausted when we get home. So weekend when we have nothing huge to do are wonderful. We enjoy piddling around the house, watching Cupcake Wars football all day and I bake. This weekend was one of those.  We took in the TCU game, the A&M beatdown of SMU and some yumminess courtesy of my kitchen. Saturday I made lasagna rolls ups from Dashing Dish and made myself a single girl cupcake from Chocolate Covered Katie. I did try to convince hubs that since we won't let me get a second dog I need a guinia pig... and since I do not have cute pics of said pig, it clearly did not happen.

 

Sometimes admist all the go go go of life its nice to enjoy each other and the things we love. So boring for y'all, but much-needed for me.

Friday's Letters

    Looky, looky new Friday's Letters icon from Ms. Ashley! Love it and thus we begin:

 

Dear Rain - whilst I am glad you decided to grace us with your presence, you were not great for my perfect hearing hair I had this morning, nor great for the drive home while on a conference call. Dear TCU Football: I am sorry I  missed you last weekend for the A&M  game, and sad I will not be in Lawrence this week, but next time, its on Go Frogs! Dear Hubs: well you are awesome. Thanks for getting up early with me this  morning to make me breakfast before I left for my hearing. Dear Chloe:  not sure what you got into on Tuesday, but it stunk. Please stop rolling around in foul-smelling things. Dear Pretty: Umm I love you and our lunch dates and well just having you in my life. Dear V: Happy Belated bday! Dear 30: One month before I meet you, til then this 20something is going to enjoy life! Dear Operation Evening Gown: I will fit into you in two two weeks. Dear Weekend: I soooo need you! Dear Work: As much as I love you, a small break would be nice, but guess busy is better than unemployed so blessed I am for you!

30 in 30

In just 30 short days, one month I will turn 30 years old. dun dun dun, cue loud music and the realization that I am no longer a twentysomething, I'm very post undergrad, and well, old in my book. I have contemplated some sort of accomplish these things before I'm 30 and well I have done some of them, but then I came to the realization that why force myself to do things just because I'm turning a certain age.

Age is just a number. I don't feel old (unless you count when I'm in bed at 9pm on a Saturday night), I don't look old (y'all would tell me if I did, right?), gosh darn it I refuse to act old (again except said Saturday nights). So instead of try to do things just because I'm turning 30, I thought I would take time to relish in the top 30 coolest/funnest/craziest/stupidest things I've accomplished done in the past 30 years.

1. First person in my family to graduate from college and law school
2. competed in the Miss Texas Pageant
3. have my black belt in karate
4. twirled for a major university GO FROGS!
5. passed the bar!
6. travelled to Europe (twice)
7. won several state, regional and national twirling titles
8. got published
9. became an Aunt
10. got married
11. flew plane
12. swam with stingrays
13. appeared in a TV commercial
14. modeled for a department store
15. worked for my alma mater
16. ran a 10k
17. watched my best friend walk down the aisle
18. started a blog!
19. helped my mom through chemo
20. got my Chloe Elaine!
21. made some of the best friends ever and kept them!
22. witnessed a live birth
23. streaked
24. bought my first car
25. bought a house!
26. loved and lost
27. been "adopted" by a wonderful woman and her awesome husband and family
28. read Wicked (long book but soo good)
29. missed being an honor graduate from HS by like .0000001 point
30. Learned that the key to happiness is letting go of anger, guilt, and toxic people.

Liebster Award

I have been nominated for the Fab Liebster award by Britt! Check her out ya'll!

Rules of the Blog Award
1. Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves
2. They must also answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them
3. They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag
4. They must then choose 11 bloggers to tag with less than 200 followers
5. These lucky bloggers must be told
6. There are no tags backs

11 Facts About Myself

1. I am naturally blonde
2. I was a competative baton twirler for 20 years (started when I was 2)
3. I have a black belt in karate
4. my brother and I have the exact same chin line and nose, but look nothing alike
5. I eat an apple day
6. I looooove Nicholas Cage
7. I'm addicted to the Food Network
8. I didn't start drinking coffee until law school and it was because my 8am Civ Pro class was freezing and now I'm slightly addicted, but prefer a frap or blender version
9. My husband has never tried coffee before because he thinks he'll get addicted
10. Our furbaby is spoiled too death (by hubs)
11. Since moving into our house we have had a possum, racoon, and skunk live in our backyard
     

 

Britt's 11 questions

1. Guilty pleasure food? Trail Mix

2. What was your dream job when you were little? OBGYN, yes I know strange child

3. Where in the world would you like to visit? Germany

4. How did you come up with your blog name? lawyer, blonde, it works

5. What is your favorite season and why? Fall!!! (well in Texas I'm not quite sure its really a fall, but rather the cooler part of the year) I love sweaters and  boots

6. Which makeup brand (high end and drugstore) is your all time favourite and why? I love Avon products because 1) my mom sells it; 2) its good for your skin and affordable; and 3) they support domestive violence awareness. I also love me some MAC

7. What is your most played song in your playlist/ipod/player? well since I do not really listen to music other than when I'm working out I'm not sure, but my fav dance jam in law school during study breaks was Atomic Kitten The Tide is High

8. Who is your favorite actor and why? Nicholas Cage, hello Face Off!

9. Who is your favorite actress and why? Reese Witherspoon or Emma Watson

10. Who is your favorite artist and band? Hmmmm, old school Greenday now Taylor Swift rocks

11. What is your favorite movie? Face Off or Sound of Music ( I know split personality here)

My 11 questions

1. favorite cereal
2. someting you do every morning
3. your pet peeve
4. one style you wish you could pull off but too afraid to do
5. item in your closet you have owned the longest
6. dream job
7. something you wish you had known before now
8. piece of blogging advice
9. favorite book
10. first blog you ever followed/read
11. favorite pizza topping?

 

11 Blogs

 

1. Loveliness of Life
2. The Newly
3. Close Encounters
4.  Lacefields in Love
5. Classic with a Pop
6. What's Crackalacken?
7. If the Shoe Fits
8. Owls & Lace
9. Highheels & Treadmills
10. Life is aMAYEsing
 
 
 

Never Forget

Today we remember those who risked their lives to save ours and ensure our freedom. Today I am thankful for my brother who served our country in the Army during 9/11 and continues to protect his community as a police officer. I am thankful for my high school friends who are police officers and firemen.

I was a freshman at TCU, and my brother was stationed in South Korea. I turned on the news while getting ready for class. I watched the towers fall on my way to political theory class (rather ironic). Classes were suspended and everyone gathered in the Student Center to watch. United we stood. Our first football game was cancelled that weekend, but no one doubted the call. It is a day I will never forget.

I also celebrate today because two special people in my life celebrate their birthdays today! Love you V and my Big!

Feels Like Home

Ready for the game on the field

Feels like home, finally! I have been on the road for what seems like an eternity! I travelled down to south Texas to do an inspection, then back home. Well home was short lived as my husband, and former Fighting Texas Aggie Baseball player, had to go to the first SEC game. So I was woken up at 6am by the Aggie Fight Song and we hopped in the car to head to College Station.

A trip to Aggieland with my husband it not normal. Let me tell you, travelling with Matt A is something else! We started with a tour of the new baseball stadium! WOW! What place. They have everything. Then we hopped over to see the new basketball facility. Then to top it off we did the traditional (for our family anyway) hang out in the field pre-game! Despite the Aggie loss, we had a great trip, but now I just am glad to be home for a while! Here's out trip in pics! Happy Monday y'all.

New baseball stadium

They all have Mac in their lockers

Aggie wife at Gameday

Chloe says, if I sit in the suitcase she can't leave!

And for those of you who have never been to Aggieland, here is a little piece!

Sunday Social

1. What is the name of your blog and how did you come up with it?? It's kind if self explanatory when you find out I am a blonde, ex-beauty queen lawyer. I like to think of myself as Elle Woods, but with less money and a much cuter dog!

2. What do you love the most about blogging?? The friends I've made. I have found my long-lost blog sister who shares my profession and my birthday, and lots of others in between! I also love having an outlet to talk about things with people.

3. What are your 2 favorite posts you've written? Why I went to Law School and Part 2

4. What is something you'd want to tell someone just starting out in blog world? READ READ READ! The more blogs you read, the more you find and you get ideas! You also find people you share things in common with.

5. Biggest blogging learning experience you've had? Don't let hubs read the blog.... he think I provide a little TMI sometimes,

6. Give us 3 blogs we NEED to be following that you love. 

Loveliness of Life

Close Encounters

The Newly

It's Ok Thursday

Linking up with Neely & Amber for It's Ok Thursday

It's ok

• that  I spent 9 hours outside in the Texas heat sweating to death because it was for work and I learned quite a bit about random things
• to go to Target on a work trip to get new clothes because you do not want to ruin yours with dirt and sweat
• to get in bed at 9pm because you're beat
• to only see your hubs for 2 days out of the last two weeks (we travel a lot)
• to close down a bar with your Big! (we seriously need to get out more)
• to wake up the next morning after said night at 7:30 am to hit the gym
• to spend the week at your in-laws when your hubs is out of town because you 1) do not like to stay alone and 2) they will watch their granddog and give you a break!
• to not blog everyday, I mean a girl's got a life outside of the blog
• to miss my blog friends when I'm out of town and do not have time to read everyone's updates (its like I am missing out on your lives)
• that I am missing the first TCU game of the year and first game in the Big 12 and our new stadium to go to College Station with Hubs for A&M's first SEC game and home opener (Ill wear purple underwear)

Happy Thursday ya'll! Ill still be in Beaumont (aka buttcrack of Texas).

Sounds of Summer?

I know, I know its Labor Day, summer end... but not here! The 100's have returned, and I don't mean a couple of hondos, I mean 100 degree days! Someone needs to tell the weatherman that he was wrong last week when he said the 100 degree days where done.

So, what did I do this Labor Day? Labored, literally, hubs is finally home! whoot whoot, and we spent the day in the yard, mowing, cleaning out the forgotten flowerbeds, weeding, spraying for bugs, ya know nothing too big, yeah right! My legs hurts, my back aches (my hips move to the left, to the right... anyone?) Anywho, hubs has been out of town all week so it was so nice to finally have him back! But guess what? Now I'm leaving. I say it again people key to happy marriage? never see the spouse... I'm off to South Texas for some work for 2-3 days, so I'm packing my bags and getting ready for a little hotel living and working. When I finally return, its TCU Football kickoff! Hello Big 12, hello new stadium and new season ticket seats! If you need me you can find me cheering on my Frogs (and helping the twirler light fire batons at half time)!

Sorry for the rambling, its just been that kind of day (and yes I know I was quite MIA last week, very bust at work and well i also had nothing of note to say) I'll keep everyone abreast of my travel to South Texas and my first site inspection for work.

Hope everyone had an amazing Labor Day and first weekend of college football.