Friday

Hello lovelies! I've been and still am at an air law symposium. Promise to share next week!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom {Link Up}

Take advice in whatever form it comes in. Don't get discouraged, or upset when someone offers words that are only meant to make you better. It is easy to get defensive when people offer words of wisdom or simple ideas that can impact your world.  In a world that demands perfection we are quick to anger and take defense when someone offers constructive criticism. So, the next time someone pops in from next door, or your mother calls "just to talk," don't automatically go into Charlie Brown mode (you know where when the adults speak all you hear is mah, mah, mah?). Take a deep breathe, listen to what they have to say, more often than not, its good advice.

And remember, the best advice often comes when you are not listen.  Link Up with me and share your words of wisdom with the world! ~The Illegal Blonde

A Few of My Favorite Spring Things {Link Up}

Ok, so I know its a little lazy to link up again, but I was totally going to blog about some of my fav things about Spring eventually so why not now? Linking up with Neely & Amber today to reveal my favorite things about pre-Summer Spring (or in Texas that brief period where its only 80 degrees during the day).

The flowers in front of my alma mater! Seriously we have an endowment to beautify the campus, so its always lovely this time of year!

SUN! I have finally  moved from so pale I'm blue to a light pinkish tone! I also am sporting a nice sports bra tan from planning flowers Saturday.


 The sun is still out when I get home! For someone who works long hours it was kind of depressing there for a while when the only sun I saw was from the window in my office. Now I can walk the pup while its still sunny outside, hello vitamin D intake!

this was taken last summer while studying for the bar, she is not amused

Patio dining. Last Friday I headed to lunch with some of the ladies in the office and dined al fresco. Not to mention that the Fort has some great patio spots. If you're in FTW try Riscky's downtown, Cristina's in Southlake, or for those of you more into ambiance than good and a killer margarita Joe T. Garcia's (also the place where I met hubs, but that's a story for another day).

Engagement photo @ Joe T.'s, seriously gorgeous place!

So as the song goes, these are a few of my favorite things! about SPRING. Link up and share yours. ~The Illegal Blonde

Miss/Mr (?) Canada

Miss Canada contestant, who is not a natural born woman

As an ex-pageant girl, pageant news sparks my interest. So when I heard about the D/Q of a Miss Canada Universe contestant I was intrigued. A contestant in the Miss Canada pageant was recently disqualified because she is not a natual born woman, Vancouver’s Jenna Talackova was born a male and underwent gender reasingment surgey at age 19. When pageant officials found out they disqualified her. Not only was she not born a woman, she lied about the fact in her application.

Now, I am a pretty liberal, social right person, and normally this would outrage me, but for some reason I find that I am ok with this. I do do belive the people should be treated equally regardless of race, creed, sex, etc.. but I can see another side of this issue. Not so much because I think that she is not good or pure enough to hold the title, but more because I have been there and done that... competed that is.

It is pretty well-known that men can lose weight and tone more than women. And for those of you who have never competed before, swimsuit competition is not just strapping on heels and doning a bikini. Pageant girls spends months preparing for this phase of competition. Strict diets, personal trainers, dedicated workout routines, all for 30 seconds to look your best.

Now imagine competing against a man instead. Who can burn calories faster, and gentically tone muscle more than a woman. A wo"man" who has perfect breast due to cosmetic surgery, not sure good padding in your bra top. I often joke with my husband about this very issue: how he can eat a cheeseburger and fries and burn the calories off in a day and I struggle to burn them in a week.

So, for me this is not about discrimination because of her gender reassignmnet (though I'm not saying pageant officials didn't have discriminatory intent), this is about the inherent fairness of the competition. Especially for the Miss Universe pageant which is basically a beauty/bathing suit pageant. Yes the women still have an interview, but they win more of a modeling contract then Miss America where you get scholarship money. Miss Universe is built on the premise of the beauty of the body. So is it inherently fair to allow a genetically-altered wo"man" to compete with natual born women?

This is not an attack on LGBT individuals. To me this is about a fair opportunity. This is also about the rules. The competition rule clearly state that a contestant must be a certain age, never married, pregnant, and a natural born woman. She should have disclosed her past before she lied about it on her application as well. I do applaud Jenn for being honest and open about her surgery and her life. She is a role model for young people everywhere and should be commended; however, she does not meet the qualifications for this particular pageant.

Just my two cents. How do you feel? I'd love to hear your comments and feedback. ~The Illegal Blonde

Confessional Friday {Link Up}

Linking up with Leslie today for good ole confessionals!

1)When my friend had to work through our lunch date, I totally went with our secretaries to get yummy & cheap Pad Thai from the local dive, and I ate the whole darn thing!

2)I cheated on Lent... I know I was supposed to give up sweets, but I was literally dying the other day, and caved.... I'm sorry Lord, but I am confessing my sins!

3)I'm in love with Kate Spade at the moment. In fact, I just scored these two pretties:

4)There's a 99% chance I'll be making my first trip to NYC!!!!! suggestions of things to do, eat, etc.. needed! Ok, so not technically a confession....

5) I like Chick-fil-a chargrilled and fruit salad almost more than the original sandwhich

6) I'm addicted to DrawSomething on my iPhone. It has taken me over, eaten my time, now pondering how to bill those hours to someone....

What do you need to confess this Friday? ~The Illegal Blonde

 

It's OK Thursday

• to leave work right at 5pm on Wednesdays to head to hot yoga
• to not cook on Tuesday & Wednesday nights because I can't miss kickboxing and yoga!
• to paint my nails light green and go to work because let's face it I don't see clients
• to get in bed at 8:45pm 3 nights a week
• to buy oh so cute baby items for all my friends from Over The Moon Baby Boutique and secretly wish they were for me.
• to hate my job one day and love it the next, or hate one minute and love the next
• to facebook stalk plaintiffs
• to facebook stalk an ex, I mean its kinda fun to see who what he is "doing" now
• to be so excited to go to Lowe's & Calloways to buy flowers this weekend!!!!
• that the guy at Starbuck's knows my order... grande non-fat latte w/ 2 splenda and a dash of cinnamon!
• to chat with my best friend at work via gchat.... yes I can bill hours & chat at the same time!
• to leave it in His hands sometimes

Link up your Ok Thursday! What ok with you today? ~The Illegal Blonde

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

I do not believe in coincidence, luck, or happen-stance;
I do not believe in meant to be, or even merely chance.

Things happen for a reason;
He puts angels in our lives
They come in every color, shape;
They arrive in every size.

With every door that closes, a window opens
A breeze brings winds of change;
He asks for nothing in return for love,
He wants nothing in exchange.

The Lord knows just what you need,
even when you are lost,
Answers come from up above,
often with no cost.

So make plans for life and write them down,
but let frustration subside;
for when those plans take an unexpected turn,
God will be by your side.

What do you believe in? What are your words of wisdom this Wednesday? ~The Illegal Blonde