Snow is Stupid

How's that for a catchy and clever title?

I'm reserving the right to not be catchy or clever since I just sat in traffic for 5 and a half hours going someplace that would normally take me 30 minutes max! It took me an hour and half to go a tenth of a mile! Are you getting the picture that traffic was awful?

Why the ridiculousness? Snow. Don't be fooled, it's not pretty and it's not fun. It's evil and makes people act crazy and mean. Apparently snow means traffic laws not longer exist. Red lights and green lights now mean absolutely nothing and it's okay to make U turns in the middle of the road. It's every man (or woman) for him (or her) self.

Surprisingly though this post is not about how stupid snow is. It's about being thankful. Being thankful for the few people who do know common decency and understand that everyone on the roads are trying to make it home. Thankful for music that kept me from going insane. Thankful that people did get home safely, and thankful for buildings that keep us safe and warm.

Most importantly I'm so very thankful for my husband. Long story short he saved the day. I had to pee. At one point I was crying. It was bad. The radio stations were telling everyone to just pull over use the restroom. Um, hello, minor problem, it would have taken 45 stinkin' minutes just to pull over! The husband (safely and legally) abandoned his car (he was already on the side of the road for being in a minor fender bender) and ran to where I was to rescue me. We'll just end the story with sometimes you do things you swore you never would do.

On that note I'm so thankful for Starbucks this morning. The cup came in very handy! Just another reason why my Starbucks addiction is actually a good thing :)

As for where I am now? The husband and I made it safely to his office where we may be spending the night. Dinner tonight looks like it's gonna be collard greens, popcorn, and goldfish. At least we're together, warm, and safe.

If any of y'all in the south got stuck in the nastiness outside I hope you and your loved one made it home safe!

Here's to being thankful! Maybe I'll like the snow tomorrow. Today, I think it's stupid.

Five on Friday, Vol. 15

Y'all, this week was rough. 

It probably didn't help that I was sick, but it was the week I thought would never end. I won't bore you with all the details. We'll just leave it at crying just feels good, and I'm so glad it's the weekend!

I'm linking up with Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha to share the things that made me smile this week!

 

{O N E}

I got NAKED!

This was my mom's gift for me for driving her to the airport yesterday morning. So so excited!

Mom sent me this seemingly super inappropriate text. Took me a few seconds to figure what she was saying. She makes me laugh.

{T W O}

Old School Herbal Essences

Do y'all remember this stuff?! I was in 1st grade when I smelled this for the first time. I was immediately obsessed. I died a little inside when they changed their scents. I may or may not have screamed and happy danced in the store when I found out they were bringing the old school stuff back. The smell is everything I remember and more. So much happiness and good smells in every bottle. 

Source

{T H R E E}

This candle.
Not only does it smell good but it sizzles and crackles while it burns. I keep it burning in my office all day. It keeps my heart smiling.

Woodwick Sand & Driftwood

{F O U R}

This show.

The days I'm home at 11am I get to spend some quality time with Loreli and Rory. Mom, Sis, and I use to have Gilmore Girls marathons. They have a special place in my heart.

{F I V E}

This guy.

Mom is off to Minnesota and Dad is out West skiing. That means James and I get to hang with this sweet boy all weekend! I miss living with Riley and love when we get to puppy sit.

I hope y'all have a happy weekend!

DIY: Bookshelf

I haven't done a DIY post in a while and I really love how this project turned out. When I first found out I was getting my very own office I knew I needed a bookshelf for all those books I collected in grad school. Do you have any idea how expensive bookshelf are? There had to be a better way. Mom and I are super ambitious and Dad builds things. Between the three of us we had to be able to figure this out.

Before we get started I have to share this again. Dad was out of town for the night. Mom and I decided we had this under control. We figured we could handle the belt sander ourselves. We couldn't. This still makes me fall on the floor laughing.

We used 3 2x6x10 wood boards. You can find them at any home improvement store and in pretty much any length or width you want.

They had to be sanded...a lot. We obviously gave up on the belt sander and used the much safer electric hand sander. You can sand down the knots if you want, but I left as many as I could because I like character :)

Pre and post sanding: 

Make sure to round the edges. Don't want to bump into any rough sharp edges!

Then the fun part! Staining! I'm on a dark wood kick right now. We used dark walnut mixed with a little ebony to get this color. We "painted" it on, waited about 5 minutes, and then buffed it off. Super easy!

After we let it dry for about 24 hours we painted on a satin polyurethane to protect the wood and finish it off. 

To create the shelves we bought 24 3/4'' black iron floor flanges and 3/4''x16'' pipes. We just spray painted the pipes black but you can probably find black pipes pretty easily. The floor flanges are about $10 each at home improvement stores, but we found them much cheaper online. Do some research to get the best prices.

We added 6 2'' black wheels on the bottom to make it easier to move around. 

Finished product! It turned out even better than I hoped it would! I wouldn't be upset if it ended up in our home one day :)

Please excuse the totaled car in the back. Sis and I got in a wreck on the way back from one of my wedding showers. We were fine. Carlos, the CRV, was not :(

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Five on Friday, Vol. 14

Happy Friday!

Linking up with Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha for Five on Friday! This weekend we are off to yet another wedding. Thankfully this one is in town, so we have some down time to just hang out around the apartment.

Here is today's super random 5!

 

{O N E}

Sis' wedding was featured on Southern Weddings! I know I'm bias, but I seriously think this was one of the best weddings I've been too. Super proud I had a small part in helping making it special! 

Check out the entire feature here.

{T W O}

Have y'all ever heard of Grace and Lace? The husband and I first saw them on Shark Tank. Then, the husband surprised me and got me the socks below for a Christmas present! If you've never heard of them before check them  out. They're awesome!

{T H R E E}

Today is going to be a full on craft day over here. Hopefully everything turns out!

 

{F O U R}

I had to share last night super yummy dinner! I don't always work on Thursdays, and when I don't I try to make a special dinner. Last nights salmon, roasted broccoli, and lentil salad hit the spot. Even though it was full of veggies, the husband gave it his seal of approval.

{F I V E}

This past week I've shared with y'all a bit more about myself and why I stopped running. I just have to add a heartfelt thank you to all of you! Thank you for your support, encouragement, and super sweet words. Y'all are seriously the best!!

Wishing you a very happy weekend!!

"You Don't Know Me"

Is it weird that the husband and I jokingly yell this at each other at least once a week? Probably, but I'm betting you do weird things too. Plus, that title sounded better than: "Things you may not know about me just from reading the blog." Plus, I was working on this post when Jenni from Frankly My Dear nominated me for the Liebester Award! I thought I'd combine the two posts and fill y'all in on some things you may not know.

The Liebester Award is a series where bloggers who have under 200 followers are nominated by other bloggers to share more about themselves and meet fellow bloggers.

11 Random Facts About Me

1.  In my "for real life" I'm a counselor. I have my masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. I specialize in working with clients who struggle with eating disorders and addictions. It's no walk in the park, but most days I love my job and the people I work with. 
   
   Source
   This made me laughed out loud. No, my clients don't lay on couches. Through some have tried.
2. I hate bananas. Like deep deep hatred. I can't stand the taste, texture, or smell. I can't even be in the same room as someone who is eating a banana. 
3. I use to be a preschool teacher. For six months in between graduating college and starting grad school I worked as a Pre-K teacher. I loved it! My sweet little babies were adorable and I have some great stories!
4. I can't dance but the husband and I make up dance moves all the time. We have a "happy dance," a "birthday dance," and a "New Years dance." Essentially they are the same dance move with minor modifications. Sometimes we're mean and make people dance with us. 
   
   "Birthday Dance"
5. I don't think it comes across here, but in real life I'm super sassy! The husband will be the first to tell you I've got some serious sass in me :)
6. I could eat tacos every night of the week. We're constantly looking for new fun taco places. If you know of any please share!
7. I still sleep with my childhood safety "blanket." It's actually a pillow and the longest I've ever gone without sleeping with it was when I was in Costa Rica for 6 weeks. 
8. Big groups of people make me uncomfortable. I can be super awkward, so I prefer small groups of people I know. 
9. I'm allergic to pineapple. I ate a ton of it once and my face swelled up and itched like crazy. I was in another country. It was awful!
10. I got made fun of for being "too pale" in 6th grade. I'm still self-conscious about my skin color.
11. I don't really know how to dress myself. More often than not my mom and sister help me pick out clothes. Following fashion bloggers has really helped me learn how to dress.

11 Questions from Jenni at Frankly My Dear

1. What is your dream job & why?

     I love my job, but my dream job would be a photographer. I love love love taking pictures!

2. If you could travel any where in the world where would it be?

     Greece or anywhere in Europe really. I've always wanted to go there!

2. What is one thing you would change about yourself?

     That I didn't care so much what other people think of me.

4. What's your biggest goal in life?

     To be a mom :) Not yet! But hopefully one day.

5. If you could be any character in a book or movie, who would it be?

     Anne from Anne of Green Gables

6. What is your favorite food?

     Mac & Cheese and tacos. I'm 5 years old at heart.

7. Where/What is your "happy place"?

     Beach, river, water fall, or lake. If I'm anywhere near water I'm good!

8. What's your most prized possession?

     Wedding rings. Love everything they symbolize.

9. If you could meet anyone in the world (dead or aline) who would it be?

     My dad's dad. He died when my dad was only 10, and I've always wanted to meet him.

10. What is one thing you cannot leave the house without?

     Cell phone. It's a problem.

11. Top reason for blogging?

     Meeting new people! I initially started blogging to document our new life. Now, my favorite thing is      meeting new people and forming new friendships!

11 Questions from Me to You!

1. What's your favorite favorite quality about yourself?
2. What's your favorite TV show?
3. If you could travel anywhere in the US where would it be?
4. If you could learn one hobby/skill what would be & why?
5. What's your #1 must have makeup product? 
6. What's your go to outfit of choice?
7. What do you keep in your purse? 
8. What would your dream meal consist of?
9. What's your dream job & why?
10. Favorite thing to do for exercise?
11. Favorite thing about blogging?

My Five Nominees Love these girls!

1. Khala at The Birdie Bowl
2. Melissa at Loving Life Moore
3. Julie Joy at Just the Joy's
4. Mary at Eat, Drink, & Be Mary
5. Alyssa at Southern Abundance 

Thanks Jenni for nominating me!

We're Breaking Up

After a 15 year relationship of ups and downs plus plenty of sweat, blood, and tears, we're finally putting a stop to the madness. This wasn't an easy decision. I put in lots of long hours in trying to make it work, but it's time to face the facts, I just can't do it anymore.

So, it's official.

I'm breaking up with running.

This truly is a case of "it's not you it's me." Running didn't do anything wrong exactly. The problems started with how I view running. For you to really understand this decision we've got to back up a bit.

This is from a triathlon a did a few years back

Growing up I was a swimmer. It pretty much took up all of my free time. I was in the pool 6 days a week for 2 to 2 and half hours usually with an extra hour added on for dry land {weights, running, etc} a day. In the summer and even towards the end of my swimming "career" we did two-a-days. Weekends consisted not of parties and hanging out with friends, but traveling to swim meets or extra hard practices. Are you getting the picture that it was my life?

I loved competing and loved being in the pool, but I've just now started to realize how much it influenced how I think about exercise. Even after I quit swimming, going to work out 30 minutes or even a hour a day 3 times a week wasn't enough. In my mind, it had to be 2+ hours everyday or it was none at all. I would get obsessed with working out and then when I couldn't maintain that routine because life got in the way I would quit all together.  When I would try to get back into a working out I would get so overwhelmed and frustrated with my body not being use to handling that kind of stress that I would quit again. It became a vicious cycle. *I am in no way blaming swimming or competitive sports for my way of thinking. I know that I'm naturally prone to that "all or nothing, black and white" thinking,*

Recently I was on a walk, where I was judging myself for walking and not running, when I began to think about the unhealthiness and craziness in how I think about exercise. Then, on July 4th a friend and I were running and we started talking about we really didn't enjoy running at all. It hurts my knees and it gets kinda boring. I got to thinking "if I'm not having fun why the heck am I doing this?!" It had never really occurred to me before that I didn't have to do this.

And so, that's how I decided that I'm breaking up with running.

Obviously, running isn't the problem. The problem is in how I think about exercise. Running just happens to be the one exercise I always thought I had to do.

I'm not saying I'll never run again, but from now on I'll run because I want to and not because I have to.

Five on Friday, Vol 13: Lessons Learned

Happy Friday Y'all!

We're heading to Savannah for a wedding last today. Before we head off to hopefully warmer weather, I'm participating in my favorite Friday activity with Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha!

  

Today I'm posting about 5 lessons I've learned this past week:

{O N E}

If you post pictures about having cravings people automatically think you're pregnant.

I posted this picture on Instagram with the caption: "My donut craving is finally being satisfied! Why am I craving donuts?!" Evidently if you mention cravings friends think you might be pregnant. I'm not, but it I was I can guarantee there would be a lot more visits to Sublime Donuts!

{T W O}

Guest posting is fun!

I did my very first guest post ever over at Melissa's blog Loving Life Moore earlier this week. It was a great way to meet new bloggers and get new followers!

{T H R E E}

I like winning giveways!

Taylor over at Tattered to Taylored hosted a giveways recently and I won! I'm super excited to get my new shirt.

{F O U R}

Yoga is pretty cool!

I've been in a serious work out rut lately. I've blamed it on mourning the lose of my beloved Bar Method, but I'm out of excuses. I just started doing Erin Motz's 10 Day Yoga Challenge, and so far I'm a fan. I've wanted to get into Yoga for a while now, so hopefully this is my start!

{F I V E}

Cold weather is not fun.

So, temperatures dropped down to 6 degrees at the beginning of the week! I decided I deserved a coffee treat for getting out of bed on such a cold day {I live in Georgia this totally makes sense}. I got to Starbucks and attempted to roll down my window but it was frozen shut. Cue freak out. I then proceeded to sit in the parking lot for 15 minutes with the heat blasting waiting for the window to thaw. Never once did it occur to me that all I have to do was open the door to order. My Northern mother was pretty embarrassed that this never occurred to her Southern daughter.

Here's to a happy and hopefully warmer weekend!