J.Crew = Happy Thoughts

I have re-fallen in love with J.Crew. I seriously heart their effortlessly super-chicly styled clothes and their beautifully bold colors -the chartreuse is absolutely drool-worthy. Sadly, J.Crew is completely out of my price range. I can only afford it, barely, if it's on sale. Here are some things that I'm currently smitten with:

Ooooh. I love these shiny shoes. But even on sale at $120 they are too pricey . It's not that I wouldn't splurge, but they're not every day shoes. They are sit in my closet and only come out on special occasion shoes.

They're called Claudia. Just like moi (well, you didn't think my real name was Smart Cookie, no?). Coincidence? Or fate? You decide.

This eyelet miniskirt is $98. But I lurve it. And I lurve how it's styled so casually cool.
My baby brother is getting married in May, and I ordered both of these dresses this week. Actually, it's the same dress, just in two different colors. But, duh, you can see that. Anyhoodle, I ordered them in two different sizes. I'm hoping that 1) the dress fits and makes me look lovely and 2) that I can actually choose between these two delicious colors.

My brother is having a late afternoon wedding, and I know that I can dress these babies up or down, if need be. Keep you fingers crossed!

Happy Thoughts

1. Yesterday, I had a huge pain in my neck, the literal kind -not the figurative kind which can usually be attributed to my job, my money woes, or J (Just kidding lovey, I know how lucky I am to have you. I know it because you remind me all the time). I really think it was from a combination of things. No restful sleep all week, subconcious anxieties, and wearing four inch heels on Thursday. Plus, to be honest, I'm ALWAYS tense. I don't really feel it, but that's the word on the street. And even though I got a massage on Friday night, (see below for funny convo), when I woke up yesterday, I could not look to my left. But looking in that direction is overrated, right? Anyway, after some delicious aspercreme and advil, voila! All better!

An excerpt from the play, My Cups Do Not Runneth Over (Le Sigh)

Massage Lady: So is there anything you want to tell me before we start?

Me: Um, I carry a lot of tension in my back -that's what all the therapists have told me, so I'm really sensitive there and can't handle too much pressure. And I wore heels all day yesterday, and I'm used to wearing flats so I feel like my body in general is all tight and achy.

Massage Lady: Okay, well let's see if we can work on that.

(She starts working on my back) Oh my, you're inflamed back here. The tension is unbelievable.

Me: Yeah, I know. It's pretty bad.

Massage Lady: Let me ask you something, what size bra do you wear?

Me: Um, any reason in particular you're asking?

Massage Lady: Well, sometimes large breasts can cause this much tension.

Me: Hmmm. Well, I'm an A cup.

Massage Lady: (All flustered and uncomfortable) Well, then it must be something else.

2. I am back on Proactiv! Yay! Say what you will, it really works for me. My favorite thing, and honestly, the most effective product in my opinion, is the reparing lotion. Oh, I'm hoarding it. Everytime I put it on, I'm carefully measuring it out so as not to waste any. Clear skin, here I come.

3. I am done with my Christmas shopping. All of it! (Hmmm, I keep thinking there's one more thing I would like to buy J. Poor guy never gets much actual stuff during the year, he usually gets presents like Dolphin tix or cash). Presents will be shipped tomorrow to my NY peeps. By the way, the watch didn't ask me to stay so it will also be making the trip to New York.

4. Only one more week of school! And then FREEDOM! Sweet freedom!

5. I haven't worked out since Tuesday! Again, I haven't been sleeping well, and therefore not feeling well enough to go to the gym. But today? I went for a run, and it felt delicious. I was a running machine! I was even able to run for five extra minutes!

6. Cleaning all day today. Now cleaning in general is not fun. I am not one of those clean freaks. And J doesn't help matters much. He likes to eat in bed. Ugh. Believe me, if you're going to come over, please call ahead so I can straighten up and sweep and mop the floors. But this cleaning is for my work Christmas party, which I'm hosting. I'm excited for my coworkers to see my chez and spending some quality bonding time with them.

7. Seeing my peeps this afternoon. Y'all are a bunch of crazy bitches, you hear?

"You see everyone here living their lives? You don't see anyone asking them any questions! " LMFAO

Happy Thoughts

This year, my school began a new enrichment project for the elementary students; we are planting an organic garden. We are partnering with an orphanage in India, whose children are also planting a garden. On Thursday, one of the volunteers from the orphanage came to our school to talk to our students about their new "brothers and sisters" in India. She asked all of our students to take off their shoes and gave each child a piece of newspaper and a cracker. She then told our students that the newspaper was their bed and their blanket, and the cracker was their whole meal for the day, unless they had brothers or sisters, in which case they would share that one tiny cracker with them. The students were shocked and amazed. Living in the land of plenty, blessed beyond belief, makes it difficult to comprehend having to fight with wild dogs for food from the garbage, living on the streets without parents, and just plain having to survive such a harsh life.

And I was extremely touched as well. I complain SO much about what I DON'T have, that I rarely focus on what I DO have. So, similar to my lovely S, here's a list of things I'm thankful for:

• J, without him I'd think I'd be in the fetal position most of the time.
• My family, they drive me crazy, but they love me beyond belief. They're always encouraging me, giving me advice, trying to ESP my thoughts, and helping me out in any way they can. Special shout out to: My mom & dad, L (who speaks to anyone about how they got pregnant and then gets their doctor's name and phone number and passes it on to me), E, C, Nana, Pachu, S, L, and V.
• My friends, I really don't have many, a hazard of hating to talk on the phone, but the handful that I have always make me smile.
• My home, it's small and cute and adorably decorated, and even though it's not the cleanest, three dogs makes it difficult, it's home, and I love it.
• My dogs, especially Snoopy, who I let sleep in the bed with me and with whom I don't have to fight for food.
• My body, I know it sounds odd, especially when I'm always bitching about losing weight, but I'm thankful because my body is healthy and strong. I can get out of bed easily, exercise, and play. I can feel my heart pounding, my breath labored, as I run. And there's no better feeling.
• Books, I've read three this week, and nothing is my "Calgon, take me away" like a good book.
• Hot showers, good blowouts, highlights, massages, manicures and pedicures, even though my recent financial state has put the kaibosh on manis and pedis (I'd eat rocks to get my hair highlighted, and I signed a 12 month contract at Massage Envy in June when our financial picture was much brighter so I can get a massage every month, I know, I know, poor me), I love pampering myself, even if it's just taking a shower after a sweat session at the gym.
• Facebook, which has allowed me to get in touch with old friends, and more specifically has made it easier to become closer to some. I'm talking about you, A!
• The Internet, blogging, shopping, catching up on gossip -I heart the internet.
• Money, please don't drop dead because if you read this blog at all you know that money is my biggest concern, and we still live paycheck to paycheck, but we live, we manage, and put in that perspective, it sure doesn't suck.
• My future, I've got one, I don't know what it is, but I don't really need to, God is in control, right? So I'm going to just try and enjoy the ride.

So think about it. What are you thankful for? I bet when you stop and think about it, you'll realize that your glass is half full.