More time for me...

So after a long summer pause I find myself in a frantic race to the finish of school. Going from semi-relaxed to semi-nervous brackdown only took about 3 weeks. Today I decided to live it up and get a pedicure...


MORE TIME FOR ME!

Thats the name of the color and it really looks nothing like the picture. It is like a salmony purple color, and fabulous!

I also read a book while getting a pedicure. I really enjoy reading but since school started have done no leisure reading...until today.



I am only about 30 pages in but I have already been enjoying it! I love books about life as a southern woman, and I especially love reading while getting a pedicure...with annie on my lap of course.

Kitchen Addition:

An idea I stole from a few design blogs with "rainbow cookbook" shelves...I have more cookbooks somewhere but am still rearranging after our summer house guests:



And my birthday reward for myself...or to celebrate graduation...or getting a job!:

My "new dining room"

This time last year I had just put my house on the realestate market. Starting school was not free, and I had hopes to get the equity out of my house in order to pay for it. Against Dave Ramsey's advise I took out student loans. Against the schools advise I worked while in school. The past year has flown by and I cannot believe that Graduation is almost here!

So my house didn't sell, which I am actually very glad it didn't. I love my house even more eachday and cannot imagine the heartache I would have had selling and moving. Leaving the memories of parties, and roomates, and now the Branch boys, and dogs, and cooking.

The love I felt for my house though was definately not being reflected in the decor. It was the same cream white in all but 1 room, pictures were still not hung, and my style was definately not showing. The majority of my furniture was free so I am not complaining in the least about it not reflecting my style especially since many of the pieces came from professionally decorated model homes (benefit of my dad being a realestate developer) or were family pieces given to me...and many have sentimental value.

if you are still with me here are some photos to reflect my point:


note the bare wall
Now for the "After" :

More Bitter than Sweet

Today marks the end of summer...
I have had the past 3 weeks off (almost)from school! I have still been working 3 shifts a week but I got a taste of working 3 : 12 hour shifts and it was sweet. On the other days that I had off I did nothing, went to the beach, almost completed my todo list, caught up with friends etc. The first week back at school has already taken its toll on me with exhaustion and a severe sinus cold. I have confidence though that my 3 weeks off charged my batteries enough to make it through one more semesterand that I will pass the boards, get a job after graduation, and once again have the sweet life of only working 3 days a week.

Why today did I feel such an emptiness after the summer? Deep breath and try not to cry (afterall you are sitting in lecture!).

Today Giles and his sister in law, Carrie, flew to Loisianna to get her stuff to move into her new house. So why does that make me sad. Well as most of you know Carrie and her two precious boys have been living with Giles and I this summer, making my townhouse a home.


This is a classic photo of Tyler!


Brotherly Love!

Yes it was a small place that was busting at the seams all summer, afternoon naps were rarely had, I watched wonderpets about 1000 times (if you don't know what I am talking about consider yourself lucky), had art work all over the walls, toys all over the floor, and the dishwasher and or washer/dryer were always running. Wouldn't I be celebrating peace and quite??

I dropped Carrie and Giles off at the airport (at 5 am!) for their long journey in the u-haul when I got home it was sooo quite! With 3 hours to fill before class I went for a run, changed the sheets on the beds, cleaned the bathroom, and then sat in the muteness. Then I decided I would go ahead and go to school 45 minutes early what else was I going to do?

So in class I have been looking at new throw pillows, a new coffee table, and e-readers. Unfortunately I don't think that any of these things things can take away the huge void that I feel trying to think about what I am going to do to fill the time, memories and love that I have felt over the summer.

Rainy weekend

now that the fear of a huge hurricane hitting Charleston bas been reduced I am thinking now of an awesome rainy weekend

Then I started craving chili...then I started wondering will Charleston ever get a crate and barrel so I could buy these bowls, have them today, and not pay for shipping?

Butt Camp

I'm not afraid of swim suit season, and that is because sadly I rarely make it out to the beach during the summer because of work and school obligations. When I do go it is most of the time with my bestest and closest friends. Since most of them have seen me naked at some point in our friendship (through living together, trips, and well to put it bluntly I'm not that modest) I figure me in a swim suit is probably easier on the eyes!

What does scare me is Fall. That day sometime between Sept. 1st and Oct. 31st when it gets cold enough to break out last years jeans...WILL THEY FIT? Especially being back in school I appreciate it more because... I am too broke to go buy new jeans and therefore have to pray my jeans can make it through til graduation. Then maybe I can get a new pair once I start a job! Maybe even buy a pair of James Jeans like these:



So my plan to do this is to actually train for the Race for The Cure in October:

http://running.about.com/od/racetraining/a/intermediate5K.htm

So the training started today. I did my 3 Interval 400 meter runs (I did this last week too but this is the beginning of the 8 week training plan) and I did all 3 in less than 2 minuites...therfore an 8min mile pace...if I could sustain the same pace for more than 1 consecutive lap...which I have hopes to do but don't see that becomeing my reality...but it did feel pretty good lapping a few people at the track this morning!

Maybe I can finish the race at my goal time and also fit into my jeans!

Break up & Make up

The Breakup:
I have been going to the same hair stylist since I graduated college, over 5 years ago! She has been there with me through lifes ups and downs and the chaos of my mid twenties. Last time I went to her I told her I was ready to spice it up...more highlights a fun cut... my hair was her canvas. Her response, "your not ready for that". Shouldn't I be the one deciding this?! It is my head and I have to look at it all the time! So after another boring highlight and haircut (which by the way continued to get more expensive with every visit) I came home sad and same old girl next door. After several months of being plan jane I made the switch. I was refered by some nurses to this girl, downtown, all of the nurses that go there have the cutest hair! I know this sounds silly but as I was driving to the new salon I passed the old salon and felt a little guilty. It really did feel like a breakup! If I run into my old hairdresser on the street she will know that I cheated on her with someone else. OH the stresses of being a girl.

So I love my new stylest Nicole. When I walked in and saw her I knew she was the one! I sat down and she asked me what I was wanting to which I replied, "I want my hair to look just like yours!" She really is that fabulous too. While she was doing my hair we talked about low maintenance styling options like how to make my hair wavy without having to blow dry and therefore damage my hair. She did suggest two products one I got at Sally's for 1.79 and the other from Ulta 3.99. This girl really knows how to help you make the most of your hair without maxing out your credit card! I attempted it today for the first time and I think that after a few tries it will look very beach babe, but actually the first attempt looks pretty good.

The Make-up:
Special thanks to Welles Bricker for my newest obsession:

http://www.youtube.com/emilynoel83

In my lack of tom boyness theme I have enjoyed watching lots of her videos. I went to CVS and ULTA and got a few of the things she recomended and have really liked all of them.

Though I don't think I will ever have a "collection" of makeup it is fun to get ideas on how to spice up my routine...since after all it has been the same since I first started wearing makeup.

Who knows maybe next time you see me you will mistake me for Kim Kardashian...I think I am a long way from this...though I did get a Cover Girl smokey eye shadow palate!