My Seester

Ah, my sister. Ever since we were little, she's been up for whatever crazy plot I had in mind.

When I wanted to play teacher, she sat through endless hours of "school."

Ali: I don't want to play anymore.

Me: School isn't over, and NO you can't go to recess.

When I wanted to fix her hair, she let me curl and brush and pin to my heart's content.

Ali: What are those huge bumps in my hair?

Me: Those are beauty bumps, everyone has them. Now go show your friends.

When we played Barbies, she... was probably freaked out.

Ali: Why is your Barbie kissing my Ken? He's married to my Barbie.

Lindsay: They're having an affair.

She built pillow houses with me, played dress up with me, sang songs I wrote and performed dance routines I made up.

In summary, she's put up with a lot of her big sister over the years. And I love her more than words can say, for that reason... and a thousand others.

And even though we have out-grown barbies and dress up... she still plays along with my craziness.

If you need any proof, here it is. Crazy and her baby sister, and their finest.

I love you, pookie!

Baby Shower: Sneak Peak

I'm excited to say that I can finally reveal a few details about the baby shower I'm throwing in a few weeks!

I was waiting to reveal the actual invitation and theme until the mom-to-be got hers....

 

...even though she lives in Germany... and the suspense of sending a piece of foreign mail with NO idea how long it would take to get there was killing me.

Speaking of suspense, she finds out what the gender is tomorrow.  I'm SO excited!

So, without further ado, here are the invitations!

I know it's a bit hard to read the text... but by the picture, I'm sure you get the idea!  We're meeting at a local spa to have pedicures and appetizers and celebrate the birth of the first fab five baby!

There are a few other surprises up our sleeves... but those will just have to wait!  :)  I'm SO looking forward to pampering Jes and spending some quality time with the girls.

Here are the girls, if you need a refresher.  Jes, the mom-to-be, is on the far right.

It's a big month for the fab five!  We're also celebrating Natalie's wedding next weekend!  (Nat is second from the left.)

Have a great Thursday!

Like It, Love It, Need It

You know Violet, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?  Well, I feel like her today. 

Daddy, I want a gumdrop.  Daddy, I want chocolate. Daddy, I want everything at Anthropologie."

All of that said in a british accent, natch.

Anyways, I WANT.  A lot of things today.  I am totally in love with everything at Anthropologie right now.  So... lets play a game of like it, love it, need it.

Item #1:  Like it.  I just love the mossy green color- so spring.  And it can easily transition into fall, worn over a long-sleeved shirt.  Something in the mocha family.  I can also see it being tossed on over a swimsuit this summer.  It's adorable and practical- but for today, it's just a like. 

Item #2:  Like it.  I love the color and the waist on this little dress.  I also love that it could easily be worn with a pair of bedazzled flip flops for a casual look... or dressed up with heels and pretty jewelry for evening.  I would wear this dress with curly hair and wedge shoes.  

Item #3:  Love it.  Ok, if you know me... you know I'm a sucker for scarves.  Heavy ones in winter, light and pretty ones for every other season.  But, I usually have a colorful piece of fabric wrapped around my neck at all times.  This one... wow.  I love it.  I love the bright cheeriness of it, and that I can spice up a boring black dress with it.  I could even wear my new yellow Toms with it.  Love. It.  This could easily fall into the "need it" category someday soon.  Like, tomorrow.

Item #4:  Leed It.  Or Nove it.  Basically, I love this, and I need this.  But mainly, I love this. It's cute, it's comfy, it has pockets.  It was made for me.  The only thing holding me back... the color.  Corals don't tend to do much for pale-skinned red-heads.  But, I'm willing to be proven wrong on this.  This is right on the line for me.  I would wear this with leather strappy shoes, and some cool beaded necklaces.  Hair, curly.  Uh oh, I've talked myself into it.  I need it.

Item #5:  Need it.  Absolutely, 100% need it.  I love that it's somewhat casual, but can easily be dressed up.  It has structure, so it can be worn to a formal wedding.  But it's loose-flowing... so I can throw on some flip flops and breeze out the door.  I would wear this with a stack of bracelets on my arm, and a pair of great shoes.  Need it.

Item #6:  Need it.  It's fun, it's frilly.  It will dress up nicely this summer for the never-ending wedding season, but also transition into fall perfectly.  I can put on a pair of tights and a small jacket and head out the door.

What clothes are you crushing on right now?  What are your likes, loves and needs?  

She Returns

I know, I know... I've been MIA.  Missing.  Gone.  Silent.  

But, not really!  There have been MANY things going on over the past week.  So, instead of bore you with my life story- lets take a photo tour, shall we?

Yesterday, I celebrated 2 years with him.  This is us, playing putt putt- which is what we did on a date 2 years ago when he asked me to break up with my imaginary boyfriend named Greg and only date him.

Sweet, huh?

It takes a patient man to share his golf ball with me after I sunk mine in the murky waters of All Star's golf course on.... hold your laughter, please.... Hole 2.  :)  Happy 2 years, my love!

Second, I've been involved in a little something I like to call "Live from the Lawn."  You know, that online broadcast that consumes the last two weeks of every month?  We've actually been rocking the house this week, selling up to 25% of our inventory online every day.  Watch now!

***This wacky attempt at a public service announcement was NOT brought to you or condoned by Auction Network.***

Third, I will get to spend lots of time with these two girls this week- Brittany & Heather.  My college girls!  I can't wait for some quality time with them!  And of course, that tiny, wonderful little boy she's holding in her arms.....

.... who now looks like this.  He's a big boy now, almost 16 months.  Stop growing, Cooper!  I mean it!  Right now!

It's all for the wedding of Belinda!  (She's second from the right.)  I'm sure her wedding will be a bit classier than my 25th birthday and we'll sip champagne from glasses, NOT straws.

So, that's me!  I should have many more pictures to share after this week/weekend.  I also have NOT forgotten about that little.... ahem, GIVEAWAY.... I mentioned last week.  

Oh, there will be a giveaway.  And you will tell your friends about it, and everyone will get a chance to win something wonderful that is not an iPad.

Happy Monday!

Showers & A Shower

Happy Sunday morning! It's raining here today- kind of refreshing, in my opinion. Kind of like God is renewing everything, and giving us a fresh start for the week.

I've been doing a lot of "refreshing" and "renewing" in my walk with the Lord over the past couple of weeks. One of the biggest things I've (re-)learned (hey, sometimes God needs to remind us!) is how important it is to let God have the reigns in your life. If we turn it all over to him, good and bad, he reveals so many things to us. I'm especially thankful for what I've been reminded of. :) A great day to give thanks!

Speaking of giving thanks... you will ALL be giving thanks to me in a couple of days! (LOL... does this statement discredit everything I just wrote in the other two paragraphs?!) I am doing my first GIVEAWAY here at the Lounge! It's nothing major (no iPads here, folks) but it's something I think you guys will like. So, check back in mid-week! (How's THAT for a tease?)

Finally, my lovely friend Leah is getting married in just 3 short months, and yesterday, she had her first shower. I left my camera in Plano over Easter, so I brought along by Sony Bloggie to take pictures- and they turned out great! Very impressed.

Leah & some of her loot! (By the way, check out the view behind her!)

The shower was in Okmulgee, and most of the gifts were from The Dowry. They wrap all of the gifts in clear celophane, so there is no "opening" of the gifts- you just walk around and see what the bride registered for! Great idea, huh?

Leah had her bridal portraits taken this past week, and this was her bouquet. (Her loose theme is peacock feathers.)

Cute petit fours with an L and H for Leah & Heath.

Leah and her hostesses! These women are apparently THE shower-throwers of Okmulgee. It was certainly a great party!

Oh yeah, one more thing. Our bride-to-be had a slight mishap on the way to the shower.... take a look. :)

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Fear

What a word. It can be so negative. I sometimes feel like fear means you don't trust that God's outcome is the right one. Or that something will happen out of your control.

Breathe.

Fear makes it hard to breathe, like a weight pressing down on your chest. My fears have seemed to bubble to the surface lately, and it makes me uncomfortable. One, because I feel like I'm not giving God enough credit to take the reigns with my life. And, two, because I feel helpless, and not in control. (I'm a tad Type-A, if we haven't established that yet.)

Have faith.

It's really an exercise in faith, to release your fears. I guess it's a matter of knowing God made you strong enough to handle anything, because He's on your side.

Be strong.

I don't always want to be strong. And, there's something really freeing about that. Knowing you don't always have to have things under control and going just your way. You don't have to be the strong one.

Let go.

It's hard to let go. I obsess and dwell and think, think, think. I hold everything tightly and wear it on my sleeve.

Be still.

And eventually, the fear evaporates. What a beautiful thing.

A Trip, A Giveaway and An Announcement

Happy Monday!  Today, I have three things to share.  (Please refer to the title if you're questioning what those three things are.)  

First of all- thanks to everyone for input, suggestions and votes for my upcoming trip!  I have no idea when I'll take it- likely not until after Uncle Sam delivers on his promise- but the top two destinations selected in my brief, 24 hour poll were...

... drum roll, please....

Choice #1:  Boston!

... and choice #2:  Miami!

Thanks for your votes... and I'll consider each.  :)

Next up... a giveaway!

... No, but by me.  (By the way- there's a slight, teensy-weensy possibility that there will be a giveaway in the near future here at the Lounge.  Spread the word.)

Today's giveaway is by one of my favorite blogs, Frenchie & Flea.  Ever heard of Liberty of London?  Cute line, and today- Frenchie & Flea is giving away one of their totes!  Perfect for your laptop or future ipad.  Enter to win here.

Lastly, an announcement.  I've been accepted as a writer for an online community called Demand Studios!  It's a publishing platform for how-to articles, fact sheets, strategy essays and more.  I will be contributing various articles on a wide range of topics that will for the most part be posted on a website called ehow.  You can check out some of my current articles here and here.  (Hey, it's my blog, I can brag if I want.)

The editing team at Demand Studios is fabulous and quick to respond, and I look forward to writing with them.  They also are making some great partnerships.  Follow them on twitter @demandstudios to read more on a big announcement they made today!

Ah, three of my favorite things in one post- travel, accessories and writing.  :)  Do something you love today!

Where to Go?

My "virtual vacation" series continues today with dreams of a real vacation. You know- saying goodbye to work emails, packing your bag & taking off for an adventure. At least, that's what a vacation is to me.

Oh, sure, I love a beach vacation as much as the next person. Lazing around, no cares, getting fat and happy off of sunshine and pina coladas.

But, I come from a family of Irish do-ers. If we don't have something "to do", we get bored... fast. Even those lazy beach vacations are packed with excursions, snorkling, scuba diving.

And one very unfortunate whale site-seeing tour.

My trip to Spain in 2006 cemented this "vacation do-er" attitude for me. I traveled alone- which meant I set the agenda. If I wanted wine for lunch and then a 2 hour siesta... I made it happen. But more often than not, I was up at the crack of dawn, sampling fares from the local mercado. (Hello, jet lag!) I was sitting in market squares, writing and reading. I was taking pictures, and avoiding over-friendly people who wanted to become "travel buddies." (True story.)

But more importantly, I was free and independent. I was capable of anything. I hauled my own luggage up stairs, onto buses and trains, and over the cobblestone roads of 7 cities. I lost weight without even realizing it, and had my first tan ever, from hours spent outdoors in the glorious country. That trip took a college girl with an uncertain path and made her into a confident woman that handled life's surprises with grace and ease.

...ok, that woman really doesn't exist, and certainly isn't me- but the trip did change me for the better and made me grow up a lot.

I'm ready for another one of those. I'm 26, and at another crossroads of sorts in life. I'm ready for the world to teach me again, to show me what I'm made of.

Uncle Sam has given me a (small) allowance to do this again, and I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

....can someone please tell me what that even means?!

So, here are my top contenders:

San Francisco
Chicago
Boston
Miami
New York City

Feel free to vote on the matter thanks to the handy dandy poll tool at the top of the page. And if you have another suggestion... comment below!

Lets all make our virtual vacations real ones.

Virtual Vacation

I love to travel. Have I mentioned that before? It brings me such joy to arrive at a new place, explore the sights and sounds.

The first 9 months I worked at my company, we traveled... a LOT. Seattle in the fall, Massachusettes in the early winter, Los Angeles in the winter and spring. We broadcast our auctions all over.

And, as Production Coordinator, my job was always the same.

-Count our equipment suitcases. (long and skinny, big and black. They all had names.)

-Make sure they all made it onto the rolling belt at the airport. (Not left on the curb. Oops.)

-Print our flight information. (Just call me Mom.)

-Google maps from the airport to the hotel. (This was pre-iphone mania.)

-Book the rental car. (Ford Edge, you rock.)

-Reserve the hotel rooms. (Ohhh, the hotels. That could be a post in itself.)

-Keep track of our petty spending cash. (Yes, that "missing" $5 matters.)

WHEW! Exhausting, huh? Sometimes for as many as 20 people.

But, I loved it. I loved not only the sense of accomplishment I felt planning these trips, but arriving. Finding coffee shops in the morning. Using every spare, non-work moment to explore. Building friendships with my co-workers you only forge when you're on the road.

And trust me, there are things you learn about people on the road.

The past week, my travel itch has flared, once again. We don't travel much for work anymore- and I haven't been on an actual vacation in a year and a half. So, i'm remembering those days, where un-packing my suitcase was only necessary in order to do laundry and re-pack.

So, lets share our travels! Over the next week or so, I'll be sharing my travels with you. Take a virtual vacation with me! Write about your own travels, and post a link below. Share your favorite sites, restaurants, coffee shops and more.

But leave out the stories about your co-workers odd habits on the road. If only we could all forget. :)

He is Risen!

Alleluia!

*Photo courtesy of photographer Ian Britton*


Have a blessed Easter!

A Good Friday

Happy Good Friday! I hope you had a chance to reflect on what this day means. Isn't it so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life? I feel like especially lately- it's so easy to become immersed in our troubles, even our triumphs, and forget what life is really all about.

I love that we celebrate Easter every year- a weekend to truly reflect on the greatest act of selflessness and sacrifice. The gift of eternal salvation we all received when Jesus stretched out his arms upon the cross. That is love I can't even comprehend.

How will you celebrate life eternal this weekend? I hope to be present in every moment, and live with thankfulness and hope, above all else. We're going to church tomorrow night- and I plan to sing and worship and pour my heart out before the Lord. We're grilling out for my sister's birthday, and heating up the hot tub. I am going to soak up every ounce of life this weekend, and bask in the knowledge that this good life I am so blessed to live is just part of the journey.

Wouldn't it be nice if we lived as though every day were Easter? Every day we were reminded of a beautiful sacrifice made, so that we can live in the light?

Here's to a weekend full of love, thankfulness, light, hope, and life.