feeding my shopping diet

Let the spending begin! I've been going a little a lot crazy regarding the use of my debit card. It's okay, for now I figured 'you only live once.' Within reason of course...

Mama got herself a neutral heel that her closet has been craving.. kind of my typical heel, but more of a rounded toe than usual. Not the exact pair I had in mind, but 50% can do strange things to a girl! Credit: Aldo

And some much needed accessories for my minimal collection, credit: Forever 21. I can't find the gorgeous necklace I bought.. Pics to be posted soon.

And this cute spring skirt from my personal favorite Arden B

And the 119$ ticket to a great 5 concert series

May 21: Jason Aldean

June 18th Rascal Flatts with Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore

August 13th: Tim McGraw with Luke Bryan and The Band Perry

September 10th: Toby Keith with Eric Church

September 24th: Brad Paisley with Blake Shelton and Jerrod Neimann

I'd sum that up as a very successful.. and expensive weekend!

We're still on the hunt for high-heeled cowboy boots, and crossing our fingers for a pair of Kenny Chesney tickets. Stay tuned. 

I've Learned

So.. I know I said I wouldn't do this, but this quote is perfect. I love inspiring words that you can completely connect with. I feel like these are my thoughts, put into a beautiful expression. 

I’VE LEARNED THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OR HOW BAD IT SEEMS TODAY, LIFE DOES GO ON, AND IT WILL BE BETTER TOMORROW. I’VE LEARNED THAT YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT A PERSON BY THE WAY HE/SHE HANDLES THESE THREE THINGS: A RAINY DAY, LOST LUGGAGE, AND TANGLED CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS. I’VE LEARNED THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARENTS, YOU’LL MISS THEM WHEN THEY’RE GONE FROM YOUR LIFE. I’VE LEARNED THAT MAKING A LIVING IS NOT THE SAME THING AS MAKING A LIFE. I’VE LEARNED THAT LIFE SOMETIMES GIVES YOU A SECOND CHANCE. I’VE LEARNED THAT YOU SHOULDN’T GO THROUGH LIFE WITH A CATCHER’S MITT ON BOTH HANDS; YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO THROW SOME THINGS BACK. I’VE LEARNED THAT WHENEVER I DECIDE SOMETHING WITH AN OPEN HEART, I USUALLY MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. I’VE LEARNED THAT EVEN WHEN I HAVE PAINS, I DON’T HAVE TO BE ONE. I’VE LEARNED THAT EVERY DAY YOU SHOULD REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE. PEOPLE LOVE A WARM HUG, OR JUST A FRIENDLY PAT ON THE BACK. I’VE LEARNED THAT I STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN. I’VE LEARNED THAT PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID, PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID, BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.― Maya Angelou

It's like God read my blog

Seriously though. When talking to some co-workers, I AM going to be receiving a large sum back from my taxes. Thanks to being a full-time student last year, and an independent, I'm getting a lot back from paying tuition last year. That health care bill everyone was in a frenzy about, well a large part of it was dedicated to reimbursing students not only to encourage people to go to school, but to encourage people to pay off their student loans. So now I can be responsible, and have fun by splitting sharing my taxes between paying for loans, country concerts, and clothes I need...

Exhibit A: Cowboy boots for those concerts I will be attending. Saw these on my favorite Pink Lou Lou blog. I'm going to need these, or something very similar!

Exhibit B: I need a white skirt for the upcoming season that can double for work and for going out. I'm imagining it with bright summer colors (yellow or teal) and cute heels. 

Exhibit C: I NEED A PAIR OF TAN/NUDE HEELS. I saw my dream pair in a Polyvore esque picture, and can't figure out what brand they are or where to find them. My little ankles most likely won't fill out these shoes in particular, but I will be purchasing something similar to these beauties.

Live a little, have some fun

Ohh tax season. I FINALLY sat my butt down and attempted to do my taxes last night. I'm eligible to complete my taxes for free, woohoo? Now with my big girl job, I was expecting a large amount back from the glorious government.. but I was sadly mistaken.

I've paid off a lot of my student loans (still have a long way to go), but since interest didn't start building until January 2011, I don't get to write any of it off.

Okay, okay, I'm done whining. The good (or bad?) thing about taxes.. I've allotted almost every penny already. The mature decision would be to put all of that money towards my loans, or into savings. I feel as though I've been mature, and have a budget that I am saving what I consider to be a decent amount. So where is that money going you might wonder? Well, if I don't win tickets to WMZQ fest in the next few weeks.. I will be purchasing a $119 ticket. Then I'm going to attempt to win a pair of Kenny Chesney tickets. Don't ask how much I will be spending to see him in concert.

Long story short, I'm keeping my fingers crossed to win quite a few concert tickets, but it not.. I'm living by Mr.Chesney's words:

Been going like nothing can wait
I gotta get my priorities straight

I need to live a little, have some fun

Take some time, waste it on number one

You only live once, and as responsible as I am trying to be, I don't want to look back and have no debt, and no fun. There needs to be a healthy balance, and if it takes me 3 years instead of 2 to pay off all of my student loans, no one is going to die. Fact. 

A Little Bit Stronger

I'm obsessed with this song. To me, it has so much more meaning that being stronger after a break-up. I used to be depressed, and this song reminds me that I have become stronger every single day with every opportunity that presents itself. I still look to others for the credit I feel like I deserve, but I think I'm getting better at being proud of myself. Not saying I'm perfect, but I have grown so much and never thought I would be at this place at 23, and it feels damn good.

I did recently go through a break-up, but am back with my (other) ex (a post in itself). Do I think of what could have been..yes, but I don't cry every time I think about him now or have this pain shoot through my entire body because of the pain, guilt,  etc. etc.

Oh blahh this post flipped from a positive, encouraging one to a negative, depressing one, huh?

Back to positive! I started job searching in Feb of 2010 so I would have something set-up for when I graduated.   I'd like to thank my mother for scaring the crap out of me of how fast my last semester would pass and I would be SOL. I'm not going to lie, I didn't go to that many interviews, I think I landed an internship on my 3rd or 4th interview, but I did it. That internship turned into a job, and now I've put myself on a strict budget to pay off my loans, save some money, and still be able to pay the rest of my bills and have fun. I really can't complain. Sure I'd like to buy more shoes, or dresses, or craft materials, but I'll feel much better when I'm the first of my friends to buy their own home and have my student loans paid off by the time I'm 26 rather than 40.

Okay, okay I done with the gloating, but that's my way of accrediting myself.

Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.

Healthy Hue

So as my 2010 Resolution, I have not been to the 'glorious' tanning bed since December 31, 2009 (I had to get one more in!). I am reminded on almost a daily basis how happy I am to make that decision (i.e. my boss showed me this article yesterday:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/28/tanning.skin.cancer/
So in my determination to not be a lilly white ghost, I found my new best friend..

Yes, this little bottle of love does exactly what it says.. leaves no streaks! Through my teen years I tried a multitude of self-tanners, and was guaranteed orange knees, elbows, feet, hands.. ok, I was an oompa loompa. I don't know if my years of experience did the trick, but I'd like to give the credit to L'Oreal. My secret is that I never apply the gel directly to my elbows or knees. I put some in my hands and start with my thighs and calves and go over my knees like lotion, and do the same with my arms. 

I do follow the directions and usually apply the tanner after shaving and exfoliating the rest of my body. And the most important step, WASH YOUR HANDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER. My roommate decided to try some when she saw it sitting on the counter, and was left red orange-handed.  Ha! 

I have not tried any other streakless tanners, and to be honest if it ain't broke, why fix it? My mom has the Banana Boat and says she's seen nice results, but I'll stick with my bronze bottle.

keep calm and carry on.

About half way through my search of what to post on an initial blog, I realized that it doesn't matter what everyone else did, or what everyone else posts. This is mine.

I'm a twenty-three year girl/woman living in Northern Virginia. I graduated this past May from George Mason University, and work in the wonderful world of social media/marketing. (Gasp! I don't already have a blog.. I know.) Truth is I've had an anonymous blog that I've filled with pictures and quotes. I'm opening the next chapters of my life, and I want my blog to record all of it for me rather than continuing my record of others.

The past chapter was narrated by a girl who was learning to grow up, and to find she can depend on herself more than anyone. That sounds so depressing, and it's really not. I'm so proud of myself and all of my accomplishments, and through it all I've learned so much about myself and my determination. I don't know what the next chapter holds, and that's the best part. I look forward to each day (more Friday and Saturday) and know each year gets better than the last.

My new favorite quote really sums all of this up..
"I'm having the time of my life figuring out this next move." -John Mayer