Giving Thanks and Stuff

So being that today marks the end of  a) my first month tackling THE list b) the end of Movember (see ya later, creepy 70's porn 'staches) and c) the last day of the "30 Days of Giving Thanks" challenge, I feel its only fair to share some of the things I'm thankful for...in no particular order:

1. Discovering the ancient Indian art of threading. Goodbye beastly looking monster bushes on my face. Hello defined and lovely eyebrows!

2. My friends. I certainly have quite the eclectic mix of people I call friends. We got the sisters, the Greek life non-Shady Pi's, the oldies but goodies, the "I'm not quite sure where I found them - but I'd be lost without them", the Junior Leaguers, the kickballers, the UCF'ers, the ones I met through Leah (girl you know a lot of random people)....I'm very lucky to have you all. Thanks for providing constant entertainment, support, and laughter.

3. My little JBug. He's the sweetest, craziest, little 2 year old blond boy. So thankful that he's around.....oh, and despite recent allegations, I'm thankful for Sesame Street and Elmo. Because without them, Jaythan would NEVER sit still.

4. Mi familia. I have a crazy family structure, but it works for us.

5. My Mini-Me baby sis. My sister's like a skinnier, sweeter, taller, more laid back, "gangster-redneck" version of me. I can't wait to see where she goes to school so I can spend the next 4 years of my life reliving college through her.

6. Paying for my friends in college. First. Finest. Forever. Couldn't be happier to be a part of a sorority with such a wonderful sisterhood. I made so many great friends and strongly encourage anyone who has doubts about Greek Life to talk to me....I'll tell you about the lifelong connections, networking and leadership skills I made. How I've found roommates, jobs, and bridesmaids from my time in my sorority. They have been my rock, my backbone, my comic relief, and my source of inspiration. Can't wait for Mini-Me to join one next year.


7. Animals. Without them, we'd be miserable.

8. Cupcakes. Without them, we'd be miserable and thin.

9. Food on my plate and wine in my fridge: Without both, I'd be miserable, thin, and sober.

10. My youthful good looks. I may not be a size 2, but I'm pretty. Cue Regina George...

Well ladies and gents, that's about as much as I'm going to disclose for the time being. I'm also very thankful for my small viewing audience. I appreciate you keeping up with me (and leaving comments and Facebook messages and texts). It helps me keep this thing going.  Until next time...<3

L

Finally, a Georgia Peach

It finally happened y'all. After one whole year (okay, 10 months and 3 weeks - 9 months and 3 weeks longer than GA law requires - but who's counting), I finally became a Georgia resident. I took the plunge and got a new license. Goodbye Sunshine State, hellllllllllllllllllo Peaches!!!!!

Tackling the long lines at the Department of Transportation was nothing compared to actually finding the building. My iPhone couldn't find the building, so I circled Turner Field roughly 4 times before nearly giving up (quite frustrating considering most major roads were closed due to the Atlanta Turkey Trot). That's when I exchanged $1 for information. A kind, old, homeless gentleman standing roughly 100 yards away from the entrance informed me I had arrived, I just needed to swoop around into the parking lot. Apparently I didn't expect the DMV to be in a trailer. Welcome to Atlanta.

Welp, here she is. Say hello to my shiny new temporary driver's license. The new one comes in the mail in a week or so. In the meantime, I get this lovely piece of paper to carry around.

Not only can I cross another thing off my list, but I can also stop all the raised eyebrows from bouncers, liquor store clerks, and cashiers at TJ Maxx. "Yes sir, I swear it's me...I lost my tan and colored my hair dark brown. I'm doing my best to blend in here as a Georgia Peach: sippin on sweet tea, ordering cheese grits, saying "bless your heart" all while wearing my Patagonia pullover and pearl necklace."

In conclusion, I'd like to leave you with my favorite Southern saying of the moment..... "It's fall y'all". I'm going to go make fresh pimento cheese sandwiches, enjoy the falling leaves, and thank the good Lord this crisp 50 degree weather allows to break in my new boots.

L

Forgiveness is more than saying sorry

So yesterday was the first of many "15th day of the month = Random Act of Kindness day" for me. And I racked my brain for days thinking of something kind to do today. There's an older homeless man who is always sitting in the Chick-fil-A of my office building, sipping on a small coffee and constantly scouring scraps of newspaper looking for work. I was hoping I'd find him sitting there this morning so I could buy him breakfast - no such luck. Another thought, pay for the person's meal in line behind me at lunch - turns out the gym was more appealing than eating out (yes, finally!!!). Ugh, this was much harder than I expected. Sure complimenting people, or letting someone cut in front of you during rush hour and not getting pissed is relatively simple, but I'm looking for more substantial here.

What to do...what to do.

Then it hit me. Two and a half years ago I had an incident with someone very close to me. We haven't spoke since this happened. Hearing this persons voice or seeing pictures on Facebook makes my blood boil and stomach turn. I decided to put the past in the past and sent this person an email wishing them well. And I also silently forgave this person for acting like an INSANE person. It turns out forgiveness is more than saying sorry...it requires some courage and humility.

Right, Samantha?

By the way, if you don't know who this is....please watch Just Friends immediately, and get back to me. You will thank me for introducing you to 1. A fat, lispy Ryan Reynolds and 2. The most catchy/inspirational song you've ever heard - about forgiveness. It's quite fitting for today. You're welcome in advance.

The best part was waking up this morning (NOT looking like PDiddy - or Ke$ha for that matter) and seeing a very nice response from the person. It wasn't what I expected...but that's the thing about "kindness". People will surprise you with it.

Happy Friday, everyone!

L

Hawks, Falcons, Rappers, Oh My!

Last Friday night, I was lucky enough to be able to take in a nice little NBA game from the comfort of club level seating (Thanks JT). While cheering on the Hawks (I know...I'm a Magic girl through and through but sometimes you don't QUITE have the opportunity to cheer on your team and have to settle for your NEW home team - still getting used to it), they took a moment to give a shout out to some celebs in the building.

Before I mention who I was sharing the same oxygen with, I should also note that the Hawks were playing the Heat. So clearly I'm under the same roof as LBJ, DWade, and Bosh...pretty cool in itself.

So they do this clever little joke about Usher being there, then pan over to one of the employees ushering people to their seats. Clever. But it is Atlanta...one of these days, Usher will actually be at the game. Unfortunately, he wasn't but there was a slew of rappers there (I mean after all the Hawks were playing the Heat). Notable names include: Young Jeezy, 2 Chainz, and TI.

Fun Fact: 2 Chainz marketing person sat in front of us the second half of the game...pretty chill dude. Bears a striking resemblence to Mr. Chainz himself. Except 2 Chainz is legit A GIANT.  You could see him coming from miles away. Another fun fact: T.I. announced the game.

So the Hawks lost, but on the way out we saw 2 other local ATL celebs: Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Roddy White (left) and Julio Jones (right). See below - sorry it's kinda blurry.

So anyways....that was my Friday night. Now I kinda wish "See at least 5 celebs in one night" had been on my list. Darn.

Until next time,

L

Such a busy weekend!

I checked quite a few things off the list this weekend. The coolest thing was taking a beer making class at Hop City. We arrived promptly at 11am, Groupon in hand, ready to master craft beer brewing. Upon arrival, two small plastic cups were handed to us and we were directed to a keg. Cheers to drinking before noon. The beer was a delicious chocolate lager - rich and creamy, but surprisingly light....and not surprisingly around 7.5% alcohol content (which became quite evident right around an hour into the class).

So after 3 hours, and countless cups of delicious chocolate beer, I feel confident I can make...eh, supervise....eh, volunteer to test (yes, that sounds most plausible) the craft beer brewed by someone else. Close enough. I'm checking it off the list.

And did I mention, I got to check out our instructor's biceps the entire time. Beer: it does a body good.

In addition to this Saturday afternoon well spent, I started my list of things I'm thankful for, started drafting the letter to myself which I'll open in roughly 997 days, and even checked out an additional 2 new restaurants (Parish Market and Green Ginger) - both of which I'd recommend. Parish Market was awesome because it was a cozy little lunch spot, with a very cool atmosphere, southern chic decor, and my meal came with a cookie. Green Ginger had a hip, yet relaxed ambiance complete with awesome live music (John Mayer cover band...yes please). The drinks were okay, but can you really beat a $6 dirty martini? No. After we followed that up with drinks at Top Flr. The bartenders here should really be called cocktail magicians. It was so fun to see our bartender mix up drinks, made with liquors I've never heard of (nor can I pronounce). Loved the scene and loved the drinks. Everyone should definitely experience the Strange Horse at least once in their lifetime.

I find it unnecessary to let you all know what days I wear my retainer, because let's face it...that's just plain gross. But I will let you know that I'm doing the week without soda...starting now. Yikes.

L

Day 1

So with the start of my list comes the start of my adventures in blogging. What's my strategy for knocking out 101 things, you ask? None whatsoever. Right now I feel a bit overwhelmed but excited. I've been flooded with texts, emails, gchats, Facebook messages, and calls from friends and family showing their support and encouragement. It feels good.

Some people seem to be quite overwhelmed for me. I think these skeptics are forgetting I have 3 years to accomplish these items. This challenge will be a true test in not only planning but keeping the big picture in mind. I like to think I have a wonderful ability to do both. We'll see....1,000 days left to go!


I'm happy to report that I've already got off to a fabulous start. My November2K12 New Restaurant was Article 14 for a lovely lunch with coworkers. I would highly recommend this place. It was so delicious, the staff was friendly, and the ambiance/interior made me feel like I was at a swanky business dinner, sans the outrageous bill.

Look at me go...making progress. I also have plans to check some other items off my list this weekend. Updates to follow.

L

The Creation of Something Beautiful

It all started on a breezy Monday morning in my cozy Midtown office. Our beautiful and friendly intern, who is wise beyond her 22 years on this earth shared something with me that sparked my interest almost immediately. In fact, I was so consumed by what she shared, that I spent the majority of my morning looking into it (I hope my boss isn't reading this...sorry!). What peaked my interest, you may ask? 101 Things to do in 1001 Days.

I'm all about lists. The notes section on my iPhone contains to-do lists, things to buy, places to eat, favorite blogs, etc...but this 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days seemed like the ultimate list. I needed to start it right away.

I opened a Word doc and began. The first few came out like uncontrollable word vomit. Straight from my brain to my fingertips spewing out on the computer screen in front of me. This is my life via the list as of November 1st, 2012. Happy Reading!

1.      Write a letter to myself to be opened at the end of my 1001 days - DONE

2.      Save $5 for every completed item

3.      Fall in love - DONE

4.      Complete a 5K and run the entire time Train and run a Half Marathon - DONE

5.      Catch the bouquet - DONE

6.      Travel to the West Coast  - DONE

7.      Brew my own beer - DONE

8.      Repurpose an old piece of furniture - DONE

9.      Take a picture for each letter of the alphabet- DONE (Kind of...)

10.  Pay off my credit cards - HALF DONE (1 down, 1 to go)

11.  Do something drastic to my hair - DONE

12.  Get down to my goal weight

13.  Complete a cleanse - DONE

14.  Sew an article of clothing I can actually wear  - DONE

15.  Write 5 letters to 5 people who changed my life (X/5)

16.  Make a list of My Top 50 Things That Make Me Happy

17.  Make a list of 50 things I've already accomplished - DONE

18.  Get a new passport - DONE

19.  Get a Georgia driver’s license - DONE

20.  Visit a state I've never been to before  - DONE

21.  Complete a 365 photo challenge

22.  See 10 classic movies I've never seen before
*Spartacus -  watched
*Dr. Strangelove - partially watched. It was weird so I turned it off 20 minutes in :/
*Some Like it Hot - watched
*It Happened One Night
*How to Marry a Millionaire -  watched
*The Philadelphia Story - watched
*Funny Face - watched
*12 Angry Men
* Rebel Without a Cause
* Roman Holiday-  watched
(More recent "classics" I need to watch: The Usual Suspects, The Godfather, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Back to the Future)

23.  Go to a drive-in movie - DONE

24.  Go a week without buying anything - DONE

25.  Sell something on eBay or Etsy

26.  Improve my French - En Cours

27.  Learn another language

28.  Make at least 10 Pinterest inspired recipes (10/10)  - DONE
*Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
*Pizza Cupcakes
*The Best Broccoli Ever
*Caprese Stuffed Burger
*Cauliflower Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
*Tex-Mex Calzone
*Cheeseburger Quesadilla
*Sweet Potato & Flaxseed Fries and Chips
*Skinny Spaghetti Squash Alfredo
*Zucchini Lasagna

29.  Make at least 10 Pinterest inspired projects (10/10)  - DONE
*Burlap Mr. and Mrs. Signs
*Wine Cork Letter
*Revamped Coffee Table
*Painted Sign - Turned out terrible. I'm asking for a redo. I redid....it's cute & Chevron.
*Pool Noodle Boot Saver Thingy's
*Fun with Corks/Corkboard
*Halloween Monster Plaques
*Painted Pumpkins
*Candy Corn Wine Bottles
*Sewed a pillow cover

30.  Go white water rafting

31.  Go skiing or snowboarding - DONE

32.  Buy an actual winter coat - DONE

33.  Ride a bike (NOTE: I know how to ride a bike, but I haven't in a number of years - time to hop back into the saddle and see if I can still do it...an actual bike, not a stationary bike. I have those things mastered.) - DONE

34.  Go camping with friends

35.  Start blogging – and actually keep up with it. - IN PROGRESS :)

36.  Write a letter for every broken heart and burn the letters when I’m done - DONE

37.  Write a letter to Nana - DONE (Kind of)

38.  Improve my golf game

39.  Go to a farmers market - DONE

40.  Clean out my closet & donate to the Junior League thrift store, Nearly New - DONE (and done...and done again...and again...and again)

41.  Read a book in a day - DONE

42.  Find out my blood type - DONE

43.  Go horseback riding in the mountains - DONE

44.  Have a picnic in Piedmont Park - DONE

45.  Make a quilt out of old tshirts - IN PROGRESS

46.  Send a secret to PostSecret 

47.  Tie a note to a balloon and let it go

48.  Keep a journal of inspirational quotes - IN PROGRESS

49.  Take on more responsibility in Junior League of Atlanta (JLA from here on out) or ADPi alum assoc. - DONE...to both!

50.  Dance in the rain

51.  Make a list of 10 long term life goals

52.  Make a list of 5 professional goals to accomplish  - DONE

53.  Take a cruise (My one and only cruise was Spring Break 2006...time for another one) -  BOOKED

54.  Travel to Europe - Coming August 2015

55.  Research my family tree

56.  Learn 50 new things by clicking the random article button on Wikipedia 

57.  Start saving to buy a house/condo - BOUGHT A HOUSE!

58.  Catch a snowflake on my tongue - DONE

59.  Paint one wall an outrageous color- DONE

60.  Make a wish on 12/12/12 at 12:12 - DONE

61.  Base all my decisions for one day on a Magic 8 Ball

62.  Get eyebrows threaded - DONE

63.  Do an ear-candle

64.  Be an extra on a TV show or in a movie

65.  Make fresh pasta

66.  Go to a horse race, preferably the Kentucky Derby

67.  Go to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge - DONE

68.  Do a scavenger race or fun 5k - DONE 
*The Color Run

69.  Start writing a book

70.  Make a list of 50 places I’d like to see in my lifetime - IN PROGRESS

71.  Spend Valentine’s day with someone of the opposite sex - DONE

72.  Go to a Cirque du Soleil show - DONE

73.  Play matchmaker

74.  Host/throw a party (themed or dinner party)  - DONE

75.  Do something to honor my grandparents- DONE

76.  Adopt a pet  - DONE

77.  Learn to say the alphabet backwards

78.  Say yes to something I’d normally say no to and say no to something I’d normally say yes to (2/2)
*I said NO to a good friends wedding. 
*I said YES to Blue Lipstick.

79.  Make a spontaneous vacation decision - DONE

80.  Spend one whole day doing touristy things in my city 

81.  Swim with dolphins  - DONE

82.  Watch all the Harry Potter movies consecutively  - IN PROGRESS

83.  Learn to braid (French and Fishtail) - (1/2) DONE

84.  Pay off my smaller student loan

85.  Help someone else fulfill a goal - DONE

86.  Hike part of the Appalachian Trail

87.  Build a snowman - DONE

88.  Take a road trip
The New and Improved List - 
12. Feel beautiful, comfortable, and confident in my own skin
89. No booze for one month - DONE
90. Vegas, baby - DONE
91. Go home for my 10 year reunion and not HATE it. - DONE
92. Learn how to drive a manual car

Weekly:

89.  Call my sister at least once a week 

90.  Wear my retainer at least twice a week (Gross, I know but I felt it was necessary)

91.  Eat a salad for lunch at least twice a week for 2 months

Monthly:

92.  Give up soda 1 work week each month 

93.  Try (at least) one new restaurant every month 

94.  Complete a random act of kindness on the 15^th of every month 

95.  Make at least one new friend
95. Find and stick with a good skincare regime

Yearly:

96.  Celebrate my half birthday on December 15^th (1/3)

97.  Complete a 30x30 challenge (30 minutes of exercise for 30 days) once a year (X/3)

98.  Write down what I’m thankful for every day in November (2/3)

99.  Go to the dentist every year (3/3)

100.                      Donate blood at least once a year (3/3)

101.                      Try a food I've never had before (and never thought I'd try) at least once a year (4/4)
*Oysters - 2012
*Blue Cheese - 2013
*Brussel Sprouts - 2014
*Bloody Mary's - 2015

I understand some of these seem quite silly. But in my mind, they are completely realistic and attainable. In fact, I devised this plan mid-October and have been anxiously awaiting November 1st to begin. So much is already planned and I'm excited/thrilled/nervous to get started.

I hope you'll keep up with my journey. Supporting and pushing me to accomplish my 101 Things in 1001 Days.

L