Five on [the last January] Friday

1.

While it may be TGIF, last night it was all TGIT. 

Grey's had me in tears multiple times.

#HTGAWM did not disappoint, but only threeee episodes till the season finale. Come on, ABC..

[side note: Hart of Dixie is back for a full season and it kicked off with a bang or should I say baby]

2.

I started pre-training training for the half marathon this week.

Hurt so good.

3.

Lilly Pulitzer debuted her spring preview Wednesday morning and it is everything you imagined it would be. Can I marry myself and only register for Lilly?

4.

Ashley Brook Designs is doing her Valentine Favorites Giveaway again this year!

And you do not want to miss your chance to enter to win these amazing goodies. 

Winner is announced February 4th so hurry and enter, enter, enter!

5.

It's Super Bowl weekend!!!

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!

Friday 1/30

You are being prepared for promotion.

You are being prepared for promotion.

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Running around in your Dreams

I have been more burnt than toast lately.

Burnt on work.

Burnt on dating [this shit is exhausting]

Burnt on food [nothing sounds good, I am tired of soup]

Burnt on it [all]

My Nike app sent me a sweet reminder yesterday that I start half marathon training next Monday.

This training schedule does not mess around, right out the gate with a four miler. So in hopes that I do not collapse in front of a group of valet boys next week I decided to hit the pavement last night [2 sets of leggings, 1 dry fit, 2 zip ups, and an ear warmer.] 

I now have the lovely "winter runner/smokers'" cough but damn did it feel good.

I was actually hungry [even it was soup], slept like a rock, and my abs are in fact still there because they are killing me today. 

So, thank you half marathon training for being the Aloe Vera to my life.

Here's to the third 13.1 being the charm.

I use the Nike + Running App "Coach" training program,

It's a 12 week training schedule with daily reminders of upcoming runs and mileage.

I ran my last half marathon with it and swear by it. 

#halfcrazy

Weekend Recap: 1/24-1/25

So, this weekend thing is pretty great. I have honestly forgotten how it feels not having any work to stress over. Saturday was a treat. I slept in until 9am and then proceeded to lay in bed until mom texted me she was on her way to grab me for our monthly flea market day. 

First stop, Party Fowl for matching deconstructed Cobb salads.

Then, the fair grounds for five buildings of things you never even knew you needed.

Followed by, kitchen shopping. I learned what a warming oven was and took on mom's dare to get in one of the display bathtubs.

Sunday I was up with the sun, so naturally I moved it down to the couch and closed all the blinds. 

I was in the mood for a day of pajamas and calories. 

First stop, Sun Tan City.

Next, Krispy Kreme.

Finally, couch.

I took full advantage of the Starz free preview weekend and shamlessly watched the One Direction documentary, followed by the SAG red carpet, and finished the night with Storytellers: Ed Sheeran.

This weekend concept is pretty awesome

Until the next one! 

Five on FriYAY

1.

 I can not find a Lilly Pulitzer wall calendar anywhere!

I've ordered one the past three years for my home office [corner of my family room.] I mean what am I going to put all these save the dates on?! 

Thank goodness for Southern Weddings [do not even ask how I ended up on their site] and their precious Southern Phrase calendar.

2.

It has been another marathon month at work [thank you Flu.] 

Per usual, I discovered another amazing Spotify playlist, Afternoon Acoustic.

Follow ASAP, you will love it.

3. 

Surprise, it's National Handwriting Day! May Designs is offering a limited edition line of notebooks just for the occasion [along with 10% off, thanks code HANDWRITING] 

Better hurry though, these disappear Sunday!

4.

Wednesday I got an unexpected phone call from the little brother telling me he would be downtown for lunch! SATCO on the deck was almost as great as getting him to take a selfie. He goes back to college life this weekend and while we have our moments I will miss him so. 

5.

THE SECRET IS FINALLY OUT!

My best friend is going to be a momma!

Baby L will be arriving in August 2015.

Until then, I will keep saying hi to the sweet ultrasound picture, that was hidden in my Christmas present, on my fridge.

Friday 1/23

Concrete jungle where dreams were made up

A picture of a wide eyed group of college juniors popped up on my Instagram feed this morning posted by one of my former professors [who is now a wonderful friend and career life coach]. The University of Tennessee Ad Club is off for the great adventure of the NYC Ad Trip. They'll tour ad agencies, meet alumni working in NYC, and hopefully figure out what part of this crazy industry they want to work in. 

Four years ago that was me.

The New York trip was my Christmas present and mom was terrified I was going to fall in love with New York City and never come home. Five minutes into the walk to the first agency I realized I hated that damn city and would be looking for jobs below the Mason Dixon line. 

At our first agency we were given a presentation by two alums one who I am still great friends with and has proofed cover letters and resumes for me twice now and I walked out with a fire under my ass like no other I had ever felt. On our second day we toured a media agency and after staying after and talking to one of our presenters one on one I knew I had found my niche. I got on the plane back to Knoxville ready to rumble. 

Four years later I work in media and am still loving life below the Mason Dixon line.

But that fire I left Y&R left needs some kindling every now and then.

I have let work beat me down the past couple months. I would be lying if I said I hadn't cried recently because of it. 

And then that picture popped up this morning and I recognized the excitement in their eyes and remembered the butterflies I had in my stomach that morning at the airport. The possibilities were endless. Something I need to remind myself of more. I'm not even 25. There is so much life to be living. I tweeted last night that life gets weird in your mid-twenties. But I'm starting to realize maybe weird isn't such a negative adjective after all. And suddenly that fire was back to burning.

Five on [I'm back] Friday

Don't call it a comeback.

Even though I have seriously been slacking on posting lately. Mostly because after two amazing weeks off for Christmas and New Years I was back in the office for exactly 13 hours before I was diagnosed with the flu. That led to me being in quarantine for the next three and a half days which then led me to working the entire weekend to catch up. So here we are, first 5 on Friday of 2015.

1. 

My girl Brittany Fuson has been killing it lately. I absolutely loved getting to see her at Christmas Market this year and so wish she'd add 5C cases to her precious new phone cases available on her site. Career Contessa wrote a great piece on Brittany and her journey to becoming Brittany Fuson Paper this week. You'll definitely want to check it out! 

2. 

I have found myself spending more and more time in my office the past year. Needless to say I've found myself decorating my desk rather than my house. I've been eyeing countless bloggers and their cute desk calendars and thanks to Haute off the Rack I was introduced to Sweet Caroline Designs and found my newest desk addition. 

3.

Gone Girl came out on DVD this week AND Rosamund Pike was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as "Amazing" Amy in it. The girl can play crazy,

4. 

Emily Ley released a set of Verse Cards earlier in the week and they could not have come at a more perfect time. You can download them from her Printables Library. I have one in my planner and above my computer. 

5.

I found this quote during one of my Tumblr binges while being on flu house arrest. I think it's beautifully said and I can't wait for my window to open.

Friday 1/16

Need a Little Sweetness in my Life

 A while back I blogged about Maroon 5's newest album V. 

As much as I hated to admit it, it took a while for it to grow on me but after months and months of playing it it is probably one of my favorites of their library. 

My absolute favorite track from the album has to be Sugar [written by my love Mike Posner.]

Maroon 5 has been teasing the video for Sugar the past couple weeks and this morning it finally debuted. 

Hands down, one of the best music videos of all time [Kanye voice.]

I could not help myself from smiling and laughing at each couple's reaction.
You've got brides crying, screaming, and openly mouthing "What the f**k."
Like I said, one of the best music videos of all time.
But don't take my word for it, take in all the wedding crashing for yourself above.

Golden Globe Goddess

I may have DVR'd the actual awards show [yet to watch it] but you can bet you designer jewels I was all over the red carpet arrivals. Here are my favorite looks of the night:

I swear to God she's not even human

I'm not 100% crazy about the bow, but I am 100% crazy about the rest of it. And Emma Stone, of course.

THE QUEEN. I bow down. Also, her crying face >

Flawless. I'm absolutely loving the dark hair/yellow combination.

I weirdly love this. Don't judge me.

Glitter AND a top bun. There are no words. #whitegirlproblems

Saturday Giggles

This absolutely made me crack up.

Probably because I am the biggest "offender" of this. 

Heck, am I wearing what I wore to bed under a sweatshirt without a bra?

Who knows.