Shorty Like Mine

My friends send me Buzzfeed, Cosmo, Thought Catalog articles about "short girls" on a regular basis but this one has to be one of my favorites. The article link and some of my top things are below.

Good job Cosmo, good job.

16 Things You Should Know Before Dating a Short Girl

4. She doesn't discriminate against shorter guys, but she has her eye on tall men. 

5. What she lacks in height, she makes up for in personality.

11. She will always be in high heels, so don't expect to be able to walk to dinner. 

13. Hold her hand. Always.

[EXCITING] Weekend Recap: 3/28-3/29

This weekend was extremely low key for me. Last week was a real pill and it was nice to wake up and not immediately take Gaviscon and Excedrin Saturday morning. 

So while it was a sleeper [literally] for me, friends of mine had HUGE life moments this weekend and I could not be more excited for them!!

My great guy friend Justin got engaged to the girl of his dreams!!

My best friend Sara found out she and her sweet husband Patrick are HAVING A BABY BOY!!!

Lila's getting a little brother and I need to start searching for baby Seahawks and Titans jerseys ASAP! 

Rounding out the weekend into the work week, today is Sarah's birthday!! 

Helloooo 27 Mrs. P!

And now it is Holy Week.

While this week is nothing short of heavy it is one of my favorites.

He was arrested so we could be set free.

He was deserted so we could know we're never alone.

He was betrayed so we could be held in the arms of love.

Never forget, at the end of it all is the resurrection. 

Friday 3/27

This week has been a weird one.

Not only has my sleep been off but my life has just been off.

I made a slip at work and couldn't eat lunch I was so upset with myself. I am one of those people who internalize everything. According to a co-worker, that's a good thing because it means I give a shit.

What it actually means is I take a lot of Excedrin.

When I took a minute to eat a yogurt and scroll Tumblr, life gave me a little shove to look at the big picture of life a little more often.

Staring back at me was a picture of my desk I had uploaded last week, with my pretty white roses I had bought the night before, with the caption "life goals." 

LIFE GOALS. 

I don't know why those words hit me so hard but they did. I scroll Tumblr for hours on weekends looking at other people's lives and thinking the same thing to myself. And here is my life being re-blogged with that caption. 

So, thank you blessedbrunette for reminding me to not let one little mistake keep me from remembering I'm living my life goals. 

What I'm DVR-ing Wednesday

Yes, these posts are usually What I'm Watching Wednesday but life got a little crazy and my DVR is bursting. I sat down last night to catch up and was honestly shocked at how many shows there were to choose from [little embarrassing..] These are three of my favorites right now:

1.

The Royals- E!

Sunday 8pm CST [right after the Kardashians]

I was loving this one the minute I saw the first trailer for it. 

Elizabeth Hurley is still a babe and the twist at the end of the second episode definitely got me. 

2.

Southern Charm [is back y'all!]- Bravo

Monday 9pm CST

Shep is still a hot mess, Craig still needs to move to Nashville, Cameran is still my spirit animal, and Kathryn and Thomas's baby is still prettier than me and all my friends. 

3.

IT IS THE FINAL EPISODE OF HART OF DIXIE

[cue the tears]

I had heard rumors this might be the final season but was hoping they were just that.

My Friday nights will never be the same. 

Life Lately [with a Filter]

Life picked up steam the past couple weeks and it's all hands on deck.

So here's a peek into my life lately:

Follow me on Instagram @cpekarsk for all the fun. 

Manic Monday-isms

Southern Living posted this on their website last Friday, the first day of Spring. Not only does it have one of my absolute favorite flowers in it but also a wonderful quote. 

I have gotten into the bad habit of trying to plan life out to the big picture when if I just zoomed in and reflected on certain days, nights, afternoons, and even hours I would see just how amazing this stage of life I'm in is. 

So for this last week of Lent and heading into Holy Week I will be giving up worrying and planning and over-thinking. 

[except for work, I'm kicking too much butt]

Five on [a Spring] Friday

1.

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!

2.

I have been floundering in my devotionals. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love Jesus Calling and Jesus Today, but I've been having trouble focusing on the readings and feel like I should be doing something more Lent centered too. I had kind of just started to stay focused on my prayer journal. 

And then I found She Reads Truth.

I know I'm probably late to the party on this but I cannot say just how amazing it is. I love that they have an Instagram picture to reinforce the devotional from that day. I already have one hanging on my office wall. The Lent series is wonderful and I am so glad I found this devotional.

3.

This weekend we celebrate this sweet baby snake's birthday.

I cannot imagine my life without Sophie and still drive to my parents on random nights after bad days just to get some snuggles with this smidge. I love you Sophie, even when you put your paw down my shirt.

4.

March Madness started yesterday and while I was underwhelmed with the seedings this year I was emotionally exhausted after all the upsets and buzzer beaters and OTs yesterday. We've got the office bracket challenge going again this year and I must say the Media girls are killing it so far.

5.

The new Young Rising Sons song Turnin' is speaking to my mid-20's soul this week.

Give it a listen.

chasing these empty verses

some rows have crooked signs

we're loosing all this daylight

but soon the moon's gonna rise

these final puzzle peices

we tried but they're too tight

but if we ease the pressure

I bet they'll fit just right

Friday 3/20

#realtalk

Last week I was part of a Young Professional Panel at the Ad2 Get the Job Conference.

Now before you think this is a big deal, I'm VP of Ad2 Nashville so in a way I appointed myself to be on this panel. The catchy name given to our session was "Real Talk," which got me thinking. 

So here's some Real Talk,

I wore bikini bottoms as underwear this week. Because I'm almost 25 and still run out of underwear at least every other month.

I've found that it's easier to say I'm on the fence about having kids than to say I'm terrified I won't be a good mom or I won't find someone to love me and marry me and have kids with me.

I feel naked if I don't bring work home with me. 

I like to think my spirit animal is Emily from The Devil Wears Prada.

I make myself run downtown because if tourists are watching I won't stop.

I just stopped wearing my retainers last year. After you have braces twice you have serious trust issues with your teeth.

I spend more time figuring out my Tervis top and straw color combination than I do on my makeup every morning.

Do not goof around with friends in Target and try on the CZ engagement ring and band sets because you will get one stuck on your finger.

#realtalk

Get the Picture

This is a topic I have lightly tapped the past two years. I guess I've been too embarrassed, nervous, worried, not wanting to open myself up to judgement to fully touch on. And then last night I saw a Buzzfeed headline on Facebook that changed that.

This Is What Depression Really Looks Like

Once I clicked through to the article I was introduced to the Get the Picture campaign, "a campaign to end the use of head-clutching pictures in stories about depression." Young people across the world were sharing pictures of themselves in their darkest days of depression. There is no sad little cloud above your head, a bouncing blob following behind you, or a blanket wrapped around your head. 

This is what depression really looks like:

When I had my doctor's appointment after making the decision to go on Lexapo I remember her telling me, big life changes such as graduating college/buying a house/moving out/a new job can all bring on depression. 

Oh, so just every life event that takes place in your early 20s.

I could barely make it through the work day before getting home and completely losing it for no reason. I didn't want to stay in my brand new loft downtown. I would drive to mom and dad's at all hours and most nights just stay there. If I did make it back to my house I wouldn't sleep. It was a Chinese fire drill between the bed and the couch. I had no appetite. 

All the while this internal struggle was consuming me, I was going out on the weekend, dating, spending Saturdays taking road trips to lake houses, celebrating bachelorette parties. If you saw me, on the surface, I looked great.

I took offense the first time my mom suggested I might be depressed [and that I had been battling this for a while.] Holy shit, I'm 23, I'm not depressed. I just had a bad day.

But when you can't eat because your stomach hurts so badly from anxiety and lack of sleep, you get over the hurt feelings. We both now agree I had been battling depression since high school. 

Let me say one thing, if you're feeling any of this or depressed in any way, shape, or form, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. I promise you the check out girl at Target is not going to judge you because you have Lexapro sitting on your counter at home. To the outside world you look perfectly fine. I mean how could you be depressed if you're on the lake in a bikini with a beer and a hot boy? 

I have been on Lexapro for two year this July [mom and I lovingly refer to them as my "crazy pills"] I can't imagine my life the way I was living it back in the spring of 2013. I think back on so many life moments when I was proud of the way I handled what life threw at me and I know I couldn't have done it without Lexapro. I may look the same in pictures but I look very different when I look at myself in the mirror. And that makes all the difference. 

Don't be afraid to open up to family and close friends. I was received with love and support and was pleasantly surprised to learn I had friends who too were on Lexapro. [see I told you, it's not like a scarlet letter L] Don't get me wrong life is hard and periods of it just plain suck. But sometimes you need some extra help and that is a-okay.

So, check out the Get the Picture Campaign, it's a great source of encouragement and if you've gone through the same it's wonderful to hear others' stories. 

It's time depression wasn't viewed as taboo.

Friday 3/13

What I Watched Wednesday

Last week I blogged about one show and two movies I was loving and my Watch List of three movies I was dying to see. I have since checked two of those off my list, and found an amazing sleeper indie. 

Friday night I watched Whiplash, and let me tell you it lives up to its hype.

There are a couple intense scenes with flying chairs and forced tears but the movie is amazing and I for one want to know why Miles Teller wasn't nominated. 

Also, a good number of the insults are hilarious. 

This is a definite have to see Oscar nomination from this year.

Saturday I was in the mood to do nothing so I started trolling for movies. I ended up finding The Paperboy with Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, John Cusack, and Macy Gray. The spark notes version of the plot is pretty simple, a reporter returns to his Florida home-town to investigate a case involving a death row inmate. But he gets so much more than bargained for. I was glued to it. And you get to see Zac Efron in tighty whiteies. Pretty much a win-win for everyone.

Last night, I checked another one of my Watch List movies off, Foxcatcher.

I will warn you now, this movie is slow. Some might call it boring. The film is based off a true story that is actually quite interesting but it doesn't translate into a super thrilling movie. I liked it, but you have to stick with it. 

I'm hoping to check Nightcrawler off my list this weekend and then start all over again! 

Any recommendations? Comment below! 

And another one bites the dust

Oh why can I not conquer love?

And I might have thought that we were one

Wanted to fight this war without weapons

And I wanted it, I wanted it bad

But there were so many red flags

Now another one bites the dust

Yeah, let's be clear, I'll trust no one

You did not break me

I'm still fighting for peace

Well, I've got thick skin and an elastic heart,

But your blade—it might be too sharp

I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard,

Yeah, I may snap and I move fast

But you won't see me fall apart

'Cause I've got an elastic heart

I've got an elastic heart

Yeah, I've got an elastic heart

And I will stay up through the night

Let's be clear, won't close my eyes

And I know that I can survive

I'll walk through fire to save my life

And I want it, I want my life so bad

I'm doing everything I can

Then another one bites the dust

It's hard to lose a chosen one

You did not break me

(you did not break me, no)

I'm still fighting for peace

Well, I've got thick skin and an elastic heart,

But your blade—it might be too sharp

I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard,

Yeah, I may snap and I move fast

But you won't see me fall apart

'Cause I've got an elastic heart

I've got an elastic heart

Weekend Recap: 3/7-3/8

I got call old at the bar this weekend. Yes, a 23 year old called me old.

And yeah I kinda guess to a slightly tipsy 23 year old being 25 is old. 

Sunday, I was officially 90 days away from the big 2-5. 

YOUR MID TWENTIES. THE DOWNWARD SLID TO 30.

[I kid, I kid.]

I've been fighting the personal demon I can't seem to shake of close friends moving on to different stages of life and feeling like I'm being left behind. And this weekend was no different. I was content with bringing files of work home, getting Jason's Deli to go, and sitting on my ass with a Redbox marathon. And then I realized that I'm [still] 24, live smack dab in the middle of downtown, and need to get my butt out there instead of just ranting about it to mom. 

And that's exactly what I did. 

And it was awesome.

After standing in line at ACME for exactly 30 seconds, we made the executive decision to move the party over to Midtown for some ReBar fun and Bushwackers all around. I saw guys I grew up with, sorority sisters, and an ex from the summer. A very well rounded night indeed. 

Sunday was full of spring freshening for the house, budget book updating for me, and a very much needed 4pm mass date with mom. 

What's that thing they say, a Sunday well spent brings a week of content?

Friday 3/6

#swaggy

Your team at work becomes your family.

You're the first ones in the office [after running into each other at Starbucks] and the last ones [laughing all the way to your cars] out together. You celebrate each other's birthdays, promotions, raises, weddings, and babies. You work weekends together and party hard at Christmas party together. And in this case, you share a desk/playlists/Target carts on lunch/and laughs together. 

The best part of this whole story is that I thought Maggie didn't like me when I first started at Whitehardt [boys in college are dumb.] And now I can't imagine work without her. 

So here's a post and a toast to Maggie aka Swaggy.

Go get 'em! 

Magoline 4ever. 

What I'm Watching Wednesday

I did a post like this a couple months ago and it pulled some awesome views so I figured I'd give it another shot. This one's a little mix of TV and movies with some movies I've got on my watch list.

First up, ABC Family's series Baby Daddy.

This was a Netflix "why not, it's Saturday night and I'm not tired" choice and now I'm addicted.

If you were a Reba fanatic like I was you, you'll be happy to know Barbara Jean is back as Ben's mom and Emma's grandmother. And, yes she still has the best facial expressions of all time.
Not to mention, hot guys being cute with a precious baby..

Next, an Oscar darling this year, The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Mom and Dad are Wes Anderson fans and connoisseurs of quirky movies so it was no surprise to me when they recommended this flick. I watched it Oscar Sunday and laughed the whole way through. This is a great movie that you can watch over and over and pick up something new to laugh at every time.

Saved the best for last, two words: Don Jon.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed, and stared in this movie and I absolutely loved it.
I had been wanting to see it since I saw the trailer and somehow never got around to it.
So, once again, on a lazy Saturday night in I found it on Netflix and I might have to add it to my top ten list after seeing it.
[side note: if you watch the trailer, the plot is nothing like they make it look like. It's SO much better.]



Oh yeah, and you get to see him shirtless a ton.

On the Queue:
Whiplash
Foxcatcher
Nightcrawler

Any good recommendations to add?!

#HappilyEverParisi

The Notebook might have had 365 letters and an epic rain make out scene but Noah and Ali have nothing on Sarah and Jim. I was sorority sisters with Sarah in collge [ZLAM] but we didn't become as close as we are now until I started working at Whitehardt. Her, now husband, Jim is such a genuine awesome guy and has treated me like his little sister.

I had the honor of watching them get married this weekend and can't wait for this chapter of their lives to start!

#happilyeverparisi 4ever