[Long] Weekend Recap: 5/6-5/9

This past weekend I logged some PTO and took a nice long four day weekend to travel home and celebrate Mother's Day. Friday I was up early car pre-packed the night before and hit I-40 West before 8am. TGIF indeed. 

We washed windows, planted flowers, took Sophie to Lowe's, made hamburgers, watched the Penguins, had coffee, watched Game of Thrones and Penny Dreadful [actually together, in the same room], ate way too much, laughed and laughed, talked about life/work/friends/dating, and celebrated the amazing mom we're lucky enough to have.

Saturday I got to spend part of the afternoon visiting Sara and her little man Warren. 

He is SO big and SO full of personality and has a smile that gets you every time. This phase of life is pretty cool, getting to watch your friends become awesome wives and mothers.

Monday mom and I went and "played" downtown and of course stopped to eat the greatest cobb salad, ever, at Party Fowl.

Weekends like this are exactly why PTO is there to be taken and it's never "good-bye" but "see you later." Until next time Nashville..

What I Can't Wait to Watch Wednesday

Today is officially the first day of fall!

I had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the year today, I have a cinnamon apple candle burning on my desk, there is candy corn in the candy jar, and FALL TV IS BACK!!

Here are my picks for the season, if there are any I left out comment below!

Nashville [ABC Wednesday 10/9c]

Blood and Oil [ABC Sunday 9/8c]

#TGIT [ABC Thursday 8/7c]

Grey's Anatomy 

Scandal

How to Get Away with Murder

Chicago Fire [NBC Tuesday 10/9c]

Grimm [NBC Friday 9/8c] 

Scream Queens [FOX Tuesday 9/8c]

American Horror Story: Hotel [FX Check in- Wednesday 10/9c]

Reign [The CW Friday 9/8c]

RIP Hart of Dixie and Hannibal 

Ladies who Lunch

Oh yes, I am embracing my Southern roots and becoming a "luncher." 

The thought of Copper Kettle was what got me out of bed this morning. And through posts this afternoon. And the wonderful yummy that is their Carrot Cake will be getting me through take home work tonight.

The best part though? 

Getting to sit and yack and gossip and laugh with the wonderful Tiernee. Oh, and the Nashville skyline as our back drop wasn't too bad either. 

So for your next lunch or Sunday brunch get your butt in some leggings [this is a no judging blog] and skadaddle over to 1st Ave South and the land of green been casserole, mac n' cheese, and really deep wooden booths [my favorite!]

#MrsClings

It's always funny when you're laying in bed on a Saturday morning trying to remember how you and one of your good friends first met. Morgan McCormack was, to me, the super pretty blonde accounting major Phi Mu who I would see around a certain fraternity house and was always super nice. The first time we ever really hung out, besides greek events, was my 21st birthday. 

-I had deactivated my Facebook since I had just survived a break up and wanted to go off the grid for a couple days. Well this happened to overlap with my birthday. Morgan texted a friend of mine [who happened to be sitting right next to me at the time] to make sure I was okay because she couldn't find me on FB to wish me a happy birthday. Morgan had recently stopped dating a boy from the same fraternity too so we invited her out with us for the big 2-1 celebration. We had an absolute blast and the rest is history.- 

Steeplechase, Re-Bar nights, drunk men asking us to reorganize their wallets at Tin Roof [the night the epic "You're from Chicago, do you work for Obama?" quote was born], Halloween on Broadway, more birthday dinners, and loads more snarky texts all lead us to this morning and Morgan's wedding shower [and yes that boy she had just stopped dating, well he wised up and put a ring on it.] I can not wait for April 26th and all the memories to come! Happy Shower day [finally] Morgan! 

#MrsClings

On Wednesdays we lunch

There's a bond between graduates of the University of Tennessee's Adv and PR program. And it's not just because we're all amazing, successful, and good looking. Nope, it's because we survived. I will put my hand on a Bible and swear that Blakeman was trying to kill us junior year. 

There's a good group of us who landed jobs in Nashville and although we live and work within miles of each other meets up happen rarely, if ever. So when I ran into Tiernee last week in the razor blade isle of Target we made all but a blood pact to meet up for lunch ASAP. 

So now on Wednesdays, we lunch. 

Corner Pub was as close to Knoxville and bings as we could get. And, with a similar set of new year's resolutions, I think it's safe to say we have some great adventures ahead of us in 2014. 

VFL baby.

Flea Market Fancy

This is my absolute favorite picture of me and mom.

No joke, it's framed in my house three times. [Bedside table, fridge, family room]

The week leading up to Mother's Day this year was um, the worst ever horrible awful no good, to put it subtly.

But that Sunday the sun came out, we hit up Lowe's, spent the entire afternoon on the deck, and Pekarsk-d around. Like only the four of us, and Sophie, can do.

This weekend mom and I are having a girl's day and hitting up the Nashville Flea Market.

We are gonna Flea Market our faces off.

And even if we don't find anything amazing or even anything at all it'll still be a success because I get to spend the day with Julie.

#tbt

How bout that ride in?

Well, we didn't find Emily on the roof the next morning.

No one got roofied.

As far as I know there wasn't a naked Asian man in any of our trunks (although I did ride in the trunk to dinner Friday night).

We successfully ordered a stripper. I was terrified of him.

We danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly. 

Successfully sang karaoke, had the whole bar Say[ing] My Name.  

AND look for our cameo in a new MTV pilot about Nashville (I'm the one with the pink VV koozie).

All in all I would say it was a successful Bachelorette Weekend. 

102 days to I DO. 

#OllertoLunn #hottiewhistle

Invitations with feathers and drink lists

Happy bachelorette weekend to this pretty lady! 

Still so excited to be part of your big day. But first we "SHE'S GETTING MARRIED" it up! 

Bachelorette recap to come next week! But first enjoy this weekend's, and I'm sure summer's, new anthem. The video is beyond strange (wouldn't expect anything else from her) but Miley this might just rival Party in the USA. Props to you. Also, want your abs. 

Everything you own in a box to the left

   So last week's 10 Things were all about moving, well the fun part of moving. Don't get me wrong finding a house/loft/apartment that feels like home the minute you walk in the door is what I like to call a "life moment" and one of the best feelings ever. But, it is a lot of work. I know I underestimated the amount of work/lifting/emotional stress it would be. So for this week's 10 Things I decided to take a more practical approach to moving with a very special guest at the end. Here are 10 tips you will need to know to survive and come out victorious against the evil box spring cover. These are "Mom Approved" and fool proof. Take notes y'all. 

10 Things... you will need to know to survive moving

1. Be realistic when it comes to time. 

I thought I could move my entire life in 3 days. Yeah, no. Give yourself that extra day. Nothing ever goes as planned/scheduled.

2. Spend the extra money to have certain pieces delivered.

It'll save you time and your dad his back.

3. Use what you already have to move/pack.

I used the same 4 plastic tubs I moved in college with. Pack em up, un-pack em, and then re-pack em. Saves you money on moving boxes you'll just throw out, and my plastic tubs now serve as storage in my downstairs closet.

4. Pre-wash sheets and bedding.

Makes life SO much easier. And you'll have a comfy bed ready to hop into your first night.

5. Be patient.

Don't rush accessorizing or having everything just so. Live in it for a while. Yes, this is driving me crazy too.

6. Big things first.

Get your bed/couch/table in first. Monograms come last in this case.

7. Cleaning before furniture.

Take your first couple hours and deep clean. Bathroom and kitchen are priority.

8. Grocery shop pre-move and scout out restaurants prior.

You will get hungry. Get some snacky stuff and/or the favorite drink of whoever is helping you move.

9. Plan ahead.

Call Comcast, your electric company, etc the week before your move and have everything set up. Less stress.

10. CELEBRATE your new house! 

This is the most important tip! I know ordering my moving announcements kept my excitement up during my 4 week wait between my offer being accepted and closing. And a simple Google search for "moving announcements" brought me to one of my new favorite companies, Tiny Prints. Tiny Prints is a sister company of Shutter Fly and just all around amazing. I ordered not only my moving announcements but new return address labels from them. Their products are great quality, always come before their expected ship date, and best of all fit into the "25 and under with a mortgage" budget club. I honestly can not say enough kind words about them. And I'm not the only one. I have friends, former professors (and now friends), and co-workers who have used them for all occasions and loved them as well! And if the rational side of you needs to, just include Tiny Prints into Tip 9: Plan Ahead. I sent my announcements out on Monday and already had mail waiting on me when I checked my mailbox Friday mid move just for fun. 

The back of my moving announcement was a postcard, how cute is that? 

So whatever your stationary need is visit Tiny Prints! They get the Pekarsk-ing Around gold star/stamp of approval/new obsession badge. 

Movin on up

Short and sweet: We did it. 

4 days. One bed (headboard, frame, mattress, box spring). One couch (and an impossible slip cover). One extremely long cable cord. Multiple episodes of RHOC (delivery men, always on time right?). 

I am officially moved in. So this week's 10 Things are, you guessed it, moving related!

10 Things... "Moving"

1. Priorities y'all, Hines Ward >

2. Rainy day moving essential, best Christmas present from the little

3. We have a bed!

4. And then, a made bed!

5. Thanks BOHAN secret Santa for my canvas, still don't know who you are

6. Kitchen decor, #SEC #blackandyellow

7. Sophie wanted to come too, or more like I wanted Sophie to come too

8. Cya, bye River Chase

9. Rooftop chillin

10. Couch was 6 hours late, so we did wall sits and watched Bravo. Last night of #lifewithJulie

#tbt 13.1

#tbt (throwback thursday) to the Country Music Half Marathon last year!

Good luck to everyone running it this year!

"I look like shit in that picture. Oh my God I look awful."

"Uh, yeah. You should, you just ran 13.1 miles"

I do love my Ma and Pa

The week has finally arrived. It's time to go. It's not good bye just I'll see you late, like Sundays for dinner. Or when I need a cake pan on a random Wednesday night. Or when I'm having a monster of a week and need a hug. 

Big girl panties pulled up. Here we go.

10 Things... I will miss about home

1. Sophie. That dog is nuts and I will miss her so damn much.

2. Having mom to comment on my outfit or hair or lipstick every morning before I call her Julie and get my lean cuisine out of the back fridge.

3. Dad being Dad and defrosting/warming up/keeping a close eye on the hood of my car. I will be hard pressed to find a guy like him.

4. A home cooked meal every night complete with color coordinated place mats, laughs, and always being the last one to finish.

5. Sonic. It's < 5 minutes away.

6. Saturday grocery shopping. aka causing a scene. aka eating our way through the store. aka me trying to get in the buggy.

7. Walks around the block. Just talking out the problems of the world.

8. Mom complaining how much she hates our sofa. Dad destroying the sofa with his butt. Sophie shoving her face in the sofa. All while watching some of the most ridiculous TV we can find.

9. Waking up and being able to hear voices already downstairs and coffee already brewing.

10. Getting to drive through the gate every night with a 360 view of our gorgeous house/yard/pool/life.

11. Living with your best friends/biggest fans of your life, your parents. 

I grew up in one of the most loving homes imaginable. I just hope I can make my house as amazing as 147 River Chase has been to me. 

It's all talk talk talk, talking in the wind

   While I will admit, I watched the pilot of Nashville just to try and get a glimpse of our office they have their multiple crews and trailers set up in the lot across from our parking lot enough I am now hooked. And if you haven't heard the Nashville album yet, you need it. It's amazing. This little gem has been helping to keep me sane lately. Turns out real life is hard, who would have thought? And the banner line does ring true, it is a lot harder to shine than undermine. 

WhooOooOOoOa Dixie Land

   Today's Wordy Wednesday is brought to you by the land of Cotton, where everyone drives a truck, drinks sweet tea, watches every NASCAR race, and has known the words to Ring of Fire and Saving Grace since they were in the 4th grade doing their Tennessee History play. Although the election last night didn't turn out the way I had prayed it would I am still so happy to be from the great state of Tennessee, a state that went red. We have a Republican governor and are part of the best region of this great country, the South. All these reasons and more are why I love my southern comfort zone. Keep repping your elephants y'all, this is when we need to the most. 

"I hope you understand, when I miss my Tennessee home."

You got the kiss that tastes like honey

  While my NFL alliances might lie with a team other than the Tennessee Titans that in no way means I'm not a Nashville girl who loves her country music, specifically the men of country music. Yes, Luke Bryan I would be glad to shake it for you his wife's name is Caroline so he's obs my favorite and yes, Jake Owen how did you know I love barefoot blue jean nights? But this list has everything but you, Kip Moore. If you aren't already in love with this gorgeous man get ready to swoon. I could live in one of his songs. I am ready to fall in love every time I finish a shuffle of his album YEAH, it's THAT good So, it took me a couple listens this morning to pick what song I wanted to use for Wordy Wednesday. Per usual, here's my pathetic life update/back story to my choice. A couple months ago I mentioned I had been loft/condo/apartment hunting with the intention to buy mortgage payments would be less than rent and then I'd have an investment but after weeks of looking and a long Saturday morning coffee sit with both mom and dad we decided renting would be the best choice for me, at this point in my life. And then dad said what I never really register like ever "You are REALLY young." And I am. And having the flexibility to get up and move is key at this point in my career/life you know for when I meet and fall in love with a Steeler But when you go straight from college to working and being the absolute baby of the agency/office you never really think of yourself as being only 22. So back to the real estate game but first I'll get a little reckless in honor of being 22, single, and a hot mess...

                          "I'll send you a postcard, send me your love. Just don't give up on me yet, I'm still growing up." 

12247. Corral 12: The Dirty Dozen.

I actually did it.

 I ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 12 minutes and achieved the biggest goal I have ever set for myself. I crossed the finish line at LP Field, got my medal, found my momma and immediately burst into tears. I have 3 purple toenails, two extremely bruised/blistered toes, and an awesome sock tan line. It's an amazing feeling knowing your family's proud of you, I still think my dad is shocked I actually did it. But the best feeling in the world is being proud of yourself. I will cherish my race bib forever. I will always remember looking behind me from the starting line at the 30,000 people waiting to run. I can still hear my momma yelling "RUN LINA, GO LINA GO!" I can still feel my feet kicking my butt sprinting that final .1 to the finish line. And still tear up when I think about finally seeing momma and Joe and the looks on our faces. April 28th, 2012 is a day I will remember for the rest of my life. There is no way to put all the memories and emotions of it into words. All I can say is the next time you're on Broadway in downtown Nashville, just imagine it being empty at 7am and running down it along with a couple thousand other runners with blocks and blocks of people cheering and yelling and whistling at you with signs and bells and shakers, and then maybe you'll be able to start to imagine what an incredible life moment running the Country Music Half Marathon is.

Another day, Another countdown

cpekarsk on Instagram

  For the past four months, I have been a human countdown clock. 24 days till graduation, 13 days till the half-marathon, and now one month till I officially start work with BOHAN advertising in Nashville. I blogged last week about my Easter weekend full of champagne showers and surprise flower deliveries, but now it's all getting real. Like "starting to pack up clothes, my tub of advertising notes, and my bajillion picture frames" real. Where did the days go? In my very first blog I bragged about how I was rarity because I'll be graduating in four years with a double minor. And now I can add "accepted a job offer before graduation" to that statement. It's crazy when you have those moments were you realize you're actually doing it, you're living the life you always wanted.

24 days!

Graduation night bucket list:

  














I've been having these moments quite a lot lately and you bet your momma's Hoover I'm Instagram-ing all of them! I have friends all over the state and just like blogging keeps me and Molly up to date on each others' lives, Instagram is a great way to always know what's going on with Jenn in DC or Julie in Nashville. And for a girl with a picture frame obsession, Instagram is heaven.

Just gotta make it through finals.

13 days!

   














My two New Years Resolutions were to run the half-marathon and get a job before graduation. I will complete both of these before the month of May even rolls around and then we celebrate! We have a dry erase board hanging in our hallway between Lauren's room and mine with our extensive plans for graduation night, we come prepared. And after pulling a semi all-nighter for my psychology exam finding my graduation announcements in the mailbox that afternoon was the best thing ever! So of course I Instagram'd all of these along with a picture of my last minute study session that afternoon. Instagram is a 21 year old girl's dream. You can share little snippets of your day with all your friends and make them look pretty with all the filters. It's like Facebook, but only pictures. Instagram is definitely my favorite app, only second to Twitter and am so glad all my Android friends can finally download it too! Now all my friends, no matter where they live, can keep up with my crazy beautiful life with the tap of an app.

"No matter our dreams, you'll always be on my Christmas card list"

  This weekend marks the two-year anniversary of my fabulous little Molly Albin and I winning "Best Big and Little" at Zeta Tau Alpha's annual White Violet Banquet. To say we were unprepared for the award would be an understatement; in fact I think we talked through the introduction to the award, typical. 

If I had to make a list of my three best friends, my momma not included, Molly would have to be at the top of my list. The countless stories of our antics still come up in everyday conversation and  we still laugh till we can't breathe. This girl has been there with me through it all. It would be a lie to say we haven't had our fights, even not speaking for a while. Lesson learned from that: never rank a relationship over a friendship. But we worked it out and have a stronger friendship today because of it! I cherish our nights out together and I don't know where I'd be without her.

Life gets crazy, people get busy, and suddenly lunch dates become a thing of the past. Texting helps to bridge that gap, but stories are so much better in person. So thank goodness for blogs!! Molly tries to update her blog, Good Golly Miss Molly, at least once a week and as embarrassing as it sounds it's how I keep up with her hectic life as she does with me through my blog. And it looks like we'll have to keep tabs on each other through our blogs for the next couple of months, with me moving to Nashville next month and Molly interning in Knoxville this summer. So till then we'll live it up during these last four weeks packed with Mexican graduation dinners, me running the half marathon, surviving finals, a couple pool days thrown in there, and finally graduation! No matter what life throws at me I will always know this girl has my back.We'll be friends forever because let's be honest, she already knows too much about me. 

Pink Champagne

  I had always been dreaming of this day and then all of a sudden it was happening. In the blink of an eye I was hanging up the phone call, about in tears, that had delivered my first job offer. It had lasted all of seven minutes.

  My momma was the first person I told. We cried together. I will remember that moment forever, "Mom, I need to tell you something." I about scared her to death. "I got it." That was it, the moment we had been talking about for years. 

  From the moment I got up, something was different about Thursday April 5th. My roommate and best friend Lauren was abnormally home that morning, we had a random roomie Sonic date for lunch, and my favorite pair of Nike shorts and my favorite long sleeved t shirt were both clean on the same day. This never happened. We had planned to walk to our 2:10 classes together that afternoon but instead found ourselves jumping up and down in the hallway, screaming, and both crying after that magical call came. Celebration was in order and we knew just how to do it. You see, Lauren and I had been talking about this moment for months. 

  

















    
Pink champagne was our drink of choice at 2pm on a Thursday afternoon. In fact we bought every pink champagne they had. Bottles were popped off the balcony, multiple toasts were made, and it still didn't seem real it. It still doesn't. The next day a surprise delivery from my wonderful family arrived at our door complete with balloons and a pink vase. I officially signed my offer letter and contract Friday morning. We celebrated all weekend.

  I had blogged last week that multiple friends were sharing their good news of job offers via social media and if I was lucky enough to have news of that matter I would, of course, do the same. Don't worry, I made good on my word. I even tagged BOHAN in my Facebook status and attached an Instagram picture of their building to my tweet. I don't just talk a big game, I am a social media queen.
  






So now it's unfortunately back to real life. Only three more Mondays left of college with 31 days to go till graduation. Graduation announcements have been ordered, my graduation dress has been purchased, my cap is decorated (Lilly print with monogram of course), graduation tickets have been reserved, job offer has been accepted and signed...now all that's left to do is actually graduate, oh and win that XPS 13. But it's all worth it because May 15th, 2012 my career in Media starts as soon as I walk through those gorgeous doors at BOHAN Advertising in Downtown Nashville. Watch out y'all, little person in high heels coming through!