School Shopping

My mom & I took my niece school shopping last night. It was our last girls night before my parents drove Kira back down to my sister in NC. I really am going to miss the punk.

We pretty much just hit up The Children’s Place for our mix & match looks. Is it just me, or does anyone else out there get jealous of all the great, funky outfits that we get to put together for kids? I only wish that these came in grown up sizes too.

Like this combo:

I can totally see myself running around town on a sunny fall day sporting this number.

Or this:

Sundays? Casual work days? Hanging with the girls?

And we can’t forget this:

Hello: matching purse and shoes? Don’t forget that purple knit hat above could add a little sparkle to this. Of course, maybe it has enough sparkle already?

I think we walked out of there about $176 later with 3 pants, skirt, jumper, tights, socks, sweater, several shirts, leggings, headband, and two pairs of shoes.

Makes me wish I had a place to go and get a whole new wardrobe for that amount. Heck - I’d even pay a whole lot more! You did see the matching shoes and purse, right??

Piece #12

12.) I LOVE office supplies.

No seriously - I do. And this is not just some “I love Lamp” statement.

I may have mentioned my LOVE of all things office-supply related before. I love new notebooks, pens, pencils, staples, post-it flags…. you name it.

Hence - The grocery stores, convenience stores, superstores - are virtually filled with aisles and aisles of goodness for me. Forget Playgirl - (btw: ick, really!) - Give me an Office Max insert from the Saturday newspaper. Oh baby!

I have to show restraint on a regular basis at work. Every time I get my hands on the giant Staples 2008 catalogue my stomach does little flip-flops. Just last week I “splurged” and ordered myself a Dr Grip mechanical pencil - with #7 lead. Come to Mama…. you gel-gripped masterpiece.

I even convinced my coworkers that we ALL needed one. Really - it’s more economical to use the refillable Dr Grip vs the non-refillable cheap mechanical pencils (which we were out of anyways!) No better time for an upgrade.

The DSW’s

I may have mentioned them before - but I wanted to make a formal introduction of a group of women that hold my heart.

This is my Thursday night - which I rigorously defend in my calendar.

This is my support network, my full-belly laughter, my work out crew, my spiritual walk.

These are women who challenge me to be a better person today than I was yesterday.  To strive for transparency.  Who show me that there is such a thing as grace and second chances.  They are more than just friends - they are sisters.

They are also JUST PLAIN FUN.  We laugh (a lot), we cry (sometimes).  We often stray off topic - but that’s my call (or fault - depends on your point of view) as the “ring-leader”.  And, did I mention that they are also gorgeous?  Here, take a look:

Most of the crew: Me, Sarah, Chrissy, Melissa, Sarah, Nicole, Christy, Kelly

 

DSW is our group nickname - which has several meanings, depending on our mood.

Desperate Single Women (desperate for more of HIM)

Desirable Single Women

Desperately Seeking the Word

Devine Sassy Wildthings

Dozen Saucy Women

 

The possibilities are endless.  I am so thankful for the blessing they are in my life.  We pretty much came together by random circumstances.  I only knew 3 of the dozen women prior to January/February.  And computer/email glitches threw most of the rest of us together in a small-group search database.  Although, between you, me and Jesus:  I KNOW that this was not random!

 

Who do you have in your life as a support?   Does anyone else have a regular get together with a group of women or a sport/hobby club?  If so, what does it mean to you?

Happy Monday!

Weekend Meme

My brain is too tired to think much this morning. I feel a little worn out after the interview yesterday (which went okay - thanks for your kind thoughts!!)

So today I’m just posting a quick one word meme from my friend Katie before I get ready to go to another wedding. (Maybe I’ll snag myself a hot papaya this time!)

Feel free to play along if you like - let me know if you do.

Happy Weekend to y’all - Hope it’s filled with lots of laughter and relaxation.

TYPE ONLY ONE 1 WORD. IT’S HARDER THEN YOU THINK!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? Close
2. Your significant other? None
3. Your hair? Brown
4. Your mother? Funny
5. Your father? Athletic
6. Your favorite thing? Sunshine
7. Your dream last night? Weird
8. Your favorite drink? coffee
9. Your dream/goal? Change
10. The room you’re in? Bed
11. Your fear? Cowardness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
13. Where were you last night? Parents
14. What you’re not? Tall
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? Home
17. Where you grew up? Rochester
18. The last thing you did? Emailed
19. What are you wearing? Comfortable
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pet? Cat
22. Your computer? Vaio
23.Your life? Love
24. Your mood? Sleepy
25. Missing someone? Yes
26. Your car? Dirty
27. Something you’re not wearing? Makeup
28. Favorite Store? Aveda
29. Your summer? Full
30. Your favorite color? Green
31. When is the last time you laughed? Breakfast
32. Last time you cried? Thursday
33. Who will/would re-post this? Uncertain

The Promotion - Part 2

So….. It’s probably not a great sign when your interview is interrupted by vomiting. But maybe it’s just been a while since I’ve brushed up on my Interview Etiquette?

My boss - whom I adore, and who is the one interviewing me - got sick on Monday afternoon. His 1 yr old daughter came down with the flu late last week, and his wife was sick over the weekend. I guess it was just his turn to be the up-chucker.

We talked on the phone Tuesday Morning to reschedule and to touch base on a few things we discussed prior to the hurl-fest. (Along with an unfortunate incident with an ex-coworker that necessitated an afternoon trip to HR)

Me: Um, feeling better?

The Man: Yes. How are you today? I wanted to make sure you’re alright.  And to let you know that I did think about you last night… (* note: this was not at all “thinking of you” in a creepy, inappropriate way!  This was because 1.) he had to leave early due to the spewing. and 2.) the crazy ex-coworker situation)

Me: ….When you were vomiting?

TM: Oh, haha.  That’s it. Now you’re catching on. Yup!

Me: Good to know that vomit reminds you of me. That the thought of working with me makes you want to hurl.

TM: Maybe you’re making me sick!

Me: Or maybe you’re just sick of me? Um - maybe I should just apply elsewhere….

I love that the people I work with, even the management, are all so relatable. And so much fun. I really work with the greatest team I could ever hope for. It’s a lot about the relationships - the one key benefit that HR can’t guarantee in writing. (click here for a great post discussing the nervousness behind finding friendships in your new workplace.)

And, dear friends of the innernets: if you could consider rallying behind me one more time for Interview, Take 2. This Friday, (TODAY!!) from 12-1:30 Eastern Time, I will be trying this again. And this time, we’ll try to keep the chunkage to a minimum.

I went to a great wedding…

And all I got was this lousy blog post.

That’s because my camera died just as the flower girls were walking down the aisle. ugh. Luckily, a coworker emailed out the pictures she took that evening. So I have something to look at for now.

My friend Debbie married Gregg last weekend on Selfridge Base in Michigan. In case you haven’t seen a really beautiful, happy bride in a while, here you go:

Sooooooo NOT a Bridezilla

Of course, all of us single ladies were wooed to the reception sans dates based on the promise of lots and lots of handsome men in uniform. It was a drill weekend, and there were supposed to be soldiers-a-plenty for us to choose from.

Um - not so much. I think two dudes in camo showed up for a brief minute or two. And really - the wedding was not all about me picking up some guy in uniform. It’s really all about the dancing. Oh - and I guess some part of it is about the union of two souls perfectly matched for one another - blah, blah, blah…

But the dancing was good. The company was great. It was mostly current and former coworkers - and it’s just nice to get together out of the office and see what we look like when we clean up a bit!

And, I did end up meeting a guy. He worked at the Golf Club kitchen I think? He made his way around the room - very social. Had a big smile on his face, and had a tropical look to him. His name’s Bob. He seemed nice, but a little on the fruity side I guess. I think he needs some deep-conditioning lotion and chap stick - he was a little on the prickly side.

But what can I say? I’m a shameless flirt, yes?

Some people just love dessert. I L-O-V-E dessert!

ps: don’t tell my boyfriend.

Perspective

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise man grows it under his feet

~ James Oppenheim

I stumbled upon that quote a while back after an animated dinner conversation with a good girlfriend of mine. We mused about our wishes, dreams and hopes for our lives. What God’s plan is for us, and if - just maybe - that plan may involve a man at some point?!?!

The real point of the conversation was that while we had these longings, we were willing to wait for the extraordinary. We’ve gotten this far all by ourselves - why choose to settle now? In the meantime, our lives are not on hold. I am not looking “out there” for my life. Because my life is right here. Right now. I am not waiting for the “perfect” relationship before I get going on my dreams. There is too much living to be done, and I think it would be a sin to waste the time that I have been given in some sort of self-imposed holding pattern.

I’m pretty happy. Secure. Active. Surrounded by more love than I deserve from family & friends. Don’t get me wrong: I get lonely and I would like to be dating someone. However, I’m not letting that suck the joy and adventure out of my life. I’m using my time to serve others; I go out with friends regularly; I enjoy a good glass of wine (or two!) or a cold beer (or two!) on a warm summer night. Sometimes it’s just laying low at home with my ginormous cat, reading a book or watching a movie. But other days it’s traveling, or running, or going for a big promotion.

And I’m heading to Kenya for the second time to help run medical clinics for the Pokot people of NW Kenya in October.

I have to agree with Bill George’s quote from The Leadership Summit that I previously shared: “It’s not about your clock, but your compass”

I may not be where I thought I would be at this point in my life - but I’m enjoying the ride for everything it’s worth!

My blog can tell the future

The other day - when I wrote this quick update about my Sauciness - I didn’t realize that I was interfering with fate.

That my simple act of writing was putting some innocent person into harm’s way.

I try to be a good girl. A people pleaser. I really try not to hurt anyone - Not even when I’m wrestling with my sister during one of our annual Christmas WWF smackdowns. (er, um - more on that another time I guess).

But then came Sunday. And suddenly I am unknowingly condemning others. Whoever you are out there, Wherever you are: I’m sorry. Really, really sorry. I never realized that my sauciness would produce this:

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Milan’s Photography

• SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE

• Americans In A Fake Democracy - Have Little To Say Anymore

Sorry, someone. I thought this world was big enough for two Uber-Saucy minx’s. But I guess not. Good luck, and godspeed.

An ambitious lush

Um, maybe I should explain.

First: The ambitious part is where I am interviewing for a promotion today. One that I have waited very patiently (yeah, right) for almost a year before it opened up. Other opportunities have been available since then, but I have been holding out for something that a.) I would really want; and b.) I’d be good at. Deep down (okay, not that far down) I have a desire to really succeed.

At The Leadership Summit this week one of the messages that really stuck with me was that I needed to do things with excellence. Obvious, I know… But if I’m not passionate enough about what I’m doing (or about who I am representing) to do my task with excellence, then maybe I need to find something else to be involved in.

I hate interviewing. I get all nervous and sweaty and shaky. And leading up to it - I find all of these doubts about my abilities coming to mind. The victory in this scenario thus far is this: It took guts (and initiative) for me to apply for this job. This basically amounts to my telling my boss: I can more than “just do” this job - I can succeed at it. Now all I have to do is truly believe this myself - and back it up by closing him (and his peers) on the deal. I’m a salesperson, darnit, I need to show that I can sell myself.

So…. if you’re reading this and it’s about 2-3pm Eastern Time on 8/11/08 - Send a kind thought, or prayer, or some bloggy love my way!

Second: The part where I am a LUSH. Not so much. honestly! I want to give a few unpaid product endorsements for LUSH products. They are amazing. I just discovered them this last spring, and have been hooked ever since. Everything is hand made, and smells amazing. They are mostly known for their fabulous bath bombs - but they are so much more than that. On an average day you’ll find me using:

Goddess shampoo bar

Buffy The Backside Slayer (amazing, exfoliating bar filled with Shea Butter moisturizing goodness.)

Angels on Bare Skin cleanser

Cosmetic lad moisturizer.

Those are my fav’s. And the occasional bath bomb or bubbling bath bar.

If you have never tried any of their great products, I encourage you to do so. And - what better way to start than by visiting Jennifer at The Fun House? She is giving away a whole basket of Lush love. There’s little of everything in there - so you’re sure to find something you adore.

If not (which I doubt…) You’ll at least have stumbled upon a real gem of a blog. Entertaining writing, beautiful kids, and an adventurous and grateful spirit. Stop by The Fun House and stay awhile. You’ll be glad you did.

Saucy Minx

Newsflash: My fiendish plan to make the world a saucier place is working according to plan. All my years of hard work: making goofy faces in snapshots, saying inappropriate things in public, tripping over my own two feet on level surfaces, and getting down with my bad self on any wedding dance floor as only a white girl can….. All that work is finally paying off.

I have been listed as a Saucy Blog. I couldn’t figure out where all my saucy, SITS love was coming from the last two days. I went to the site - and there it was, right there on the right sidebar. The recognition from an adoring public that I have been waiting for all these years. Now I know how Sally Field felt. *tear*.

Now, I’ve always considered myself a sassy gal. Several friends and ex-boyfriends have actually used just that word to describe me. So: Is Saucy an upgrade? Or is it more of a potato, potahto deal? I’m going to go with the upgrade/addition theory. And when I tell everyone that I’m “officially” saucy - I’m going to say it in the sauciest old-school-James-Bond-kitten voice. Oh heck yes. And I’m going to start dressing the part as well.

Please excuse me, I have to go find some saucy little number to wear to church. No time to start like the present, yes?

Have a saucy Sunday!