Hi Ho, Hi Ho! It's Off To Work I Go...

Yes, it is 7:45am and I am currently sitting in my room typing this blog while sweating (trying to cool off before I get in the shower) and eating a delicious and nutituous breakfast of Cocoa Pebbles. 

I went on a morning run for like the first time ever!

I haven't run in exactly 14 days!  What horrible half marathon training.  I have a 5K, the Kaiser Permanente run/walk, next Thursday (Sept 8th), so I had to kick it in gear.  My first morning run was quite successful if I do say so myself.  I only did 2.20 miles in 24:42 minutes, but thats not bad for two weeks off.  I love me my sleep time, so I had my doubts about running in the morning.  But, I really only had to wake up 30 minutes earlier since I didn't run far...I'll take 30 minutes less of sleep to feel wide awake, healthy, productive and ready for the day by 8am!

I'll update you when I get home from work about how I felt at 3pm though! ;o)

PS.  I sent in an adoption application for an Australian Shepherd/Lab mix.  Send happy thoughts my way in hopes that I get her!

Off to get ready for work now!  Happy hump day- almost Labor Day weekend!

August Favorites Vlog!

For this month's favorites I wanted to switch it up a bit and do a vlog (video blog)!  I enjoyed doing them back in the day but took a loooooong hiatus.  Well, now I'm back!  Let me know what you think.  Do you prefer vlogs or blogs about my monthly favorites?  Also, I apologize in advance for my crazy eyes.  On a positive crazy-eye note, I saw on Lie To Me that making eye contact the entire time while talking actually means you are lying.  So, you know I speak the truth about these awesome favs in this video, fo sho ;o)

Thanks for watching!  Be sure to leave feedback, please.

Happy...115th Birthday?!

Besse Cooper

A Georgia resident, Besse Cooper, turned 115 this month making her the oldest person in the whole world!  I heard about this on the radio on my way to work Friday morning.  I thought it was a wonderful story.  One of her relatives called in to the radio station (The Bert Show on Q100) after hearing them talk about her Great Aunt.  The caller said:

Besse was born in 1896!  She came to Georgia from Tennessee during one of the World Wars.  She worked in a one room school house teaching six students.  One of her former students is actually in her nursing home with Besse currently!  He is in his 90's!  Besse married the principal of the school.  They had many children and she now has 12 grandchildren and many great and even great-great grandchildren!  Isn't that amazing?! 

Although she can't hear or see well (since her early 100's), her son (who is 76 years old) says Besse can still remember things and talk clearly, but she does still have bad days.  She also sleeps 80% of the time. 

Either way, how cool is this?!  I bet she has lived an awesome life seeing all the things she has seen.  The radio caller even said she has one of the Apple products so she can listen to music.  I bet she could never have imagined that in her wildest dreams when she was younger.  Below I listed some other inventions (that I found here) that came about during her lifetime:

1900:  elevator
1901:  vaccum cleaner
1902:  air conditioner, teddy bear
1903:  crayons, airplanes, windshield wipers
1905:  e=mc^2
1906:  cornflakes
1907:  color photography, helicopters
1908:  first model t automobile sold
1909:  instant coffee
1910:  talking motion pictures
1912:  lifesavers candies
1913:  crossword puzzles, bras, zippers
1916:  stainless steel
1918:  fortune cookies
1919:  pop-up toaster
1920:  bandaids
1921:  first robot built
1922:  insulin, 3-D movies (with red and blue lens glasses)
1923:  frozen dinners, traffic lights
1924:  spiral notebooks
1927:  PEZ candy, aerosol cans
1930:  scotch tape
1931:  stop action photography
1933:  FM radio
1934:  Monopoly board games
1935:  canned beer
1937:  jet engine, photocopier
1938:  ballpoint pen
1940:  the jeep
1941:  first computer controlled by software
1943:  slinky and silly putty
1945:  atomic bomb
1946:  microwave oven
1947:  Tupperware
1948:  frisbee, velcro, the jukebox
1949:  cake mix
1950:  credit cards
1951:  super glue
1952:  Mr. Potato Head, diet soda
1954:  birth control pills, McDonalds
1958:  hula hoops
1959:  pacemakers, Barbie dolls, microchips
1962:  breast implants, audio cassette tapes, first computer video game
1956:  AstroTurf, soft contact lenses
1967:  hand held calculator
1968:  computer mouse
1969:  artificial heart, bar code scanner
1970:  floppy disks
1971:  the VCR
1972:  hacky sack, Pong (first video game)
1974:  post-it notes, liposuction
1975:  laser printer, push through tab on cans
1983:  Cabbage Patch Kids
1984:  Apple Macintosh
1985:  Microsoft Windows
1986:  disposable camera
1987:  disposable contact lenses
1989:  HD TV
1990:  the World Wide Web
1995:  DVDs
1998:  Viagra
2001:  iPods
2003:  hybrid car by Toyota
2005:  YouTube.com

Insane in the membrane!  By the way, she said the trick to living so long is minding her own business and not eating junk food.  I love it! Would you want to live to be 115?  Do you think we will see crazy inventions like these in our lifetime? 

My personal opinion is that we have hit somewhat of a plateau with inventions because of all that was created in the 20th century.  I think in the future we will see more variations on things - ex:  smaller and smarter phones, different types of flying machines other than planes and helicopters, etc.  I'd love to hear your opinion on this though, so comment below!

Us Weekly Hot Hollywood Party ATL

Thursday night was the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood Party at Aurum Lounge in midtown.  I was sooo excited for this event, but I didn't know what to expect exactly.  I thought it turned out better than I could have ever imagined! 

Us Weekly seems to want to celebrate their readers by throwing events like it puts on for celebrities out in LALA land, but for its readers all over the country.  This year the magazine chose Chicago, Atlanta, and Austin as event locations.  How perfect!  The event advertisement said there would be music, complimentary cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, etc.  I sent out a text message to see if anyone wanted to come along and RSVPed immediately!

Thursday night came along and I couldn't decide what to wear.  I went through so many outfit choices, but decided on a summery colorful dress from Forever 21.  (Its almost time for fall, so I might as well get in some final wear time with my summer clothes, right?!)

Although I RSVPed for 12, only 3 (me, Donna, and HWMNBN) of us actually went.  The others sure did miss out, let me tell ya!  Aurum Lounge is a small club-like event space in midtown Atlanta.  I had never been there before, so I can't tell you what was changed for the party.  It was a really beautiful location though- lots of gold and sparkles :o)

Aurum Lounge, Atlanta

When we arrived we checked in and went straight to the step and repeat.  (A step and repeat is the backdrop you see celebrities stand in front of at events in order to take photos.  It usually has the name of the event and its sponsors tiled all over it.)  The Us Weekly step and repeat happened to be PINK with a black carpet aka perfection. 

me and my dates

Date 1

Date 2

Like I said before, the event space was so cool.  There were gold couches with Us Weekly magazines on the tables.  Servers were walking around with different snack foods- (what looked like) mini burgers, mini tacos, meat skewers, veggies and dip in cups, etc.  The only thing I tried from them (unfortunately, since it was delicious and I should have tried more) was some sort of seared sea scallop.  They also had mini dessert tables.  A cute thing about the desserts was that they matched the flower arrangements on their tables.  Instead of having water in the vases, they had Essie nail polishes (a sponsor) that matched the desserts!  LOVED!  I had the cake pops and let me tell you, they were heavenly!

Cake pops with blue icing swirls to match the Essie polish in the flower arrangement on the back corner of the table.

Mini cupcakes

I think this was key lime pie!

Close up of the polish display that matched the cake pops

The event was only open to 21 and over because they had complimentary drinks.  I usually don't like wine, but I tried this delicious white wine they had from Seven Daughters.  Best wine ever! They also had complimentary Seven Daughters red wine, Michelob Ultra, and Bacardi Ice drinks.  (They had a full bar as well if you wanted to pay for it.) 

Bar menu and Seven Daughters wines

Other than the complimentary food and drinks, there was a DJ and a green screen for photo ops.  You could take your photo in front of the green screen and then choose a background for it- either the Hollywood sign or downtown LA at night (although HWMNBN thinks its NYC at night). 

The event was supposed to go from 7-10pm, but I think it lasted longer.  We left around ten because I wanted to be sure to get a swag bag (plus Donna had another event and I had work in the AM)!  The bags were actually really cool!  They had three Essie nail polishes (I think they were absolutely shore, braziliant, and aruba blue), TRESemme dry shampoo, 20% off coupon for Seven Daughters wine and a wine opener, Bodycology body mist and lotion, Garden Salsa Sun chips, the latest issue of Us Weekly, and an Us Weekly bag. 

Swag bag

Overall, it was a wonderfully fun night and I definitely recommend going if it comes to your city!  Thanks, Us Weekly!  

I had Donna take a picture of me with my camera - just a random pose by myself at the end of the night- but then the photographer wanted to take it too.  Secretly, I am glad because now I have this one celeb-like photo that I can frame and keep it hidden under my bed so I can look at it and dream of being a celebrity in another life ;o) Aww, a girl can dream.

Other random photos from the event/my camera:

This one cracks me up!

Early in the night as you can see from the lack of people.  Later in the evening I tried to read Us Weekly and they turned off the lights on me :o(

 

Friday Favorites 8/26

Happy Friday!  Hope Hurricane Irene isn't ruining anyone's weekend plans.  Atlanta is supposed to be partly cloudy this weekend, but hopefully I can get in some end-of-the-summer pool time!  What are your weekend plans...other than taking some time out and enjoying this weekend's Friday Favs:

I don't know who if the creator of all these Nike ads, but they are genius.  This really does make me want to just do it. 

Puting up paint tape in the hallway for you kids (or cough, yourself, cough) to go through like you were a spy.  Fun and clever!  If you see my buying pink tape, don't ask questions!

Venice.  How gorgeous and peaceful does this look.  Must. Go. There. Someday.

What cute baby photos?! I love the last one of them hugging :o)

Best cake topper ever! I must have this!

This makes me excited for Christmas!  Snow is so magical.

Do y'all remember Dunkaroos?!  I wish they still had these.  Mini cookies you dip in frosting?! How could these not be money makers?

Elephants really do this?! How cute!  I thought it was something they only did in the Jungle Book.  I wonder if an elephant would realize something was different if I grabbed onto its tail and joined the parade...hmm?

This made me crack up! 

Smore Pops - put marshmallows on a stick, dip them in chocolate and roll them in crushed graham crackers. Although the best part of smores is when you burn your mallow and it gets all gooey, am I right?! 

Probably true...

These are just thumb tacks in the wall.  Genius!  I think this would look awesome with rhinestone tacks or contrasting colors.

Twinning!

(twins + winning = twinning for those who don't watch JS)

Great wedding photo idea with the B and G!

Quack!

Easy way to make cake stands...a cup and plate glued together and painted with spray paint!  How long would you have to let this air out before food can touch it though?

We WHISK you a Merry KISSmas :o)

Glitter...So Much Glitter

Have y'all seen this Target commerical?  I am in love.  This is totally me.  I love the last line most of all of course.  Enjoy :o)

Two Birds With One Stone

...well not really unless you count writing this one blog about two completely different things.

Today is a day of firsts...two firsts!  Plus, I crossed two things off my list of 50 things to do in 100 days, number 8 and number 28.  First, I got a job yesterday and today was my first day.  :o) It is at a law firm near Marietta Square.  I must thank the Burke fam for letting me know about it/helping me out!  I think my first day went well.  I have a lot to learn about office equipment, law lingo, and what attorneys do, but so far so good.

Second thing marked off my list is #28. Take a ballet class!  My mom and I got some tights, leotards and ballet shoes (from DanceMax Dancewear) and made our way over to The Georgia Ballet.  Unfortunately, we made it to the last class of the month, so we were the beginners of the beginners.  That will change next week though when it starts over.  We began class by doing repetitions of different positions/moves.  Sorry if this is torture for any pro ballerinas.  I am just learning, so I don't know the lingo yet.  We also learned some counts of a dance for the recital in May.  Recital in May?!  Yep, you heard right!  I'm not going to lie, I am excited about a recital...back to my childhood!  I'm making my mom be in it too.  I don't really love the song because it is slightly weird and depressing, but when the instructor said "and this is where you will rip the tulle off your head" I knew I was in for a good time :o)

Sorry for the blurriness!  My mom is not the best picture taker.

Can I also mention that the dancewear store had this magical number aka LOVE!  I wish I could rock this at the recital in May.  Actually I wish this was a bathing suit a la Elle Woods style :o(  Pink and sparkles...my fav.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog-  I will be posting about the Us Magazine Hot Hollywood party taking place in Atlanta tomorrow night...hot pink "step and repeat", music, cocktails, swag bags, etc.  I cannot wait!  Especially after I saw these photos from the party in 2009.  I hope it is just as fun!

Wedding Shower Weekend!

This weekend my family traveled to Huntsville, Alabama for the wedding shower of our family friend, Jamie!  My mom and Jamie's mom, Cindy, have been BFFs since I think the 7th grade.  They grew up together in Memphis and have many the funny story about old boyfriends and about past vacays they took together (they should write a blog about them!). 

Cindy's daughter Jamie is getting married in October and this weekend was one of her wedding showers.  I haven't seen them in forever, so it was really great to catch up.  We also got to meet Jamie's fiance, Richard, and his parents.  Jamie and Richard are the cutest couple ever and it is really neat how well their parents get along with each other.  Its like one big happy (soon-to-be) family!  I would also like to mention that Richard and Jamie have THE BEST engagement story I've heard yet.  She should write a blog about it!  (I am trying to get Jamie to do a blog on their first year being married!  We'll see if I can convince her!)

The wedding shower and seeing Jamie in her wedding dress during a fitting made me super excited for the wedding!  None of my girlfriends are getting married yet, but I can't wait for this all to be us!  I think Jamie and her friends/bridesmaids have been to a wedding (and all the events that go along with it) a time or two.  They had great wedding shower ideas.  Some I have heard before, but some are new to me:

1.  Collect all the bows and ribbons from the wedding gifts to make into a bouquet for the bride to use during the wedding rehearsal.

2.    Have the bridesmaids work together so things run smoothly during the shower.  Plus, it means less clean up time for the hostess.  Jamie opened gifts while one bridesmaid threw away the wrapping paper and collected the bows and ribbons.  A second bridesmaid moved all the opened gifts out of the way to the corner of the room.  Lastly, the Matron of Honor wrote down who gave what gift to make it easier for Jamie to write Thank You notes.

3.  Jamie's Matron of Honor had a wonderful/organized way of keeping notes for the Thank You cards.  She printed out a list of all the names and addresses (I assume from sending the invitations).  Then, after Jamie opened a gift, the MOH just had to write the gift next to the name and address.  Made life easier for her and for Jamie, I'm sure!

4.  Supposedly, tradition says that for every ribbon/bow you break while unwrapping gifts that is how many children you will have.  I don't think Jamie has broken any so far, but she still has all her wedding gifts to unwrap!

Great ideas, right?! 

Below are some pictures from the shower and the rest of the weekend:

Logan (my sister), Jamie, me

Logan, my mom, Jamie, Cindy (my mom's BFF/my godmother), me

Jamie, Richard, me hoola hooping before dinner.  I got skills...

Logan, me, Jamie, and Richard after dinner.  I got a chocolate shake with Heath candy bar from the ice cream shop! Yummy!

Amos aka Jamie and Richard's baby...he's so fluffy, I'm gonna die!

Comment below if you have any great wedding shower ideas!  I'd love to hear them!

Friday Favorites 8/19

I can't believe I missed last week's Friday Favs, but I have some great pics this week to hopefully make up for it.  This afternoon I am heading to AL for my cousin's wedding shower. Yay, so exciting!  Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy the following pics:

Such a cute idea for family photos because I love photo booths!  This reminds me of how Kris and Bruce Jenner have that hall of black and white photos of all the Jenner and Kardashian peeps in their house.  LOVE!  

This just made me smile.

I have a huge desire to make the cinnamon roll pancakes.  Two of my favorite things in one!  How delicious!

I am OBSESSED with photos, so I think this is the cutest idea ever.  It might sound weird, but I have always wanted a photo wedding cake-  it'll have black and white edible pictures around it of the happy couple.  This reminded me of that.  PS.  Don't steal my idea. I just blogged it with a time stamp! ;o)

You stay classy, Emma Watson. Love her!

Such a cute Save-The-Date idea!  Creative and informative ;o)

Uhh, I die.  How gorg is this.  It is in Poland, but I must go there. 

I might have already posted this in one of my first Friday Favorites, but it deserves a re-post.  This is so me!

Some people don't like the TV above the mantle, but I think it is a great way to save space.  Plus, with this cute new frame for the TV it kind of makes it like art work!

I love me some Lauren Conrad.  This outfit is just too cute for fall as well.  I want some flat brown boots!

There isn't much to say about this one, so instead let us sigh in unison.

As a big fan of Peter Pan and Twilight, this made me giggle.  It is true though if you think about it. 

A pink blazer? I'm in LOVE. I need to find an awesome black one first though. 

Polka dotted room?! So me!  Of course, I would do pink with white polka dots though.  I would probably do this more in a bathroom as well. 

A painted spice rack for your nail polishes!  Genius!  I still need to find a craft to complete...

a teacher/back to school wreath...how adorable is it that they used rulers?!

I'm not sure, but I think Kid Cudi is a rapper.  Who knew rappers could be so brilliant?!

more fall love.

Is this real life?! I want it!

Really cool Disney poster!

I don't like the R word, but this so used to be me in high school.  I wouldn't make any noise when I laughed.  Although one time someone said my laughs sound like someone erasing.  Thankfully, I have grown out of it...hopefully.

What a cute Christmas card or engagement photo idea!?  Adorable!  I really am in love with this.

This is hilarious!  Donna, can Atlanta Activewear please get this sign?!

What a great idea!  Its not like everyone doesn't drink a billion gallons of milk before Oct 31 anyway.  This would be cute to line a driveway with.  I wonder if I have time to drink this much milk between now and then?!

Why didn't I think of putting glitter on pumpkins?!  So sparkly and cute!

Take a handful of moss, a can of beer, and some sugar to write words on the wall.  You just put the mixture on the wall and mist it everyday.  Soon it will look awesome like this!  Its like ivy growing up the wall but better!