The Effects of Sun Worshipping & Other Random Wednesday Things

This is exactly what I have. Glad to finally know.

Happy Mid-Week!  I can see why we celebration this day...half-way through the workweek and a little bit closer to the weekend.  Well done Wednesday.

Due to my condition as described above, yesterday, I spent a little time with my new BFF, Hulya. (Hulya's Holistic Medispa) I'm healthy and so grateful to be the age I am. I really have no issue with it.  However, I'm not exactly growing old without putting up a fight. I'm going to age gracefully surrounded by an army of modern forces charged with maintaining the glow of my youth.

Don't worry, I'm not going Joan Rivers or anything. The plan is to control things I can control, like diet and exercise, and to regularly maintain items that will slow the process, keep my skin healthy and fresh and combat the mistakes of my youth. See also: endless SPF 4 sunbathing in the 90's on the beaches of OC made for great scope pics but lead to old lady skin. And, Sunset Tanning...I curse you.

Hulya is heaven sent. Call her! She's got a fix for most everything.  Be advised though, the fix isn't exactly cost-free in terms of dollars and/or immediate results and/or looks the day of treatment. You get what you pay for - always people- and it looks way worse before it gets better.  No make-up at all for 12 hours after a face treatment. OK, not awful, but certainly not something this girl does.  Not wearing make-up is NOT an option. I wear make-up to walk the dog. True story. Wearing make-up is like using the same kind of very specific gel pen daily. It is just how it is.  Accept it. I do.

Yesterday, I had laser treatments on "brown spots" (P.S. How gross is that?) caused by sun damage.  It wasn't painful but to look at me, you'd think I got in a fight with barbed wire and lost. It's not pretty. What's also not pretty? Having dinner plans with the new boy on the same day you spent time at the shop getting this work done. Not awesome. They aren't supposed to know the exact lengths we go to to look effortlessly put together and stunning. #Fail. Last night, if a beekeepers outfit was fashionable, that 's what I would have gone with. Alas, we know it's not so I wore a hat, a scarf, long sleeves, and jeans. FYI, he said he "didn't" notice and also said I looked beautiful. Aw...you have to love the courting stage, right?

In the end, I'm going to be very happy with the results.  I've read that many reformed sun-worshippers just like me have had great results and now use SPF 30 on the regular.  The spots go away and skin looks refreshed and beautiful. I'm one treatment down...so I'll be sure to provide blog updates if you are curious to see how happy I am after all 4 treatments.



New story of my new-anti-sun-worshipping-life = Regular sunscreen application.

Other randoms things for today...in random order.

• Justin Timberlake - Did you write Mirror for me?  If so, well done. I knew somewhere deep in your heart you knew of my love for you and if stupid Jessica hadn't been there, we would have a had a fighting chance.  Love that song.
• Michael Kors - I love you. I hate you. I love you. In that order. No joke. I feel these emotions each and every time I get an email from you. And, when I walk into your store filled with beautiful, young, tan, smoking hot as well as nice, helpful and adorable sales girls drenched in your fashions, I'm an emotional roller coaster.

This dress. I want it. BAD.

• Mariah Carey & Miguel - I've been down on Mariah for a while.  Aside from having the best Christmas album ever she's been a mess to me.  After the Glitter debacle, she did redeem herself (slightly) with the Emancipation of Mimi about 8 years ago . And yes, it's true, I do want to know if she and Jenny from the Block shower in Botox to maintain their age-defying youthful appearance. But I still hold her dreadful fashion choices against her and AI has done nothing to increase my love of her. Her new song with Miguel, Beautiful is pretty good though. Miguel's Sure Thing holds a special place in my heart. Mariah does have a beautiful singing voice and I give credit where credit is due. Nice job you two.
• Hootie - I've always liked you. Now that you are practically the only black person in country music I like you more. Your Pier 6 show should kill it.  However, Wagon Wheel...I'm over it. I really don't like that song, no matter how happy the theme may be.
• Mother Nature - Kindly pull your shit together. It's May 8th. April showers were to have ended and the temperature should be a warm 70+ degrees.  I'm really getting tired of asking.  Please do what we all know you can do and stat. And, thank you.
• Taylor Swift - We will see you Sunday! 5 little girls and 5 big girls are super excited. Also, your Highway Don't Care video with Tim McGraw (hello fitness God) and Keith Urban (your tattoos are so great) is fantabulous.  Very moving. Nice job trio.
• Las Vegas - We are 9 days away from what promises to be an a-mazing trip. In checking out the advance weather forecast, you are already delivering on your end of the weather deal.  Can't wait to see you in person!
• Southwest Airlines - If you wanna toss in some free bday drinks for me and my 8 friends, we won't complain at all.  To anyone on our flight next Friday, be advised, these girls get out once a year for a girls trip. Prepare for fun.
• Kenny Chesney - Adios to Jost, know the feeling well. We'll be there in a little over a month. You really know how to speak to me.  Well done my island-loving-friend-in-my-dreams-but-I-want-you-to-be-my-real-friend, friend. Hope to see you there.
• My sister - FINALLY has an iPhone and a breakfast dress.  Two things she's long desired.  Both should change her life and make it all the better. This is makes me happy for her.
• Target - I've missed you. I've spent much less time with you than I have in the past.  Not sure what that's about, but know when you move to Canton, we will be BFF's again.  I still love you, in case you were wondering or in case you missed me too.

Anyone got anything else noteworthy on this Wednesday?

Happy Happy Happy!

xo~

Random Thoughts Friday

Still Smiling

It's Friday and I skipped last week...I really want to publish once per week. I missed last week which is a bummer.  But I'm back on the horse or more like back on the laptop for Random Thoughts Friday.

• The weekend after the Super Bowl I seriously felt lost.  I felt like I was late or missing something or supposed to be somewhere but I wasn't.  For the past 26 weeks, our lives revolved around football. Then seemingly, all of a sudden, we were World Champions (it never gets old saying that btw) and it was over.  YIKES! What do we do with ourselves?  I missed my Purple Friday buddies and I even texted them, just to say hi, I miss you guys. 

• Last week, we had 5 days off.  5 days off, in a row, straight.  At first I was slightly panicked because of my feelings from the weekend before.  Quickly though, that feeling faded when all of a sudden, I got a life back.  I went to a Belgian Beer Fest. I did laundry before I ran out of clean clothes.  I went to the grocery store. I ran through the city. I cooked dinner. I had brunch with some besties. I walked my dog.  I slept in.  Oh and I went to Philadelphia to visit Baby Kitty and his mama.  We went out, tried a new and fantastic restaurant and I had no where to be in the morning.  It was awesome.

• Last week was also Valentine's Day. You know that holiday all about love and goo and all that crap.  It's hard for me to dislike a holiday about love because I really love love. So, I don't hate it...this year though, I referred to it as Thursday February 14th.  It was a nice day off from work.  I worked out and kicked my own butt.  See also: the next bullet.

• We booked my Vegas Birthday Trip.  Operation Hot Ass in FULL force.

There is nothing wrong with rocking Manolo's in a bathing suit. Vegas!

 

• We leave for San Francisco this Wednesday. Favorite Friend and my Bike Racing Sister, can't wait to see you!!

• I signed up to run in the Color Run Baltimore in May.  I don't fully understand the concept, but it seems fun.

• I've decided to cancel my life insurance policy.  I realized that I'm paying money for something that will not benefit anyone.  If I ever do get hitched again or decide to get knocked up, I'll restart it. I'll use the money I'm spending on that useless policy to contribute to my celebrate life fund aka, my checking account.

 

• Dogs know lots of stuff.  They are excited every time they see you. Everyday is like winning the Super Bowl and being a World Champion.  (See never gets old.) My dog is the absolute best. She knows good people and she knows those who don't share her dog's soul. She knows when to hug me and she never forgets someone she loves. I'm impressed by her knowledge on the regular.  So, I'm just giving her a shout-out because she's awesome.

• Survivor is back. I'm watching. And, I like it.

• The Bachelor is almost over. Finally. I'm watching. And, I don't like it.  I do however love reading http://www.ashleyjonesy.com/2013/02/theyre-falling-into-love-everyone.html.  It's probably the only reason I'm still watching at this point.

• My bestie and I are trying new and different things. We tried something this week, we will NOT try again.  It was a low point in both of our dating lives.  But on the bright side, we don't have to do it again. We have never felt so great about ourselves and so terrible at the same time.  See also, the guys on the Big Band Theory are really much cooler on TV.  Take our word for it. @Irishpants16, you were right. Touche.

• I got back to Pinning.  I'm hoping to get back to making those recipes I'm pinning.  I need some Family Dinners back in my life time now.

• I have good plans this weekend.  I love having good plans.  Namely with 2 little blond people at one Build-A-Bear workshop. 

• If I had to pick a favorite food, I'm not sure I could. I love so much!! Mexican, Italian, sushi, American, Indian, Thai, Greek...there are just so many delicious choices!

• Nordstrom is awesome. Their customer service truly is fantastic.  This is not groundbreaking info, but it should get a mention. I bought a pair of Frye boots in December.  I wore them. A lot.  They are awesome, why wouldn't I wear them. They did not hold up well.  One was saggy and the other would stand tall.  It was not a good look for $350 boots.  I took them into Nordstrom with no box and only an Internet receipt.  A brand new shiny pair showed up on Tuesday.  If they do the same thing, they will fully refund my money.  Boom! Now that's how you treat a customer!

• You might be saying $350 for boots, Philly, San Fran, Beer Fests...all of that costs lots of $$.  If you are saying that, you are correct, it does.  But since, at this point I have no little people in my life, I'm spending it as I go! Sorry, there is not likely to be a random inheritance for a nice person might meet on the street. Mr. Right, wherever you are, I promise not to have a boatload of debit, but I can't promise a huge savings to live off of either. I'll have amazing shoes, a decent wardrobe (where I'll still probably have nothing to wear) and lots of travel experience. I also promise to keep up with my hair, face and body. I will always wear make-up and sweats will never be my BFF. Be advised those last items will also be required of you. Well not the make-up part, but you get the point.

Random Friday!

xo~



Garth...Remember us? We're coming to you!

Getting over “It’.

If only it were that easy....

Get over it! You’ve heard that command a thousand times, right?  But riddle me this…How does one get over love? That is the question.  Is it possible to leave love behind or does it have to leave you behind?  When do you take the good things with you and leave the bad behind?  Do you just wake up one day knowing you were not meant to be with the person you spent time planning on being meant to be? If that is the case, how long does that take?

Many of us have been there…the fetal position in tears on the floor after you and your boyf, girlf, or love of your life has left. Regardless of the reason for the break-up, the next few days, weeks or sometimes years are a blur. You are a ball of sadness, depression, tears, darkness and questions.  Why didn’t this one work out?  What could I have done differently? What didn’t I see in the moment that I can now see looking back?  What did this Mr. Right have that I can’t live without in my next Mr. Right? And, do you ever really get over real love? Are the ones you get over, impostures of love?

Growing up as a girl we watched our favorite princesses’ ride off into the sunset with their prince.  They met them and knew instantly they were their One Love.  They lived happily ever after.  As an adult, I can’t even fathom what happily ever after means.  I see many of my married friends live long happy lives with their husbands and families, but it is certainly not easy.  For the single girls we are searching for our One Love.  We are looking for the one we can ride off into the sunset with. We may have found one or two along the way who we thought were our One Loves, but for whatever reason it doesn’t work out.

Love is gooey, fun, happy, contagious, amazing, beautiful, addicting, blissful and uncontrollable.  You can feel when you are in the presence of true love.  It warms you on the inside.  When you truly love someone, you want them to be happy and you want that more than you care about your own personal happiness.  You put someone else’s needs ahead of your own needs.  You want to do right by the one you love and loving someone else makes an individual a better person. 

I can control many things…my whereabouts, the company I keep, the amount of times I stop at Starbucks weekly, the places I go for fun, the situations I put myself in and my sleep number, if I had a sleep number.  Happiness can be built.  I know that’s a fact because I’ve built it.

But I can’t control love.  I can’t control its arrival or its departure. It grows or fades out of our experiences and interactions. I don’t believe that the goo you feel for another can be forced, contrived or faked. It can be there one day and gone the next…with little or plenty of warning.  And even if you think you love someone, it might not be magical enough to go the distance.

I don’t know that love is ever “gotten over”.  You can get over the sadness and heartbreak but there certainly is no HOV lane to Overitville. You have to drive a beatass Pinto, in the slow lane, in rush hour traffic, through DC, before you feel better. You start by getting off the floor, showering, and get dressed.  You put one foot in front of the other and you begin again.  Eventually, your heart beings to heal.  The sadness passes.  The memories fade.  You build new happiness and your life keeps moving.  That’s the way it is.  Part of that love though, will always be with you. You are the person you are because of that love. 

I also know that the One Love never quits, leaves, walks away or fails. It stays, even if it’s hard.

So while it might be painfully hard to move on, I have to believe that if he or she is your One Love, they will be.  Take your love for them with you and start again.   Letting go of anyone you care for is one of life’s hardest things to do. It’s especially hard if he had One Love potential.  But know that One Love may not come in the time or package we want it to come, but when the time and the person are right, One Love will come.  You both will know it.

If you really love one who could be your One Love, love him more than yourself and give him what he needs. In time, the answer will reveal itself.  And, it will be the right answer for both of you.

In the meantime, trust your gut, feel sad and unsure.  Look for the positives and the learning.  Shower, get dressed, workout, call your girlfriends and listen to Adele on repeat. Analyze your behaviors; remember what makes you happy and count the many blessings you still have without him. What's meant to be will be.  You are strong. You are fierce. You are beautiful. You will be ok.  You will get through it.

That’s what I keep telling myself.

xo~