News!

Warning: Long post and no pictures!!

Hi readers and friends!

Today, I'd thought I'd share with everyone what I've been alluding to over the last couple of months (see here & here). Thanks for hanging around even when my posting was sparse. I appreciate every single one of you!

So let's get to it...

In the last month [& a halfish] Chris and I have made a big, life changing choice. We made it in the hopes that one day we will be able to have the future that both of us envision. Marriage, family, and our own home are all things that we want, but are unattainable in our current situation. I'm sure most of you know that living in California is very expensive. If you are not from here, it may shock you to hear that Chris & I pay $1,350 a month for a one bedroom, one bathroom, 623 square foot space...in an awful neighborhood. Obviously, this is crazy! Factor in gas [currently $4.21/gallon], food [a gallon of milk is around $4], and utility bills and we're lucky if we have two pennies left to rub together. I know that there are much more expensive places to live, but for our current situation, this one isn't working for us.

We have always talked about moving somewhere together, but were never able to agree on a place. One of the most important things to me is moving closer to my family, especially when we decide to have a family of our own. I want my children to grow up knowing their grandparents and cousins. I've never been shy about letting Chris know that at some point, we'd have to move. I was patient, and found it kind of worked itself out in the end. Chris ended up coming to the conclusion on his own and I'm so grateful for that. Otherwise, it would always be in the back of my mind if I felt I was forcing him to do something he didn't want to do.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that we are moving to Atlanta at the end of the month! Who knows if this will be our permanent destination, but it puts us much closer to our families and friends.

Oh, and I QUIT MY JOB! I decided that quitting my job had a lot more pro's than con's. I understand that it is a tough job market and unemployment is really high. However, I also know that my job was not enough reason to stay in the situation I was in. I actually feel really happy knowing that I made a change for myself and even though it's scary, it's what is best for me.

There's the story, straight from the source! And now, we're all on the same page. Thank you so much for reading my blog today. I'd love to hear from anyone who has any road trip tips [we're taking the I-40 back with planned stops in the following cities: Flagstaff, Sedona, Albuquerque, OKC, Memphis, and Nashville]. Or if you just want to wish us luck or give us advice, I'd appreciate that too!

PS - Birthday giveaway will be posted on Wednesday...I'm so excited!

A Day...

I've seen people post about their daily routines so I thought it would be fun to share what a typical day for me is like. Prepare yourself for all the excitement I get to experience on an everyday basis :)

I wake up anywhere between 7:30 and 8:15 every morning, and it all depends on if I am riding my bike to work that day. Today I was going to ride so I got up at 7:30, but I looked outside and it was raining (which was not in the forecast last night when I checked). I ran out the door at 8:40 and was at my desk by 8:57!

I always eat breakfast at my desk, usually by 10:00. Today I had a really sad breakfast - a granola bar and banana.

I spend a little bit of time checking my emails and favorite websites, like Suri's Burn Book, Hip2Save, and Facebook, usually while I'm finishing my breakfast. I don't spend a lot of time doing this because I always have a steady flow of assignments to work on.

My office is right in front of the kitchen and common area so I am constantly interrupted by my co-workers, wanting to talk or gossip. I also have the responsibility of answering the main door, signing for packages, and directing visitors to where they need to be. Sometimes it makes me want to rip my hair out, but most of the time it's not too much of a hassle. Today, I've already answered the door 4 times, and it's only 10:30!

Work, work, work...

At 1:30 I'm hungry again! Time for my lunch. I had a Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers pasta today. I hadn't tried these before, and I wasn't sure what to expect. It turned out to be okay, but not nearly enough. Since eating took all of 10 minutes, I decided to drive over to Target just so I can get out of the office.

I bought some cute Valentine's to give to my friends at work and a few surprise treats for Chris. We are not doing gifts or anything, but I wanted to at least have a card and some candy for him. How come every trip to Target ends in me walking out with something, especially when I planned on buying nothing?!

I already told you that I am addicted to Oreo's, and I flipped out over these Birthday Cake Oreo's! I can't wait to try them for dessert!

Back at work and it's too boring to document...

Finally, it's 6:00 and I'm free! One day down, 4 more to go!

We decided on Thai takeout for dinner. We really do cook in A LOT, but not tonight. Besides, I need time to do my cookie decorating. I meant to take a picture of my food, but was so hungry that I completely forgot.

I spent wayyyyyyy too long trying to make cute cookies and I've decided that they are just not my thing. I'm not very good at the whole royal icing thing so I just covered up all the mistakes with sprinkles! I've officially made a mess of the kitchen.

Time to get settled in front of the television - The Bachelor and Hawaii Five-0 are our must watch shows on Monday night. We also record Alcatraz and Smash but will watch those later in the week.

Yup, it's finally bed time. I made it to 12:00 tonight and I'm already regretting staying up so late. It's going to be hard to get up in the morning! If I had the choice, I would've been in be a few hours earlier. Goodnight!

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I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my day. Seriously, I'm living the life...lol! By the way, all of my pictures were taken using Instagram. I've had this app forever, but I just realized that my profile was set to private all of this time. I made it public and would love to have you follow along and follow you also! My username is sweetteadiaries.

And, Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! I hope it's filled with lots of sweets, love, and pink presents!

the one less traveled by...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

(By Robert Frost via)

I sometimes wonder how my life would have turned out if I had chosen to stay in Georgia. Living with my decision to move to California is hard sometimes. I am homesick for my family and for the way of life I used to know. When I was in college, I assumed that I would be engaged by graduation, marry a military officer, and live my life as a military wife. I don't know why, but that was the mindset most of my friends had as well [part of the reason of going to college is to get your degree in MRS]. And they all ended up in that life. I am the only non-married one in my group, and the only one that took a different path.


Moving to Los Angeles for a boyfriend = stupid. I am now stuck in a job I don't necessarily like, not living up to my full potential. I have had to max out credit cards just to pay rent or put gas in my car. Is this what I really wanted when I told my parents that I wanted to "step out on my own?"


I have to think that moving to Los Angeles has taught me a lot of life lessons - that family is important and to not take for granted the 48 hours you get to spend with your mom and dad three times a year...that your friends will forget about you and the less you talk or connect with them, the more likely it is that you will be replaced...that "making it on your own" is a load of crap and that you need friends and family in your life to make you happy.


What good has come out of this path? I am most grateful for my relationship with C. If that is the reason I am here, then I know it was worth all of this. He is the absolute best thing to happen to me and when I think of this path I've taken, I now know it was in order to lead me to him. Cheesy? Yes. True? Definitely.


So sorry for this heavy post! I have a lot of things going on in my life that I am in constant worry over, but I have to believe it will all work out. While I might have said moving here for a boyfriend was stupid, it isn't something I regret. I chose this path, and I will never know how my life may have turned out if I had stayed in Georgia. I do wonder from time to time, but it isn't important. This is my life now, and I have to do my best to embrace where I am and enjoy this path I've taken. After all, we're only given one life so I want to make the most of it!

Have a happy Tuesday, friends!

(all photos except the last are from weheartit)

Questions and Answers, Part IV

Okay, here are the last of the questions!!

Michelle from Stuttering Shell asked,
What is your favorite food?
What do you miss most about being a child?
How did you and the bf meet?

What a loaded first question. I absolutely CANNOT pick a favorite food. I love so many things that it's ridiculous. I wake up and obsess over what I will eat that day. My weekends are planned around where to eat lunch, dinner and snacks. My mom always jokes that I have to be fed every 2 hours, like a baby. It's true though, I LOVE food! Some favorite foods would be BBQ, french fries, chicken tenders, anything fried, cupcakes, snickers, steak, any kind of starch or carb, shrimp, lobster, popcorn, chips, dip...see, I can't choose just one thing! Obviously I don't eat this stuff every day so for more healthy favorites I stick to sliced turkey, fruits, salads, Laughing Cow cheese, Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, and sweet potato fries. I guess what I miss most about being a child is just being a child. We're always so anxious to grow up and get out to see the world, but I've realized that home is where it's at. I wish I had appreciated my parents more and known how hard they worked to provide for me. As for me and the bf, we met at flight attendant training. He was living in Las Vegas and I was still in Atlanta. We were friends for awhile and we went on a trip to Los Angeles for my 23rd birthday. After that, we were "in a relationship" and have been going strong ever since.

Danielle from Well, That's Just Fabulous asked,
What's your favorite tv show?
If you could go on vacation anywhere right now, where would you go?
If you had $5,000 and had to purchase something for yourself, what would you buy?

Danielle and I are both obsessed with television! I have too many favorite shows, but currently these are on my top 3 list {keep in mind I'm not including shows that have already ended for the season}: Burn Notice, NCIS and The Next Food Network Star. As for primetime shows, I enjoy Gossip Girl, CSI: Miami, One Tree Hill and 30 Rock. If I could go on vacation right now I would probably head up to Seattle to visit a couple of friends that live there now or go someplace like Aruba. And if I had $5,000 and had to buy myself something, I might get a really nice watch or piece of jewelry. Or maybe just $5,000 worth of clothes, purses and accessories!

Donna from Loving Married Life asked,
What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy Sunday?

Rainy Sundays are my favorite! I love to sleep in, stay in bed, and read a book with the window open so I can hear the rain. Or just watch movies all day. These are also the days I tend to munch on junk food!

Tracy-Girl from Then I got to Thinking asked,
What is your favorite place to blog from?

I really like to blog from work. I have dual widescreen monitors and can easily access all the information I need. Plus the uploading of images is super quick. I really don't like using the desktop computer at home because the keyboard's space bar gets stuck {vodka tonic spilled on it one night} and it's tres annoying. And the computer chair faces away from the tv and we all know how much I love my tv shows.

Piper Jacquelyn from Steak and Cakes asked,
What is your go to/daily skincare regimen?

I like to use the Neutrogena Wave in the shower because it makes my face feel so smooth and clean. If I'm washing my face, but not taking a shower, I use Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash. I have skin that breaks out a lot if I'm not strict with my skincare schedule. As for makeup, I wear Pur Minerals. It's simple, clean and takes so little time. I like the look and feel of mineral makeup over regular foundation.

Rachel asked,
What's your favorite type of pet?
What's your favorite type of perfume?

I have always been a small dog person. I don't really care for cats {though I do love my kitty}. I think having a dog can enhance your life so much. You are their person and they love you even when you don't love yourself. I can't tell you the number of times YoYo has brightened my spirits. He truly is a blessing. As for perfume, I currently wear Lilly Pulitzer Wink. It's perfect for summer!


That concludes Miss Sweet Tea's question and answer segment.
I hope you all enjoyed learning more about me!!

Questions and Answers, Part III {and some random musings}

Some Random Musings:

• I can't believe I forgot to mention this, but Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was AMAZING! I couldn't get over how good it was! Definitely one of my top 2 favorites of the entire series and I can't even imagine how great the last two movies will be. I love seeing Harry and his friends grow up.
• I wouldn't be awake right now if it weren't for my McDonald's Iced Coffee {with hazelnut syrup}...these things are so delicious.
  
• I also can't believe that I made it past 500 followers! Thanks for all of your sweet comments and believe me, I wouldn't be writing this blog if it wasn't for the love and support from all of you!
  
• I'm cashing in my free day tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited! The bf and I have a fun little mini vacay planned so I will be MIA until Sunday. But you know me, I never go anywhere without my camera {except when I met Kate and Danielle and I didn't have the stupid thing} so there will be plenty of pictures!

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Now, I hope you all aren't tired of learning more about me! One thing is for sure, you're a curious bunch...and I love it! HA! Without further ado, more answers to those creative questions!!

Miss Madras from Madras and Pearls and Preppy in New England both asked,
How did you get from Georgia to California?
Do you ever want to move back East?

{insert big sigh here} How did I end up in CA? It all started back when I was a flight attendant and I was visiting the future bf in Las Vegas right around my 23rd birthday. We decided to drive to LA from Vegas and from my first moment in Hollywood, I knew that I wanted to live here. The future bf and I had so much fun {our first kiss too} sightseeing, finding fun bars and restaurants, shopping, eating Pinkberry, and going to the beach. Once the bf and I were seriously dating, it was hard and stressful to do the long distance thing. Over the next few months we went to Los Angeles 3 more times. In September I had a random layover in LA and the bf came to meet me. I impulsively quit my flight attendant job on the spot (probably not the best way to handle the situation...oops) and we decided to make the move to LA the next month. He had been accepted to film school here and moved out in September. The next month, my mom and I packed up my car {actually it was just me doing the packing, as my mom was way too angry and upset that I was moving} and headed West. We drove cross country and a week later I was moving into my new apartment.

As for moving back - that's the plan anyway. I am currently in graduate school and after I get my MBA we will see where my career takes me.

Mrs. W from Keeping up with the Westmorelands asked,
What is your favorite band/singer?
What does your morning routine consist of?
Favorite accessory?

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved U2. Still do. I also like Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Muse, and the Silversun Pickups. My morning routine consists of {hopefully} waking up on time, showering, spending way too long in front of my closet wondering what to wear, putting on some makeup, brushing my teeth, feeding the cat and dog, and racing to work like a maniac. I am ALWAYS late by at least 15 minutes. My favorite accessory is my watch. I have to know what time it is and I feel naked when I don't have it on my wrist. And it's not a pretty one either. It's a Timex Ironman watch set to military time {that's what I grew up using} and it still has 3 time zones programmed on it because I needed that when I was working as a flight attendant {ATL, Ireland, Kuwait}.

Jill from Peeptoe Pumps and Pearls asked,
What is your favorite clothing store?
What is your favorite cocktail?
What's your middle name?

Hi Jill! I would have to say my favorite clothing stores are J Crew and Gap. I like to spend my hard earned money on pieces that will stay in my wardrobe for a long time and these two stores really allow me to do that. I think the styles provided by these stores are both timeless and classic. My favorite cocktail varies on where I happen to be. If I'm at home, I like to make a mimosa {champagne and oj} or wine spritzer. If I'm out, I'll order a mojito, margarita or vodka tonic. However, my all time favorite way to hydrate is with an ice cold ice water. My middle name is Lynn. No significance, my dad just liked it.

Preppy in New England asked,
What is your favorite place in New England?

It's funny because even though I have traveled A LOT, most of my travels have been outside of the United States. Of all the states that make up New England, I have only been to the airport of Bangor, Maine. But the lobster rolls at the airport restaurant were delicious! I'll have to be sure to plan a trip to some more areas of New England and I'll definitely come to you for sightseeing recommendations!

Holly from Pink is My Signature Color asked,
If you were given the opportunity to live one day over,
what day would it be or would you even do it?

Hmm...interesting question! I am not sure that I would want to live any of my days over. I have made mistakes in my life, but would never erase them because they've made me who I am today. However, when I was working as a flight attendant, I was on a quick Friday trip to Dallas and I was supposed to be home that same day. The next morning my Little from my sorority was getting married and I really needed to be at the wedding because she had included me in a special event at the reception. My trip ended up getting delayed and I was stuck in Dallas all weekend. I missed the wedding and it was really unfortunate because my relationship with my Little has never been the same. If I could change that, I definitely would.

One more round of questions and answers
next week!!

Have a *fab* weekend everyone :)

Questions and Answers, Part II

Continuing from yesterday's Question and Answer post...

MrsEyeCanSee from The Juice is Worth the Squeeze asked,

What's the one food you absolutely detest?
If you had to choose, would you rather be blind or deaf?

Okay so I pretty much made it obvious that I love food in yesterday's post, BUT there are some foods that I can't stand {very few, but some}. Let's see, I can't stand mayonnaise. Ick. I get nauseous just thinking about it. I also don't care for rice pudding, bananas, low-fat yogurt, or ketchup. If I had to choose between blindess and deafness, I think I would choose to be deaf. There is so much beauty in the world that can only be seen with your eyes {even though blind people experience other heightened and extraordinary senses} that I would hate to miss it. Perhaps I could read lips or use sign language to communicate if I were to be deaf.

Jules from Chic & Pink asked,
What is your biggest pet peeve?
What are 3 things you would bring to a deserted island besides people and pets?

I'll be honest, I have A LOT of pet peeves. I get irritated so easily because I have such little patience and tolerance. This is a negative aspect of my personality. One of my biggest pet peeves happens when I'm out at a restaurant with my mom. I hate when the server asks if we would like separate checks because we share no common resmemblance to each other. This hurts me more than it irritates me I suppose. Another pet peeve is when the bf rubs his feet on the carpet because "he likes the way it feels." Stop doing it because "I hate the way it sounds." If I were to be on a deserted island and I already had my favorite people and pets, I would bring a board game {probably Monopoly}, a fluffy pillow and an endless supply of toilet paper.

Queen Bee Swain asked,
What was the best birthday present that you ever received?

I think this would be my 21st birthday when my parents surprised me with my first trip to Las Vegas with my two best friends! It was funny because I had absolutely no idea that we were going to Vegas {I thought we were going to Biloxi, MS}, but when we were going through airport security the guard said to me, "Have fun in Vegas!" I was SHOCKED!

Dollface from Inner Workings of a real-life barbie doll asked,
What are the little things in life that make you happy?

I'm a generally happy and optimistic person. I get excited and happy over the littlest things like my pup greeting me at the door after a long day of work, an unexpected text message, a conversation with an old friend, no traffic on the way to work, an iced coffee before heading into the office, falling asleep with a favorite movie on, a clean apartment, freshly washed sheets, scoring a deal at the grocery store or the mall, a handwritten card in the mail, my favorite show on tv...

Katie from My first year as a Wallace asked,
What do you do for your job?
What do you hope to do when you finish school?

If you're familiar with CPA's or CFA's then you have probably heard of Bec*ker Profess*ional Edu*cation and Sta*lla {joint company}. I work as an editor and work mainly on producing and editing review materials for students that are preparing for the exam. I'm enjoying my job now because I've been given more responsibility in the managing area. At the same time it's one of those jobs that has a lot of down time, but when we're busy, there seems to be no end in sight. I don't really have any career goals for after I get my MBA, but I can only hope it involves some sort of project management position with a higher salary!

Summer from b is for brown asked,
Favorite ice cream flavor and topping?
Favorite color nail polish?
Favorite brunch meal?
Favorite cartoon?

I am a sucker for strawberry ice cream. I also love plain vanilla soft serve with strawberry sauce. My favorite nail polish right now is Essie's Mod Squad. It's a great summer color! As for brunch, I love french toast and ANY kind of potato! I said this before, but I am addicted to starch {potatoes being my favorite source of it}. And of course a glass of champagne is always a nice addition to brunch! Growing up, I loved Scooby Doo! I had Scooby Doo everything and this is embarrassing to admit, but my first car had Scooby Doo floor mats and a steering wheel cover...yes, I was 16...no, I didn't care! HA! Oh, and I even named my cat Velma!

Summer also asked,
What do you do when you are alone and your fave song comes on the radio?

I'm guilty of singing VERY loudly {and badly} in the car!

Jenny from Lucky in Love asked,
What do you like most about California?

This is a tough one. I have to be honest and say I loathe more than I like. HA! Just kidding! Please don't get mad at me if you are from California!! It's just very different than what I am used to.

I guess I like the weather. Except summer in the Valley is pretty dreadful. I like that I've had the opportunity to drive to Santa Barbara, San Diego, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas. I like looking at the ocean {but not swimming in it}. Oh, I love the 2 pools at my apartment complex. I also have met some great people!!


More answers tomorrow...this is exhausting :)

Questions and Answers, Part I

So many questions!
I hope my answers are interesting...here goes!

J from The Look for Less asked,
What is your favorite movie? Your favorite book?
What is your favorite thing about where you live?

Well J, my favorite movie changes often, but I have a few that I enjoy on a regular basis, such as You've Got Mail, Ocean's 11, Peter Pan, and Harry Potter. As for my favorite book? I enjoy The Mitford Series by Jan Karon. I have the entire collection and have read each book numerous times. There's just something about the small town charm and unique characters that keeps me coming back. I highly recommend the books if you haven't read them before! My favorite thing about where I live is that there is a Target less than half a mile from my apartment. Growing up, I was nearly an hour away from the next big town so going shopping was an all day event and planned out ahead of time. Now, I can go to Target, the mall, the grocery store, PF Chang's (super important) and the movies all within a few miles of where I live. Even though I'm close to these places, my apartment is on a quiet, tree-lined street that doesn't feel like the city at all. I like that a lot.


Miss Honeydew from Life after I "Dew" asked,
What is your ideal outfit? Say for daytime and/or night.
What summer movie are you looking forward to?

I am ADDICTED to dresses. Honestly they are all I wear, both day and night. Since I wear them so much, I like to buy dresses that are work appropriate and good for the weekends as well. I look for ones that can be dressed up with a cardigan (a wardrobe staple for me!) and some heels, but look just as good when paired with bare shoulders and flip flops. So I guess that would be my ideal outfit! And there is absolutely no question that the summer movie I am most excited about is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! It's funny I'm so obsessed with HP because I didn't join the craze until 4 of the movies had already come out. When the bf and I started dating, he had the first 3 movies in his collection and I laughed at him. Well, one night we watched the first one and I was hooked! I read the entire series in less than a week {that week consisted of no sleep whatsoever...seriously} and have seen all 5 movies more times than I can count. My favorite is definitely the second one {Chamber of Secrets}.

Headbands and Hand Bags asked,
Where do you fit in your family? Brothers? Sisters?
Favorite vacation spot? (also asked by Rachel)

Okay, this is a long one {but totally worth the read} and I can't believe I haven't shared the story of how I came to be in the family before. I told Danielle when we met and she loved it! My father was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and in 1984, he along with my mom and 3 brothers, were living in South Korea. During that same year, my grandmother (mom's side) passed away. Before she died, she told my mom that she just had to have a little girl and experience the joys of having a daughter. Of course my mom brushed this off because she already had 3 boys and having another child naturally wasn't even an option. A couple of months later my mom accompanied her friend to the foster home agency in Seoul. Her friend was interested in filling out the paperwork to foster a child so my mom went along to keep her company, but had no desire to foster a child herself. At some point while they were at the agency, a woman came up to my mom and asked her what age child she wanted. My mom has always loved babies so that's what she said. Keep in mind that my mom wasn't even there for that purpose. The lady looked at her and said, "Come. We have baby for you now." My mom followed her to the basement and there I was, covered in blood and still with my umbilical cord. I was approximately 12 hours old. I was premature and weighed around 4 pounds. Well, my mom took me home and my dad had a fit! He thought I was going to die, but I somehow made it and after a week, my family voted on if they were going to keep me or not. I don't think it really would have mattered either way, but I'm glad the vote was in favor of adding me to the family. It was 3-2 and I found out just last year that it was my dad and middle brother that voted against keeping me!! HA! Don't worry, I made them love me :)

I have 3 older brothers - John, Bill and Todd. Needless to say, I am the much younger, very spoiled little sister and only daughter.

Me with my 3 brothers many moons ago!

As for favorite vacation spots, I'd have to go with anywhere but here! HA! But honestly, when I'm taking a vacation I just like to get away from work, traffic, bills, etc. that make real life so real. So whether it be a trip back home or a day drive to Santa Barbara, anywhere that gets me away from reality is a favorite vacation spot of mine. I particularly love a fun weekend in Las Vegas too!

Lucy Marie from Lucy's Life asked,
What is your dream job?
What is your most embarrassing moment?
What is your favorite place in the whole world?

My *dream* job is to open a cupcake shop at Atlantic Station. I love Atlanta and desperately want to get back so I'm hoping I can do this before someone else has the brilliant idea. HA! If not, I will settle for being a college professor or maybe a housewife. I've had many embarrassing moments in my life, and most include my mom! She has a funny and crazy personality so it was her goal as mom to embarrass us as much as possible. One thing she always did that made me turn red was ask our restaurant servers if they were single or not and to let them know I was available. This can be quite traumatic and mortifying for a 15 year old awkward teenager! And my favorite place in the whole world is wherever my friends and family are. Although, I've had the opportunity to travel to a lot of countries and some of my favorites would be Cyprus, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Hawaii (okay state too), Korea, and Switzerland. Oh and Lichtenstein, Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia and Spain are all awesome too! I've been lucky enough to visit many places.

More answers tomorrow!!

A Tag, Award & Giveaway

*hApPy ThUrSdAy*

June is flying by so quickly - I can't believe that next week is a 3 day holiday! Yippee!

I thought I'd use this post to combine several items so please disregard the hodge podge of information - I hope you'll stick around because there is a giveaway announcement at the end of all this rambling!

First up, the lovely Danielle at Well, That's Just Fabulous, awarded me with the Honest Scrap Award. Thanks friend! I'm supposed to tell you 10 things about me you may not know that are true. So here goes: 1) I am hopelessly addicted to NCIS. 2) I am an obsessive e-mail checker, probably 3o times a day. 3) I hate conflict and will do anything to avoid it. 4) I have to try very hard to keep eye contact with people. 5) Sometimes I forget to feed my dog {don't call animal control on me, the bf always remembers!} 6) I can't style my own hair to save my life. 7) I am a compulsive nail biter. The only way to keep my hands out of my mouth is to have nail polish on my nails. 8) I don't answer the phone and I never return missed calls. But I promise I can be a good friend! 9) I haven't told the management at my apartment that I have a dog. Oops. 10) I am a maniac behind the wheel. It's the only time I let a foul word slip out of my mouth.

Bitsy from Bitsy and Olive also tagged me to tell you 10 things about myself, but I think it may be the same thing as above. I'm afraid I'm really not that interesting and think I would have trouble coming up with 10 more facts about myself. Instead, go visit Bitsy's blog - it's darrrrrrrrrrling!

Mel at Over the Rainbow...At Last, awarded me the Funky Blog award! Many thanks Mel! I'm sorry it took me so long to post, and I'm very grateful you included my blog to receive this fun award! I am going to bestow the Funky Blog award to all my followers. Put it up on your blog because you are all fantastic and deserving!

Thanks for the tags and awards Danielle, Bitsy and Mel!

♥

Now I have a fun giveaway announcement to share with you! I hope you aren't growing tired of giveaways...HA! This week I have teamed up with a familiar face, Barbara from Finders Keepers Jewelry! There were so many of you interested in the last FK giveaway that Barbara has asked for me to host a giveaway for another wonderful item, the John Hardy inspired Cobblestone Cuff.One winner will receive this gorgeous cuff! Won't it look perfect with many of your summer outfits?! If you'd like to be entered to win, simply 1) leave a comment on this post and 2) be a follower of my blog. Leave your entry by Tuesday, June 30 at 12 pm EST. Also, don't forget to enter Finders Keepers 30 Days of Giveaways. You can enter once per day!

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Lastly, don't forget to check out my Ebay listings. Most of my auctions are ending this Saturday around 10:30 am PST (so 1:30 pm for my East Coast friends). I am planning on listing a couple more of my Lilly dresses {it's still undecided if I can bear to part with them} in the next couple of days. I'll let you all know when they are posted.

I was tagged...

...by MRM to do this question survey! Here goes!

1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag other un-tagged people.

The Questions:

What is your current obsession? my birthday! stationery and snail mail! blogging!

What do you think your name says about you? that my brother thought that i was an angel sent from God
Who was the last person you hugged? YoYo

What’s your favorite dinner? i love too many foods - pizza, steak, chinese, bbq

What was the last thing you bought? stamps, expensive little buggers too

What are you listening to right now? the air conditioner at my work and someone typing on their keyboard a few cubicles down the row

What is your favorite weather? cold weather!
What is your least favorite season? summer for sure - i love sunshine but i hate to sweat!

What's in your bathroom cabinet? face wash, toothpaste, shaving cream, qtips, band aids

Say something to the person/s who tagged you. MRM has a fantastic blog that I love to read!

What is your favorite tea flavor? the sweet kind

What did you want to become as a child? a lawyer - i would line up all my stuffed animals and pretend they were a jury

What do you miss? my family and friends back home

What's your favorite brand of jeans? joe's jeans of course and express

What designer piece of clothing would you most like to own (new or vintage)? i don't really care about stuff like that...

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? NYC

Who do you want to meet in person? any of my wonderful blogging friends! or Abraham Lincoln.

What is your most challenging goal right now? finishing up the last half of grad school

What’s your 5 year plan? i don't really have one - hopefully be back in GA with the bf and a house

Why is today special? because it's thursday and that's my most favorite day
What is my favorite sport to watch? umm - figure skating? :)
To play? absolutely none of them
What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own? the diamond ring that belonged to my grandmother and a pair of diamond studs my grandfather got me when i had my ears pierced

Wow, I'm BORING! I tag:

Mrs. N
Chloe
Bella Martinelli
The Luckiest Mrs.
Adrienne Leann