The One About Baby Bites

A rep just brought Baby Bites from Pastry Arts to the office. Sir, that is an EXCELLENT way to win me over. I always like bribery in the form of cake.

Also, I've been a horrible blogger. OOPS.

The One About My Life (Today)

1. I'm going to the YMCA again tonight. Last night I literally worked my tail off, but I'm not all that sore today...that concerns me. Does that mean I didn't actually work out as hard as I thought I had? I did the stepping thing - I walked MORE steps than it would take me to walk to the top of the Eiffel Tower. That's very tall. Right?

One thing I didn't think about...I'm going to have to do a LOT of laundry if I'm going to keep working out like this.

2. Work has been so wonderful lately. My boss has given me a huge project - one that I get to do ALL BY MYSELF from start to finish which is a little bit terrifying, but so much fun! It's taking up a lot of time and I've been reading research out the wazoo - but definitely fun.

3. I love Dave Matthews. You and Me has been on repeat in the car since The Grammy's. You should download it too. I'm still wondering what happened to the LIVE versions that Target was promoting. I want that one!

4. I'm still working on our kitchen idea. I can't find the frames I want, which is really annoying me. I found some at Target - WAY on sale, but they are brown - so that would involve spray paint. They also didn't come with a mat, which I really really want. I think they are being returned.

5. The sadness I feel about not going to Mardi Gras is just getting bigger and bigger. My sister is going for one of the balls - and I'm jealous. Some of my girlfriends are planning a weekend trip to Austin - but that involves place tickets and Southwest is really not cooperating.

The One About Work

I'm exhausted.

Work is killing me. Long story short - our client moved the deadline for our proposal up from April to December 9th. HUH? I literally feel like a work-a-holic. Am I a work-a-holic?

But other than that...

So You Think You Can Dance is the bomb this year, and I love Cat Deeley.

My little sister is turning 21 on Saturday, and then my best friend turns 23 on Tuesday - and I'm old.

I'm still trying to find the time to take down our Halloween decorations (say goodbye to the glitter skulls) and go shopping for winter. I'm into sequins lately, so I'm pretty sure we're going to go with a silver and white theme. Sparkles, sparkles and more sparkles.

We've started planning our first ever grown-up Christmas party.

My Christmas list is growning, and when you're living on your own for the first time and trying not to be broke at all times the list is a little depressing. So far the things I've come up with are a set of sheets so that I don't have to wash/dry and remake my bed all in the same day, and to have my parents pay to have my hair colored. DEPRESSING.

Anyway, that's about it for life right now.

It's finally starting to get cold around here - it was in the 70s this weekend, so I might actually have to break out my winter coat soon. That's good!

The One Where I Stopped Blogging

Sorry - I have been completely swamped at work. Not to mention, I'm babysitting for a family the first part of this week so I'm headed there every afternoon. Generally, I'm just out of free time.

But - in an effort to keep you up to date, here's the rundown.

Friday night our friend Grant came in town and brought Jack. We made our way to Oasis and Rare Martini and then I stumbled upon our next-door neighbors' zombie party, which was...interesting.

Saturday morning we woke up in the middle of the night early to head towards Tuscaloosa for the Alabama - UT game. Grant had tickets and was sweet enough to let Liz and I tag along with them. We did all the things I love about Tuscaloosa: tailgating, football (and hotdogs), Gallette's, and band parties. I'll admit - I felt VERY old, but that's easy to get over. It was wonderful, and I was exhausted on Sunday morning.

Sunday I was asked to babysit for the next few days, so that's what I've been doing since then. This morning I got all of the kids up and tried to get out the door a little bit early. I was taking the dog by the vet before heading to work - so I figured a little extra time wouldn't hurt.

Well....all of that time got eaten up after the dog VOMITED on the master bedroom's bedspread. A VERY EXPENSIVE bedspread. After that was cleaned up I added dry cleaner's to my list of things for this morning and piled everyone in the car.

Eventually I did make it to work where it was only more hectic, and stressful, and made me want to go back to the babysitting.

So - that's where I am, and I'm hoping that this blog title doesn't actually come true...but as the week get crazier and crazier I may just fall off the map entirely. I guess I'll have to come back and beat you all over the head with the giant "I'm going to Texas on Friday" stick.

The One About Nerdness

I'm about to tell you all something that I know you didn't know previously - but in the interest of entertainment (and having something to say today), I'm going to let you in on this embarrassing fact.

I am a HUGE nerd.

In case you didn't know - I have the best friends, and a few of them decided to meet me this afternoon for lunch (near my office). My friend Dawson has a baby, and is moving to London (tear) so she pretty much has a plan for now. My friend Liz on the other hand - is a dog walker and wants a real job.

And I want her to have a real job too, because let's be honest, it's annoying to be at work all day while your friends shop and bake in the sun.

We sat at lunch and talked about Liz's job hunt - at which point I got (a tad too) excited and explained that she should write a cover letter, print that and her resumé, put them in printed envelopes and mail them to everyone interesting in the phone book.

Apparently, I enjoy doing this kind of thing.

Hence the reason I just received Liz's resumé in my inbox - and am going to begin drafting a very compelling cover letter. I think this should be my new job. Why shouldn't there be someone out there to write cover letters and resumés for people, and to find places to submit these things to? Schools have career services. I would just be career services, and instead of an insane amount of tuition, you'd have to pay me a tiny (in comparison) fee.

Don't worry Liz - this is just in the works, I'm not going to make you fork over your dog-walking money for this ridiculously amazing cover letter.

The One About Dinner

Today there was a fire drill at work and outside there was a fire truck (obviously) but there was also and ice cream truck waiting to give us free deliciousness! And guess where my boss is taking us all for dinner tonight?

I have the greatest job.

The One With Work

Let me tell you about the time that the website I work on had someone attack the server and send my head into complete "I have no idea what you're talking about IT guy" - mode. I do not speak HTML code or understand rewriting our website to keep out hackers. Yesterday was incredibly stressful (to say the least) so I never got out my weekend recap or my very important thoughts on the movie I saw this weekend. My to-do list just got a little bit out of control...

It's still not fixed, BUT I have awesome guys who DO understand things like HTML coding and hackers to fix it so right now I'm just monitoring how many people send emails to the site (annoying bad-guys).

The BF's friends from school were in town this weekend so Friday night I had a VERY long dinner at Zona Rosa followed by Billy's for 8th Street. His friend Edward met a very interesting woman who proceeded to inform him that she liked to have...well I'm not going to say that, but let's just say it was dirty (and involved multiple people). And then my friends met another woman in the bathroom who had clearly been drinking too much and wanted some friends to talk to.

Saturday I slept late, had lunch with my dad, had a second lunch (don't worry I didn't eat again) with friends at Sam's Super Samwiches, and then played golf drove a golf cart. Carts are actually very fun - more fun when they're moving because then it's not hot at blue blazes, but definitely fun.

Saturday night we had one giant meal at Surin, and then everyone was so exhausted we went home. It was amazing. I slept late on Sunday, finished my book and then went to hang out at the 'rents house.

Mom and I went to a movie. The Time Traveler's Wife. I'll tell you more about that later.

All in all, it was a great weekend. It was fun, I slept a lot, I finished my book and started a new one - generally did nothing of any importance which is the main point of a weekend, right?

The One With Pizza

recipe for this pizza is here

I have the coolest job. It's hard (like that time I had a ridiculous conference call) but the people I work with are all awesome and we get to do fun things like go to photo shoots filled with food, or have our end of the year party at Bottega, and today we're having a pizza party for lunch. Don't worry...If I didn't get to work here, I'd be jealous too.

The One About Deliverance Dane

This is what I feel like my reading list is like...long and never ending - but so far I'm scooting through it (with the help of AMAZING books, like The Help). And I think this library card thing is going to work out...so I'm excited for my unlimited supply of books that I don't actually have to purchase for myself.

Notice the change on the right of this blog? I switched books...I'm officially done with The Help (and SO sad about it) and have moved on to The Physick Book Of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. I haven't ACTUALLY started it yet because I finished The Help around midnight last night, but it's in my purse to read at lunch...in case I actually get a legit amount of time to eat today.

If you are out by my office around noon and want to see me, stop in any number of restaurants...I'll be sitting by myself, reading my book. I know, I'm a nerd, but it's actually VERY relaxing...you should try it sometime.

P.S. It's sofa day...I know one guy in my life who is VERY excited about that.

The One With The Conference Call

I've never been so tired in my life.

I just got off of a 5 hour (well 4 hour and 47 minute) conference call about the reporting suite that we run our client's website on. EXHAUSTING. I'm definitely looking forward to getting home, getting in bed and reading my amazing book (go buy The Help by Kathryn Stockett at B&N).

And after my very tiny nap (no nap at all...?) I'm going to the BF's for dinner. His brother's godparents are in town from Memphis so they're having a shindig. Delicious food all around.

That's all.

The One With The Top Ten

Let me tell you something about my job - it involves food, and LOTS of it. Sometimes it's the behind the scenes things and that's gross...but sometimes is DELICIOUS. We've been shooting more food shots this week, but I've been on these shoots since my internship started 3 years ago, so here's my top ten list of things we've shot for work (ever). Get ready for a watering mouth...

Chocolate Toffee Pumpkin Torte

Outrageous Yankee Cheesecake with Citrus Glaze

Gingerbread Spoon Cake

Black and Blue Tenderloin Sandwiches

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Over Lime Butter Sauced Pasta

Savannah Strawberry Tall Cake

Linguini with Asparagus, Blue Cheese and Sauteed Walnuts

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

Paula's Pumpkin Hummus

Grilled Vidalia Onion Steaks with a Honey Dressing

Did you notice the amount that are of desserts, and that the top three all involve massive amounts of sugar? Yum. All of these images were taken by Liesa Cole at Omni Studios (same as yesterday) - isn't she fabulous. I've been hungry ALL DAY. SO sorry Kirbs...this is all I can think about today, I would worry about it more if I thought you actually needed to be on a diet.

The One With The Photoshoot

The beginning of this week (Monday and Tuesday) I'm on a photoshoot down at Omni. We're doing food and decor for our client's site and it's delicious. There's less down time with Julia out and I'm being occupied this week with food, and lots of it - but I leave you with this....yummy.

via Liesa Cole (Omni Studios)

The One With The Baby

Remember that time I told you my boss was trying NOT to have her baby yet...well, she's having the baby. She called into work this morning to say they were being admitted to the hospital and she would be induced today or tomorrow. Right now they are just running a bunch of tests so hope for the best in that situation! So, while they've gotten past the part where it's REALLY scary, Perron is still just a little bit and will need some time in the NICU after he is born. Basically - continue with the praying. Pray for my boss and the baby - but also pray for me because OH HOLY HELL, I'm taking over now...so far that is VERY stressful.

ALSO - remember that other time that I told you I was thinking about changing the way my blog looks...we'll count on that this weekend, I'm finally getting some time to sit down and work on it and so hopefully I'm going to get mine done as well as come up with some cute things for Dawson. I'm excited, inDesign and I are very good friends.

And I have one question. I'm not sure how many people actually read this - BUT have any of you ever lived in a place where the walls were made of plaster? I'm trying to hang some things on my walls but the picture hanger things I bought (at my father's suggestion) make part of the wall fall off. That's weird right? Any suggestions??

The One About Health Insurance

I have a real job, and they let me have incredible health insurance which is über nice of them but terrifying to deal with. The woman in charge is coming into the office tomorrow to help us get everything situated...um, what? I have to fill out a massive stack of paperwork. This is officially out of my league, I don't do bureaucracy and form-filling-out and technicalities well. If I mess one of the forms up and then get run over by a deer in my wooded office building complex, what happens then? Do I still have insurance to pay for the plastic surgeon who is going to sew up the holes where my deer friend stuck me with his antlers? Sorry, imagination running wild...I'm very nervous about being a real life grownup.

The One Where I Plan For Retirement

I officially set up my 401k. I will officially be spending a large percentage of my paycheck every two weeks on my retirement. REALLY? I know I'll be happy about it in the years to come, when I'm old and wrinkly but I'm seriously going to miss that money every month. BOO. I just thought y'all might get a laugh out of that...let's hope that I don't totally screw it up and invest in something really dumb - like Asia - cause don't worry, that's on the funds list from my 401k people. I just invested in a whole continent, and some really delicious food. Sake anyone?

The One With The Problem With Work Clothes

Getting a real job produces lots of questions - 401k, benefits, salary, budget, WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR? The first 21 years of your life are spent wearing anything and everything - except for work appropriate attire. Not only do you need to buy a lot of new things, you need to FIND these new things. I don't know if it's just me but work attire is different from regular clothing in many ways. First - and most importantly, IT'S SMALLER, I swear I am so uncomfortable at work it's just plain cruel. I sit in a desk, already unfortunate, but I also sit in my desk is uber confining clothing. So awful. Secondly, work clothes are expensive. They're expensive anyways - better fabrics, etc. but you also have to worry about altering so that you look professional, and DRY CLEANING. It costs a fortune to dry clean clothes. My new plan is just to drop my things off at our cleaners and let dad pick them up with his things - hopefully if I just never ask, "Hey where is that uber confining previously tailored jacket I had dry cleaned?" my parents will never know the different. Do any of y'all have suggestions for some day-to-night type things? Or just day to hi, I'm comfortable. I think from now on I'm going to avoid pants all together....dresses are much better! Here are a few things I thought might work, but I need to go try them on.

from Anthropologie

This girl looks comfortable doesn't she? I think I could sit in this dress all day and not want to kill myself. Plus it's a really cute pattern/color and it could totally transition from work to dinner to a day at the beach (if I ever go to the beach again...)

from Banana Republic

For this one they're going to go ahead and have to get some more in - I am not a large. BUT, I think it's cute, I could dress it up with wedges and jewelry (I definitely don't work in a suit type of office) for work and then wear it with flip flops and a headband during the weekend. Any other suggestions? You other people that are working (Ryan you don't count because I'm not replacing my wardrobe and you'll want me to buy everything Neimans sells) what are y'all wearing. I'm so UNCOMFORTABLE.

On that same note....how many of y'all have considered this? Doesn't this look so much more comfortable than the typical "I have strings holding my clothes on" bikini?

from Anthropologie