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Friday, August 29, 2014

Five Thing Friday


Well, I have been keeping with the theme of not posting anything this week until the middle of the afternoon. Go me. I'm sure this is one of those terrible blogger no nos. NEVER BLOG AFTER 3pm! OMG!!!

Well, it's Friday and I have a belly full of meatballs, so all is good in the world. I even had some one on ones today and spread some love. I WAS going to order some cookies from Insomniac Cookies but they stop delivering a mile away from my office. I could go to the ghetto at the edge of their deliver area and wait for them, but I won't. Not that there's anything wrong with the ghetto. heck, they can get cookies delivered and I can't.

So, 5 thing that are going on this week.

Creeper Job Seeker Guy - I posted an open position on LinkedIn and this guy InMailed me. It was fine and I sent his info to the recruiter. Here's the creepy part. HE CALLED MY DESK. Someone, somewhere gave him my work number and he called me. I don't even know my work phone number. I haven't written it down anywhere or put it on the interwebs. The only place I've distributed it was in the fishbowl for free bagels at Breuggers. So unless he pulled my card out of the bagel drawing, I have no idea how he found me. I'm a little freaked out and needless to say, I won't be offering him an interview.



The cleaning lady follows me and closes the bathroom when I really have to pee. - EVERY DAMN DAY. I swear she follows me and knows some secret cleaning lady short-cut that lets her enter the bathroom seconds before I do. The I have to do the pee dance down the hallway to the other bathroom.



My Dog still hates you - Sorry folks, I know she's cute but Cleo doesn't like you. We were in the car Sunday after the dog park and Kev and I stopped for bagels. I was waiting for the lady in the car next to me to get into her car. She saw Cleo and started baby-talking to her. "Ooooo look at the baby, I didn't know you had a baby in the backseat." (The door was closed and the window rolled up) and I heard her start to growl. Then Cleo gave her best Cujo imitation. The lady jumped back and nearly peed herself. Kev and I apologized, she's just really protective. (and apparently hates baby talk)




Pumpkin Spice is the new Christmas carol. Every year my mom would complain that they would put out the Christmas stuff earlier and earlier. Instead of being after Thanksgiving, you would get Christmas carols and decorations the first week of November. Basically everything after Halloween is fair game for Christmas. Now we're getting pumpkin spice everything earlier and earlier. Starbucks started with the PSL this week and this morning I went to Dunkin Donuts for my coffee and was surprised to see that all the pumpkin was out. Well, not really, but I swear we used to enjoy the summer through Labor Day, THEN all things pumpkin came out. I love fall as much as the next gal but come on now.




Salted Caramel Blue Diamond Almonds - EAT THESE! EAT ALL OF THESE. I stopped at Target Monday and picked these up along with some other work snacks. They're seriously amazing and I can't stop eating them. Do yourself a favor and get some!



If you have it off, enjoy your long weekend! I know I will!

Linking up with:


Meet At The Barre
Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Wednesday Confessions

I've been in training class the last few days and super busy at night this week. Needless to say, ye olde blog has gotten a little neglected. However, I LOVE Wednesday confessions and the blog hop and I have to fire off a one on my lunch.

Before we get started, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KEV!!!! I can't believe it's been 8 years. I really can't believe that someone could live with me and my... quirks for that long. :) LOVE YOU!

Confession - I don't like to take no for an answer. Some people might look at it as being aggressive, some people call it stubborn, I call it persistence. Case in point. I went to Earth Fair to get some meat and decided on a bacon wrapped, Greek marinated Turkey medallion skewer. (Yes, it's delicious)

Here's my convo with the Meat Counter Man:

Me - So how do I cook this?
MCM - There's instructions on the sticker.
Me - Cool
MCM - You can grill it.
Me - No Bueno, I don't work the grill by myself. Can I put it in the oven?
MCM - I guess.
Me - How long would I cook them?
MCM - Ehhhhh, until the juices run clear
Me - How long is that?
MCM - You should check it
Me - How long? In an hour, 5 minutes?
MCM - Check it often.
Me - What temperature should I cook it?
MCM - Until it reaches 165 degrees inside.
Me - OK, what should I set the oven to?
MCM - Medium
Me - MEDIUM? Set the oven to MEDIUM?
MCM - Or Medium High
Me - OK, to recap, I should set the OVEN to medium, leave them in there for an undetermined amount of time, anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour and check them periodically until the juices run clear, whenever that happens.
MCM - Looks scared and nods.

In my defense, I'm not trying to be aggressive, I just want instructions on how to cook the damn meat. You are wearing a white jacket and a paper hat, I assume you know more about meat than I do. I rely on your expertise to guide me towards a delicious meal that won't give me food poisoning. Is that really too much to ask???



Confession - I'm loud. I really don't think this is a confession to anyone who's ever met me. I'm not the shy quiet flower type. Kev swears that my voice carries at a different frequency than the rest of the population, that's why it stands out over everyone else. And I'm not sorry about it. I'm not sorry for being me.

 
 
Confession - I'm not really the "nurturing" type. Kev called me out on this after like our 4th date. Thankfully he didn't run away screaming afterwards. I care about the people and things I care about but I don't get upset by things happening in the world. It sucks and is terrible but I don't really have 'feelings" about them. If you've ever taken the Myers Briggs test, I'm a text-book ENTJ. Thinking over feeling, I just don't have the feels gene. Don't get me wrong, I can tear up with the best of them (OMG, when Clara answered the phone and it was #11?!?!?! So many feels, damn you Moffat.)
 
I also don't know what to do when people cry in front of me. I really don't. When I have to have tough conversations with people I bring a box of tissues so I can awkwardly push them across the table when someone starts to sob. I can try a one-armed hug but we're both going to feel worse afterwards. 


 
 
That's all for me today! Don't forget to head over to Fitness Blondie and Vodka and Soda for the blog hops!
 

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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Outlet trip

So, it's Tuesday and my PC is off with Compucom. Blah, blah HDMI port died on my laptop. It's lunch time during training and no PC means no catching up on emails, but it does mean blogging from my phone! Yay for you.

Since I have "clothes" in the title of my blog, it's about time I do some clothes posts. In hindsight, it probably should be cookies, cardio and coffee. Side note,
one day, at my old job, we planned a "fun day" where we gave put random things that started with a C and didn't tell them why. It started with cereal and chocolate milk, we did candy cigarettes, cap guns, Chinese finger traps, chicken fingers and Creed CDs. There was talk of clymedia but thankfully no one had that to give.

Alright, what did I get at the outlet mall? Let me tell you, I LOVE when people post pictures of their hauls. Either on Black Friday or from the grocery store, I seriously love it. 

As I was taking my poorly lit bedroom pictures, I was proud that stripes only made an appearance twice but I've apparently gravitated towards green this season. Huh, I'm usually more mustard this time if year.

I was pretty successful at Loft, Talbots and NY and Co. It was odd, I usual strike out at NY and Co and Banana didn't have anything. I always have a hard time walking out of Banana Republic empty handed, not this day.


First up, this sweater - top from Loft. It's a pretty real color and the arms and back are sweater material and the front isn't. Hard to explain but really cute on. I think I'm going to pair with a black skirt or pants.
This was $20 off and I got a Medium

I wandered into Talbots on a whim and found this dress marked down on the 60% rack. I think it ended up being $32. I got this one in an 8 petite which I'm definitely not. Talbots sizes things for people built like Bea Arthur and their regular skirts come mid calf on me. They're also generous in their sizing (and this dress stretches). I'm wearing it now with a black cardigan and a chunky black necklace. BTW, I'm on the lookout for a chunky sparkly necklace. If anyone has a suggestion, let me know.



Navy pants from Talbots because I've been looking for a pair for WEEKS. Got these in a 10-curvy (which I am) and they were also 60% off. Yay!



Super cute polka dot skirt from NY and Co. I'm not usually a fan of pencil skirts but Kev said this was a yes. I got the 10 because it's a pencil and this gal has hips.



Kev wasn't a fan of this shell but I think it'll be super cute with black pants and a 
Black cardi. Or some other neutral colors. I ended up with a Large in this one and I think it was 40% off.



I have a love hate relationship with the Loft right now. They vanity size and I know and ignore that fact. I can buy 8s there and keep up the facade. However, I'm looking at more blouse-type shirts and everywhere else I need a large. Not here. At the Loft I'm swimming in a large and the mediums are tight in the hips. Grrrr. I know, lose those 10 pounds and it won't be an issue. 

This top I did end up with the medium and it was 25% off. Cute colors for the fall.


NY and Co had a special on cardis, $19. I ended up with the emerald green one in a Medium.



Finally, the blouse I got from the Limited last week. It's black and blush strips and there are tiny polka dots all over it. Super cute and 40% off. I also got $25 in Limited Cash to use later. :)



That's all for me as my haul! 

Have a great Tuesday!

Outlets, yay or nay?
Love or hate vanity sizing?







Monday, August 25, 2014

Scenes from the Weekend

I'm not sure if anyone really cares about what I did on the weekend, but the over-sharer that I am can't help herself.

So, what did I do this weekend? Saturday I slept in and it was glorious. So lovely. Kev woke me up wanting to go to breakfast, and since I talked him into a trip to the outlet mall, I hopped out of bed and got ready. We decided to go to the Smithfield outlets which are south of us which meant we had a reason to go into downtown Raleigh for breakfast.

We went to Big Ed's, a Raleigh staple. They're only open until noon, so you can't roll in late. We got there and the line was out the door but thankfully it moved pretty quickly. 


They have all sorts of old farmy equipment hanging from the ceiling. It's cool, but I keep thinking of a horror movie where all of those things start flying off the wall and impale me. I have issues...



We got to sit at Big Ed's table. I guess he already came in that day.

I ordered one pancake. Apparently if you order and eat 3 of these bad boys, you get a t-shirt. It was delicious but I barely made it through half. I ate all of my bacon though, because that's how I roll.


After I carb-loaded like I was running a marathon, off to the we went. I had quite a bit of success at Loft, NY and Co and Surprisingly, Talbots. I was trying to convince Kev that my new job needed new, more professional clothes. He slightly agreed. :)


I think I'll do another post of what I got since this one is getting pretty lenghty. :)

On the way home, we stopped at Smithfield BBQ for lunch. I continued my carb loading and ate all the fries. Because I love fries. Fries and salt. om nom nom... I did eat the pork off my sandwich and tossed the bum. I forgot I could just get a pile of pork and fries.


After we got home it was a quick turn around to Walnut Creek Amphitheater to see... REO Speedwagon and Chicago. OH YES, WE DID.


I'm gonna be completely honest. I had low expectations for the show. It was $20 for lawn seats and Kev hadn't ever seen Chicago, so we figured, why not? Let me tell you, those old dudes ROCKED for like 3 hours. REO Speedwagon was really good! I was thoroughly impressed by how they hadn't lost it. 60+ years old and they put on a great show. Then Chciacgo came out and they KILLED IT too! Their horn players are 70 years old and amazing. I couldn't believe how good they were. We saw Def Leppard and Kiss a few weeks ago and it was just sad, Chicago more than made up for it.

Sunday morning I woke up, made pancakes and then it was time for....

 

YESSSS!!!!!!!! New Doctor Who!! OK, Like everyone, I'm wary of this new Doctor. I think he'll be OK, but I'm not sure, I mean it took me a while to warm up to Matt Smith, and he was OK, but I'm definitely a David Tennant gal. So, what did you think?? It was a pretty good first episode for a new Doctor but I found the plot lacking. And I didn't understand why Clara was so freaked out that he was old, she's seen all of his incarnations, this shouldn't be a surprise.

After my Doctor Who watching, it was time for a run. The weather was fantastic Sunday, a lovely, overcast 70 degrees, how could I not head out? Kev dropped me at Whole Foods and he took Cleo to the dog park. I ran there to meet them. By the time he drives there and I run, she's had about enough of the other dogs.

I was really happy with my time. It feels good to run in the mid-tens... for like a mile, then my lings disagree. I just have to get back into running shape. good news is I actually WANT to run. Last year I kept putting it off and off until I'd lost far too much speed and endurance. Not this year. I have my eyes on a sub 30 5k and a sub 2:30 half. This is the year!



WHAT WHAT??? NEGATIVE SPLITS!

I ended the evening with a trip to NCSU to talk about the alcohol policy. Good times. (It actually was, they were really happy with the changes)

Alright, off to another busy week! Hence the 9pm post.

What did you do last weekend??

Linking up!










Friday, August 22, 2014

Twenty Years of KD

I've been thinking about writing this post for a while. Now that summer is winding down, school is starting up again and all the chapters are getting ready for recruitment, it seems like the perfect time. You see, 20 years ago this fall, I became a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. Back then I couldn't even begin to imagine what how that decision would change my life. It's been an amazing journey.

It was the fall of 1994 and I'd just transferred to the University of Pittsburgh from a small all-women's college in Virginia. I didn't know anyone there. Even though my hometown was only 40 minutes away across the West Virginia border, no one from my high school went to Pitt. I was by myself in a big city and had no idea how to make friends.

As is the case in so many schools, there's an activity fair before classes start and one of the events was the Watermelon Picnic on the lawn of the Cathedral of Learning. It was an opportunity to meet all the sororities on campus and maybe sign up for Formal Rush. After walking around and eating my watermelon, I figured, why not? What do I have to lose? I won't join a sorority but I'll just go through the process and see what it's like, who knows, maybe I'll meet a new friend or two.

(I can't believe I still have this)

There were 12 sororities on Pitt's campus and over the next few days we made out way through all of them. The first session was 12 rounds, then 8, 4 and 2 on the final night. After each round the sororities ranked their top choices and I ranked mine. I didn't have any clear contenders through the first few days, I liked a few but no one really stood out. I do remember ranking Kappa Delta #1 after 4 rounds but still wasn't committed to joining.

Finally it was time for the Preference Parties. This is the big night where sororities pull out all the stops. You'll often find them in black dresses, the house is decorated in twinkle lights, the treats are more formal and the emphasis is on sisterhood. For the first party of the night I went to another chapter and they were fine. It was fine, I didn't feel anything and I left there more convinced than ever that being in a sorority wasn't for me.

I walked over to Amos Hall, where the Kappa Deltas were on the 7th floor. I remember walking in and being greeted by Jessica who I'd spoken with at every party. We chatted some more, ate some sort of yummy treat and then we sat down to watch a Kappa Delta movie. We now refer to it as "the movie". That movie told you who was in and who wasn't. How could you tell? By who was sobbing hysterically at the end. Have you ever heard "Now and Forever" by Carole King? To this day I can't make it through that song without tearing up. Needless to say, I was one of the sobbers.

We then went into the formal side of the suite and everyone linked arms and went did the preference ceremony. I don't think there are many times in your life when you have moments of absolute certainty. Maybe it happened when you were deciding on a career path or when you met your significant other but at the young age of 18, it was a feeling I'd never experienced before. I remember standing in that circle knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was exactly where I needed to be.

The ceremony ended and it was time to go. On the way out we were given a white rose and asked to pluck a petal. We walked over to the fountain and were told, "Take a petal, make a wish, I know you'll make the right decision." I clutched that petal and thought "I want to be a KD, what ever it takes, I want to be a KD". 

I left the house, walked over to the Student Union and signed the card that committed me to accepting a bid. I knew that I wouldn't join the other chapter whose party I attended, it was Kappa Delta or nothing.

From there, I guess you can say the rest is history. I LOVED my collegiate experience. Those three and a half years went by in the blink of an eye.


(One of many date parties. WHY were velvet mock turtleneck dresses a good idea?)


(Before Pref Party)

(Roomies before Pref Party)

(Me and my littles)

(Another velvet dress. Good Lord Lara)

For most, that's where the story ends. You love your collegiate days and eventually you all grow up, move away, start careers and families. That's what I did too.

Fast forward to nine years ago. Kevin and I had just moved to Raleigh and didn't know a soul. He said, why don't you look and see if your sorority has an alumnae chapter? You can meet some people that way. 

Here in the Triangle we're extremely fortunate to have a strong alumnae chapter. Over the past nine years I've served as President, Membership, Public Relations and Programming of the Triangle KD Alumnae Chapter. I have met the most amazing women and I consider myself so, so fortunate to call them my friends. They've been there through the amazing highs and lowest of the lows. We've celebrated engagements, weddings, babies, new jobs, welcomed new comers and waved a sad goodbye to those who've moved away.
(Relay for Life)

(Baby shower!)

(Shamrock and Run 5K)


(More babies!)

From the first day I joined the Triangle AC, there had been talk of KD coming to NC State. At the time, we supported the UNC-Chapel Hill chapter but knew that KD had already received a approval to colonize in 2010.

In the summer of 2010 I received an e-mail from National Kappa Delta looking for volunteers to serve on the Chapter Advisory Board at NCSU after colonization. This is a pretty standard request to when a chapter is getting ready to form. I thought it sounded fun and a great way to give back to the organization.

Shortly after I was asked to serve as CAB-Finance and support the Treasurer.

(Installation Day)

It's really hard to put into words, but as much as I loved and enjoyed my college experience, I love watching this new group of women grow and develop even more. I think when you advise a chapter for a while, they become "your chapter". Not like your initiating chapter, it's different. Different but you're invested in their success, you want to see them grow and succeed.  I've seen them progress from those rough early days into a strong vibrant chapter. Each year gets better and better and there's no doubt in my mind they'll become one of the top chapters in the organization.


In 2012 I was asked to become the Chairman of the Advisory Board and continue to hold that role today. I've been offered some amazing opportunities was a result of my involvement, such as traveling to Boston last year for convention. It was my first Kappa Delta Convention and such an unbelievable experience.

(Even advisors get loopy by the last day of recruitment)

Classes started this week and they're putting the final touches on the skit. In 2 short weeks the parties will start and they'll welcome the next new member class. So much has changed in the last 20 years but there are a few things that stay wonderfully the same. And hopefully, there will be at least one woman standing in the circle at the Preference party, who knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is exactly where she needs to be. She may not realize it, but her life will be forever changed. She'll meet her new sisters and start on this wonderful journey.

I can't wait to meet them.

A few years ago one of the collegiates asked my why I volunteered to be an advisor. It was simple, Kappa Delta has given me so much, it was my home away from home, a place where I met the most amazing women and had, and continue to have, some of the most amazing times of my life. If I can help in any way to see that you have a tenth of the experience I did, it's all worth it.


I think Carole King said it best,

We had a moment, just one moment, that will last beyond a dream, beyond a lifetime. We are the lucky ones, some people never get to do, all we got to do. Now and forever, I will always think of you.

I can't even begin to imagine what the next 20 holds.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Wednesday Confessions!

I swear, every Wednesday I sit down to type this post, (at least I'm not doing it at work today) I say, HOLY CRAP, it's Wednesday! Annnnnd today is no different. Monday was kind of a free day for me. I thought I had a training class but it was last Wednesday. Some how I put it on my calendar on the wrong day. Ooops. It's OK, I still have a crap-ton of compliance classes to take and yea, free day. but you know what, I still didn't take them.

So I decided to change up my confessions today and instead of confessions I'm going to write some open letters to a few people I encountered this weekend. Here goes,

Dear Lady behind me in the checkout line, please don't crawl up my ass. I'm still paying for my groceries, the closer you get, the slower I move. If time is of the essence, and you need to get out of the store in a certain number of minutes, don't go to Super Target on Sunday afternoon. Now I give you stank eye.



Dear family with the five year old at Costco, those carts are really big, even I have a hard time pushing it. Your child is too small to manage pushing that big of a cart, he's running into the displays, he's run into me twice and you're in EVERY aisle I'm in. I understand that he probably really wants to do it, but when it affects the other store patrons, tell him no. Now I give your child stank eye.



Dear ladies in line at Starbucks talking about getting a coffee. Your venti, double mocha crunch with extra whip isn't a coffee. Let's be real, it's a milkshake. 2 ounces of coffee in 800 calories of milk and sugar isn't coffee. I'm not hating on your drink choice but that's not coffee. Side rant, why are people so much more willing to consume 1200 calories of coffee beverage but not a milkshake? It's ice, milk and sugar, same thing... BTW, I didn't give stank eye here.



Dear people waiting for Body Pump Class, class starts at 2pm, you arrived at 1:30 and are waiting at the door, looking at your phone for 20 minutes. We are surrounded by a sea of cardio machines and weights. 20 minutes is a lot of time to get your additional sweat on. Hop on the elliptical, do a plank, pick up a weight, you're already at the gym! You can watch the door and jump off when the other class ends. I didn't give stank eye here because I was too busy sweating out an extra 150 calories on the ARC Trainer.


Dear lady next to me in spin class, why don't you sweat? The class is full, it's hot and I've already sweated through my headband, like seriously, my headband reached maximum sweat capacity and couldn't hold anymore. And you, you lady aren't even glistening, I don't understand it I look like I was on a slip and slide. I'm fearful that your body isn't regulating heat properly and you're going to pass out from heat exhaustion. Or perhaps you turn up the resistance on the bike. I didn't give her stank eye, but I did give it to the lady behind me who kept screaming randomly during class.

 
That's all for me folks! Don't forget to head on over and check out these awesome ladies!
 
Confess! What's on your mind today??

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