Day 4

I’m running a little behind on my posts…courtesy of the holiday weekend. But better late than never, right?!

Ok…here was my get-up for this past Friday…

Unfortunately this outfit had one serious flaw…you could even say it was the “achilles heel” of the ensemble…
I originally started the day with a really cute pair of flats, but the shoes had murdered my feet by lunch time. I hadn’t anticipated this issue since these flats were actually made by Dr. Scholl’s. I caved at lunch and made an emergency detour to purchase a new pair of flip flops (which have the oh-so-fitting brand name of “I heart comfort”). These babies saved my feet, fo’ sho!

Day 3

Today was a colorful day…with another dress that feels like pajamas. One of my very cool coworkers gave me a belated birthday gift…the awesome bracelet that perfectly matched my multi-colored dress. She seems to have a psychic knack for knowing what people are going to wear on the day she gives them their present.

Day 3

I think the shocking amount of color in my dress caught a lot of people’s attention…and therefore spawned many a comment. I kept referring to it as my party dress…and subsequently found myself dancing sporadically throughout the office today. Not a bad side effect, at all…

[because I've seen Wicked twice in the past few weeks...I now have "Dancing Through Life" in my head]

Day 2

It feels appropriate to start today’s post with a little Beatles’ Birthday music (mainly b/c today is my birthday)…

Today I feel fantastic!! Although I must admit, I do kind of feel that I’ve cheated on my challenge. No, I’m not wearing jeans….but I am wearing khaki capris which is basically one step away from my workday restriction.

Day 2

The best part of this photo is that I’m standing in front of the “Brooke Birthday Homage” wall….which basically looks like a smiley face with a unibrow.

Day 1

Today hasn’t been too difficult (which is a good thing considering it is only day 1), but it did take me a little longer to get ready this morning (which is a bad thing considering I like to push my snooze button at least 4 times). So I can’t count today as a complete success since I was running about 10 minutes late, but at least I look cute…right?

Day 1

What I didn’t expect was the immediate response I’ve gotten…I think I’ve had at least 5 people tell me how professional I look today, and about a dozen other compliments. I think this no-jeans thing may be better change than I thought! Overall, here’s the basic rundown….

Pros – compliments; my current dress allow for post-lunch comfort (a lot less restrictive than jeans…win!); and this dress basically feels like I’m wearing pajamas (double-win)

Cons – cold office, which means bare legs are not helpful; late to work (although….I’m not sure if this is entirely a “con”)

On a random note, I was listening to “Stronger” by Kanye West on the way into work today. For the first time, I noticed that one of the lyrics says “heard they’d do anything for a klondike”….and once again the question of “what would you do for a klondike bar?” is back on the table….

the challenge

As I approach my 28th birthday, lots of questions have randomly crossed my mind like…

Who am I? (still to be determined…)
What would I do for a Klondike bar?
What is important to me?
Where are the wild things?
What career do I want to pursue? (another ‘to be determined’)
Could I outrun a kangaroo? (I looked this one up…the answer is definitely no)
How do others see me?

And I got stuck on this last one. It hit me that I still dress like I’m in college. My standard day-to-day uniform is generally a tee shirt and jeans (thanks to the relaxed nature of my job)….but this enselmble is EXACTLY the same as what I wore throughout college. If you don’t believe me, please refer to Exhibit A to get an idea of my daily look (ps- for those who don’t know me, I’m the girl on the right.):

Exhibit A: Hook'Em visits the UIL

Being a Textile and Apparel alum, I know the inadvertent drawbacks of my (lack of) clothing choices…but I’ve chosen to believe that I’m the exception to the rule. Yet the truth is that I’m not the exception, I’m the poster child for the “I’m-stuck-in-a-dead-end-job-because-everyone-thinks-I’m-still-in-college” demographic. And I’ve recognized that the collegiate connotations aren’t limited to the office–this could very well explain why I only seem to attract guys under the age of 25. 

I feel like the only way to alter this perception is to refine my personal presentation. Which means…for the month of September, I’m banishing jeans from my work attire.  Unfortunately, I’ve lost the will to go completely cold-turkey….so I’ll allow myself to wear jeans for social purposes, BUT only when accompanied by a cute top and heels/flats. Like any addiction, baby steps are required in the beginning…maybe in time, I’ll be able to go entirely jean-free. My hope is that my month-long blue-jean-restriction will lead to a permanent adjustment in my daily habits. Depending on how I fare, the month of October may bring about an entirely new challenge (like wearing make-up every day) or a continuation of the no-jean project. Either way…it should be an interesting journey for this comfort-driven, cozy-loving chick!

little ladykiller

last night, I was nonchalantly perusing the music selection at Barnes & Noble…noting random albums of interest…and as I was reaching for a Ramones album, an adorable young boy (about 5 or 6 years old) whipped around me to grab a cd that had obviously caught his attention. The boy quickly realized that he had unintentionally cut me off, so the little casanova-in-training charmingly said:

“well, excuse me my lady”

with a dazzling cheshire cat grin, nod and all! I was so caught off guard that I could only respond by laughing. If I had been quick enough, I would have said “you are excused my sir!”

revelation 3:8

 

a friend sent me this verse, and it’s one that I haven’t really looked at until today. it says:

 I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep My Word. You didn’t deny Me when times were rough.
Revelations 3:8 (The Message)

thanks for pointing me to this Brenda.

I was dreaming when I wrote this…

 

because my own words aren’t as pretty,  here are some lyrics that have caught my attention… 

 

I don’t know nothing except change will come
Year after year what we do is undone
Time keeps moving from a crawl to a run
I wonder if we’re gonna ever get home
Patty Griffin When It Don’t Come Easy

 

I was perched outside in the pouring rain 
Trying to make myself a sail 
Then I’ll float to you my darlin’ 
With the evening on my tail 
Although not the most honest means of travel 
It gets me there nonetheless 
I’m a heartless man at worst, babe 
And a helpless one at best
Paolo Nutini Candy

 

Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it’ll turn your head around
Well, there’s hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground
James Taylor Fire and Rain

 

And I’ve lost my mind, I’m sure I’ll find
Need to apologize for my
Lack of inhibition, for my belligerent condition
But with You this near I’m dizzy
Intoxicating You are to me
Completely captivating to see
Sending my world spinning You are, You see
David Crowder Band Intoxicating

 

Nickels and dimes 
Memories and wines
George Strait Fool Hearted Memory

 

Get in the groove & let the good times roll
I’m gonna stay here till I soothe my soul
If it take all night long
Sam Cooke Good Times

 

To die by your side
Is such a heavenly way to die
The Smiths There is a Light That Never Goes Out

 

Are we really living or just walking dead now?
Or dreaming of a hope riding the wings of angels
The way we live
The way we die
What a tragedy, I’m so terrified
Day dreamers please wake up, we can’t sleep no more
Janelle Monae Sincerely, Jane

 

He’s a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his nowhere plans
for nobody.
Doesn’t have a point of view,
Knows not where he’s going to,
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man please listen,
You don’t know what you’re missing,
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command!
The Beatles Nowhere Man

I find I’m moving to the rhythms of Your grace.
Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place.
Your love is extravagant.
Casting Crowns Your Love is Extravagant

 

Hello darkness, my old friend,
I’ve come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
Simon & Garfunkel Sound of Silence

hello insomnia

yep, for some reason tonight…I can’t sleep. [this post almost got named 'jello insomnia' due to my tired-yet-can't-sleep dilemma]

there are many things that could be fueling my no-sleep issue, such as:

• my roommates could/could not be at home….since I got home semi-late, I decided against investigating the absence/presence of my roomies….mainly due to the large size and creepiness of this house after dark, but not a wise decision for the same reasons. so the weird bumps in the night could be courtsey of a variety of things including:
• the cockamouse that runs through the walls behind my bed and on top of my ceiling…if you’ve never heard of a cockamouse, let me educate you with this video.
• an uninvited visitor of other sorts….eek! I can’t dwell on this one too long.

all things considered, you can probably understand why my much needed trip to the bathroom has been deterred. I’ve got about 30 minutes left before that situation needs to be addressed, which means I must come up with a plan to get there and back with no incidents with the cockamouse or other critters of the night. I think I will definitely sport shoes [the last thing I need is a rodent of sorts running across my foot] and some kind of weapon [maybe my twirling baton or hairspray?]. 

—bathroom break—

whew! made it there and back without getting attacked. plus I noticed that an additional light had been turned off which means that one of my roomies is here….or…..[shudder]……nope, mentally gonna accept that this can only be explained by a roomie being home.

now, I think I’ll finish out the night by reading…or watching more  episodes of ‘how I met your mother’…

just listening…

since I haven’t gotten to send out cd mixes lately, I thought I’d share what’s made my playlists…

 

movers & shakers (june 2009)

1. Where D’You Go? – Jamie Lidell
2. Come Around - Rosi Golan
3. Holy Roller Novocaine – Kings of Leon
4. Swing (remix) – Savage & Pitbull
5. Her Diamonds – Rob Thomas
6. New in Town – Little Boots
7. Beggin’ – Madcon
8. My Love – The Bird and the Bee
9. Little Secrets – Passion Pit
10. I Only Have Eyes for You – Jamie Cullum
11. Make Her Say – Kid Cudi
12. No Other Way – Paolo Nutini
13. Living in Danger – Anni Rossi
14. Nothing Can Change This Love – Sam Cooke
15. I Will Rise – Chris Tomlin
16. Sabotage - Beastie Boys
17. Never Had Nobody Like You – M.Ward
18. Road Runner – Aerosmith
19. Move You – Anya Marina
20. The Fox, The Crow and the Cookie – Me Without You

 

shot through the heart (july 2009)

1. Hey – Leeland
2. Ruby Blue – Róisín Murphy
3. It’s Your Thing – The Isley Brothers
4. Windowdipper – Jib Kidder
5. Please Don’t Leave Me – P!nk
6. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
7. Meddle - Little Boots
8. Whatever You Like – Anya Marina
9. Puttin On the Ritz – Rufus Wainwright
10. Lisztomania – Phoenix
11. Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder
12. Love Letter to Japan – The Bird And The Bee
13. Sincerely, Jane - Janelle Monáe
14. Liar – Madcon
15. Moth’s Wings – Passion Pit
16. Let Your Love Flow – Bellamy Brothers
17. Creator – Santigold vs. Switch and FreQ Nasty
18. You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
19. Ramalama (Bang Bang) – Róisín Murphy
20. Notion – Kings of Leon
21. That’s Where It’s At – Sam Cooke