in my dream world

Christmas day would be made of fleur wood dresses, ban.do headbands, j crew clutches, chanel chance, dior jewels, ysl lipstick, elizabeth and james heels.

Latest Read part II

In September I wrote about "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins and I have now read the complete series. I wanted to share my thoughts about the series and my thoughts about it being made into a movie series.

Click here to read my mini-review of "The Hunger Games".

"Catching Fire" picks up a couple of months after Katniss and Peeta return to District 12. Due to the way they won the Hunger Games, rebellion has begun to spark in some of the districts. Katniss is warned to fix things by President Snow. Due to bad luck (or perhaps further warning?), Katniss and Peeta are brought back into the game for the next year. They build allies with a couple of other people until there are only five left. At this point something crazy happens. I'll let you discover it on your own. You will be left with a huge cliff-hanger, so have "Mockingjay" close by.

Without giving away what happens in "Catching Fire," I will briefly sum up the last book. Much of Panem has rebelled against the capitol and Katniss has earned herself the title and responsiblity of Mockingjay, aka the spokesperson of the Rebels. Katniss struggles with following orders and trusting people, leaving her with just few friends. After training and experiencing the other districts, Katniss leads a team into the Capitol for combat.

This is where things start to get strange for me. I could tell you what happens but there are two issues:

1. I don't want to reveal too much.

2. I'm not entirely sure what is true.

Now, that may sound weird but that is just how it really is. I finished "Mockingjay" with a lot of unanswered questions. Collins leads you to believe a couple of things but they are never determined. The climax of the book completely nose-dives and the book is summed up and ends. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book. I was however incredibly disappointed in the ending. You really are left not knowing what happened even though you are told it works out. Strange way to end a series if you ask me. I have concluded that Collins was unsure herself how things would work out, so she just tells you that it does.

Because I know that this is turning into a movie series, it is my hope that things will be explained a little more clearly. However, I typically enjoy the books more than the movie, so I'm not sure my hopes will be met. I am incredibly interested to see who they cast as Katniss. As I have said time and time again, I typically hate when movies are made from books that I love. To prepare myself, I have looked into the rumored potentials and I am happy with most of them. (Let me add here that every list also included Selena Gomez, Kristen Stewart, Miley Cyrus, and Dakota Fanning. I am NOT happy with any of these. DO NOT put a well known actress into this roll. Especially one who is in her mid-twenties. Katniss starts out as 12 in "The Hunger Games". I don't want a 45 year-old by the time "Mockingjay" is made.)

So those are my thoughts. Have you read any of these? What books are you loving right now?

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Pumpkin Weekend

This past weekend was pumpkin weekend! Kyle and I went to Jacob's Family Orchard to select our pumpkins, sample an apple cider donut, and pick up apple cider. It was a lot of fun and a gorgeous day to be outside!

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WonderWoman?

I have been acting crazy lately. Scheduling things, planning things, making things, talking about scheduling, planning and making things, and then of course doing things.

The last three months of the year are always crazy anyway due to balancing holidays, holiday events, holiday preparations, and holiday preparation events. I think it is so important to do as much as possible with family and friends at these times. During the summer I really like to take it easy and relax. During the winter (true winter months like January-March) I hate getting out in the cold, snowy weather. So I like to take advantage of the autumn months and do things outside and with family and friends.

Halloween activities like pumpkin patchs, pumpkin carving, and of course, dressing up are so fun. I have two awesome costumes this year that I can't wait to wear. Another fall activity is going to the zoo. I love the zoo! I love seeing the animals and being outside. Autumn is the perfect time to go because it isn't too hot or too cold. I went last year at winter time and didn't really enjoy myself much. We are going to the zoo this weekend and I can't wait.

I have been blogging a lot on my design account. Be sure to check it out and see how the wedding planning process is going!

until next time,
x's and o's

Magic.

This past weekend my boyfriend of four and a half years became my fiancé. Below are images of the gorgeous ring he picked out for me. Follow my wedding planning progress and inspiration on my design blog: http://www.mydesignology.blogspot.com/

September was the month of reunions. First, a weekend in Kentucky, then a Sunday in Muncie, and finally a weekend at the campground. After the dinner at the campground we went for a walk down by the water. Sitting on some large rocks, Kyle told me that he had gotten something for me. He pulled out a ring box, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He apologized for the moment not being more romantic but it was absolutely perfect. Of course, I said yes. He had completely surprised me and that was exactly what I wanted.

Fun Finds: ban.do

I am insanely in love with headbands. I came across ban.do in Rue Magazine and couldn't believe I have lived my life without it for this long. Here are some images of my favorites; most from their heart collection.

and for the bride...

All images from shopbando.com

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Latest Read

I just finished reading the first book in a series by Suzanne Collins titled "The Hunger Games". The story takes place in the future, after the world as we know it has been destroyed and the existing North America has geographically changed into thirteen districts and a Capitol which rules over all. After the thirteenth district rebels and is defeated by the Capitol, the president creates the Hunger Games. Twenty-four children, 12-18, are selected to battle each other to the death in an unknown land. There will be one winner who has defeated and outlasted the others who is then rewarded with safety and comfort for the rest of his or her life.
Katniss, our main character, volunteers to replace her younger sister after her name is drawn. Katniss has provided for her sister and mother since her father passed. She travels to the capitol with her male counterpart, Peeta; a now-drunk-former-winner-mentor; and a District Representitive to train and prepare for the games. The games are broadcast for the nation to see.
I'm not going to give any more away but I competely loved this story. It is definitely a different kind of story than what I am used to reading. There is a lot of suspense and action along with romance.
I am very anxious to read the second and third book!

Impressions

Yesterday on my way to work I drove through campus because it is quicker in the morning. As I drove by my sorority house on Riverside, I noticed a girl getting out of her car with her book bag. She wore an old Homecoming shirt that was as tight as a second skin and sweat pants that could have fit us both. Her hair was dripping wet and she didn't have any makeup on. I tried very hard not to be judgmental, but all I could think about was the fact she was wearing our letters and representing our sorority.

It got me thinking about an article that was released earlier this year, or maybe a little before. A letter from a sorority president or rush chair was leaked and people went crazy over it. The letter was a six-page list of accepted and restricted clothing, accessories, and make-up for rush week. The list was extrememly detailed and clearly was not written for many others to see. I agree, the list was pretty intense and a little harsh. But when you peal back to the basis of what she was saying, her standards were pretty... well, standard. She was trying to make sure that her sorority made a good impression on the girls who were rushing. When you are representing an organization, you should hold yourself to their standards. And this was a week where impressions mattered.

If you were interviewing for a job at a high-profile firm, you wouldn't want to see your potential boss wearing sweats and a t-shirt. This is the same kind of situation. A sorority is an organization that can really change your life. Your connections could get you a job and your sisters will always be your backbone. Just watch Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde. As silly as it may seem, Elle was able to connect to the grouchy congresswoman because they were both Delta Nu's. She passed a bill because of the support of her sisters. Ok, I know it's just a movie but still, the idea is real.

While I do not think the letter that was leaked was well written or polite, I do appreciate that she is looking out for the reputation of her sorority and really, looking out for her sisters.

I, on the other hand, will try to be less judgemental. Here are some images of some lovely Phi Mu's :)

Phi Mu Headquarters, Peachtree City, Georgia. www.phimu.org

Phi Mu Headquarters. Peachtree City, Georgia. www.phimu.org

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Dreams of Happiness

I am a 24 year old, unwed, young professional. My life has become one based on what I want to project to the world. Dreams and goals have been pushed aside and I have started to wonder what this means for my future.

Freshmen year of college I changed my major from elementary education to interior design. The idea of sitting in a classroom all day with 25 kids suddenly seemed like a Midwestern occupation. The idea of being a big city interior designer who glammed up spaces was much more appealing to me. I am extremely happy with this decision.

However, sometime between this decision and graduation I was drawn off the path. The big city idea was overrun when I was offered a job at a design firm in my hometown. This seemed perfect since my whole family was here and I was suddenly eager to make this little piece of Earth better designed. The decision to stay in my hometown was provoked even more by my boyfriend, whose family and job are also here.

These decisions have led me to where I am now: living in my hometown, working at a job that I love but where there is no room for growth within the company, with my afraid-of-commitment-boyfriend, and wondering if I will ever see those dreams that I had six years ago. I am happy now with life but I still think about those dreams.

I do still want to make it to a big city and have a job where I work with high-profile clients and cater to their every design need. Often times I wonder if I will make it there. Will it forever remain a dream? Will it make me happier than I am now? These are questions that will never be answered unless I make a decision. And when I decide will it feel pressured or like I am settling? I want to make the most of this life and I want every decision to be educated but I also want to be spontaneous.

Life, I have learned, can be funny and I know that everything will work out as it should; until then I will keep daydreaming, thinking, praying, and enjoying what I have.

x’s and o’s

follow me on Twitter: thecourt_ney

Working On the Apartment

Let's just start by saying we all make mistakes. Was it a mistake for Emily and me to move into an apartment together? NO! Was it a mistake for us to move into THIS apartment? Possibly.

The question of common sense and how others use common sense has arisen often when it comes to the landlord and maintenance staff. I am determined to keep them on task and fix our issues so that the rest of our lease can go smoothly. For example, we moved in at the first of June and now, at the middle of August, my toilet has been fixed, or so they say, four times. I finally convinced them to take the toilet out and do a better investigation. They eventually followed through; low and behold they found an eye shadow compact. Of course they tried to blame that on me but that is another story. I now have a new toilet that works perfectly. Now if I could just get them to fix the other three problems, we would be set. I will let you know when that happens.

I have been working diligently on making the apartment look greater than it is in reality. Whimsical design is what I love for my own space and I have been using samples of materials to make fun art for the apartment. It takes time but maybe by the time the lease is over, I will finally have it the way I want it. Oh well.

Teaser of materials art.

until next time :)
x's and o's

Follow me on Twitter: thecourt_ney

Carter is Here!!!

Carter Jay Richards

born August 5, 2010 at 7:24 pm

I'm an aunt!

until next time... x's and o's!

Follow me on Twitter: thecourtney

Wake up in the mornin...

Do you ever have days when you wake up and realize that you may not be living your life the way you should? I had that wake up call this morning when the first thing I did was complain about the humidity and heat. Starting off the day complaining is probably not the right thing to do. Shouldn't I be thankful that I made it through the night okay? That no one I know was hurt during the thunderstorm last night. Kyle made it home from work just fine. My sister, who is having a baby on Thursday (!!!!), is perfectly healthy as is Baby Carter. My apartment was still standing and my toilet still working (MIRACLE). My car drove me to work quickly and safely. I have a job to go to! And this morning I am enjoying a delightful, free blueberry muffin with my Italian blend coffee.

I am going to start thinking more about things for which I am thankful. Every time I complain about something, I will counteract that with three things that are great about my life.

I saw this quote on Twitter today and it reaffirmed my same thoughts. "Today has the potential to be great. What will you make of it?" If I could just think about that every morning, and strive to make each day great in it's own way, it would be a live changing experience.

x's and o's
Courtney

Follow me on Twitter: thecourt_ney

Fruit detox; yes, again

A while back I wrote about a fruit detox I had heard about and wanted to try. I stocked up on fresh fruit, raw nuts, and seeds. Then I spent three days weening myself off my normal foods until I was completely switched over to the fruit detox. And then it lasted only three days. :( Sadface. It was completely my fault because I just didn't follow through with the commitment. What got me the first time and what turned me away from trying again was the social downtime it requires. I am a pretty social person and let's be honest, there isn't much to do in Muncie but eat. And even if I was ordering a healthy salad, it still doesn't fit the detox rules.

I am determined to try again though. Since Kyle now works evenings, I am completely making my own dinner choices. Sundays will be the hardest because of after-church dinner, but I'm still going to try. It is only a two or three week detox anyway.

Unfortunately, I have already planned and made my lunch and dinner this week. So I will have to wait for Friday. I will definitely be posting my progress.

x's and o's,
Courtney

Follow me on Twitter: thecourt_ney

Sent from my iPhone
dream*believe*achieve

I Will Be Brief

Lately I have really enjoyed writing and finding things for my design blog. It helps to remind me why I love my job. (Sometimes, on difficult days, I need reminded.)

The Internet that we had been using at the apartment has not been working. The connection bar is full but the page will not load and says its unconnected. WEIRD and INCONVENIENT because I have wanted to post on here and designology. I have also had to watch my YouTube subscriptions on my phone which isn't great.

After much confusion and hassle, Kyle and I finally bought tickets to see the Braves play the Reds at Great American Ballpark. I had the dates confused, then Kyle had to work, then we decided not to go, then I realized they play on Sunday as well. So we got tickets for Sunday. Little did we know a bunch of other people, including Emily, are going to that game because it is Faith Day at the park. Mercy Me will be playing after the game. So that is kind of exciting!

Okay, back to work!

x's and o's!
Courtney

Follow me on Twitter: thecourt_ney

Design Blog

I have just created a new blog! Click the link below to see articles about design, things that inspire me, new products and technology that inhance the design process.

www.mydesignology.blogspot.com

Fun Finds

Thanks to Bobbie Thomas, who everyone should follow on Twitter, I learned some cool things to do with old nail polishes. The article mentioned several things that I had heard before, as well as a genius idea I had not considered.


The article linked to an artist's website, Jennifer Bright Art. Jennifer uses her nail polishes to create some pretty cool art. Check out the one below, as well as her website: http://www.jenniferbrightart.com/

Photo from Jennifer Bright's website.

twitter: thecourt_ney

Rules to being a put-together, confident, girly-girl woman

It has taken time (24 years to be exact) to figure out exactly the qualities I want, and now, the qualities I hopefully possess. This list is composed of things that I think every woman should do in order to have these qualities. And even if you don’t want these exact qualities, they are pretty decent tips. (no particular order; they are equally important)

1. Don’t be impulsive with your hair. Drastic changes to my hair freak me out. In order to keep my confidence up it needs to stay basically the same. Small changes like changing my part, adding fringe, or trimming keep it fresh.
   
2. Power walk in stilettos. I work along side of construction workers and architects that are mostly older men. Since I’m young, in order for them to take me seriously, I dress professionally every day- with heels. Tensing your calves help keep balance in the highest heels and on rocky job site surfaces like cracked concrete and gravel.
   
3. Never leave home without sunglasses. Some mornings I’m too tired for makeup so I don an oversized pair. Then around 9 o’clock I’ll do up my eyes.
   
4. Drink your way to good skin. I swear by water and peppermint tea.
   
5. Be prepared. Always carry safety pins, rubber bands, a band-aid, clear polish, fong yeow cheng (medicated herbal oil for motion sickness, upset stomach, and headaches), a phone charger and a measuring tape. Ok, so maybe not everyone needs a measuring tape but I always seem to need one.
   
6. Switch scents midday. Something clean and fresh for morning to wake me up and something floral for afternoon.
   
7. Carry a small makeup pouch in your handbag. My essentials are bronzer, an all over stick, and lip-gloss.
   
8. Pose like a pro. Relax all muscles, turn at an angle, and smile like it’s the best day of your life.
   
9. Conceal, conceal, conceal.
   
10. Travel with healthy snacks. I almost always have wheat crackers, a piece of fruit, or at least a pack of gum.

As a sorority girl, I learned to live by the ideals of our creed: Love, Honor, and Truth. I learned the importance of being an active member of the sorority and in turn the community. I learned that happiness comes from giving and to always be sympathetic, gentle, and courteous.

From these morals stemmed a simple phrase I live by: If you dream it, just believe it and you will achieve it. (funny enough, Phi Mu later came out with three similar key words that they market to collegians: imagine, dream, achieve.)

Above all, have faith. I’m a strong believer in God and having faith and a relationship with Him is the only way for me to get through each day. As long as everyone believes and has faith in something, I think they will live a full life.

Until later, x’s and o’s!

Courtney

twitter: thecourt_ney

This post was inspired by InStyle's 10 Ways to Live like a Supermodel.

NeoCon 2010

Ahh... That time of year. The time of year every designer loves. The time of year new products are launched. The time designers rush to Chicago in their ballet flats (or heels if you're a new designer and uninformed) and bangle bracelets to see these new products. To many of you common folk, this sounds incredibly boring and like a waste of time. But for those of us who love great design, people, and after-parties, this is our life. It's what we live for.

Well... Except for those of us at my little company. Where was I Monday morning when designers flooded through the doors of the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago? I was pooring myself another cup of coffee and settling down at my computer to go through Monday morning emails. Yes, that's right; another year of missing the greatest spectacle in design. Unfortunately no one at our office has ever found it useful to shuffle through thousands of people and 20 floors of products in three days. It's really a pity because we could avoid a month of follow up with our reps if we had just gone.

Instead, I decided to post some photo's of the event, which I have been following online, as well as some photo's from the years that I have gone (bottom four).

Herman Miller. Haworth showroom. Haworth occasional table. Haworth showroom again. Photo's by Carolyn Pike.

Izzy showroom. "Olivia" chair, Izzy showroom. VWIDON dress and Leland chair, "Valeri", Izzy showroom. Photo's by Carolyn Pike.

Eating in our Herman Miller shirts on our way home from NeoCon 2007, a glass showroom, Herman Miller showroom (???) 2005, Nemschoff showroom 2007.

x's and o's
Courtney
twitter: thecourt_ney, youtube: cwork621

New Place(s), Old Face(s)

This is just going to be a quick ramble blog.

Emily and I are all settled into our new place! We have all of our things moved in (except our kitchen table because it's in her g'parents barn attic) and put away for the most part. Cable is getting hooked up this week. We got a new couch yesterday... here's a teaser :)

While it is nice to be in a new place, it's also nice to have a familiar face around. We have had some issues with maintenance and just other moving hassles and it's nice that Emily is there to experience and have to deal with it too. :) Emily and I have been friends since 6th grade and we have a lot in common; we have similar likes, expectations, and needs from an apartment. During college, I didn't get to see a lot of her just because we both had pretty demanding schedules for our field and were involved in lots of extra curriculars. I'm glad that we are both working in Muncie now and have a chance to live together. She was going to go back to school for her masters in the fall but she has put that off for another year because she wants to move south and go to a different school. Here are some photos of Emily and I over the years. (The earliest in our friendship I could find was a choir concert senior year. Hopefully I will come across some older ones that I can scan soon.)

As soon as we can get fully settled, we are having a sleepover with the girls!

On a slightly different note, Kyle, Emily and I tried out a place downtown called Savages Ale House. They have pretty good food for late night adventurer's. It's not new to town but none of us had been there. We all liked it. Also on a different note, I have gone back to my summer face which means less foundation, more sun, less eye color, and more Soft Lips. :) It's a nice face to have back.

x's and o's!

cwork621...a.k.a. thecourt_ney

Memorial Day Weekend

Click here to watch a funny Memorial Day Weekend Video

Dump Cake Adventures

Click here for a funny video on making dump cake... at a campground.

Moving on... Again.

This past week has been completely packed, in more ways than one. Moving, planning a baby shower, and preparing for camping all at one time is a little much to add to my already busy schedule.

I know, I know. Boohoo. I'm not the type of person who likes to have something to do at every second of the day. I relish in my me-time. I like to be able to spend time doing what I want (reading, catching up on my YouTube subscriptions since I do not have tv, organizing my desk, cleaning). So when I say I have a busy schedule, it includes doing all of those things that I want to do.

After I came to the realization last week that I had to be out of my current apartment on the same day I would be returning from a long weekend camping trip, I started going a little crazy. Moving is one of those things that I like to take time to organize and plan. However, I didn't have time to do that. I started deciding right away when I had to do things and I realized I would have to move this week and be out of the apartment by Thursday night (tonight) because we are leaving directly after work Friday (tomorrow) and electric will be disconnected Friday.

Starting Saturday, I began packing all of my things. Sunday we moved some of my large furniture like the dining table and my desk. It's complicated because I'm not taking much of the furniture to the new apartment, some of the things belong to my sister, some to my parents, and some to my grandparents. It was important to seperate all of these things into the necessary piles.

The other important thing was keeping in mind that I would be staying at my parents for about two weeks. I needed to keep out my work clothes, some casual clothes, and keep camping clothes packed up in a different place. I like to have options when it comes to dressing and it is very difficult for me to plan for two weeks worth of outfits, not to mention the makeup, jewelry, and hair tools that I had to decide what to do with. What can be packed for two weeks? Will it melt? Do I need it for camping? Will I have room for it at my parents?

Yesterday was the first day that I felt I had things under control. I have been packing up things as I finish with them and taking them to storage this week. The plan for today was to move my dresser, nightstand, makeup cart, and bed out tonight. I also have to clear out the refrigerator and quickly clean the entire place. Also tonight I need to make some food for camping that we offered to bring and I need to have all of the camping supplies gathered in one spot so Kyle can load up the car after school tomorrow. I was relying heavily on Kyle's assistance with everything since my brother has to work, my dad has back problems, and Pop isn't supposed to lift anything over like 30 pounds. Kyle then let me know last night that he would be unavailable because he was invited to a Reds game in Cincy. Grrr...

I know that I will get everything finished. I just feel frustrated that I won't have much help. And really I just wanted someone to be there to make me feel more confident about getting everything done. HOWEVER, I will do it on my own and then feel proud that I can be independent.

Along those same lines, I was able to really reflect last night on my first-time-living-alone experience. I had vinyl letters above my bed that I had to peel off. I'll attach a photo. As I was peeling them off, I started thinking about how I have been an example of this exact phrase. I feel like a completely different person than I was a year ago. Having to make my own choices and kind of figure things out myself, I have become much more confident. I feel like I have experienced so much and learned so many things by trial and error- or trial and success -which really makes me feel good.

After peeling off half of the phrase, I really thought about the person I have become.

And what I finally realized is in the last photo...

until next time... x's and o's!

The art of making… decisions.

*********BEWARE! This is a long post.*********

I am not one who has regrets. I stand easily beside any decision I have made in the past, whether I think it to be the “right” decision or not. This is not to say that I think I am the model of perfection but an example of feeling secure and confident.

A lot of my time lately has been spent thinking about decision making. Why do people make bad choices? How do they know if they are making right choices? Why do we punish ourselves for making poor choices but do not reward ourselves for making good choices?

For many things we choose, there is typically a strong right or wrong decision, which typically comes down to courtesy or truthfulness. Help someone with a heavy load, return a lost wallet, brush our teeth in the morning –yes that comes down to civility, too.

It should be easy for people to make these choices and if everyone made the right decision, the world would be a much nicer, cordial place. This is the part where I’m daydreaming about a perfect world.

The other choices we make are evidence of who we are as individuals and may or may not affect others. While I may choose to wear dangerously tall shoes while walking the streets of NYC all day, it does not affect anyone else but is a choice I would make. A bad choice to say the least; although I know I would do it again, which is a reflection of me. (Sometimes fashion decisions can be both bad and good at the same time.) Or I may decide to not stop for gas, resulting in the need of someone else’s assistance. This is a bad decision that affects someone else and is clearly something I would do. **Side note: this only has to happen once to realize it will never happen again.

Choices I make for work usually fall into the latter category. Building codes, fire safety codes, ADA codes prohibit me from making terrible decisions that are harmful to the public. The choices I make about carpet patterns, wallcovering texture, and paint color are generally simple choices because it either fits together or it doesn’t. Other decisions like furniture or light fixture selection is typically pretty simple, too. Does the chair sit comfortably? Will this pendant produce enough light? Is the style appropriate for the interior architecture? These choices affect others productivity and it is extremely important for clients and their staff to feel comfortable in their surroundings and have things at their convenience.

Back to the topic: feeling secure and confident in decision making. When making decisions that affect others it’s important to ask ourselves one simple question: how is this decision more beneficial than the other option? A client might ask me why I recommend a particular chair over another. If the decision I made was truly the right one, it should be easy for me to rattle off why this chair is the one for them. "The chair is perfect because it is has pneumatic height, has strong casters that will not track the new carpet, has an ergonomic back adjustment to be personalized for each user, has adjustable arms that slide under the table, and comes in a wide variety of upholstery options." I can make my choice sound wonderful, even if it is not the right decision. This chair could be too modern for the space and could really change the appearance of the room but it has so many other wonderful qualities that it cannot be overlooked. It sounds like I’m suggesting lying but I’m really not. It’s about backing up decisions with a solid foundation.

Personal decisions I make are generally more difficult to support because my needs and wants are skewed, as they are for many. I may feel that I need to buy a new lip-gloss because I do not have a particular color or one with such glitter, but do I truly need it? Or do I just want it because it’s pretty?

The reason for this post is because I have had to make a lot of decisions lately. A lot of decisions at work as well as a lot of personal decisions that I wish I could share. I made a pretty poor decision that I should regret because it does affect other people. I told myself a long time ago to live life in each moment and not to be disappointed in choices I made and I have held to that, which makes me feel confident in myself. For this decision, I considered the consequences and was aware of what could happen with this bad decision but still made the bad decision, which I have realized is the wrong decision. (There is definitely a difference between a bad decision and a wrong decision but that is a completely different post.) Not once did I think about what would happen if I made the right decision. I did not take my own advice and see both sides of both choices- the pro’s of the good decision, the pro’s of the bad decision, the con’s of the good decision, the con’s of the bad decision. I only considered the bad decision. It’s like I already knew what choice I was going to make…

Anyways, I just really needed to let my fingers type for a long period of time because it’s kind of like therapy for me. Hopefully one day I will not be as embarrassed by this decision and I will be able to share it more openly.

x’s and o’s

Soap in my coffee???

Today is one of those blahh days. It's rainy outside and cold. I do not have any work appointments today so the day is going to drag on. (It's never a good sign when I'm blogging at 10AM on a Tuesday.) I do have a hair appointment at 1 so hopefully the afternoon will go quickly.

Fun story that prompted the title of this blog post... My co-worker did all of the dishes in the breakroom yesterday and I very rarely trust anyone else to do my dishes. That is one thing I'm picky about- probably unneccessarily. This morning I didn't have time to stop at Starbucks or Blue Bottle so I was going to make myself a cup of coffee at work. She had washed my favorite mug yesterday so I just checked it out and decided it was probably fine. After I made my drink and I was letting it cool, I realized it tasted a little off. I assumed it was the water because I am pretty picky about my water, too. I didn't think much of it until I realized that there was a film on the top of my coffee and the bubbles that stick to the side of the mug sometimes were a pretty irredescent color. I thought to myself, 'Hmm. That's strange.' I got a spoon and skimmed the top of my drink but it just came back. My stomach started churning but I assumed that it was in my head. But the more I drank, the more I realized what the strange taste was: SOAP. Majorly gross. Apparently the soap didn't get rinsed out well. From now on, I will be washing my own dishes.

The purpose of the post!: I'm planning a weekend trip to Atlanta in June to see my favorite baseball team play on their home field. I've been wanting to see them play at home for as long as I can remember and I decided it was time to do it. It will be a super quick trip because we will be driving. We will leave Friday afternoon and drive down, spend the day out and about, go to the game Saturday afternoon, go out Saturday night, hang out Sunday for a bit, and then head home. I would love suggestions of places to visit, eat, and things to see. Have any?! Let me know in the comments or tweet me at www.twitter.com/thecourt_ney

Camera frustrations

I'm so incredibly bummed right now because I cannot get my photo's to upload to my computer. I was able to upload a couple last week to my computer at work and add them to Facebook but now when I hook up to my computer, it says it's loading and then never does. I tried a different cord, a different USB spot, restarted both my computer and camera and still nothing. I'm not too upset because I did get all my photo's off but I am upset because I had filmed a lot in NYC and Chris's performance that I wanted to edit into a short video and post. I'm not giving up though!

In the meantime, I highly recommend the following awesome musicians that I either met or learned about through Chris on the trip: The Melillo Brothers (favorite song is "Fairytale"), L2 (favorite song posted is "Good Times" but they have one they performed called "Boys or Girls", Ballas Hough Band (fav is "Do It For You"), Jessie James -just do not listen to "Blue Jeans" because it has to be about the worst song in the world and copied after more songs than I can list, and Simon Curtis, (fav song "8Bit Heart").

I am going to now figure out this camera situation and post a new blog with the video! Wish me luck!

x's and o's

Quick Update

WOW. This past week and weekend has been incredibly crazy and busy. I'm going to do a full NY post later but I wanted to quickly update and mention a couple of things.

1. I'm incredibly tired but I'm not sleepy.
2. I'm incredibly hungry.
3. I have a ton of new music finds that I loooooove.
4. NYC was amazing.
5. I hate long car rides but love roadtrips. Yes, there is a difference.

I am at work right now and about to fall asleep so I need to find something to keep me awake. The coffee isn't working today.

Speak soon!
x's and o's

Hair Ramble

I am really in the mood to blog today but I don't really have anything to blog about. I'm going to NYC this weekend and I am so excited and distracted that I can hardly work. I keep thinking about what I'm going to pack, the roadtrip... etc.

So, I curled my hair with my GHD flat iron this morning. For anyone that knows me, it may seem ridiculous for my to have curled my hair because I have natural curls. But these curls are sleek, shiny, and smooth curls - much more relaxed than my normal curls. They are really more like heavy, big waves. That sentence may also seem like a contradiction because I used a flat iron. I swear though, I won't go back to a curling iron.

My GHD curled my hair into tight curls and I ran my fingers through them a couple of times to get the type of curl I wanted. The result is posted here. The picture isn't great because I was at work and the light right above my desk doesn't work. Here is another photo of my hair, right after I finished it (pretty bad quality as well). My fringe didn't stay as curled as I would have liked but it was my own fault because I kept messing with them to lay down better on the way to the office. Then I realized I should have left it alone. Oh, well! I still liked it a lot anyway!

I always knew that I could curl my hair with the GHD and I had tried it a couple of years ago when the iron just came out and I paid a ridiculous amount for it. But it didn't go well so I hadn't tried it again. But I came across a video posted by Elle Fowler, Allthatglitters21 on youtube. She curled her hair with it for a costume party and I realized I had done it all wrong. Check out her video here: How To Curl Your with a GHD -Pirate Look Part 1 Thanks, Elle!

Revlon PhotoReady Review

I finally decided I needed a new foundation because I just wasn't thrilled with the Clinique Superfit. Everyone in the world it seems has talked about and reviewed the Revlon PhotoReady foundation. I did not hear a lot of good things about it but I decided to try it myself anyways.
I picked it up at Target for $11 and it came with a travel size foundation brush. The brush is nothing to brag about but it was free. My color is Cool Beige.
The liquid went on smooth, concealed nicely. My face stayed pretty oil-free and the make up stayed on really well considering I was sweating like crazy and going crazy at work. I am so pleased with this product and I know that I will purchase again. : ) I love finding new things to love.
I'm off to NYC next weekend and I'm sure I'll come back with plenty more things that I love.
x's and o's,
Courtney

Pink me UP!

I am so excited that it's ridiculous. I mean, really.

About a month back I purchased a nail polish from Victoria's Secret. It is the Pink Me Up Polish and Bling in Shimmer Pink. I bought it with low expectations. I think that it cost around $5. The only reason I purchased it was because of a promotion they were running: buy two Pink items and receive a free tote. The other item I bought was a Pink Me Up So Soft Lip Pot in Pale Blue Mint. I started using the lip pot right away because I had forgotten to add my lip gloss to my bag that day. I immediately loved it, as I love anything that is minty. It was thick without feeling heavy. It lasted for quite awhile. I was impressed to say the least.

I finally just got around to painting my nails with the polish Saturday morning. Not only do I completely adore this color which is a sheer, baby pink, but I completely love that it has yet to chip or fade at the edges. Any other polish would have chipped by now. I'm pretty hard on my nails and even when I have them painted at the salon with OPI, it chips or fades by the next evening. I am completely loving everything about this polish.

Now, I will admit the name of the color is deceiving. There is absolutely no shimmer on my nails, like there is in the bottle. I was not disappointed in the least but it is something to note. I will be purchasing every color way of this product. :)

OPI Matte Review

I approved a comment this morning asking about my favorite nail polish, which is ironic because I logged in today to review a polish I just got.

I went to Ulta in search of this lacquer specifically. It is OPI Matte Nail Lacquer in Gargantuan Green Grape. I was excited for this color because it was described as "green kissed by the summer sun". I loved it on the OPI website and on the hand. And I loved that you can wear it matte or add a top coat to make it glossy.

I tried out the polish as soon as I got home. According the the blurb on the bottle, you should not apply a base coat, top coat, or drying product to this lacquer. So I removed my old polish, washed, and applied the first coat. It dried AMAZINGLY quick but extremely streaky. I applied another coat, thinking that I may have just not applied it neatly enough. After the second coat, it was still very streaky. I ended up applying a total of four coats and I'm still not happy with the finish.

I like the color after two coats but it's a bit too intense after four. I love the matte look and I think I will add a top coat to the tip of the nail for a two-toned look. I am definitely going to pick up the Alpine Snow color because the thought of a matte, white nail just makes me extremely happy.

Rating this polish is difficult because of the "streakiness". I definitely recommend everyone try it because of the versatility of the matte/glossy option. I think the next time I use it I will have to spend a lot of time buffing and prepping my nails to make sure they are perfect prior to applying.

x's and o's!

Designing Systems Furniture

Currently, I am at work and designing a custom systems furniture... uhh system. I often have people ask me what systems furniture is, so I thought I would share a little bit here.
Everyone has seen systems furniture at some point, and if not in person, they have seen it in movies. Basically they are individual workstations that are separated by different types of modesty panels. Stereotypically, they are called cubicles. But these systems have evolved in the past five or six years into more organic profiles. Below I will share a couple of interesting systems that I really love.

Resolve System by Herman Miller.

Hum by Kimball.

Avenir by Steelcase.

Occasionally, we come across a system that we love and want to use but it does not have some components we need. This could be a particular height of worktop, certain acoustical properties in a panel, a lack of a panel at all, etc. This is when we take the layouts for the existing system that we like and we begin altering it.
For example, the Resolve System by Herman Miller is quite extraordinary and the system is nearly perfect for a project I am on. However, we need the panels to go completely to the floor and the worktops to have modesty below; instead of the legs that supports it currently. There is no other system that meets the idea of this system, especially the canopy option. So I take the plan and start making these changes to the drawings. Then I detail the drawing with notes and dimensions. Once the drawing is documented, we will send it to furniture dealers to get a specification written and estimated that has every aspect of the system we designed. This is how we designers get exactly how we want out of a furniture system. ;)

x's and o's

Fruity

Fruitarianism is a new lifestyle that I'm strongly considering. There are many reason's but first I want to explain a little bit about it. I will post the links to the websites below.

Fruitarianism is a nutrition system that is composed of only raw fruits and seeds. Because of it's nutritive contents and it's appeal, fruit is the only food group that can completely satisfy our taste, vitamins and proteins. (Of course, if you don't like fruit, it would not appeal to you. But I do not know many people that dislike fruit.)

Fruitarians consider cooked food harmful to our bodies, causing mood swings, cravings, and diseases. By eating only raw fruit, the fruitarian is free from all bad consequences of cooked food addiction, including all the violence against all forms of life and he/she will not be contaminated by the poisons of the flesh from dead animals. Fruitarians participate in the nature way of propagating life, spreading the seeds of fruits without killing any form of life, unlike vegetables.

Besides being completly moral, fruitarians also experience a detox when changing lifestyles. I've normally been opposed to detox's because of the sideaffects. However, with the fruit detox, it is very mild in young adults, even more mild in teenagers, and completely absent from children. Post-detox sideaffects include imporved eyesight, better sense of smell and taste, fresh breath, decreased body odor, strong growth of hair and nails, greater concentration and focus. All of these sound pretty good to me!

A couple of the websites list out a plan to start with, naming certain fruits to be better in the morning, some in the evening, etc. Then, once you have gotten used to the new lifestyle, you can base the fruits you eat on what your body wants. Another notable thing about fruitarianism is the eating schedule. They recommend that only one fruit be eaten at a time, with at least 90 minutes between switching fruits. They also say that to eat as often as needed however, it's important to be able to listen to what your body wants. Is it truly hungry? Am I full?

I find this to be very interesting and I think that I will definitely give it a try. It is difficult since this means I will not often be able to eat out with friends. I think I will try it out, see how it works for me and then decide if I want to do it full time. It may be that I do it for about a month or so, go back to other foods and just do the fruit detox every four months or so. We'll see!
Sources:

http://www.fruitarian.com/

http://www.acorn.net/fruitarian/what.html

http://www.transbay.net/~teb/fruitarian/fruitarian-1.html

Fun Finds

While on spring break, I went to this cute little shop called Geez Louise Gifts. They had all kinds of things from cute sandals, to fun kitchen items, to jewelry. I immediately fell in love with each item in the store. Everything was girly, personalized, and fun. After spending an hour I ended up purchasing a couple of items thinking that I would be able to get online and order more things if I wanted to. That was a big mistake as I've since discovered they do not have a website. However, a couple of the things I was able to go directly to the "manufacturers" website and can purchase from there if I decide. I want to share a couple of the things because I love them and am excited about.

First is a bracelet that I got for my mom. It is made by Alexa's Angels and it's called the Attribute bracelet and it's sterling silver. The words say truth, grace, faith, courage, and wisdom. I think this bracelet is so pretty and perfect to show how special some is to you. : )

Next is the Circle Word Bracelet that spells Faith. They offer many different words, including joy, love, bliss, and others. It is plated in Rhodium which makes it super shiny. One thing I really love about this bracelet is the spring hook closure. I've never had a bracelet with this type of clasp but it's fun because it almost looks like a bangle.

There were several other Alexa's Angels things that I wanted but didn't get (like the posi+ivi+y TM bracelets). I highly recommend everyone check out her website.

Next, they had some products from Room It Up, which I had heard of before but, never investigated any of the products. A lot of the products Geez Louise sold were items for the beach, like the chaise lounge cover and the towel sets. I actually didn't even give these things a second glance in the shop because they were tied up in bags like the first photo below. I couldn't see what they looked like or the sizes or anything and I wasn't going to try to open it, look at it, and fit it back into the bag.

One thing that I did pick up was this spa wrap. The prints name is Botanical Flower. I haven't used it yet because it's been too cold in the mornings when I shower. But I've decided that I have to start showering at night, even if I feel too tired, and then I will use the wrap more.

Anyway, they are made of cotton and close with strips of Velcro. They are really inexpensive compared to other spa wraps I've found. I got mine for about $20.

The main thing I like about Room It Up is that they have so many pretty prints to choose from. Nearly everything they make is available in at least three prints. You can shop their website by category, print, or season. I played around on this site for a while adding things to my wish list and then deciding I liked a different print better so I changed everything in my cart to the other print, etc. I can foresee Christmas presents from here :)

Okay, this is getting long so I'm going to end it with one more thing they had that I LOVE. I've

loved this for awhile now and when I saw it in the store, it made me so happy. It was the Minimergency Kit by Ms. & Mrs. You can purchase them directly from Ms. & Mrs. but lots of other places (for less at some places). I'm not going to say everything it comes with because it's more fun to g

o to the website and read the blurb on it and discover for yourself how cool it is. Ms. & Mrs. have other emergency type kits that are pretty cool as well.

I may write about some of the other things later but these were the coolest things so at least I've mentioned them. Sleepy time!

New Hair Product

I may or may not have mentioned before but this year for spring break, Kyle and I went with another couple down to the Gulf. Of course, I overpacked as usual but I did forget some very important products that I use daily. Somehow, I forgot to pack my two hair products after I used them, right before we left. Since we were going to the beach I decided that I would wait a couple of days and see how my hair does without the products. Kinda give my hair a break, ya know?
The first day it looked pretty horrific, mostly because it was so windy at the beach. While getting ready for dinner that night, I decided that I would leave a little bit of my conditioner in my hair in an attempt to help smooth it out. (The conditioner I use right now is Tresemme, Pro-Vitamin b5 & Aloe Remoisturize Conditioner.) It was okay with me if my hair had that kind of beach wave, touseled look, since it was true to my day.
My hair actually managed to dry frizz-less! The curls from the shortest layer of my hair seemed to tighten themselves, leaving them spirally and springy (if those words are real words). The longest layers did not curl as much, and I think that if I continue to do this I would want to take a curling iron to them, if only to better direction the curls. My hair was super soft and felt fluffy, without that frizzy, fluffy look. The other thing that I learned was to make sure the conditioner close to your scalp gets rinsed or it will dry and get flaky. My solution so far has been to condition my hair like normal, turn off the water, and apply a small amount to the ends of my hair. Then I wrap it in a towel while I get dressed.

I'm so excited about this, I can hardly stand it. I will definitely be defaulting to this on a daily basis, unless I have an important presentation or event to get ready for. Hair products can get expensive and I would love to cut that expense in half. I'll update if something horrible goes wrong.

Frustration

My New Years resolution was to be more patient this year. So far, I think I have done okay. Maybe it's not perfect yet, but from where I was, it's a huge improvement.
However, there are sometimes when I find it difficult to be patient. For example, the fact that I have told Kyle repeatedly to stick to his discipline plan seems to fly over his head. When his principal told him he needed to come up with one, he worked on it for a week. The plan went into affect and he had some problems with it at the beginning but it started to work. Then he started letting things slide because he hated to have to discipline the students. He would rather just discuss the problem with the kid and try to "talk it out". To me, this sounds like a horrid idea because children don't listen. It's the simple truth. They will never learn just by being scolded, unless they have stricter repercussions.
Now, Kyle is concerned after being evaluated by the principal today that his disciplining is inconsistent...

.............HELLO?!

I mean, I only told him 3194873257345 times to stick with the plan he developed. How much more clear can I make it?!

Needless to say, I'm frustrated with him right now. My conclusion: Boys don't listen.

Time Traveller's Wife Review

As mentioned in my last blog, I just finished reading Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffengger. After reading it I rented the film and watched it. I wanted to share a little review of the book/movie and give my opinions.

Time Traveller's Wife is a timeless love story about a time traveller named Henry DeTamble. His genetic mutation causes him to disappear from the present at any given moment and appear either in the past or the future. When he travels, he leaves behind all possessions and arrives at another place in another time. Time travelling has a couple of upsides, such as seeing people who have passed away again or knowing winning lottery numbers before announced, but for the most part it's a curse. Henry resorts to stealing clothes and money when he travels. Sometimes, he visits himself at a different points in his life. And many times when he travels, he visits the same place, a meadow near the home of Clare Abshire.

Clare is six when she first meets Henry, who was in his mid thirties at the time. In the present day, Henry is just eight years older than Clare. Clare meets him in the meadow each time he visits, with a stack of clothes for him, and eventually falls in love with him. They do not meet in the present day until Clare is nearly twenty. Henry, in the present day, has not traveled to the meadow yet and does not know Clare.

The story continues to share the rest of their life together and their struggles. It is written in first person from both Henry and Clare, which gives us the opportunity to know each of them personally and how they each deal with certain scenarios. Time travel plots add an interesting twist to a typical love story. Clare and Henry have similar problems that most couples do but it is amplified and trumped by the fact that Henry is not always around or reliable.

Once immersed in this book, it was hard to put down. Each character is so passionate that their passion either leads to triumph or failure, which leads me to the one thing I disliked about the story. There was no middle ground. Nearly every character was drown in misery because of their passion. I will not go into full detail because I don't want to spoil anything but it's easy to become attached to the characters and it does not always end up in a good way for them.

I loved this story; the characters, the detail, the plot, the outcome. However, the story did not translate well to the film. The actor choice was the only thing that agreed well with me. There were too many things left out of the film, too much jumping around, and had I not read the story, I would be very confused. Actually, Kyle watched it but has not read the story and his opinion consisted of single word descriptions, "Weird. Confusing. Kind of scary."

So, in a nutshell, book: great, movie: bad.

Weekend Accomplishments

I just realized that a lot of things got accomplished this weekend. They seemed like very small, minor things but I know that the small, minor things are the ones that make life run smoothly. Here's the list:

Dinner with Kyle's family
Finished reading "The Time Traveller's Wife"
Watched Kyle's Upward Basketball team play their last game
Picked out new shower curtains for Nannie's new bathroom
Found new art for my bedroom at the new apartment
Drove to Kyle's school and rearranged the furniture, hung up new poster's and cleaned
Drove to Indianapolis and watched Anderson University's tennis team lose against Franklin College (while this is not great, it did happen)
Bought a baby shower gift
Watched the movie "The Time Traveller's Wife" (and was reminded that I hate to watch a movie after I've read the book)
Went to church
Selected paint for Nannie's bathroom
Went to four furniture stores and shopped for a new kitchen table and chairs (but came up empty handed)
Went to the Upward Basketball award ceremony
Enjoyed a banana milkshake
Watched the movie "I Love You Man"
Bought some things for spring break vacation
Graded papers
Made a Power Point for Kyle
Made a crossword puzzle for Kyle
Proofread a study guide for Kyle (even thought my grammar and spelling seems poor on my blog, I actually do know how to write)
Slept in (kinda)

I think that is everything. Oh, and I managed to take a nap on both Saturday and Sunday. I am not a napping kind of person but for some reason, I've been needing them more lately.

Sometime this week I will post my opinions on "The Time Traveller's Wife".

Until then, x's and o's!

It's March 10th

I couldn't think of a creative title... :/

Sunday, I finally started reading "Time Travelers Wife". I bought this book so long ago and was so excited to read it and it kept getting put off. Here is why I procrastinate in starting a new book: once I start, I can't stop. Every book I've ever read is like this. Once I have read the first chapter, I'm hooked and I can't put it down, even if I don't really like it. (Sidenote: If I really hate the book or can't get into it, I usually don't finish it. Which is bad.) Also, with this book, I bought it the same time I bought some others and it got pushed down on the reading list. ANYWAY, I am halfway through and I had to make myself stop reading because I was falling asleep.

I have started designing invitations for my sisters baby shower. It won't be until the end of June/first of July, but it's so fun to design them. I have four different designs I made and shared with Amber and my mom and they, of course, choose the two that the other didn't like as much. So, I'm going back to the drawing board to come up with something they both like with colors they both like. I will post the final one on here whenever I come up with it.

I just ate 2 Dark Chocolate Hershey Kisses #randomthought yum yum!

AND! Last but not least, I bought the Clinique foundation and have never been happier. :D

Random Beauty Things

Lately, I have felt like a headless chicken, which is actually pretty gross. I've been working 2 full time jobs (designer and Kyle's assistant) and doing a pretty poor job at my part time job (housekeeper of my tiny apartment). I'm not complaining but I've just been so worn out lately that in my free time I just sleep or watch YouTube videos, which is my current addiction.

On a up note, I made a much-needed trip to MAC cosmetics but was so turned off by the sales associate that I didn't buy anything. So, I went back the next day and the same girl was working so I didn't even go in. (Side note: MAC is at the Fashion Mall and I was there with Kyle who was buying a new MacBook at Apple. We went to buy the computer and the next day to pick it up after they transferred all the data from his old one for him. I didn't drive to Indy just to go to a makeup store.) So after the disappointing trip to MAC (the "up note" part is coming), I journeyed across the street to Ulta.... And discovered my new FAVORITE STORE! It's a make-up-obsessed-girl's-dream store. I'm going to give a quick blog haul so that I can refer back to it later and see how much I loved it when I bought it.

NYX Jumbo Eye pencil in Milk ($4) Great highlighter! Goes on dreamy-creamy and blends easily (but best with finger as opposed to a blending brush).
NYX slim lip pencil in Citrine ($3) Gorgeous pigment and color. I haven't used it all day so I will have to see how it holds up to my skin.
Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion ($18) I haven't used this yet but I already love it because of the genie style bottle :)
Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Primer Potion ($30) LOOOOVE! I had been looking for a good primer to help with my oily skin and this does it! My foundation stayed in place, didn't get melty or blochy. Definitely worth the money.
Japonesque Pro Eye Detailer Brush 213 ($18) So soft and silky on your skin. I used a really crappy eyeshadow with little pigmentation so I had to apply a lot to get the color I wanted but it worked well and fit my eye space pretty perfect.
Japonesque Pro Concealer Brush 310 ($14) Like the 213, it felt wonderful to the touch. It really helped me to control how much product I was using and blended nicely.





Because I know y'all wanted to see a pic :D

I also ordered a Coastal Scents 88 Color Palette that I should receive by tomorrow (I've been tracking it online) and I CAN'T WAIT! I'm excited to try out some new colorful looks for spring. Next on the list is new foundation and I think I'm going to go with my gut and try Clinique Superfit.