It's Just Another MAYnic Mondayyyy

Wow, I went there. Sorry guysssss...

yeeesssssss... 

OKAY, I'm done... haha. Sorry guys, but you knew that was coming, and it's an annual obligation, so just deal with it. #ITSMAY!

Anyway, it's the first Monday of the month and it was certainly an over-exaggerated buster, at that.. 

awesome.

This would've been totally normal if I still lived in Illinois, but here, it's weird for me to see an actual train on any of the tracks that run through the city, let alone get stuck in line for one to cross. But that's Monday, yeah? Yeah. 

Fooortunately, the day improved in leaps & bounds, with the majority of the credit for such falling on Kristin & Clarissa. Here's a free piece of advice on stellar co-workers: if they're as awesome as mine, do whatever you can to realize and express to them how thankful you are that they're not stark-raving lunatics, or otherwise unbearable. These two are blessings in plain view, and I am so thankful for them! 

The day ended, leaving Kristin and I after hours to do some catching up and preparation for the next couple days. The UPS guy took his sweet time making rounds today, so I'm happy that at 5:45pm when he got denied by a locked front door, we were still here to let him. 

Why's that so exciting?
THIS: 

infernal devices...... yesssss... ♥

Poor Rob. He knows that I'm no match for myself when it comes to reading. I got sucked into The Mortal Instruments, but having knocked out all six of those, it's time for these three prequels... *sigh.. 

Oh, AND.... I got home to find this in the mailbox: 

it's here! 

Arley, it made it!! If you just wondered who Arley is, she's one of my gorgeous mama friends from the hometown {MTV} who now sells Mary Kay and will hook it up on whatever it is you need from the MK inventory. Seriously. She's awesome, and so is THIS: 

finishing spray. mascara. 

Stay tuned for some post-makeup photos. I'm really trying to do some girly things and this will be one of them. I also got to support a friend's venture in selling this stuff, so that makes me feel pretty good about it too! 

So, dolls, I'm outta here. I've got mascara to learn how to use, dinner to make and books to read. Nevermind the weeds that I said I'd pull tonight.. it's gloomy anyway ;) 

See ya tomorrow! 

xo | cmd

Mav's Birthday | New Haircut | Pups in OTR!

So.. first,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!!! 

happy birthday, mav!! [even though you're not really mav anymore.. still!]

As a way to ease into a flashback Friday, here's some fond memories I had handy of Amy [& girl we're both LUCKY I couldn't get into the hard-copy collection haha]

Just a few, to celebrate this awesome girl!

one of my favorites.. mvhs circa 2003, senior year!
me. allison. amy. jena [r.i.p]

of course.. some high school dances.. whhhoa... haha

keepin' it classy for britt's bachelorette party (:

columbus runs with hilary & kylie

arley's wedding reception!

amy's wedding!!
dani. steph. amy. britt. shanda. me. nikki. arley

So... HAPPY BIIIIIIRTHDAY, MAV!!!


hope it's the best one, yet!

Oh....
... aaaaaaaaaand...
I finally cut my hair last night. I meant to mention it yesterday, but honestly I just forgot. So yeah..

before .. right before .. and after! 8" gone..

^ I think I'm still going to venture a little shorter, but I'll be consulting a professional when that time comes.. and really I'm okay taking it a little slow, too. (:

To round off the night, I ventured out with Nader & Keith into our usual stomping ground of OTR; I'm glad we did - It must've been dog night down there!

late night dogs of otr! (:

I have more pictures of the dogs than I do of my friends, but we did manage to take one or two.. haha. But hey, it's never too late to celebrate a way-belated birthday for Keith, either [which, btw, happy wayyy-belated!].

we wish we were hipsters... haha... :|
w/ keith & nader | otr, cincinnati, oh

It was one of those nights, that warranted a post-festivities stop off at Shanghai Mama's before heading home.. really though, it wasn't bad at all.

To say I'm spent is an understatement.
To say this is backdated isn't... (:

xo | cmd

Friends On Tuesday

Nancy came back from Spain today! Welcome back from Spain, Nanc.. It's been a roooodeo here. So glad to have her back. That being said, it's been somewhat of a flurry of events from last week to now, and it doesn't look to be dissipating any time soon.. I have to admit, today was one of those days in which I left work feeling completely defeated, even in spite of leaving an hour early [to compensate for not taking a lunch]. Go figure.

I carried that irritating defeat home with me and channeled that into day TWO of INSANITY. In hindsight, it's probably a good thing I had some pent up emotion to use as fuel for that, because this thing's no joke, folks. Haha. I made it through day 2 though, and I'm still standing. I have high hopes :).

What I really didn't expect was be sought out in conversation by two different, unrelated girls I've known for years now, who've both been integral parts of my life at various stages, and both of whom I hold so dear still to my heart.

jen | circa 2008

Jen || Welp, it's been a long, winding, hill-infested road since I met her in in middle school. I was in 7th grade, she was in 6th, and we were quite the dramatically 1990's lookin' things.. I love everything about it. We've been through many of those angsty adolescent things that girls so typically go through feeling alone.. I was fortunate enough to see some of those things through with Jen, and her with me.. and from that stemmed a friendship that's lasted from then, until now, and I'm hoping for years to come. We've had roles in each others' weddings, shared in the joy and strains of new parenthood, but more importantly the transforming power of the GRACE of God that works so evidently in the real life struggles we seem to face individually but on parallel timing. Love. Her. to Pieces. 

arley | circa 2010

Arley || There's something to be said about a girl who helps you survive parts of your high school career without feeling like you're completely lost. Not just that, but someone who looks out for you after that when it comes to certain things, places and people about which you might've forgotten from being away for so long. I know without doubt that if and when I make it back to the good old Vern that I can find Arley, her adorable kiddos, and the rest of our friends from over the years ready to catch up, hang out, and kick back. She's always been the level-headed one in the midst of sticky situations, and for that I am oh-so-stinkin'-grateful. Hah. It also goes without saying that I need to arrange a high priority to reflect making a trip home.. SOON. Thanks lady, for everything (:

Anyway, I am anticipating something of a grueling 8-5 throughout the rest of this week at least, but I am so thankful for the refreshing conversation I had tonight, and for the timing it so precisely carried. I needed to slow down for a moment, and just breathe. I even feel pretty amped for day 3 of INSANITY tomorrow. We'll see if that particular resolve lasts past noon tomorrow ;). Just kiddin'.

Okay, week. Bring your best....

xo | cmd