I'm Back!

Is it already 2013?  Good grief, I feel like I've been on a treadmill for the past month with the holidays and a big work project.  Maybe things will calm down so don't feel like I'm treading water all the time.  Hopefully.  First of all I want to let you know that Laugh with Ash is having a really fab giveaway with lots of great prizes (including a $10 Starbucks gift card from yours truly), make sure you head over and check it out!

So while I'm trying to get back in the swing of things, here are a few things that happened while I was on my bloggy break.  First of all I won some awesome giveaways:

Top - I won a giveaway hosted by Peacoats and Plaid for the cutest/most awesome cape from Neverland Nook for my girl.  Sabrina at Neverland Nook was so sweet and she got the cape to me super fast.  If you are in need of a super cool, totally custom gift for the kiddo in your life then run to Neverland Nook and get a cape (she has even done capes for some famous kids)!  My girl was over the moon when she tried it on!

 

Bottom - I won a group giveaway over at Delightful Deets with some fab prizes.  One of which was a custom burlap banner from Tausha  at Oopsie Daisy Décor.  Look how cute it is.  I got my girl's name on it and she totally customized it with sparkly pink polka dots.  Love it!

We headed to Nashville for the Music City Bowl (our NCSU Wolfpack lost to Vanderbilt, but we still had fun)!

We spent New Year's Eve there and it was crazy!  On an unrelated note, does anyone watch the show "Nashville"?  I love it!

 

I also did some reading and have updated the "Books I've Read" tab.  Head over and check it out (the book I'm reading now is pretty intense)...

I'm Back (with a peek at my adventures)!

While I was taking my "blogcation", we took a fab vacation to Hilton Head, SC and I spent some time working at my actual job (what? I don't get paid tons of money to write this small-time blog? Shockingly I don't - ha!) and getting some things we need into and out of the storage unit - no small feat let me tell you. I'm playing catch up today after our vacation so in the meantime here's a sneak peek at what we did. I'll have a review of the Ralph Rucci exhibit at SCAD too - hint, it was amazing.

Be Back Soon!

I'm taking my usual couple of weeks off from the blog (and technology in general) to spend some time with the family, relax, recharge and just declutter my mind.  I'll be back in mid-July.  I'll see you then!

Source: Uploaded by user via Jenny on Pinterest

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Source: flickr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

I'm taking the rest of the year off from blogging.  I need a break, time to regroup, time to be inspired, time to have fun with family and friends, and of course time to just have one less thing on my plate during this busy time.  So I will say goodbye until 2012 (which is only 3 weeks away - eek).  I hope every single one of you has a wonderful rest of the year.  See you on the flip side!

(my favorite Christmas movie - I'll watch it a dozen times, if everyone will let me)

Source: imagekind.com via Jenny on Pinterest

A Bit More Time...

Source: None via Jenny on Pinterest

Wow, y'all I'm sorry I've been out of action for longer than I expected.  I got so sick Wednesday of last week, I mean it hit me hard (of course this came on the heels of the little one being sick too).  After two trips to the doctor turns out I had a very nasty sinus infection.  I'm on antibiotics and still struggling with a nagging cough.  Yesterday afternoon, I finally started feeling like a human being again.  On top of all of this I'm having to learn a new CAD system for work and dealing with temperatures hovering around 100 degrees (yesterday the official high was 104 - ugh, the air was practically liquid).  You can imagine how my brain feels - not good.  So I'll be back Monday ready to roll.  In the meantime I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  Stay cool!

Friend Friday - Vacation

Linking up with Katy at Modly Chic again this week for FBFF.  Today's topic is packing for a vacation.  Sadly, I'm not taking a vacation this Summer (boo hoo) but for the questions today I'll pretend I am ;o)

Source: ohjoy.blogs.com via Jenny on Pinterest

1. When it comes to packing for vacation what’s your mantra?
Less is more!  I try to pack the most versatile items I have so I can get more bang for my packing buck.  This is especially important when you fly now because of all the checked bag charges.  I struggle with packing lightly, I tend to want to take more than needed (especially if it's a car trip), however the older I get, the less crap I want to haul around.

2. What are your must packs?
My large black pashmina that I use as a wrap and a blanket, comfortable shoes, a large, chic handbag that can be used for hauling things as well as a purse, and last but not least I always pack at least 2 more pair of underwear than I think I will need.

3. What are you happy to leave behind?
Cooking and cleaning!

4. Any packing secrets that help you get everything into one suitcase?
Pack super versatile items in neutral colors that you can mix and match!  Also, keep shoes to the minimum, I try to pack a max of 4 pair depending on the travel situation.  Oh and rolling clothes does help fit more into a suitcase.

5. Beach reading… what are you taking with you to read in the sand?
I'm super behind in reading books.  Right now, I'm smack in the middle of Bringing Home The Birkin by Michael Tonello and I love it!  Next up is either The Help and Water For Elephants (those are the last unread downloads on my old Sony eReader) - I'm so not up to speed on current literature.

Don't forget to check out everyone else's answers here!
Book image via Amazon.com

Bloggy Breakdown

A little over a week ago I had a little breakdown of the blogging variety.  I've had little hiccups about blogging - you know the usual things like - no one is following me, why are my stats so low, I feel so uninspired (overwhelmed, not good enough, etc.), and on and on.  But they've never visited my noggin all at once and never did they drag me down to the point that I seriously considered shutting the blog down and saying "buh-bye".  Well my friends, that happened over a week ago and I did what any normal social-networked-to-the-max person would do and tweeted for someone (anyone) to talk me out of shutting the blog down.  And, boy within seconds I got a flurry of responses*.  Basically telling me not to do it and to just take a break.  Which obviously I have been doing since last Tuesday.

The "day of the tweet " was not a good one, it was one giant cluster-eff of under-the-surface crap that came up all at once.  Like a craptastic volcano of emotion - you can quote me on that!  We all have those times and yeah, I was probably a bit dramatic - no, not moi.  Clearly, I can't stop blogging (or more importantly reading blogs) even if it's just my Mom and maybe my cat reading mine.  So I'm going to take a few more days to regroup, recharge my ego  self esteem batteries and most importantly finish school!  Yep, I've got one more final to take and I will officially be finished!

I'm going to probably be checking in with a few scattered posts that I've had in the works before returning full time.  If you miss me in the meantime you can always find me on:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

*I would be a pretty crappy bloggy/tweety buddy if I didn't say a great BIG "Thank you!" to the ladies that talked me off the edge with super sweet tweets in my hour of need :  Oomph, Maggie, Jackie, Kristin and Colette.  Thanks a million guys!  And also a HUGE thanks to all my loyal readers, I love you guys so much! Mwah!

Bear with me...

Image via Harper's Bazaar

I'm having one of "those" weeks - where everything is piling up and becoming extremely overwhelming.  Here's just a sampling of my to do list:

1. Study for and take a midterm exam before Thursday (finished 2/23!)
2. Finish gathering information for a presentation due on Saturday   (finished that yesterday - whew!)
3. Read 6 chapters to prepare for class Saturday
4. Start drafting a contract for an assignment
5. Daughter's doctor's appointment - which had to be changed to today because she is sick yet AGAIN and we are all at our wits end with no sleep and seemingly constant illness (finished 2/22 - everything is a-okay and good to go - got some answers and she's doing so much better!  Thanks for the well wishes!)
6. Update resume and send in for evaluation (done!)
7. Finish hanging and labeling my daughter's outgrown clothing for sale in the big consignment sale in a couple of weeks - there is A LOT and I have to order bar codes before the sale.

I seriously could go on and on - my paper to do list fills up a whole page and that's just for this week.  Have I mentioned that my house looks like we had a 3 day rave - ugh.  So bear with me while I take a blogging break so I can keep my head above water.  Don't worry I'm still doing the 30 for 30 and taking outfit pictures - just don't have time to edit them until probably Sunday.  And thank goodness I put a few short sleeve options in my 30 picks because it's been downright warm here - 80 yesterday and 76 today.  I'm not complaining, it's keeping me positive because it is absolutely gorgeous outside!  I'll be back at it in a few days, never fear!

xoxo
Jenny

My Christmas Vacation

It occurred to me that I never let you guys know where we ended up on our Christmas vacation.  Well, on December 26th we packed up the car and headed down to Orlando, Florida for a little Disney action.   Well, let me preface this by saying the REAL reason we ended up in Orlando was for the Champs Sports Bowl, because if NC State goes to a bowl game, my hubby will be there.  We both went to NCSU but somehow I haven't been to a football game in years.  I actually enjoy going to a football game.  I like the game and I love our mascots (I've been obsessed with Ms. Wuf for pretty much my whole life).  But I digress.  We arrived in Orlando and man, it was COLD.  I mean freezing.  We had fun in spite of the record setting cold temperatures, you just can't be unhappy at Disney.  We hit the Animal Kingdom and hung out at Downtown Disney the rest of the time, she's just 2 1/2 and got worn out way too quickly.  When she gets older we'll hit up the other parks and she'll be into it that much more!  Here are some pictures.

Images via Moi

Favorite Post - My Take Victoria Beckham casual chic

I’m currently on a family vacation - it’s actually more of a “staycation” with a few little jaunts here and there. So for this week, I decided to repost some of my favorite blog entries from the past. I’m sort of guest posting for myself – ha! If you are a long time reader, you may remember these, if not it’ll be like all new stuff! Either way, I hope you find them interesting and fun! See you back on 7/12!



My first "my take" post was well received and I love it!  Originally posted 5/24/2010.  Enjoy!
About two months ago I posted about how much I loved a look sported by Victoria Beckham.  I wanted to use items that I had (or similar ones) - grey tank (check), black blazer (similar, check), black TOMS (check).  I don't have the green cargos, but these by J.Crew popped up on my Shop It To Me weekly email and they are perfect (and obviously on sale).  I also threw in a couple of alternate shoe choices (though I love VB's heels, I can't rock those running after a toddler - LOL!).

Cropped Pants by J.Crew
Flats by Wanted

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Well, thank goodness I figured out how to schedule blog posts last week because if I hadn't you wouldn't have heard a peep from me.  Our internet conked out after a power outage and things were a mess after that.  Then pile on a sick toddler and hubby as well as a quick trip back to the "for sale" house 3 hours away and I had a completely weird and frazzled last week.  I have bought exactly one Christmas present and just sent out the Christmas cards today.  I am headed out with the little one to the "for sale" house tomorrow where we will spend Christmas (hubby will be there later this week and my Mom will be there Wednesday night).  Have we decorated?  No.  Will we?  I dunno.  Are all the people on my Christmas list going to be getting their gifts sometime in January?  Count on it!  It's just been a weird month at the end of a craptastic year.  I mean really, 2009, what did I ever do to you to have you be so mean?   So bottom line is I'm taking a few weeks off from the ol' blog.  I need to recharge, relax and just figure some things out.  Thank you all so much for reading and commenting and just making me so happy to have started this blog.  I promise I'll be back and posting away in early 2010.

In the meantime please enjoy The Roots performing "Lovely Love my Family" on "Yo Gabba Gabba" (this song has been on continuous loop in my brain, you see we have the Nick compliation DVD and this episode is on it.  Well my girl loves this DVD and so it gets played A LOT.  It is a good song though and quite happy and we all need some happy!) 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Cupcake images via Disney Family Fun

Ewoks gone wild...

...seriously.  I'm having one heck of a week:  I'm trying to recover from a sinus infection, fighting with an eye doctor (which involves me not being able to wear my contacts, just my crappy glasses), coordinating our Thanksgiving plans with the In Laws, coordinating Christmas gift giving with my hubby's big family (hopefully we will figure this out over Thanksgiving 'cause the emails are confusing me), talking to our realtor and her mentioning our house has been on the market for 234 days now (God help us) and all we hear are crickets, and then preparing to leave for said house Thursday (which means no internet, no TV) for the weekend.  I'm a bit overwhelmed, not that it's all so hard, it's just a lot on my mind.  I'm gonna try and blog some this week, but I'm not pushing it.

Anyhoo, in the meantime, please do enjoy this non-design, fashion related video.  It made me laugh so hard I had to share.  Please keep in mind that this was on the Today show on Halloween (clip is from E!'s The Soup).  I now present, Ewoks Gone Wild, do enjoy...

OH NO!

I'm totally MIA right now - everyone in the house is sick and I mean SICK.  Not H1N1, thank goodness, just a bad cold.  Started with the little one, then me, then hubby.  Trying to rest and recover.  I will return soon, I promise!!!! 

A little break

Well, the little one and I are headed out to visit my Mom tomorrow morning.  We were supposed to leave today, but the weather conditions around Atlanta and areas north were not so cooperative, better safe than sorry!  I will be MIA until next Tuesday.  The purpose of this trip, other than the obvious family time, will be to help her start decluttering her house.  She's not a hoarder or anything (is anyone else watching Hoarders on A&E? Fascinating and alarming!), but stuff has accumulated and gotten a bit out of hand, she just needs some help and I'll be prodding her along and keeping her on schedule.  I'll let you all know how it goes.  So I'm signing off until next week.  Wish us luck!!

Image scan via Allure September 2009

Catching up

Well, I've been a little busy these past few days and have neglected my little blog. My baby brother came to visit from LA and we hung out, catching up. Then I had to put loads of stuff on Ebay that have been sitting in a closet since we moved in - I still have more to put up this week. Yeah, it's that much. And I have been working off a "new" computer. I'm 80% up to speed, but I'm afraid my posts this week will be few and far between. Oh well. I'll be back up to speed after Labor Day. Until then, have a great week and long weekend!!!

I'm back!

Yep, made it back in one piece. Travel was interesting, my child apparently has decided on no more sleeping in the car now. And the only way we got a semi-peaceful flight was to feed her continuously while playing a SpongeBob DVD. Yeah, it was like that. I also made note of the looks on people's faces when they figured out that we were on their flight. Ah, I never knew such contempt. In fact, on one of our train rides to and from downtown Chicago some guy gave us such bad looks, I wanted to smack him (did I mention that he was reading the Bible at the time? Maybe it was a different Bible than the one I read). It was a learning experience for this first time Mom. My hat goes off to those who wrangle more than one little one, my nerves are fried from just the one. So now back to "normal" and my regular postings. Stay tuned!

A much needed break!

This weekend I am headed up to Chicago to visit the family for a week. Mercifully getting out of this house for a while. We fly up Sunday, I'm extremely nervous about travelling with the 1 year old and how she's going to behave (or not). She's not the quietest child around, wonder where she gets that from? I'll be a little light on the postings next week so bear with me. I'm going to try and get some in (using my Dad's super new Mac Book Pro - awesome) but forgive me if they are sparse. I'll be back to normal speed Tuesday 7/28. Have a great next week!

Image from my 12/05 visit - looking towards the city from Navy Pier. And yes that's ice in Lake Michigan brrrrr.