Calling All Fellow Shopaholics

This is way overdue, but I finally started and finished the first Shopaholic book in the series! A while back, I had asked my readers for book suggestions. I got some fabulous ideas, and decided to start the Shopaholics series. I'm a series reader - I always get really attached to the characters, speed read through a book and then feel almost sad when it's over. Like with the "Something" series (Something Borrowed and Something Blue). I was so into those books; then when it was over I missed reading about them! (I know - I need to get a life. :) ) So that's why the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella was perfect for me. And did I mention that it involves a Brit? Too good to be true.

So over the weekend, I went up to New Jersey to visit when of my very favorite friends over the weekend. She had just gotten engaged so my hubby, sister and I went up to celebrate. We had a fabulous time - we even went into NYC on Saturday. It was a whirlwind trip - engagement party, BBQ, visiting, etc - and we had a great time. Until the flight home. We flew through customs and security in Newark. We were sure that we were going to make it home ahead of schedule for once. I guess I jinxed myself.

We got on the plane effortlessly. Cut to 3 HOURS later, when we hadn't even left the runway yet. Ugh. Apparently there were 30 other planes ahead of us on the runway or something. I just really don't understand how that happens! I've had a few days to cool off about it, but they committed some of my biggest pet peeves: no apologies, no attempt to smooth things over. We were suppose to get in at 8, we didn't end up getting in until 10:45! Ridiculous. But it did give me time to read 200 pages of my book. I finished it last night and wow, did it worry me how much I could relate to her shopping woes! For those who haven't read it (which you def should), it's the story of a 25 year old, recent grad who is working a job that she doesn't care about, making very little, yet still shops to her hearts content. There are bits and pieces in the story about her love life, family relationships, etc. but the main theme of it is her shopping. Many of her antics I am guilty of myself. Like passing by a shop and going in for something but leaving with more items. Or having a crappy day and doing a little retail therapy.

My husband just can't understand my love for shopping. Not like going out and picking up an expensive piece - it's the love of picking up little things here and there. Which of course add up BIG TIME. He seriously thinks that I have a problem! (I don't think that it's a problem until you run out of funds. hehe :) ) What I want to know is: am I alone in this shopping thing? I never go outside of my means. I think that I'm sensible. I would never shop if it meant not being able to afford the necessities. I just love the excitement of getting a new dress, or new item for the house. This list could go on and on.....

Ladies (and gents if you're out there :), help me out. Am I alone or are there others of you out there with the same "problem"? I'd love to hear your stories too!

My J.Crew dress FINALLY went on sale.

Oh, it's the simple things in life that are oh so sweet. Like, the smell of freshly popped popcorn, or, the sound of waves right outside your beach house. But for me, it's discovering that the dress that you've been coveting at J.Crew FINALLY went on sale. You see the problem is, every since my experiences in retail, I literally can not bring myself to pay full price. The GAP spoiled me all of those years with their 50% off employee discount. So what do I do instead of sucking it up and buying? I call it J.Crew loitering. (Actually stalking is really more like it). I check the website what seems like 100 times a day to see if my favorite items (pretty much everything that they make) is on sale yet. But since I've been pretty busy at my new job (oh and the hospital has websense, blast!), I haven't been loitering lately. My hubby and I just returned from a much needed vacation in St. Simon's (beach time) and Savannah (wedding time), and I thought, why not check in with my friends at J.Crew. And finally it was put on sale. Sadly, once tax and shipping were added, it was really the steal that I was looking for but hey, I love this dress. I can't wait to get it in the mail.



















Speaking of the wedding that we attended in Savannah....it was so beautiful. I'll post pics soon. But I had my first wedding outfit faux pas as of late. I posted the pic of the dress that I wore, and I really loved it. Really breezy, which was perfect for the coast of Georgia over the weekend since it felt like 115 DEGREES! So long story short, I asked my little sis who was in the wedding party, what was appropriate attire for the wedding. The invitation didn't say, so I wanted to know. She said, oh I don't know, a sun dress? I thought okay, no problem. I can find one of those. I get to the ceremony, feeling good, and then I see that almost every guy is wearing a tux and the ladies were wearing these luxe silk cocktail dresses! Whoa was I under dressed. So what did I do to fit in? Yup, got smashed. Yeah, Sunday was rough. And actually I still feel a little rough today. Pathetic I know. So now back to reality.

P.S. I love St. Simon's. I told my hubby that when I start to make the big bucks at my not for profit job I'd buy us a beach house. I also told him, don't hold your breath.... :)

Dress Update

Well.....after buying and returning a dress for the wedding this weekend, I finally decided on a dress. I have a really cute lime green clutch to wear with it and black sandals with white piping. It's nothing like my usual dress choices - a little busier than I usually get - but the shape is really flattering. And I leave tonight so it was a little rushed. My first choice was this dress from Ann Taylor, but it was really short! And I couldn't find a cute pair of navy heels anywhere - and I looked everywhere. Trust me.

Hope that everyone has a nice weekend! I'm going to the beach for a few days before, then heading to the wedding on Saturday. Maybe I'll see you there, Miss Preppy in Pink! :)

I will post some wedding details next week!

Thanks to all for the dress suggestions! I'm still on the hunt for the perfect dress.....but I got this cute seersucker swimsuit at Target instead. Oops. I'm going to go shop tomorrow, so hopefully it will be a successful trip that I can post about.

Gotta go for now....I'm going to see Sex and the City this afternoon! CAN'T WAIT!

Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. This is my first day off since I started my new job - it's nice to have a break, but I keep thinking about everything I need to get done tomorrow to make up for being off! That's not much of a vacation, but I'll be taking the first 2 Fridays of June off for weddings and such.

Hubby and I have had a really nice weekend. On Friday, I went outlet shopping with my sister. Of course with the intention of buying dresses to wear to upcoming wedding excursions - but we left with everything but that. No surprise of course. :) Does anyone have any suggestions on a cute but affordable dress that I can wear all summer to weddings? I don't want to spend a fortune since I have a ton of dresses, but my excuse is that I've worn them all several times before and need a change. I love this dress at J.Crew but I worry about the fit - I'm not the same size on top (XS) as on bottom (M) (thanks mom - haha). I'd love to hear your ideas.

Back to the weekend - On Saturday, my sister, her boy, hubby and I went to Brew at the Zoo at the Atlanta Zoo. It was so much fun! It was a beer tasting sponsored by Sweetwater and we could walk around checking out the animals after normal visiting hours. I was of course over served, so I was feeling a little rough on Sunday. Nothing that a day at the pool couldn't fix! So Sunday and today were spent at out neighborhood pool. There is something that has annoyed me this weekend. SOAPBOX ALERT. So my hubby and I can't find our pool key. So on Saturday, we made our way up to the pool and asked a lady very nicely that was already in there if she could let us in. We explained the situation and she said "NO, you have to PAY to get in here." Well no sh*t Sherlock - we just paid 700 dollars last month so that we could get into the pool. She was not nice about it. Hoochie wouldn't let us in. I was shocked. She unnecessarily escalated the situation. My husband has now made it his summer goal to rub our pool key (when we find it) in her face. I know that we needed our pool key, but it was the first day that the pool was open give us a break.

Sorry, I needed to vent.

Another thing - anyone else down south suffering from allergies this year? They're awful for me. Any suggestions or personal experiences?? Oh, and I know that I've been MIA but I'm still reading and commenting whenever I can. Promise! :)

Pick 5

I'm jumping on the band wagon!!

5 Things I Can't Live Without Under $10:
1. C.O. Bigelow menthol lip tint in No. 1136 (great natural color and freshens your breath)
2. Liquid Paper DryLine (I refuse to use a pencil so I constantly have to make corrections)
3. Peanut Butter M&M's (so bad for you, but so good)
4. Purell Instant Hand Sanitizer ( I work in a hospital)
5. Yoplait Light Yogurt in Strawberries n bananas flavor (sweet, but not TOO sweet)

5 Favorite Movies: (romantic comedies):
1. Bridget Jones's Diary
2. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days
3. Notting Hill
4. Shakespeare in Love
5. Sixteen Candles

5 Favorite Girl Baby Names That I Love But Won't Use:
1. Lila
2. McKenzie
3. Julia
4. Melanie
5. Kendall

5 Favorite Boy Baby Names That I Love But Won't Use:
1. Michael
2. Andrew
3. Spencer
4. Henry
5. Ashley

5 Songs You Could Listen to Over and Over:
1. Sail Away - David Gray
2. Driftwood - Travis
3. Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis
4. Take a Bow - Madonna
5. Guilty Pleasure pick: Viva Forever - Spice Girls

5 Things That Stay In My Handbag At All Times:
1. I.D.
2. Lip gloss
3. Tissues
4. Mirror Comb
5. Hand Sanitizer

5 Obsessions I Have Right Now:
1. Anything navy and green
2. polka dots (what's new)
3. herringbone
4. chocolate flavored anything (also what's new)
5. Clinque's moisture surge extra

5 Places I'd Love to Go:
1. THE BEACH (anywhere at this point)
2. Glasgow, Scotland (visit my fam)
3. Paris, France
4. Greek islands
5. San Diego

CNN Special....Sans Moi

I've been a very bad blogger as of late. I've definitely been reading and enjoying all of your blogs, but it just doesn't seem like there is very much exciting going on right now!

I do have one funny story to tell though. I'll try to make a long story short, I promise. So I organized for some musicians to come to the hospital recently (again not saying names) that all are involved in a foundation in our area. Their foundation had a big event this week so CNN wanted to film our event! I was super stressed, I wanted to make sure that everything went perfectly. I didn't even think about them asking me to be filmed!!!!! Ah!!! So I was even more nervous, and I TOTALLY CHOKED!!!! And guess who is now laying on the cutting room floor......of course me. :( But it was a fun experience, and the footage that they did use was really well done and great exposure for our hospital. So yea!

Maybe next time!