cubicle sanity

The End

2011-12-30T06:12:00.003-06:00

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

Dr. Seuss

It is with the closing of this year that I retire Cubicle Sanity.

My life is changing.

With the New Year and my new adventures I will introduce my new blog Texas to Tea and Toast.

From Houston to Memphis and on to London, and with all the rollercoaters that I will surely ride the next 15 months, I ask for your prayers, support, friendship, and love. And in return I will share mine.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Teaser

2011-12-29T06:33:00.000-06:00

A hint on what's to come tomorrow.

I SOO hope you will stay tuned.

Santa Brought Me Babies and Space Bags.

2011-12-28T06:44:00.001-06:00

A good deal of my Christmas Eve was spent with my two new favorites

Meet Truitt and Cecelia. Yea, I know, you wish they were yours.

The first part of the day involved a lot of active and "make the baby smile" time while our photographer worked on getting 1 good picture to use for our family New Years card.

Cecelia and I discussed which colors will look best with her eyes and skin tone while I toted her around like my a fabulous new clutch.

After a LONG photo session, brunch, and gift exchange, everyone washed their faces, put on their cozy duds, and settled in for a nice nap.

By the grace of the tired parents, Gran (my mom), Big (my dad), and the siblings with prior engagements, I lucked out with both nuggets in my arms and lap for 3 hours!!!

Give me a book and these two any day!

My brother called me a week before Christmas to ask me what I wanted (he is more of a "crunch time" kind of guy).
To his dismay I asked for these...

He thinks they are the most boring gift ever.

I think they will be stellar for packing all my shiz for London. And let's be real, they will be pretty kick a$$ to use. I just keep imagining how much stuff I can fit in and then cranking up the Dyson to suck all that useless air out.

This must be what happens when you turn 25...excited beyond belief for a new swiffer and vacuum seal bags.

OH boy! What is 26 going to bring?!

Get Some Garb?

2011-12-27T06:23:00.001-06:00

I'm back in Houston after a long haul from Memphis yesterday.

Exhausted.

Stuffed.

But I got some great garb!

(and I do not mean trash)

Now where to put it all...?

Moody Monday

2011-12-26T06:02:00.001-06:00

I am driving back from Christmas in Memphis and thought it only appropriate to play Christmas music this AM.

One of my absolute, all time favorites and will remain that way

I hope y'all had a great Christmas and got lots of great garb.

MERRY MERRY

2011-12-25T06:59:00.000-06:00

via Caitlin Wilson Design

Crackers and Lips

2011-12-22T06:49:00.002-06:00

I am headed home to Memphis after work today.

10 hours. YUP.

But no worries, I will be putting on my Chanel lipstick and probably stopping at Cracker Barrell to pick up a book on tape.

Insane In The Membrane

2011-12-21T06:35:00.009-06:00

I am officially insane. Or am I just resourceful?

Yesterday I began to pack my things in preparation for my first shipment of my life’s belongings to Memphis. Let me clarify, by shipment I am referring to my 10 hour drive on Friday morning taking my first load of things home. Anyways, it is quite bare in my tiny apartment now and made me a bit sad.

(looking nothing like this but this is nice huh)

As I mentioned last week, I have been trying to purge my closets, junk drawers, book shelves, ok, basically everything. I have piles of things to go to Goodwill, Consignment, and the trash. I sat on my sofa to upload some pictures of an IKEA shelf to Craig’s List when it hit me….why am I not selling ALL of this stuff?! After all, isn’t one man’s trash another man’s treasure?

So I poured myself a glass of wine and began. I added every book on my shelf to Amazon.com and made a metal note to do the same for the ones back home in Memphis. I walked to my closet and located every cocktail dress I haven’t worn more than once and/or haven’t slipped over my ever-growing hips in at least a year. I began to model them and take pictures to post to EBAY. How did it take me that long to realize that books can be resold and that someone out there is looking for a Milly dress that made an appearance at 1 wedding?!

After a few hours I closed my lap top and crossed my fingers partially hoping that things will sell and partially hoping that I do not sell everything I own. It can be a bit addicting when you think about what all could produce $$$.

Point in me telling you all this? Stop holding onto that dress that is two sizes too big. Let’s be real, if you haven’t slipped it on, you probably won’t because you will probably just buy something else. One word- EBAY.

Are You Hungry?

2011-12-20T06:12:00.000-06:00

Before Thanksgiving my girlfriends in Houston were going on and on about the book The Hunger Games.

Honestly, I had never heard about it and I am not sure how that is possible. After some research I realized I was probably the only Twilight lover that had not been informed of this new craze.

This past Saturday morning I woke up early to drive the 7 hours to Mobile, AL to celebrate the marriage of a close college friend. Friday evening I was trying to decide on a book to download on my iPod for the upcoming haul. I have slowly been making my way through The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo during my lunch breaks and every now and then on the bike at the YMCA but I didn’t want to pay the $23.95 and only need half of the book. After minimal deliberation I was set on The Hunger Games.

BEST DECISION.

I cannot begin to describe to you how awesome this book is. I found myself responding to the narrator and even crying, yelling, and laughing out loud as I was completely entranced by this story.

Sunday when I was returning from the extravaganza with a champagne headache and 4 different drink choices (why is it that when we are hung over one drink won’t due?), I qued up my iPod and returned to Panem. I made it about 45 minutes from Houston when the unthinkable happened………

Freaking battery died. The last 45 minutes were torturous and my mind wandered into every possible scenario that Katniss was going through without me. That’s right, I became so delusional that I was actually thinking the story was going on without me. That is how good this shiz is!

Any you know what makes it better? There is a movie. And it comes out right as I get settled in London. How perfect is that!

And even though I haven’t finished the story I am very opinionated about the trailer. My characters in my imagination are a lot different than who they have chosen but isn’t that why the book is always so much better? And who am I kidding, I will still go and still love it!

Long story short, if you haven’t read this what the heck are you waiting on!?

Moody Monday

2011-12-19T06:46:00.002-06:00

I am 25.

Next thing you know it I will be 50.

Do you watch X Factor?

See how I distracted y'all and changed the subject really quickly?

Anyways, I liked this song before but I saw Bruno perform on X Factor while I was staying with friends in London over Thanksgiving.

Very M.J. don't ya think?

Disclaimer

2011-12-13T06:32:00.001-06:00

Disclaimer- I am feeling a bit “wordy” at the moment.

For the past three weeks my mind and my life have been a jumbled and insanely busy mess. Between work, Christmas parties, weddings, travel, spending time with my girlfriends, preparing to move home, and trying to keep the lbs off, I haven’t had time to visit with y’all. Actually, the truth is, I don’t know what to visit with y’all about…..

I have piles of prioritized “to dos” and am so overwhelmed that I can’t stop and feel because I seriously might loose it. Why is it that when something major is changing in our lives WE end up being the ones that have to hold it together while everyone around us gets to express themselves and fall apart. OK, maybe that is a little over dramatic but seriously. I am leaving everyone and everything behind yet I am the one that has to console everyone else and hold my heart in my chest like a freaking vault. And the worst part is that it begins to take the excitement away…..

Anyone know what I am talking about?

One thing that I will definitely admit to, judge me all you want, is that I have become very close with my bottle of wine. Previously we were good girlfriends that socialized a few times a week but our relationship has developed into more of a life companion type situation.

My mind has constantly been preoccupied with lists and questions and decisions.

I have gone through my closet twice already in an attempt to “de-clutter” and simplify for my move.

I have donated all of my design magazines that I have been hoarding to my Dr.’s office.

I have sorted through and tossed most of my unfinished/never started craft projects.

The lady at Goodwill probably thinks I am stealing things from people to donate.

I spent an hour trying to decide if that pair of yellow Ralph Lauren patent pumps that I haven’t worn in 2 years should remain with me or find a new home. (Haven’t decided still but if interested they are a size 9 and in GREAT condition….only wore them twice, maybe three times)

My toiletries are dwindling and I am forcing myself to use every lotion, half empty eye shadow, lipstick, hair gel…. Until I have nothing left before I am gone.

Then there are moments of complete and utter bliss. I will literally catch myself daydreaming (in church, at work, in the car, on the elliptical…) about drinking wine along the Thames with my new British girlfriends, jogging through Hyde Park on a perfect Fall day, sitting on the Tube with a fabulous book after a long day at work, starving on tea and toast because I am going to be poor, planning a holiday on the beaches of Croatia with my new roommates…you get the pictures.

I want to share all these moments, as they become reality, with y’all. That being said, I have decided to start a new blog. I want something fresh and unrelated to the past 2.5 years of random. I would like to kick her off at the beginning of 2012 as I will be moving and transitioning. I need a creative name and new look. I am going to be brainstorming over the Christmas holiday and suggestions are surely welcome (um, that is me begging for your input).

So in a nut shell, I have had a bit of coffee this morning, am on an emotional roller coaster, have been drunk on wine while feverishly pitching things from my closet, have rambled this entire post, and will be starting a new blog. Got it?

Brilliant.

Moody Monday

2011-12-12T06:43:00.000-06:00

Did y'all watch the CMA awards a few weeks back?

I hope so and I hope you saw these two sexies perform together

I am now in love with a married man and his scrumptious scratchy voice.

Happy Week!

Personal Statement Wonderland

2011-12-06T06:05:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I turned in my last required info for my London life.

How many "Personal Statements" have you written in your lifetime?

In the last 2 months I have had to "sell" myself about 3 times and man is it hard to continually convince someone that you are "adaptable and have a unique ability to juggle professional and personal commitments..."

Makes you feel like quite a tool if I can be blunt.

But I guess sometimes you just have to suck it up huh.

Which reminds me, I haven't told y'all about my trip over Thanksgiving...

I flew to London and stayed with some friends before meeting my lil bro in Florence.

When I arrived I had to fight the morning rush hour on the tube to get to my friends house in the suburbs.

After a mini nap we headed to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland where we drank Mulled Wine and went ice skating.

It was kind of cheesy with all the carnival games but the Ferris Wheel, booze, and skating where awesome.

After Florence I returned to London and my friend Jonathan (pictures above with purple wine lips) surprised me with tickets to Les Miserable!

We grabbed some food in China Town and went to the theater where I fell in love with that show.

I had never seen it before and have to tell you to GO!

The entire time I was there I was thinking to myself "Ah, I am living here in 3 months!"

Anyways, I will share pics from Florence later this week.

Moody Monday

2011-12-05T09:43:00.000-06:00

Good Morning there!

I am home sick today (another dang sinus infection) and decided that I want/need to pick back up my blogging.

After taking a little bit of a break to digest my news, emotionally stabilize myself, and begin to plan for my life change coming that will start in about 2 months, I am back.

I am still unsure of the direction that I am going to go with my blog but I will keep you posted.

So, back to it.

I have discovered a new addiction to Florence and The Machine

And wouldn't you know that they will be playing in the UK when I have just settled in there.

Pretty nice timing huh?

Happy Monday luvs!

Exciting News...

2011-11-29T05:59:00.000-06:00

I won't bore you with excuses for where I have been the past 2 weeks but I will say my lack of posts have been for a good reason.

Between all my travels recently I was accepted into a Post Graduate International Business Program that involves me moving to London for 12 months.

That's right, London.

You can imagine the emotional roller coaster I have been on and frankly just haven't had the thought to blog.

The next few months are going to be very exciting, bitter sweet, scary, busy, and will call for a good deal of adjustment on my end.

I have not decided if I will be continuing on with Cubicle Sanity or starting a new blog all together.

I am so fortunate and proud and anxious.

I have the amazing opportunity of moving to the city that I love and dream about for an entire year.

What do I take with me? How do I pack all my shoes? Will I need to defer my car insurance? How many things am I going to have to change my address on? When do I quit work? Should I ask for a first class ticket? When will I get to talk to my friends and family here? Will they come see me? Should I ask for a British Chi flat iron? Do they even make those?

I have so much to do between now and March! As of now I will be moving home to Memphis in February to live and spend time with my parents and siblings before I depart in March. I want to share every bit of my experience with y'all but I also want to take full advantage of my year and not miss out on anything or feel pressure to post something. Get me?

Anyways, I have been wanting to share this news and scream it from the rooftops and now that I have told my family and close friends, I can make it a bit more public. My work does not know yet so no calling my boss to rat me out!

Until next time, whenever that is, I will leave you with a few pics from my future city.

Moody Monday

2011-11-14T06:29:00.003-06:00

Here is another one from Revenge.

I am not going to tell y'all again that you need to get on board with this show!

Babies

2011-11-11T06:32:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday babies.

Speaking of babies....I am on a plane right now headed home to meet my new niece and nephew.

Judging from this picture I am pretty sure my weekend is going to be better than yours.

Good luck trying to prove me wrong!

Hi Ho Hi Ho Houston to New York to Houston I Go

2011-11-10T06:41:00.006-06:00

Since I am back in NYC today it is only right that I finish up my NYC vacation recap.

Where did I leave off?

Oh, that's right, the halloween party with Sophia Grace and Lil' Wayne.

Saturday night we went to a super exclusive, predominantly Alabama folk, Halloween shindig.

Courtenay and I made the Sophia Grace costume in about 10 minutes and an hour before the party started. Funny how some things come together and are such a huge hit. And it was.

Particularly with the Toddlers in Tiaras that were present.

Nicki Minaj even made a guest appearance and performed with little Sophia Grace.

I chose to include this gorilla man with Bat Man because I liked his glow stick necklace. Literally, that's the only reason. I didn't ever even talk to the guy.

The party was in this rented out German beer garden bar place in the Lower East side. It was great because we had our own DJ, own bathrooms, and own bar tender. And almost everyone there had a nice Southern twang.

Felt like home.

Speaking of home, I need to hop my plane and head back to Houston.

Happy Thursday!

Confessions of a Product Junkie

2011-11-09T06:18:00.000-06:00

Good morning friends! I am exhausted from a wonderful trip to Los Angeles and lots of quality time with my best friend Robin.

After one day back at work I am headed off to New York (that's right, again) for today and tomorrow for a secret meeting. Can't tell you more than that right now but patience and, in time, I will let you in on my little secret ;)

Erin is back this week with another Confession of a Product Junkie post.

Take it away sister!

Philosophy: The Microdelivery Peel

Hello lovely readers! I don’t know how the weather’s been where you live, but down here in Houston it has been hot, cold, humid, dry, and everything in between lately, and my skin is not happy about it.

So naturally, I hit up the black and white striped candy store (aka Sephora) to see what remedies might be available for my confused skin. Enter this baby:

As you saw last week, I’m already a Philosophy fan (as is Miss Emily- loved reading your comment last week! :) ), so I was instinctively curious about this peel.

A couple hours later I found myself hair pulled back, headband on, clean faced, and ready to give this thing a try.

Step 1: Apply the Vitamin C/ Peptide Resurfacing Crystals

Here’s a helpful hint I’ve learned during my multiple bouts with Weight Watchers- portion control is your friend. 4 oz. of boneless, skinless white meat chicken does not mean you get to deep fry 5 chicken legs and eat every last bite for only 4 points- unless you feel like lying to yourself and then screaming at the lady weighing you in the following week that the scales are wrong. Which I may or may not have done. Multiple times.

Anyways- when it comes to products, I’ve found that portions matter just as much as they do with foods. If it says use a dime sized amount, don’t use a quarter. If, like it does in this case, it says to use a teaspoon, then get yourself a teaspoon measurer for $.99 at Target (because you know you’re already there 3 times a week anyways) and measure out a teaspoon. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be surprised at how much a teaspoon actually is.

For those of you fairly familiar with exfoliator lingo, this one is definitely very grainy, but not overly harsh or scratchy. You’re supposed to use it on dry skin, so at least for me, spreading it around my face was a bit of a process with no water to work with, but the wonderful orange smell more than makes up for any added elbow grease.

60 seconds of scrubbing later, Step 2: Apply Lactic / Salicylic Activating Gel

I poured this stuff into my hand and have to admit I was not at all impressed:

That’s it? That’s the magical second step that turns this orange juice scrub into orange creamsicle wonderfulness?

Ahh, young grasshopper, you have much to learn. Mix the gel with the scrub, and like a vision out of Willy Wonka’s Skincare Fantasy:

Poof! It’s foamy, it turns warm once you start rubbing it into the scrub, and it somehow miraculously sucks up the all graininess until your skin once again feels smooth.

I’ve got to admit, this is by far the best feeling peel/exfoliator I’ve ever used. There’s no stinging, no burn, and have I mentioned how good this stuff smells? We’ve come a long way from the Apricot scrub baby.

This is me letting all the orangey goodness soak in for the recommended 2-3 minutes.

And this is the aftermath- less than 30 seconds after I rinsed off the peel, and trust me, if I had just finished using a more harsh exfoliator, as much as I love y’all, you best believe you would not be seeing no pictures of me with my face beat up and red.

Three Weeks and Three Treatments Later:

Erin’s Final Grade: A-

Pros: delicious orange smell, miles and miles more gentle than other exfoliators, wonderful warming sensation

Cons: slightly difficult to apply, not quite as deep of a clean as other exfoliators

The Bottom Line: I was looking for something stronger than my daily routine, but not as intense as Exfolikate, and I think this product is a great in between. I’ve been using the Philosophy Microdelivery Peel mid-week and Exfolikate on the weekend and now instead of running for cover every time the weather patterns shift, my skin looks up at the clouds, puts its hand on its hip, snaps its fingers and says “oh no you didn’t,” and then keeps going on like nothing happened. And that makes this chica very happy with her purchase.

Thanks for the reviews Erin. I am in major need of an exfoliation treatment.

Now THAT'S Camping

2011-11-08T06:36:00.001-06:00

The Glam Camping Company know how to "tickle my fancy."

And with Fall weather finally hitting Houston I can't think about anything better than being outside ALL DAY.

And how is that supposed to change after finding this beauty!?

Someone FINALLY figured out how to get a classy, luxury-loving girl into the woods for a weekend.

Now, I've camped before (recall my Ghostland weekend trips) but set me up with these digs and you might not be able to get me back home.

Picture above screams bottle of red wine and cashmere wrap. No?

Or if you are feeling a little playful (or have little nuggets to think about) they offer some pretty whimsical options as well.

UGH, get me out of this beige office and into this life!

Images via The Glam Camping Company

Moody Monday

2011-11-07T06:05:00.001-06:00

My favorite friend Colin told me a few weeks ago that I needed to listen to this one morning.

Thank you Colin because now I am in love with this song and this guy.

Happy Birthday to my sister this morning! I love you!

LA Candy

2011-11-04T06:35:00.002-05:00

I'm jetsetting off again this weekend.

Headed to Los Angeles to visit my best friend Robin who moved there in September.

She knows all the fabulous spots and I am sure will show me all the goods.

Maybe we will be able to stop here

Just for a little look-see

And it may be November but I was told to pack my suit and I am good at following directions.

Headed anywhere good this weekend?

Images of Mr.C Beverly Hills

Phantom

2011-11-03T08:12:00.000-05:00

Friday night in New York I was surprised with tickets to this

!!!!!

This is a big deal because I was supposed to go see The Phantom of the Opera in 6th grade with my friend Ashley but I came down with an awful stomach virus and couldn't go. I was heartbroken and had never seen it since then.

I was feeling very sassy and uber NYC chic.

Our tickets were the BOMB!

Yea, that would be box seats babies!

After the show we snapped a few pics in Time Square

(Whitney and John in case you were confused and thought I had a wardrobe change)

then headed to this A-MAZING spot called Alta.

This atmosphere was so sexy with dim lighting and beautiful NY people and WINE!

Literally the wine list that night was a front and back legal size sheet of paper.

So basically you just order a million small plates and all pass them around, or that's what we did.

I tried to steal a menu but our waiter wasn't impressed when I told him I have a blog :( but lucky for y'all it is online.

Here is just a preview of what we ordered. EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING, we ordered was out of this world delicious.

By the end of the meal I "grew a pair" and stole the dessert menu!

Unfortunately we did not order anything but next time...next time.

After dinner we headed to the lower east side to meet up with my friend Colin at this weird bar.

I saw weird because upstairs was a Russian Dance bar and downstairs there was a sparkly crazy dance floor with poles and lights where this happened

oh yea, naked silver manikins everywhere.

It. Was. Awesome.

We danced until 5 am when the bar kicked us out and then tried to make it back home.

We did not end up biking but did take a gypsy cab. Those people are TERRIBLE drivers and I never want to get in one of those cars again!

All in all, TOP NIGHT!

Penelope and Merchants River House

2011-11-02T06:24:00.000-05:00

Right as I am starting to get settled into the week it is time for me to leave again!

Such a strange feeling.

This past weekend in NYC was fabulous. I could not have imagined a better trip.

After a NIGHTMARE of a flight (Thank you Continental/United) on Thursday evening, we arrived at Courtenay's apartment at nearly 2 am.

Friday morning was gorgeous so what better way to start the day than with a jog through Central Park. We ran for an hour while taking in all the sites, sounds, and smells.

Can you imagine if this was part of your morning routine?

After grabbing a coffee and showering up we headed to lunch at Penelope.

This is such a quaint little spot with what I considered a "shabby chic" feel.

The food wasn't half bad either ;)

I enjoyed the brie and apple sandwich on toasted multi grain bread with honey mustard. Yea.

Unfortunately we were too late for the brunch menu but we did get a little extra surprise as we were walking in...Bravo was filming for their new "reality" show. I had to sign a waiver and get my photo taken in case I am on TV shoving my food in my face. Nice image huh.

Anyways, if you are headed to NYC and a looking for a cute spot to grab brunch/lunch then head to Penelope for sure.

Another spot to stop by is Merchants River House.

It is located right on the Hudson with the best views.

This place was small and cozy with a casual crew (all waiters had jeans and white shirts).

We accidentally found this one while strolling along the river. I had to use the ladies room and stopped in here really quick. I felt guilty so I ordered a glass of wine and ended up staying there for about an hour and a half just chatting and watching all the people walk by and the boats on the water.

Don't you love it when that happens?!

FYI the steamed mussels looked and smelled pretty killer.

Friday evening in NYC recap tomorrow...

Dukan

2011-11-01T09:44:00.000-05:00

Willpower is something that I struggle with, particularly when it comes to sweets.

After a fabulous weekend in NYC filled with booze and baked goods, I decided I needed to take a note from Mrs. Prince William and shrink down a bit.

Let's not get carried away people, there is NO physical way, or personal desire for that matter, to be as thin as she is.

It is reported here (and many other places) that Kate is a follower of the Dukan Diet.

I hit the grocery store last night and gathered up everything I need for my first few days of the "Attack Phase" and have hit the ground running this morning.

I will be updating y'all on my progress but so far, this is what's going on:

-weighed in this morning at 1*4 lbs.

-I started off my day with scrambled egg whites and smoked salmon with the Dukan Oat Bran Pancake. Pretty dang good!

- After breakfast I was stuffed for an hour!

~Disclaimer~

I am 5'8" with medium bone structure and work with a trainer 3X a week so naturally my results will be different from others.

Head to the website and check it out.

According to my calculations, I should hit my goal weight by November 27th.

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I'll keep you abreast of all my travel adventures.

Happy Dukan!