DC GOP Girl

Takuyo Hand-Painted Silk Scarf Giveaway Winner & A Lilly Desktop Wallpaper

2012-02-15T00:58:00.003-05:00

Folks, we have a winner for the BEAUTIFUL Takuyo Hand-Painted Silk Scarf giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway Congrats Sarah!

For everyone else, thanks so much for participating. You may not have won the scarf giveaway, but here's a Lilly desktop wallpaper as a consolation prize. Featured on it are beautiful cherry-blossoms and one of my all-time favorite quotes. Enjoy!

Until next time...

Sometimes you jut have to stop and give thanks

2012-02-10T02:35:00.002-05:00

Like the title of my blog says -- sometimes you just have to stop and give thanks.

It's not often that I lack for words, but right now I'm struggling, because in this go-round I'm not giving thanks because everything is perfect in my life. I still am dealing with my last post and don't head to the Dr. until next week. But I am giving thanks. Thanks for all of the comments, Facebook messages, Tweets/DMs, and emails I've received from all of you. Even a few guys who ventured to read my last post despite warnings (heck, I knew some poor guy would end up at least starting to read out of curiosity if nothing else).

And now I'm more in shock from the support I have, than from the problems I'm dealing with. Who would've known how many others are dealing with the SAME thing. Have dealt with the same thing. It's unthinkable.

I'm slowly responding to everyone too. These comments are so dear to me, but with over 100 emails alone, it's gonna take me a day or two, so please bear with me.

But thanks so much for stepping up. For sharing your stories and sending encouragement even if this is a totally un-relatable thing to you. As crazy as it may sound, so all mean so much to me. And for your kindness, I know I am truly blessed.

In wordless gratitude.

This one's for the girls

2012-02-09T01:04:00.002-05:00

No really. This post is probably something male readers don't want to read. I don't even know if all female readers will be comfortable reading it. But here goes nothing...

I opened a letter.

This is to inform you that your Pap Smear was abnormal.

Ew. She's talking about a Pap. Who does that? Not preppy politicos. That's for sure. Well at least not in the past...

My year in blogging began with a promise to myself: to be unabashedly candid when writing. No holding back. If I can't be heart-on-your-sleeve honest, then why bother. Right? Sure I babble on about clothes and shopping with the best of them, but when it comes to the real stuff, I was going to be just that -- real.

Which brings me to this afternoon, when I came home for a late lunch break.

I only work a block from my office (it's more like out the back door and across the street. 50 yards. Max.), so I thought it would be a nice way to break up the monotony of day. To get away for half an hour.

Like I just mentioned, I come home through the back door, so I went to the front to check if the mail had come yet. Not because I care about the "real" mail, but because I've done so much online shopping lately, I was looking for packages.

Enter the letter.

... It is recommended that you have a colposcopy and biopsy as soon as possible.

A tidal wave of emotion hits me -- what in the world does this mean? Is something... really wrong?

Back-track. Last year I had my annual exam and had an abnormal pap that I thought NOTHING OF. Why, because I was so consumed by being a Capitol Hill Press Secretary working 15+ hour days, that it didn't phase me. I was told to come back in in two months to have another test, and that was that. No mention of crazy sounding tests and biopsies. But somehow I left a year pass and I never went back for a follow-up test. What if I waited too long and something really was wrong? What if by not going back to the doctor, I let things spiral out of control for over a year without even knowing it.

Everything that happened in the subsequent half hour is a blur.

I can't get through to either of my parents.

I've panicked and called the doctor, desperate for more information. He's out for a while, and the nurse can't tell me anything else until my now scheduled colposcopy/biopsy appointment next Thursday. Over a week away.

//Pause// About a month ago I blogged about friendship. About a friend being in need. I didn't explain everything then, but this is the exact thing she dealt with, except she knew what her results were and they were scary as hell. It's changed her life even. She's not dying or anything, but for a minute there, the world stood still as we waited for her results and final prognosis. //Un-pause//

I finally get through to my dad. My mom's at a doctor appointment of her own. I'm scared as hell. Crying my eyes out. I still don't quite comprehend what's going on, but the explanation of procedures accompanying my "letter of doom," sounded terrifying. Hell, as far I'm concerned they are terrifying.

My dad was amazing. He allowed me to talk "woman"and revert back to a helpless child all at the same time. 20 minutes or so later, we hang up.

Sobbing. The unknown holds a hell of a lot of power. Fear is miserable. More sobbing. I don't know enough to feel like this is "okay."

I have a plan. I'm going to call my doctor's office back and request the records for a previous doctor. They tell me I can come in, sign a release and they'll fax a copy for me as well as give me a print-out. Genius.

I go and pick-up my results. Tricky? Sure, but even if there's really no other doctor and even if someone's not there to explain the paperwork at the moment, God created Google for a reason -- surely this part of that reason.

So now I know more about my abnormal Pap Smear. There's going to be a lot I learn over the next few weeks with my tests. I don't have any real answers right now. At least not ones I want to talk about. Yeah, I'm trying to be honest, but I'm also trying to keep my sanity. Thinking about the possible "bad outcomes" would immobilize me.

But I bring up all of this, because I know I'm not alone. I know single ladies my age (29, on Saturday folks. Happy Birthday to me...), don't really talk about these things. We're grown up enough to recognize we're adults (despite the fact I still think of myself as "a kid"), but we're not quite ready to own said adulthood.

That said, I don't embarrass easily when talking all things "health," but I know it makes so many people uncomfortable. Which is a shame. No, I'm not so crass as to consider this dinner table-talk, but we shouldn't be embarrassed to ask questions of one another. To say, "I'm scared as hell and I feel as though I'm the only person I know going through this," when in reality there's quite possibly someone in your life who's experienced the same thing. Something similar.

Which brings me to my point. I'm petrified. I know cervical cancer doesn't usually mean death, but just the thought of "cancer" being part of the conversation is terrifying. So if you're going through this, something similar, or even something totally different but still terrifying -- I'm here. And if you've been through this before and things turned out well, or even less than perfect you feel free to tell me and help me feel as little less alone/confused/scared.

So yeah, today wasn't the great of days by any means. But here's to all the women out there and all the BS we have to deal with because we're women.

Until next time.

P.S. if you've put off your annual visit because life's gotten in the way, or you've just never gone before -- make that appointment.

A wrap-up of 2011 films

2012-02-07T19:17:00.002-05:00

Note, I thought I posted this the FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. Only now when looking through my drafts and a myriad of half-written posts, do I notice I never let this baby go live. So here's to tardiness and all films 2011. :)
-----
Over a week of my life. That's how much time I spent in a movie theater this year. If you follow me on Twitter or Foursquare, you know I'm BEYOND a movie junkie. In theatre at least once a week (often 2-3 times), I try and see as many blockbusters as I can. Why? Because there's just something about the movies that I love. And so I've been meaning to write this post for ages. So many times throughout the year I've thought about stopping to tell you about the movies I've been seeing, but alas, it never happened. So instead, I'm giving you a wrap-up of 2011 films. Seeing MANY more flicks than your average joe, and sooo many bad ones this year, I figure I can save you a few bucks at Blockbuster, a dollar and some change at Redbox, or just your time on Netflix. Here we go:

Best of the year:

50/50. Hands down one of the most heartfelt, thought-provoking movies of the year. I didn't know what to expect when I went to see this one. Unlike others, I must have missed the previews for this gem, so I walked into the theatre blindly -- it sounded better than the other flicks of the day. Boy was I surprised by this one. I laughed. I cried. And in the end, it took me to a place I didn't expect. Definitely a must-see.

Crazy Stupid Love. I saw this one late. And by late, I mean via Redbox. Very unusual for me. How I missed it, I'm not sure, but this movie was so endearing, I absolutely loved it. That said, I know a fair amount who didn't. At least online anyway. But I say ignore them, and check it out anyway.

X-Men First Class. I'm not all chick-flicks and sap, and this was hands-down my favorite action/comic movie of the year. From exciting graphics to a well thought-out storyline, X-Men doesn't disappoint.

Friends with Benefits. The better version of No Strings Attached.

Tree of Life. Immediately after seeing this film I would have told you that I hated it. Weird. Silence. Space. Dinosaurs. Space. And more space (by which I mean outer space). Volcanoes. And even more space. Sparsely you find narration, actual human characters. Yet, a week later I questioned whether or not I hated the flick. Almost a year later, and it's on my "best of" list. It's definitely something different, and if you're not up for "different," then go ahead and walk the other way. On the other hand, if you want to see something that you've probably never experienced the likes of before -- this one's for you.

Cedar Rapids.
The Beaver.
Win Win.
We Bought A Zoo.

Good with Girlfriends:

Bridesmaids. Not my typical style movie, but I loved it nonetheless. Sure it's a bit raunchy, but it'll leave you in tears -- from laughing so hard.

Water for Elephants.
Hall Pass.
The Help.

Really good, but not quite "the best":

The Lincoln Lawyer.
Captain America: The First Avenger.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2. I know a LOT of people are probably going to disagree with me on this one, but it wasn't anything special to me. It was a lot like the last LOTR flick -- certain things had to happen to wrap up the series. Don't get me wrong, it had fantastic moments of cinematography, stayed pretty true to the beloved books, but it was just "really good" to me. Not "great."

Green Lantern. If you can make it through the incredibly disjointed first ten minutes, then this movie is actually pretty good. Good enough, that I'd go back to watch another one. Maybe I'm just a comic-book movie fan, but this movie somehow worked for me.

Super 8. I have no idea why so many people love this movie they way they do. I heard a guy talking about buying in Best Buy just yesterday and couldn't figure it out. It was alright. But let's face it, you wait for a freaking cool monster and it really wasn't that cool. In fact, the monster wasn't even "bad." In terms of bad monsters and all.

The Green Hornet. I missed this one in the theaters entirely. I'm assuming sales weren't all that great. But the Seth Rogen was FUNNY in this flick. Heck, this flick was pretty funny for a super-hero movie altogether.

No Strings Attached. I reviewed this movie earlier this year. I loved it. That is until I saw the later released, Friends with Benefits which I thought was SO-MUCH-BETTER. (see tier one review).

Limitless.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Hanna.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
Real Steel.
Horrible Bosses.
Something Borrowed.
Midnight in Paris.
The Change-Up.
The Thing.
Larry Crowne.
Abduction.
Soul Surfer.
30 Minutes or Less.
Bereavement.
Contagion.
Columbiana.
Moneyball.
The Ides of March.
An Invisible Sign.
Submarine.
The Descendants.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Like Crazy.
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon.
Fast Five.
Thor.
I am Number Four.
Take Me Home Tonight.

You need to be REALLY bored to watch this:

Scream 4. The good news for fans of the Scream saga is that this one is probably better than Scream 2 and 3 combined. But when you think about it, that's not saying much at all. But it was entertaining enough. Just don't expect too great from it, and you won't be totally disappointed.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn part 1.
Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
Hangover Part 2.
Battle L.A.
The Adjustment Bureau.
The Source Code.
Just Go With It.
Insidious.
The Dilemma.
The Mechanic.
30 Minutes or Less.
The Roommate.
Final Destination 5.
Drive.
Bad Teacher.
The Sitter.
What's Your Number.
Straw Dogs.
Our Idiot Brother.
Tower Heist.
The Company Men.

The Other Woman.
A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas.
Paranormal Activity 3.
The Rum Diary.
The Debt.
I Don't Know How She Does It.The Way Back.

Don't do it. Just don't:
The Human Centipede. If you've never heard of this one, don't going look around for answers as to what it's about. It's traumatizing. Really now. Consider yourself forewarned.

Red Riding Hood.
Shark Night 3D.

Fright Night.

*P.S. I'm going to add more to the reviews later, at least for the good flicks, but if I don't post this now, I never will.

P.P.S Don't forget to enter my Takuyo Hand-Painted Silk Scarf Giveaway by Saturday the 11th! You'll love this one!!

Takuyo Hand-Painted Scarf Giveaway

2012-02-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ladies, prepare to swoon over this one. Whilst surfing around Etsy (as I often do), I stumbled across one of the coolest shops I've seen in a while -- hand-painted scarves. Did I even know there was such a thing?

But now that I do, I think it's FABULOUS. And what does it a take to make fabulous silk scarves? Nothing less than a fabulous artist.

Enter Takuyo.

Takuyo lives on a remote Hawaiian island (jealous much? I know I am), which inspires her art. As she's said in a previous interview:

My focus is on painting flowers on silk. I love silk painting. I hand paint floral art on all different kinds of silks. I make my floral art into wall hangings, canvas art, and even silk scarves. Silk's luster and softness remind me of a flower's petals. I love orchids, poppies, roses and all types of flowers. I paint flower portraits. Each flower has a presence.

She's such a talented artist, and her scarves can work for all budgets. And I mean that. Starting at $19.99, you can actually afford to fall in love with more than one, all the while knowing you're buying hand-painted mini-masterpieces.

Check out some of my favorites:

This reminds me of a red-version of Lilly's First Impression pattern. It's just so sweet, and pretty. I love it!

Secret Red Rose Garden

ECU and LSU fans, how fun is this!?

Yellow Purple Wildflowers Scarf

So, so pretty.

Orange Wildflowers Scarf

Talk about stunning. Lilly-lovers, put aside your next Murfee purchase and go for a Takuyo original instead. Talk about helping yourself stand out in a crowd -- this scarf is bound to turn heads. Look at the detail!

Chocolate Brown Petite Kimono Scarf

And now what I you're waiting for, the giveaway scarf. This week, you have the chance to win a Sweet Red Poppies Silk Scarf. How gorgeous is this!?

Red Poppies Silk Scarf.

Just like the last giveaway, entering is made easy thanks to Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway ends: 11.59 p.m. Saturday, February 11th (my birthday), and I'll announce the winner the next day.

Best of luck!!

Until next time...

And the winner is... Juliana W. Jewelry giveaway

2012-02-05T03:46:00.000-05:00

I was so excited to share Juliana W. Jewelry with all of you. Like so many of you pointed out in the comments, it was hard to choose a favorite item in Julie's shop -- there's just so much good stuff! If you missed seeing the giveaway and all of Julie's fabulous creations, check out the post below. You won't be disappointed.

All that said, we officially have a winner!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Congrats Jill! I've sent you an email requesting your info, so please get back to me when you get the chance!

From what I've learned on Twitter, Jill's not only a Tarheel fan, but also a fellow Kappa Delta. Great job Rafflecopter on picking an awesome winner.

Giveaway earrings

And thanks again Julie for generously donating the gorgeous earrings for the giveaway!

For everyone else who entered, don't fret -- another giveaway begins this evening! So be sure to check back and help spread the word.

Until next time...

Let the new year ring with plenty of bling - Juliana W. Jewelry giveaway!

2012-01-31T10:57:00.000-05:00

I am always amazed at the talented artisans I stumble across on Etsy. It amazes me how much work people put into hand-making beautiful jewelry, because I know creativity like that is a gift. And it is absolutely one that I've not been blessed with.

Which is why I'm so excited to announce this giveaway. One lucky reader will win this gorgeous pair of Olive and Turquoise earrings from Juliana W. Jewelry!

Olive and Turquoise faceted earrings.

These beauties will go with so much! Dress them up, dress them down -- you can do it all.

And Julie the creator Juliana W. Jewelry, is just about as nice as anyone can be. A true gem to work with. And humble as ever. A little mit more about her from her Etsy profile.

I am a mother of two sweet and very rambunctious toddler boys and the wife of an amazing man who is incredibly supportive of me and my endeavors. In my spare time, I am thinking about, shopping for, and working on my crafts. I love using beautiful papers to make something new. I make tiny bowls or ring dishes, plates, and jewelry. It is very exciting to find a new print or jewelry component that I love and then and turn it into something I can wear or use.

How she finds time to juggle not one, but TWO toddler boys and still make this beautiful jewelry amazes me, but I'm sure glad she does it.

Some of my other favorites from her Etsy shop:

Here are the perfect pink earrings to add just the right amount of feminine flair to all of your outfits. They'd look exceptionally perfect with your Lilly outfits. *wink wink*

Cherry Quartz Chandelier Earrings

You can also do them in an amazing aqua:

Aqua Chadelier Earrings

Be the life of the party! Let these fun, festive gems inspire you to have a fun night out on the town.

Orange and Pink Earrings

This NC beach gal fell in love with this beautiful necklace. Perfect to wear with sundresses in the spring/summer or when you're on a cruise in the fall. It's dainty enough to work with almost anything, but you can also use it as a statement necklace with a simple, solid-colored dress. Check it out:

Peach Coral, Coin Pearl, and Starfish Beach Necklace

Want to know how to enter and win the earrings? Just use rafflecopter below for entries. The only one you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite item from Julie's store. The rest are all bonus entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway ends: 11.59 p.m. Saturday, February 4th, and I'll announce the winner the next day.

Best of luck!!

Until next time...

Lilly Murfee Extravaganza

2012-01-30T22:14:00.001-05:00

So for the past 36hrs I've read so many Facebook/Twitter posts about Lilly Pulitzer murfee scarves being on sale at TJ Maxx's across the country for $39.99. A GREAT reduction from their $118 retail price.

Of course, when in my main TJ Maxx yesterday, I saw nothing. But tonight I felt adventurous, and decided to trek a whopping 4 miles down the road (in D.C. traffic that was about 20 minutes, so it did take some effort) to a TJ Maxx I've never been to before.

Lo and behold, murfees galore.

Being the loyal Lilly fan I am, I decided I was at a random TJ Maxx. One that traditional Lilly-lovers would NOT be going to. Surely their clientele wouldn't appreciate the find like my Perfectly Preppy Resale or Twitter gals, so I snatched them all up. All 18 of them that is. So what if the guy at the counter thought I was crazy buying 18 scarves, many in the same prints. I was determined to pick them up for all the other Lilly lovers out there without them at their local stores.

A few have already been spoken for, but here's what's left. If you're interested in one, just email me at DCGOPGIRL {at} GMAIL {dot} COM or tweet me @DCGOPGirl. I'll update this list as they go. I'm asking $47 for them. I have no idea if that covers cost/tax/shipping/paypal fees, but I think it's about right. If you calculate all that for me otherwise, you can let me know if it's less. If it's more, shhh, you've got a deal. ;)

Lilly's Starfruit Yellow She's a Piston - 2 available

Lilly's Pink Perfect Paradise - 1 available

Lilly's Pink This Blooms for You - 0 available; 1 gone

Multi Stemina - 0 available; 7 gone

Multi Show Me Some Skin - 0 available; 2 gone

Lilly's Turquoise Purrfect Paradise - 0 available; 1 gone

Multi This Blooms For You - 0 available; 1 gone

Lilly's Pink Checking In - 0 available; 1 gone

Hibiscus Pink Serenity - 0 available; 1 gone (ignore $10 off thing)

Hotty Pink She's A Piston - 0 available; 1 gone

There are a few others that I was dead-set on listing when I bought, but looking at them now I half want them. So dangerous. That said, I'm gonna try to will myself to add a few more here in a bit, but this is at least a start. That's what I'll tell myself anyway.

UPDATE: Some of you ladies are SMART. And resourceful. Consider me impressed, because you saw which prints I was talking about keeping on Twitter and asked for them directly. Good call, because I'm parting with them. :)

Shopping Sunday

2012-01-23T00:04:00.003-05:00

You know how there's "Wordless Wednesday," "Pink and Green Thursday," and all of those other themed blogging days? Well on DCGOPGirl.com, and anywhere else other would like to participate, there's now "Shopping Sunday." Now this doesn't mean you have to go shopping on Sunday, though you can, it's now the day to share all of your great shopping finds, etc. At least it is in my head...

I was inspired to start this because so many people ask me where I find certain pieces in my polyvores. Where my best deals come from, so I figured I'd start sharing. Because, I assure you, while I LOVE shopping, I HATE paying full price. My closet is filled with designer labels, but I'm seriously a bargain shopper.

However when it comes to shoes, heels in particular, I refuse to by cheap, poorly made brands. For one, I can wear out a good pair of shoes traipsing around the city like a champ. Beyond that, 9 times out of 10, cheap heels tend to hurt -- Blister inducing heels. Fall apart soles. No cushioning -- yeah, all things awful. So I've learned if you invest a little bit more in shoes, you tend to get your monies worth. That still doesn't mean you shouldn't find a good deal.

click to check out some awesome shoes

Which is where Heels.com comes in. It's one of my favorite shoe shopping sites. Designer shoes are like 50% off all the time, there's free 2nd day shipping and free returns. Now that right there is good enough for me on most days, but they also have awesome sales ALL the time. So if you're not already a fan of the site, be sure to check it out.

Right now, I'm digging:

Ivanka Trump - Ciry

Talk about some gorgeous shoes. You can obviously wear them dressed up, but you can throw them on with a cute, casual skirt too and it'd be totally fun. And why yes, I had to buy these.

Guess - Lava pumps

If you don't already own a pair of bright pink heels, run, don't walk, and get these gems now. Every girl needs a pair of Barbie pink pumps. They're so versatile and fun, and they truly make you feel so wonderfully feminine! You'll see me don look-alike pumps on polyvore all the time. So fun.

Michael Antonio - McMahon

Booties are a must-have. Dare yourself to wear with everything from jeans to cute dresses. They're so versatile there's no reason not to have a least one pair in your closet. My first pair was black, but you can never go wrong with a good neutral brown.

And because I've been a super sleuth today, I've found out that the Groupon of the Day in Atlanta is a heels.com deal. *No, I didn't know this when I started, just happened to find it when I was looking for extra coupons today. But if you're a shoe-a-holic like me and salivating over this groupon, please feel free to help a girl out and get it through THIS LINK!

So...

For $25, you get $50 worth of designer heels, boots, and shoes.
For $50, you get $100 worth of designer heels, boots, and shoes.

Oh, and this deal is good through Wednesday. So don't wait too long before you indulge.

Until next time,

GPBC Gals (and anyone in search of a GREAT read), next month we're reading The Hunger Games and the movie comes out in March. Get your copy for less here:

these things don't matter at all

2012-01-22T04:25:00.004-05:00

I'm a bit all over the place in my head these days. Funny how that happens from time to time. Life overwhelms us a bit and we don't quite know where to let the dust settle. Don't get me wrong, the other day was AMAZING. I'm not negating any of that. But things are still topsy-turvy in the world of DC GOP Girl. A lot has happened. A lot is happening. Waiting to see what happens next... next exactly my favorite thing in the world.

Segue, without an actual segue. Unless of course we count saying "segue" as an actual segue itself. Which I suppose, we can.

Tonight I watched The Beginners. And indy flick I somehow missed at my beloved indy theatre (AMC at Shirlington for all those around the Alexandria-Arlington-DC area - definitely worth seeing things there every now and then). It was one of those bittersweet, evolution of consciousness kind of movies. It's about fresh starts, a changing self and life-changing experiences. It's sad though. Melancholy. Not quite a perfect film, but it kept my attention. Enough.

Yeah, not much of a review there, but the movie quoted The Velveteen Rabbit at some point.

I imagine most people have read the story. Are familiar with it if nothing else.

It's poignant. Heart-warming. Touching. It was one of those stories that I appreciated as a child, without fully understanding the depth of all of the words. And now as an adult, it still sticks with me. It was filled with wonder, beauty and love.

That's hard to forget.

Which brings me to the quote from the movie. Or most the quote anyway:

"It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.”

― Margery Williams Bianco, The Velveteen Rabbit

Thinking about that.

Awakening.

2012-01-19T22:19:00.001-05:00

So I'm gonna steal a good chunk of this from my Facebook, so bear with me if you've read any of this there... but this is much, much more...

The dictionary defines "awaken" as:

1: to cease sleeping
2: to become aroused or active again
3: to become conscious or aware of something

Awakening. It feels like an almost magical word right now.
Awakening. That's what happened tonight.

Tonight I went to DC Metro Church for the first time. What a life-changing evening.

It's no secret I've been out of the church for the past 10 years. I can't even remember if I've talked about it here or not, because... I don't even know. Heck, I don't even really know how to put it all to words now. How I've been able to stay out of church for so long. How I've known God to BE REAL, and yet deny Him so many times. To go out of my way to stay out a church, just so my mother wouldn't "have her way."

But after months of just talking about it. After having almost talked myself out of going throughout the evening. Tonight I walked in the doors of the church.

Emotions. Overwhelming. Overflowing. My-heart-spilleth-over style. Immediately. As I'm first sitting down, I can barely hold back the tears. And I pray so vehemently that God can "stop embarrassing me" and let me just sit there like a "normal person" and get through the service. But He clearly had other plans for me.

I'm not kidding when I say it's been 10years since I've gone really gone to church on my own accord. Sure I go (sometimes) when I'm home at Christmas, but even this year it was begrudgingly. Tonight I think God was determined to make clear to me just how broken I was. Because He broke me there in that place. He wasn't going to let me walk out another church door without overwhelming my heart and forcing me to acknowledge Him.

Tonight God was working HARD on my heart.

I can't really walk you through the emotions and everything that happened next, but it's suffice to say that He truly works in mysterious ways.

Tonight His grace overwhelmed my brokenness.

Lots of tears, praying and praising later I renewed my faith and was baptized. *and boy did I look like a cold wet rat with mascara EVERYWHERE afterwards - I didn't plan a spiritual awakening tonight after all*

Even as I write this now, I'm sobbing like a baby. Running nose, red eyes, overjoyed heart.

And all I can say is, thank you God for never giving up on me. Thank you to my parents who have prayed tirelessly for me to find a church and be humbled to a place of brokenness and awakening. And thank you DC Metro Church for opening your doors to someone who really, really needed a church to call home.

This song was sang during tonight's baptisms - I wasn't the only one God was working on.
How beautifully appropriate.

Until next time,

Before meet after.

2012-01-19T16:12:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, it's been correctly "guessed" DCGOPGirl.com was in the midst of a makeover last night. Nothing major, in terms of layout, but there is a new banner, buttons and color scheme. I'm not one to let things "stay the same" around here for too long after all.

Before. Look around to see after.

A few things are still being tweaked, but all in all the transition has been made.

That said, I wanted to say a special thank-you for all the prayers. Your comments and emails have meet so much to me during this trying time and I sincerely do appreciate them.

Well, I'm keeping this one short. Back in with the doctor in a few, but I'm hoping to have a "real" post tonight. Polyvores and all.

Until next time.

Prayer Request

2012-01-16T03:39:00.000-05:00

So I don't normally, make that ever, ask for people (other than my mom) to prayer for me. It's not that I don't believe in prayer, it's just not something I do. I have asked you in the past to pay for my cousin's husband who was seriously injured in Afghanistan, but I've never asked for anything myself. But that changes right now.

If you believe in prayer, and even if you don't and you just want to humor me, I ask that you pray for me right now. I'm going through a lot. More than anyone can imagine and just having a really hard time with everything. My migraine issues have made things unbearable and I'm just darn overwhelmed. I don't know how to make everyone around me happy. So please, if you pray -- say a little prayer for me today.

Which gets me to thinking. Do you need someone to prayer for you? I will be that person right now if you need it. You can leave me a comment, or email me dcgopgirl@gmail.com and can be sure I'll pray for you. By no means am I promising that I'm this perfect church-going Christian, but I do believe in prayer.

If nothing else, thanks for your time in reading this.

Until next time.

Friendship - it's a "be" verb

2012-01-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

This week has revealed one thing to be certain -- that friendship isn't a "something" but rather a "doing something." It's an intangible "be" verb that necessitates action. It's kinetic inertia.

Now it goes without saying we all know that friends are important. They make our day-to-day lives worth bearable, fun. You name it. But it wasn't until this week have I really appreciated what "truly good friends" are, and what they mean to me.

That's because this week I've been on both sides of the friend spectrum. On one side, I was friend in dire need of a friend. Someone to just "be" with me. No need for talking. For exciting adventures out. But someone just to "be" there. I needed to know that through hateful words and tears, I mattered. That I was worth... anything. Because in the moment I felt broken and broke down. And there was NOTHING more I wanted in the entire world than to feel as though I had a friend. But I didn't. In that moment, what it takes to be a friend was first revealed.

Flip to the other side. I hear terrible, awful news from a friend. It overwhelms me. It's her health. It's in jeopardy. Immediately I can think of nothing else in the world than "being" there for her. Cancel my evening concert plans. Put work on hold. Silence the phone. I want nothing more than to "be" the friend she needs. To "be" the kind of friend I needed the other day.

And that's just it. At some point we have to grow up and decide that "being" a good friend means being there for a the messy times. The times of heartache. The times of need. The fun stuff is easy. Anyone can do that. But the value of a friend is truly determined when you need one most.

So it hits me. If they don't already know (and I sure hope they do), my friends need to know that I "am" here. All hours of the day. Always accessible. If I have plans, they can be canceled. If I'm being a lazy bum, I can get up. Because frankly, I give a damn and I'm going to "be" here for the good, the bad and the ugly. Because friendship -- it's a "be" verb.

Made this especially for the blog & pinterest tonight.

For fun, Lilly Pulitzer computer wallpaper

R-I-g-H-T

2012-01-10T00:16:00.001-05:00

The right, it's not only the direction I lean (no make that fall) politically, but I'd like to direct your attention over to the right. I've add a lovely little link to my pinterest so we can be "friends" over there as well. In case you're not familiar with the site, it's a virtual pinboard. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. From books to planning weddings, decorating homes and organizing your favorite recipes -- there's a place for everything. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people for inspiration and to learn new things.

Not yet on pinterest? Leave your email address in the comment and I'll invite you, helping you avoid the darn wait-list. Or you can sign up through Facebook (by going to pinterest.com) and avoid it that way as well.

Not pinterest, but a polyvore from yesterday:

For now, I'm going back to work. It may be midnight, but I had a wonky health day and spent much too much time at GW hospital being poked and prodded. So I have a lot of work to catch up on...

Until next time,

Enough is enough

2012-01-05T22:28:00.001-05:00

Why hello 2012, you seem to be full of surprises already, don't you?

Welcome.

I think.

In true Elizabeth fashion, 2012 has started out with quite the bang. From unforeseen personal drama (yeah this crap didn't used to happen, wtf is up with that?) to mono (hello feeling bad), this year is already more than I can take.

Yet somehow in the insanity of it all I had a breakthrough with my parents. Or rather they "broke through" to me. In a rather not-like-my-parents style, they "cut to the chase." For the first time I can remember since late 2008, they refused to hold back and told me like it was/is. Because the subject is not quite ready for public opinion, I'll refrain from further explanation for the moment, but let's just say my parents blatantly told me what several friends have been telling me for months -- enough is enough.

And that was enough. Hearing it from them confirmed my suspicions. I knew my friends had been right all along. I knew better along the way. But I never gave into my gut feelings. I always fought them. Go figure, doing what's simple doesn't always work for me. Heck, I said I "hit a wall" on this very matter back in July and I've yet to remedy it.

But like I said, enough is enough. The time has come. I think.

All of that said, I made a fun Lilly Pulitzer desktop wallpaper for my gorgeous iMac. It actually complements the Lilly desktop calendar for January, so you can proudly display them side-by-side. Check it out:

January 2012. Lilly Pulitzer-inspired computer wallpaper.

Until next time.

Sweet shopping goodness: Lilly Pulitzer style

2012-01-03T10:52:00.001-05:00

My oh my, did I luck out on the 2-day Lilly sale. My old trick of seeing what LP.com was going to have early worked after a few tweaks, so unless the majority of the shopping population (aside from the many ladies I shared the secret with via Re-Lilly), I had all my purchases bookmarked and ready to go.

Having solidified my "Lilly" style a few sales back, I shied away from undefined waists and shifts, no matter how cute they were and went for these gems:

Jonah Dress in Navy Heel

Turns out the Jonah Dress always look good on me. It's has a loose enough body to be comfortable, but with the sassy tie-belt, I'm able to define my waist in an otherwise shapeless dress. And this color combo - to die for.

Blayney Dress in Starry Blue Drama Queen

I've been coveted the Starry Night Drama Queen print for a few months now. While this Blayney reminds me an awful lot of another dress I have (check it out) when it comes to the color palatte, I just couldn't resist ordering one to check it out.

Kelsi Dress in Standing Ovation

This red meets blue dress is the perfect piece for a DC politico, and heck I work at Purple Strategies, where red and blue come together after all.

Shauna Tunic in Bright Navy the Big Brava Placed

I know I said, no undefined waists, but this gorgeous Shauna frock gives the illusion of a wait with an elegant floral print. Some rules are made to be broken.

Adalie Wrap Dress in Azalea Pink Follow the Pink Road

How can you go wrong with a simple wrap dress?

Julianna Dress in Cameo White Lace You There Placed

This was my stunning, elegant pick of the sale. The dress that's incredibly detailed and unique. I know I won't have many places to wear it, or rather I'm not the gal who will wear it many places, but no way will it not turn heads when it shows up somewhere.

Blanca Dress in Bright Navy Dress Rehearsal

Simple and easy-going. That's what I'm hoping for with this one. Just something comfy and casual to wear so it can look like I'm trying, even though I won't be. :)

Two Ciara Tunics here.

The first in Pink Tomato Standing Ovation Placed : pretty.
The second in Multi Chorus Girl : fancy.

Update: one via shop tried to break my little sale heart and tell me my Chorus Girl was out of stock, despite the fact I ordered minutes after midnight. But alas, Palm Garden in Wilmington, NC came to my rescue and will deliver my beloved tunic in just two days. It ships tonight. Talk about quality service ladies. Those women running that shop deserve a pat on the back. They saved the day!

A Murfee Scarf in Starry Blue Drama Queen

Full of Hope Bracelet

I snagged this meaningful beauty for just $15. How could I resist!?

A beaded bangle.

Snagged three of these in different colors each for $11. cha-ching! Money saved!

Looking at all of these dresses now in one places it feels a bit obsessive-shopper like (shhh, I am), but I got EVERYTHING you see here for under $500. Quite the amazing feat. And reason no.1 why I'm not going to feel guilty!

Hope the rest of you are making out with your Lilly-wishes as well!

Few will have the greatness to bend history...

2012-01-02T14:54:00.000-05:00

I'm not a fan of the Kennedy's by ANY means. So don't think this post is any sort of reflection on my political beliefs, but it was an amazing eulogy and with the start of an new year, I want to share it with you:

"Some believe there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world's ills. Yet many of the world's great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man. A young monk began the Protestant reformation; a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the borders of the earth; a young woman reclaimed the territory of France; and it was a young Italian explorer who discovered the New World, and the 32 year-old Thomas Jefferson who [pro]claimed that "all men are created equal."

These men moved the world, and so can we all. Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. *It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.* Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change. And I believe that in this generation those with the courage to enter the moral conflict will find themselves with companions in every corner of the globe."

Robert Kennedy

Watch it here:

Wrapping up 2011

2011-12-31T00:23:00.002-05:00

What a busy few weeks I've had. Heck, my fall has been busy. Transitioning to a new job, moving to a new house. Everything's just taken up an insane amount of time. Go figure. I guess that's life.

Life has been interesting lately. Which is to say, not good or bad. It's just been. I figure that's a pretty pathetic way to live life -- in the grey of it all. Nonetheless that's just the way things have been. Don't get me wrong, I'm still blessed beyond all recognition but I seem to be lacking that spark. That little something that gets you going on. I don't know what it is that I'm missing, but I do know something is.

All that babbling aside, I spent Christmas back at home in N.C.. Which is worth mentioning, as last year I didn't make the trek home for the holidays. I was too bummed out about not being hired on the illustrious "Hill" yet, and 3 hours and 30 miles (yes, that was standstill traffic) later I ended up back at my Alexandria, VA apartment to spend the holiday alone. I guess 2010 was a pretty bleak year for me. But I covered that back then.

Chopped off all my hair a few days before Christmas.
Christmas Eve 2011.

Anyway, home was nice. 4 days was about all my relationship with my mother could take (I mean that matter of factly, not rudely). And now I'm back to V.A. enjoying what's left of my holiday break.

I've been busy cleaning. Organizing. Planning. 2012 is just 24hrs away and I'm determined to make 2012 outshine 2011. It has to, right? I sure hope so...

P.S. thanks for the comments and the many emails about my last blog post. It's not so pretty talking about being a heinous brat, but saying so aloud has definitely helped me think twice before acting out. Let's hope my actions improve in 2012.

P.P.S. One of my favorite Etsy gals (and DCGOPGirl Giveaway sponsor last year) is having a sale in her Etsy shop! With a 20.12 Percent Off section and a 20.12 Dollars Off section, shoppers can purchase original, handmade Piedra jewelry at the lowest prices she's ever offered. It's a great opportunity to build your 2012 accessories wardrobes without breaking the bank, so go check it out. NOW!

Some of my faves on sale:

Having become an earrings fiend the past few months (yes, I've given up my "pearls only" rule, I'm in love with these. What wouldn't they go with?

Calling all LSU, ECU fans! Heck, calling anyone with good fashion sense! How gorgeous are these?

And finally, some Lilly lover or glam gal just needs to spoil herself in 2012 and go for this beauty. I'm head over heels for it:

Those we care about the most

2011-12-20T00:21:00.001-05:00

FACT: When I feel hurt by someone, I become a heinous brat. For most people, you never have to see this. Never have to know it. But to myself, I get defensive and angry that you hurt me. To 3 others in my life (two of which are my parents), you see me at my very, very worst. You hear me at my most awful. You feel my wrath because I go out of my way to make sure that you do.

How truly gross is it that we lash out the nastiest to those we care about most? Don't get me wrong, I do it a putrid style that would put others to shame, but I know I'm not the only one to abuse a relationship because I think isn't going anywhere. Surprisingly, a fight with my parents didn't prompt this post. Rather, an argument with the only other person in my life I let see me as this awful of a person.

Now that it's over, the fight that is, I still feel irreparably hurt, but I know at the end of it, I did the most damage. And frighteningly enough, this person isn't a given. They're not a guaranteed constant. They're not family. They can leave at any time, and I think in may ways they already have.

That said, I do know my anger comes from pain. Not just current, but repressed issues that I'm slowly dealing with. As I've mentioned, most people never see this angry, hurt side of me, but for those who have...

My lil sister in my sorority back in college did. We were close to the point where one day when fighting I was just awful to her. Things were never the same.

I've not acted out like this to friends since then. My parents, yes. God help them for having to deal with the nightmare I've been to them over the years, but typically this isn't something I let friends see.

So why now? Why this person? I think it's because I've bared so much around them. I've been so painfully honest about the worst of who I've been and who I can be. They've watched me fail. More than once. Have heard about heartbreaks. Watched missteps. And a myriad of things in between, that I just feel so vulnerable. So when they say something that seems to attack who I am, it cuts in such a deep way I don't know what else to do than to be vile.

I hate that I'm writing all of this now. Hate that I'm sharing this truly ugly side of who I am. But I need down on paper. I need to see this in the morning, when somehow I wake up and forget what a jerk I was. I need to see this two days from now, when this person still looks at me like the total bitch I was and remember that this very well could be the straw that broke the camel's back.

But most of all, I need to look at this as a reminder that underneath all the nice clothes, pretty pearls and smiles that I can put on, I'm still a hurt little girl. A girl that needs to realize when someone hurts you, you don't have to hurt them back.

A healing prayer

2011-12-04T12:51:00.000-05:00

Asking on behalf of my gorgeous cousin Shauna (who you've heard much about) and her amazing husband:

Today I ask our family and friends in your downtime to please say a healing prayer for my husband. Anthony has been battling a pressure wound on the back of his leg for months now and is scheduled for surgery in January. Due to increased activity and all the traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday, the wound has increased in size and depth. To prevent further injury and the hopes of a Christmas holiday away from the hospital, Anthony has been instructed to stay prone ( on his stomach) and is back on the prone cart. This has been a setback emotionally and physically for Anthony but is necessary for his recovery. I have witnessed the power of prayer during his entire recovery process and I'm asking again to please help us. Pray for healing for my husband and a Christmas holiday surrounded by our families away from the hospital.

The lack of anonymity

2011-12-03T21:29:00.000-05:00

It's not secret I'm not blogging a lot. Tonight, I admitted to myself just why that is. It's not for lack of content. Nor is it for lack of time or even ability to write. It's for lack of anonymity.

In telling you who I am, I've empowered you. Anyone reading this blog. And because of that power over me, I'm afraid to be truly vulnerable.

Don't get me wrong, I've been vulnerable from time to time. But that's been referencing the past in most cases. When talking difficult, current events I write with vague detail. I make sure the reader doesn't fully understand what's going on. Only those VERY, VERY few closest to me can piece together what they know and what I write to see the full picture.

And that's where I am today. I have a LOT I want to get off my chest. A lot I need to sort out. A lot that used to live on my old, anonymous blog that I'm just not comfortable divulging right now. It's a mix of worrying both what you, mostly a collection of wonderful readers whom I don't know "in real life" think, and a worrying about what I'll think about myself if I'm honest enough to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard in this case) and admit what all I'm thinking.

So once more, I'm babbling in circles instead of cutting to the truth of things. Because while I'd love to say I'm empowered enough to be honest to strangers, in reality I'm a coward.

Polyvore Mania

2011-10-10T02:15:00.008-04:00

It's no secret, I'm a polyvore fanatic. One of my favorite things when I buy a new accessory, dress, etc. is to find it and clip it to polyvore to use later. Sometimes it's next to impossible to find a clipable piece, so it becomes a bit of a game. Other times, I have no luck and thus some of my favorite pieces are only viewable by those in my "real" life. Either way, I go through bouts of polyvore mania. Lately, I've had a ball with it...

Back in June, I asked what you'd be wearing for National Wear Lilly Day this year, but I never posted the day of with all my friends and what we wore. In fact, those pics are somewhere living on my computer at home, and I really SHOULD them b/c there were some FAB Lilly outfits, but ince this post is about my love of polyvore, I'll show you the polyvore of my outfit instead for the time being:

In my last "real" post I talked about leaving the Hill -- I'll finish the rest of that story in a moment, but these looks are from outfits I've worn on the new job:

So I'm not sure how many of you are comfortable pairing colors together that don't obviously match, or you haven't seen matched together time and time, but I'm AWFUL at it. But slowly bt surely, I'm becoming more comfortable putting together complimentary colors that aren't obvious matches. Take this outfit for example. It's a very "me-like" style, but until recently I never would have put it together.

While I may have made a bright statement my first Friday at the new gig, I was tres comfy! I don't know who designed the Newport dress over in Lilly land, but kudos to them. I dig it!

Another bright, comfy number. Clearly my wardrobe felt like saying HELLO new job!

As always, I'm all about taking a dress from work to play.

Until next time...

It's Makeover Time!

2011-10-05T02:22:00.000-04:00

For the blog that is! Out with the old and in with the new I say! Goodbye old, hello new!

Yes, yes I changed the blog once again. Though not drastically in terms of lay-out style. I very much liked the painting look, so I stuck with it. So I've retired the old theme:

And now you see the new one.

Of course there are still a few things I'm tweaking, but you get the general idea. So what do you think? Good? Bad? Like one of the past ones better? Let me know.

Until next time,

A screeching halt

2011-09-07T11:23:00.002-04:00

So I've been MIA for well over a month and needless to say there's a LOT of ground to cover in terms of what exactly has been going on in my life. From major, and I do mean major, life changes to dad's retirement and everything in between.

I'll begin at the beginning of August. After weeks of back and forth, Congress finally made a deal to raise the debt ceiling -- in the 11th Hour mind you (would they do it any other way)? After weeks of ridiculous schedules and running haggard, the pace of my life came to a screeching halt on Tuesday, August 2nd when the boss voted and then packed his bags and left for home in IL for the month. Thank you God for Congressional Recess.

Except this was a far from normal recess. This is when all the monstrous life changes began. In that very moment where life slowed down.

Speaking of slowing down... of course I had to polyvore my recess casual clothes...

Recess allows for simple, comfy outfits on the Hill. After months of heels that is.

Perhaps not my most casual recess outfit, the dress is no-fuss and helped make for a great, post-work happy hour ensem.

As I was saying, when life slowed down it gave me a moment to really stop and think about where I was in life. For so many months I kept an insane pace. Literally 14-15hr work days in the office, followed by hours of more work at home. It was all the price I paid for running one of the most robust press shops on the Hill. It was the price I paid for helping create a Tea Party superstar (regardless of what you think about his politics). It was the price I paid to be at the top of my game.

And I gave up everything for it. Well almost any way. I gave my National Committeewoman position for YRs in the state of VA. I gave up my 3 year chairman spot for VA's largest YR club, Alexandria YRs. I gave up friends. I gave up Blondes vs Brunettes (you notice I've not asked for support for the Alzheimer's Assn this year). And a myriad of other things. EVERYTHING in my life took a back-burner to my job.

That's when I admitted to myself it was time to move on. I LOVED the Member of Congress. I loved being one of the best at what I was doing, but I hated the life I was living day-to-day.

After months of going back and forth, I finally made the decision to officially accept any of the positions I had been interviewing for. Because while this is when I accepted my decision, I had most definitely been thinking about switching offices in the months prior.

As for the rest of the story... that will just have to come in a latter post.

Until next time...