thatShortChick

what I wore wednesday: brown & gold

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:03:00 +0000

Happy almost-weekend!! It's another edition of WIWW and the colors that I wore today are quite similar to what I wore last week. oops? oh well...let's get right to the outfit details.

cream cardigan: banana republic factory outlet
gold camisole: forever 21
gold watch: fossil
brown skinny pants: forever 21
leopard flats: forever 21
(no necklace because I rocked a thick camel-colored scarf all day to fend off the office freeze)

Thank God we're over the hump and the weekend is in view! weekend weekened weekend...that's all my brain is focused on for the next two days, quite frankly.

gettin' hot & sweaty with zumba

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:15:00 +0000

Folks, I've got a new side piece....thy name is ZUMBA.

(actually, it's more of a rekindling-type of thing)

I took zumba for the first time my last year in college as I saw my days of having free access to a great gym dwindling. I ended up taking a couple of random cardio classes in-between my regular sweat sessions on the treadmill/bike/elliptical/etc. One of those classes was zumba and, although the instructor was this over-sexed Usher wannabe, I loved it. anytime, I'm smiling through beads of sweat, I'm doing something right.

Cut to a year after graduation, I joined a local gym with the intention of taking zumba classes there. I took one and it sucked. The music was awful, the instructor was 'eh' at best and it just wasn't what I knew zumba to be. I didn't try other gyms because, eventually, I learned that I'm just not a gym person. (There, I also learned that I'm not a fan of spin class either which you can read about here) Meanwhile, throughout this time, it seemed like everybody and their sister was talking about their love of zumba. Even my favorite daytime drinkers, Kathie Lee & Hoda, shook their hips on the plaza with Zumba founder Beto Perez:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

As luck would have it, this month my local groupon had a great offer for unlimited zumba classes offered through a new-to-me dance fitness company, Queen City DanceOut, based throughout Charlotte. I bought it and mentioned it to my mom who, surprisingly, expressed her interest in doing it. I started last week and it's like me and zumba were never even on a break. My mom even liked it and she doesn't even enjoy dancing at parties!

The classes allow me to move it, move it and sweat so good. I leave class feeling energized and not really ready to leave. Plus, zumba is allowing my mom and I to get in some valid cardio instead of laps around the mall.

The QCDO instructors and team are so helpful, encouraging, and fun. If you live in Charlotte, I HIGHLY recommend you find a class nearby your neighborhood (they offer seventy classes throughout the week. SEVENTY) and run there. Even better? your first class is free!

Are you a big zumba fan also? What are your favorite type of exercise classes?

what I wore wednesday: brown & tan

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:48:00 +0000

Hello...it's another edition of WIWW (two in a row, so far so good right?)

This week at work, we're being visited by our client so that means making sure outfits are looking a little bit more "professional."

brown blazer: macy's
tan shirt: the loft
leopard belt: H&M
khaki pants: petite sophisticate outlet
leopard flats: forever 21

I wore a tan scarf with this outfit instead of a necklace because my cube happens to be in a very drafty area, so I'm usually covered in multiple layers throughout most of the day.

sidebar: does anyone have any suggestions/ideas for housewarming gifts? my friend from college just moved into her new place and I want to send her something that has a "home-y" feel.

spicy tomato soup...make it because it's good

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:25:00 +0000

seriously, it is.

I happened to be browsing one of my favorite food blogs, Iowa Girl Eats, and she shared a soup recipe from Giada as one of her friday favorites. It sounded easy and delicious enough, so it was instantly bookmarked and then promptly made.

The recipe (courtesy of Giada DeLaurentiis):

Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce (recommended: San Marzano brand)
2 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Warm the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onion, and garlic and saute until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the jar of marinara sauce, chicken broth, cannellini beans, red pepper flakes, pasta, salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes. Ladle into bowls and serve.

my prepared soup (used seashell-like noodles because we were out of ditalini) + grilled cheese = so delicious

I could eat this almost every day.

(if you want prettier pictures of the soup, click here)

what I wore wednesday: black + florals

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:29:00 +0000

I am not the chick who can find the time to take pictures of her daily outfits. I thought I was but I'm not. BUT! I can find the time to do it once a week and then post it here....hopefully.

Hence What I Wore Wednesday!

Today was pretty dreary with the torrential rains and wind so I wasn't up for wearing too much color. I knew I wanted to wear black or gray (I usually lean toward dark colors when it's rainy outside), so I decided to pull out a skirt that I bought on sale during the summer that had just enough color thanks to the muted floral pattern.

black shirt: target
camel scarf: old navy (from about four years ago)
gold watch: fossil (here)
skirt: nordstrom's
black tights: forever 21 (here)
slouchy black boots: marshall's

(I'll post links to items that I wore only if they're able to be found online)

January Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Happy 2012!! I hope all of your new year's eve plans went off without a hitch! I, on the other hand, was cooped up inside because I was in the boughs of the worst cold or flu I ever experienced. Seriously, I was sick for over a week and a half. and unfortunately, my doctor was out so I couldn't even get a proper diagnosis because I'm pretty sure it was more severe than a cold. so I was poppin' bottles all right...medicine cap bottles.

say hello to my little friends...

Thankfully, I'm feeling much better to still enjoy that 'new car smell' of 2012. To kick start this new year, I re-read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Actually, I finished it this time. I read half of it in 2009 while on loan from the library but I never finished it during the loan period and since it was on a wait list, I couldn't renew it without getting back on the wait list.

and cue the lightbulb moments. Gretchen starts off the book with this little gem: "the days are long but the years are short." Whenever you're going through something, like getting your bachelor's/doctorate/master's/etc, dealing with unemployment, whatever...those actual days during that time period seem endless but once everything is all said and done, you find yourself marveling at how much time has passed since then. So you may as well fill those seemingly long days with some happy.

She devised her own twelve commandments, four splendid truths, secrets of adulthood, and month-by-month resolutions to ensure that she worked on including happiness in every aspect of her every day life. She chose the term resolutions because "you keep resolutions and hit goals." Goals have specific, measurable conclusions; resolutions provide varied results. To follow in her foot steps, I'm going to focus on my own month-by-month resolutions.

For January, I aim to focus on:

>exercising kindess to others. I tend to get a little sarcastic and snippy sometimes, so instead of using that energy for a smart-ass comment, I'm going to turn that thought into a nicer, gentler comment. or just keep my mouth shut. (we'll see)
>increasing my natural energy. and what I mean by that is finding ways to increase my natural energy. I want to be one of those people who jump out of bed in the morning and burst into song because that's what people with energy do, right? I don't want to always rely on a cup of coffee in the morning (but...oh, glorious coffee) nor do I want to feel run-down at the end of day.
>indulging in a little vanity. I may be a girly-girl but I'm not all that skilled in the make up arena. I'm on the hunt for a smokin' hot red lipstick and a blush that won't make me look like I'm a pageant contestant.

January? let's do this.

2-0-1-1

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:07:00 +0000

I've been seeing this year-end meme floating around blogs and figured that I'd have a go at it. plus, I love year-end recaps!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

sadly, I can't think of anything.
**EDITED TO ADD: I just remembered that I saw his Purple Highness aka Prince in concert for the first time in March!

I went with my cousin who is a HUUUUGE Prince fan and we had an amazing time dancing in our amazing seats. He played all of hits and actually let it rain purplish confetti over the audience during the song. If Prince ever comes to your city, RUN for tickets! The man puts on a high-energy show and his concert is worth every single penny.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

let's see: my 2011 goals were to exercise, land a job at a local nonprofit organization, make more friends locally, explore the city of Charlotte by visiting museums/seeing shows/etc, take more pictures and appreciate my long-standing friendships.

I SUCCEEDED at: making local friends (and I'm counting the fact that my I've made some great friendships with my coworkers), exploring Charlotte (I saw a total of six broadway shows when they made stops in Charlotte this year) and took appreciation of my long-standing friendships (I sent handwritten letters, sent gifts 'just because.'

I FAILED at: exercising, landing a job at a nonprofit (unfortunately, that's so out of my control) and taking more pictures. I did get a new camera for christmas so maybe I have a better chance in 2012?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not technically this year but my childhood friend had her baby girl (whom I am obsessed with) in December of 2010. Every time I'm sent pictures of her, I spend hours making googly faces at her/them.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

sadly, yes. one of my really good friends, Melissa (I used to work with her in NJ and we kept in touch once I moved by writing each other letters each month) passed away at 24 due to myocarditis. I know, you're probably thinking, 'what the heck is that?!' and I still do even though I've read the description a million times by now.

in laymen's terms: it's a viral infection of the heart and imflammation of the heart muscle. It's almost like a heart attack but without the blocked blood vessels. There are rarely any signs/symptons which makes it all the more devastating.

It was a hard week in May when I found out but I think of her daily and donated to the Myocarditis Foundation in her honor.

5. What countries did you visit?
I strictly stayed in the good ol' US of A!

I visited NYC for my 25th birthday...

D.C. for Memorial weekend...

myrtle beach in June....

and then back to jersey for a baptism

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011?

a job that doesn't crush my spirit. I know, I know, here I am complaining about a job AGAIN but my current work place leaves much to be desired.

also. a boyfriend. again, I know. UGH. but I'm tired of being single, however, that doesn't mean I'm ready to latch onto any ol' schmo who winks at me.

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

march 5th - my 25th birthday. it was spent in NYC with my best friend and we had a blast.
may 29th - the day I learned of my friend's death.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

saving money. allow me to toot my own horn here, but I did a really great job at saving. this was the first year that I really got serious, made a plan, and stuck with it.

9. What was your biggest failure?

not exercising regularly. major #FAIL.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

None other than your standard cold.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

plane tickets! but other than that, I bought a great camel-colored trench coat from H&M, opaque tights in grey & red colors from the simply vera wang line at Kohl's (her line of tights are top-notch! and I got both pairs for under $10 each!) and a pair of TOMS.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

my mom. forever and always, this woman impresses me on a daily basis.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

one of my aunts. Her behavior hasn't depressed me but it makes me very sad for what she has become and how she lashes out at others.

also, my paternal grandma. she did and said some awful things about my dad this year. (too long of a story).

14. Where did most of your money go?

easy...TARGET!

15. What did you get really excited about?

Every time I went out of town.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a)about the same
b)same
c)thankfully, richer (preface: I'm not rolling in dolla dolla bills, yo)

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercise, exercise, exercise.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

complain.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

you can read all about my Christmas here.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

sadly, nope. but I have hope that it's coming!

22. What were your favorite TV programs?

Happy Endings (seriously, WATCH. THIS. SHOW)
2 Broke Girls
The New Girl
Revenge
Pan Am

23. What was the best book you read?

Bossypants by Tina Fey
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I 'discovered' this country girl group called Pistol Annies that's fronted by Miranda Lambert. Their music is sassy & bawdy. Their hit single, "Hell on Heels," pretty much tells you all you need to know about them.

25. What did you want and get?

to travel more.

26. What did you want and not get?

a better job and to fall in love.

27. What was your favorite film of 2011?

crazy, stupid love. although it wasn't my absolute favorite, I really liked it. I can't think of a single movie that came out this year that I loved.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 25 - woop, woop! I flew to NYC and spent the weekend with my best friend exploring more touristy parts of the city we don't normally visit when we go there. We stopped by the MOMA + gift store, Doughnut Plant, NY Public Library and, of course, did some shopping.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

having someone to share all my ups & downs with (yeah, I went there again).

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011 ?

leggings! give me big, loose-fitting top, some leggings and a pair of flats or boots and I'm happy!

31. What kept you sane?

my mom, best friend, listening to adele, and soy iced coffee.

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

'gay marriage.' or, rather, allowing gays to get married. reading that sentence with the word 'allow' just seems ridiculous. two adults should be able to get married no matter what gender they choose to love.

33. Who did you miss?

Same as always: my jersey girls, despite spending hours texting back & forth.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

that life is so fragile and to speak my mind.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Ever since I read this quote by Mrs. Obama, I've been repeating it to anyone who will listen:

"I’m louder than the average human being and have no fear of speaking my mind. These traits don’t come for the color of my skin but from an unwavering belief in my own intelligence."

Christmas '11

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:03:00 +0000

I know most of you are still on some sort of a holiday high filling up on leftovers, reading and watching some TV on DVD box sets because that's what these 'in-between' days (the days between Christmas & New Year's) are for doing. I'm currently getting over a cold that I picked up from a family member who shall remain nameless.

As for the short chick clan, we had a very Merry Christmas! We kicked things off on Christmas Eve by going to my cousin's annual christmas eve shinding that involved appetizer-type of foods (buffalo wings, pigs in a blanket, chicken salad + crackers, mini sandwiches, etc), games and presents!

(all of the presents before their unwrapping demolition)

My family loves to play games - our personal favorites include the not-so-newlywed game played by all of the ~~old~~ married couples (so. much. fun.), wheel of fortune (without the wheel). This time, the games had the added addition of most of its participants already slightly ~~drunk~~ buzzed, so the answers were quite hilarious that we ended giving the party a subtitle: #blameitonthealcohol

The younger folks ended up staying up quite late so we rung in Christmas day by watching the most campy "scary" movies: Pirahna and Final Destination 5. Seriously, these movies MUST be watched with a group because hilarious commentary will ensue!

Both of those films totally scream celebrating the birth of baby Jesus, no?

Christmas was spent sleeping in a little bit, enjoying a lazy breakfast, lounging on the couch while watching my little cousins play with their gifts (apparently Santa brings seven-year-olds iPads these days...um, WHAT?!), playing angry birds and then eating dinner at my grandma's house.

In all, it was a great weekend filled with love, good food, gifts and laughter. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

wishes of joy + happiness

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:36:00 +0000

(our christmas tree)

Whatever holiday you may celebrate, I hope you have a very merry & happy next few days.

Hey Santa...

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:27:00 +0000

Like every other blogger out there, I put together a list of some things that I hope end up under the Christmas tree this year.

Gratefully, my 'wants' are pretty minimal but....they are a tad expensive. #champagnetaste

Kindle - Yes, I was one of those who fought & fought acceptance of e-readers but I was sold when I made my last trip to jersey in October. I usually bring a book with me that gets finished by the time I reach my destination, consquently, when I make my return trip home, I'm fiddling with my thumbs. With the kindle? thousands of book titles available in my hot little hands. also? great to carry with me on road trips, going to the hair salon, while getting a pedicure...possibilities are endless!

Kindle cover - (I asked for a kindle and I know there's a pretty good chance I'm getting one :) I need some recommendations for cute ones! I remember seeing some covers that looked like book covers but I can't remember where they can be found. Help please?

Clarisonic brush - seriously, every single women's beauty magazine has listed this thing as a "must have." even my best-friend-in-my-head Mindy Kaling has written about her love for the brush. I've been on quite the struggle with clear skin this year (for some reason I all of a sudden have a case of acne that rivals that of a fifteen year old's. GOOD TIMES.) so this thing may help me win the battle.

Leopard gloves, particulary these from Banana Republic:

so chic, right?

Michael Kors watch - I originally purchased one during the summer when Nordstrom had their Anniversary sale but after I placed my order online, I received an email from Nordstrom a few weeks later informing me that my order "could not be processed because of an overwhelming demand." However, in the time since, I've found some watches at Fossil that look quite similar. Either way, I'll be happy.

(MK watch on the left, Fossil watch on the right)

The Complete Series of the West Wing - Amazon had the series on sale for $89 all last week but since I'm in the middle of buying for others, I couldn't bring myself to make that kind of splurge right now. Hopefully, it'll get reduced again by the end of this year or sometime soon in the new year.

Are you done shopping for others? What's on your list this year?

Thanksgiving '11 + Azure Skye wine review

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

With my family, our motto is to let the food do the talking. My grandma and mom take the helm of preparation and cooking, spending weeks making sure they have included a balanced mix of classic and new dishes. My parents and I drove up to my grandma's house where we joined the remaining fifteen other members of our family. This year was considered a light year considering the number of family members and guests.

My grandma and mom really brought their 'A' game this year with a Thanksgiving menu that included:

Turkey...well, duh
macaroni and cheese
lasagna
zucchini and squash casserole (recipe) which a new dish this year!
cabbage
collard greens
mashed potatoes&gravy
stuffing
fried chicken wings
deviled eggs
corn
homemade yeast rolls & cornbread

(my plate) Desserts included my grandma's famous peach cobbler, sweet potato pie, not yo mama's banana pudding (recipe), sweet potato struesel cake, and a fruit trifle cake:

Served along with our Thanksgiving meal was a black cherry pinot noir by Azure Skye Beverages. Azure Skye* happens to be produced and bottled in Charlotte. They specialize in making "premium social wines for serious social wine drinkers."

Earlier this month, my dad bought bottles of their pinot, prosecco, and moscato based solely on the fact that it was produced in charlotte (he's an easy sell!) We decided to save the bottle of pinot for Thanksgiving because I had read that it pairs well with turkey. and we were pleasantly surprised! We are all typically white wine fans and finding a red that is universally enjoyed is quite difficult to accomplish with us. The black cherry flavor was subtle and it wasn't too sweet in that it overwhelmed the flavors of our meal. It absolutely tasted amazing with the turkey and the other side dishes. One of my cousins ended up taking the bottle of moscato but we still have prosecco left which will probably make an appearance on New Year's Eve! Thanks Azure Skye for making this family newly-minted fans of red wine! What were your favorite dishes this Thanksgiving? Try anything new?

*Azure Skye did not provide me or my family with any wine nor did they ask me for a review.

my holiday happy list

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

I don't know what it is about this year, but just right before Halloween, I found myself getting excited about the holiday season. Like, an eight-year-old-anticipating-a-bike-with-a-big-red-bow-under-the-christmas-tree EXCITED. I've had visions of store displays dressed in their holiday best, decorating the tree, and wrapping presents all dancing around my head. A little bit ago, Amy from Just a Titch shared her holiday to-do list and I just knew that I had to post something similar.

(via)

We all know that giving is better than receiving so I thought I'd share a list of my favorite ways to savor the holiday season:

Decorating the tree with my mom with christmas music or movies on in the background (we use an artificial. my dad's anxiety would hit the roof if he had to deal with picking up pine needles from the floor).
Watching Elf, The Holiday, and You've Got Mail. back to back, preferably.
Watching all of the Ludachristmas episodes from 30 Rock and the Benihana christmas episode from The Office.
Blasting christmas music in my car every day throughout December.
Drinking soy peppermint mochas (in moderation!) while shopping.
Sending christmas cards to friends.
Donating to a local nonprofit organization.
Picking the name of a child from the Angel Tree and buying him/her a christmas gift. (click here to find an angel tree in your area or donate to the organization)

Hopefully, this year I'll be able to go see a christmas-themed show at a local theater and work on my wrapping skills....as in, develop some. How do you enjoy the holiday season?

Keep calm and gobble on

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:01:00 +0000

amen.

I'm so incredibly thankful that I'm spending Thanksgiving with the ones I love while chowing down on foods that I love.

I wish you all a day filled with happiness, laughter, full bellies and gratitude.

(image via)

I'm a fan of breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:30:00 +0000

(via)

Simply put, I love breakfast. and I love it in the morning just as much as when I decide to switch it up and have it for dinner.

Not only is it the most important meal of the day but it provides ample opportunities to properly fuel up in the morning. Sweet, savory, salty, carbo-loaded, or purely caffeinated, breakfast is just good for you. and not too get all maternal on you, I do hope you start your day with something - your metabolism thanks you.

Throughout the work week, my breakfasts have to be quick and easy (#TWSS, sorry):

overnight oats (I've found that adding baked apples* and pumpkin granola make it more fall-friendly)
eggs-in-a-hole using the pioneer woman's recipe
frozen whole wheat waffles with peanut butter & bananas
multigrain bagels with peanut butter

All hearty, full of fiber, and protein so my stomach can stay full until lunch time. As for the weekends, I look forward to indulging in breakfast (as well as sleep!). I like to linger in the kitchen preparing something that I don't have a chance to monday through friday:

pumpkin banana oatmeal - specifically, using this recipe

"grilled elvis" french toast - using this recipe which looks like this:

What are your favorite weekday or weekend breakfasts?

*to make baked apples, just cut up apples into bite-sized pieces, drop in a glass bowl, give them a healthy sprinkle of cinnamon, add your favorite sweetener (I use a few drops of agave), stir, and then microwave for two minutes. enjoy!*

what I wear on the weekends: autumn edition

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:25:00 +0000

I apologize for the lack of consistent WIWTW posts but this chick has been busy and taking pictures of my daily outfits is just one of the many things that have hit the back burner in the past few weeks.

Instead of bringing you pictures of last week's outfits, I thought I'd share my weekend 'uniform,' for the fall season, that is.

mustard sweater: forever 21
grey scarf: TJ Maxx
white tee: old navy
dark denim skinny jeans: delia*s
grey TOMS: nordstrom

If I'm not in that outfit, then my other weekend look involves leggings & a tunic or large sweater, scarf and boots. very similar to how ms. alba looks here:

(via)

Do you have a 'weekend uniform?'

thirty years: diamonds and pearls?

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:42:00 +0000

In a little less than three weeks, my parents will be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary and I'm completely stumped as to what to give them.

As an only child, I feel like there is major pressure for me to lavish them with something truly special. and this is also a time when I wish I had another sibling to share this reponsibility (yes, I have a half-sister but it's just not the same). Not only have they reached a admirable milestone in their marriage but they've been amazing parents while doing so. For me, they have provided the utmost, outstanding example of how hard, rewarding, difficult, annoying, fun, worthwhile, sad, frustrating, happy and joyous a union can be in this fickle society. As a result, I want to celebrate them by giving them something that shows my appreciation....but on a budget.

Now in a brief google search, 30th anniversary presents revolve around diamonds or pearls. Yeah, unfortunately, that's not happening with this girl's salary. For their 20th anniversary, my dad surprised my mom with a vow renewal ceremony that involved our entire family. They're not big fans of travelling, they only have one favorite restaurant (and I treat them to dinner there every time) and enjoy spending time at home. So my gift options are pretty slim.

My dear readers, any suggestions for anniversary gifts? I'm stumped.

**I've updated my reader link, click here to subscribe if you're so inclined***

that evil battle between what I want to be doing vs what I actually am doing

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:30:00 +0000

As most twenty-somethings, I'm struggling to carve out my own path in the world. I know what I want to do, where I want to be but the journey getting to the mythical THERE is proving to be quite challenging. and I feel like I'm running out of time because I'm 25 and halfway to thirty which means I'm going to need to have my act together.

What I Want To Do:
I want to work for a nonprofit organization, namely for First Book. Ever since I started college, I've had my sights set on being a communications or volunteer coordinator for an organization that promotes literacy. I have so many reasons for wanting to work in the nonprofit field that it deserves its own post.

What I Actually Am Doing:
I work in sales and marketing for a nationally-known (and internationally) shipping company. So not my dream job but it's providing for some stability which my previous job (working in retail) absolutely did not. I've been there for exactly a year now and, every week, I mentally beat myself up for continuing to stay at job that I'm not satisfied with but unable to land a position doing what I want to do. and yes, I am and have been applying for other jobs.

What I Want To Do:
I want to move to DC. Ever since my jersey trip, I realized that moving back to new jersey would not be the best move, personally nor professionally. Intially, I thought moving back would be THE ANSWER but it is most definitely not and I thank God for that trip and eventual revelation. DC is geographically-desirable, right between jersey & charlotte and is pretty much the homeland for all things nonprofit. I visited a friend for memorial weekend and kinda fell in love with that city. However, the COST OF LIVING? my sweet mercy.

What I Actually Am Doing:
I'm still living at home with my parents in Charlotte. I don't have to worry about any living nor car expenses. It's a great arrangement, however, I'm twenty-five and still living at home. It's time for me to be out on my own.

What I Want To Do:
I want to be exercising more regularly. Since I work 9-6 at a desk job, no less, I need to be active. I want to have a work-out regimen that consists of running, some sort of cardio class (zumba, bodypump, etc) and yoga.

What I Actually Am Doing:
Not much of anything, for shame. I'll do an ocassional sit up or two, jumping jacks or anything else that I can do quickly in my room when I come home. but that's not daily, that's only when I think about doing something. I used to run outside regularly during the spring and summer but it's near dark now when I come home and I'm not really a fan of gyms.

What I Want To Do:
I want to be in love or at least 'deep like' with someone. I'm at a point in life where I want to be part of a team that takes on activities, holidays, celebrations, tough times and so on.

What I Actually Am Doing:
I'm single and not sure where else I need to be looking. Admittedly, though, I haven't really been looking that hard because I like staying home, maybe inappropriately like it too much. I don't go to bars or clubs and when I do go out, I'm trying to enjoy myself and my company and not focus on any eligible men in the room. Now, in the times that men have been brave enough to flirt with me (I say brave enough because most men think that I'm barely legal or jail-bait), they are not that types that I'm attracted to.

Now that I've listed some of these things, it's becoming clear to me that I may have a case of getting in my own way. Now, the job market is not anything I can control but in the other scenarios? I could be making more proactive choices to get me closer to my goals than just thinking about doing so.

How about any of you? Are you struggling with a mental list of what you want to be doing instead of what you're actually doing?

this is my life...

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:01:00 +0000

(source)

I'm working overtime this week and am completely behind in most aspects of my life. most importantly, sleep. I'm so tired that I actually cried from being so tired. This week has been the very definition of ugly. Thankfully, there's only two more days left.

oh weekend? I know it's coming and I can almost taste it, but I'll honestly be too busy sleeping through it.

What I wore this week: I've got spirit

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:27:00 +0000

Because of my jersey trip, I took monday and tuesday off from work so I had a delightfully short work week this week. However, I only took a picture of my thursday outfit because wednesday was a little rough for me in getting out the door.

striped button down shirt: target
purple shirt: target
necklace: claire's or the icing
khaki pants: banana republic factory outlet

Coincidentally, thursday, October 20th was Spirit Day.

"Millions of Americans wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Observed annually on October 20, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag." (glaad)

jersey weekend recap: broadway, bugs and a baptism

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:32:00 +0000

I'm back from my whirlwind weekend in jersey, sweating through a heat wave that decided to make a stop in Charlotte and lamenting the fact that I have to go back to work. But I must the cover the very important business of sharing how I spent the weekend.

saturday:
I woke up bright and early to catch my 10:00 am flight to newark. I grabbed a banana and my customary cup of chobani yogurt (mango-flavored) on my way out the door. I must have a chobani yogurt every time I catch a flight because my consumption obviously contributes to keeping the plane in the air and it landing safely.

The ride was a tad bumpy toward decension because apparently jersey was experiencing a "wind situation" and we got to fly right through it. Nonetheless, we landed!

(my feet on jersey soil)

After touching down in jersey, me and my best friend immediately made our way to the train station to head into the city. Once there, we did our usual wandering around and then picked up some tickets to see Sister Act at the TKTS booth. There were no lines and we got tickets 50% off for thirteenth row seats!

The show was good but the opening number was severly lacking in the 'OOMPH' factor. An opening musical number should be exciting and this sequence sadly was not. However, the rest of the show more than made up for the beginning.

After the show, he hit up a couple of H&M's (and I mean my debit card got majorly jacked up) which worked up quite an appetite and we decided to go to El Rio Grande. We ordered a pitcher of red sangria (DELICIOUS SANGRIA!) and noshed on their delicious, complimentary chips and homemade salsa until they brought out our entrees.

I ordered the vegetable enchiladas with black beans & rice:

(sorry for the poor blackberry camera quality)

and my friend ordered the ensalada de pollo (chicken salad):

All was good until my friend noticed a ladybug was hanging out in her lettuce(!!) She brought it to the waiter's attention and he apologized and quickly brought her out a different entree. But, the manager never came over to apologize. Her entrees were free but the whole situation just seemed like something they'd experienced in the past and there just wasn't any real remorse for the restaurant SERVING BUG-INFESTED MEALS TO A CUSTOMER. no bueno el rio, no bueno.

sunday:

We stopped by quikcheck so I could get my much-missed cup of coffee and went off to help celebrate my friend's daughter's baptism who happens to be the cutest, happiest, most beautiful baby girl currently on this earth. I would post pictures but I don't feel like I have the right to post pictures of someone else's baby on my personal blog, especially since I'm not related to her. It was just a wonderful time spent with some real fabulous jersey ladies.

After the baptism, my friend and I were itching to go out and enjoy the rest of the ridiculously gorgeous weather that day but opportunities to go pumpkin/flower picking had to be passed on because the farms closed at six. So, the next best thing? GREAT ADVENTURE aka six flags, of course!

We rode all of the major rollercoasters and left with sore necks, backs and legs and recuperated with some diner food.

monday:
We grabbed breakfast at panera and I finally got to try the pink ribbon bagel (SO GOOD!) and we made a couple stops at kohl's and marshall's. I had a 3 pm flight and was back in Charlotte by 4:30 where I was welcomed with a gust of hot air once I walked out.

In all, it was a perfect weekend. I miss my friends dearly but I realized for the first time how small my old town is. Although I'm not in love with living in Charlotte, I do like how the city is spread out, the accesibility to many great restaurants and sights. I just need to work harder on 'making it work' down here.

what I wore this week (and last)

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 02:16:00 +0000

It's another edition of WIWTW and it includes outfits from last week and a couple from this week because I've been running around like I may be new to the world and haven't much time for anything. I leave for jersey tomorrow morning (!!!) and I've been busy packing, errand running, working and losing my mind. Needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to fitting in a siesta on the plane.

onto what I wore:

Last week, Oct. 3- 5th (I decided to wear jeans last Thursday because I just couldn't get myself together to get dressed like a professional. Also, we currently have the option to wear jeans during the week so long as we donate to United Way)

Monday:

purple sweater: ann taylor factory outlet
leopard print belt: H&M
black pants: petite sophisticate outlet
black, pointy flats: target

Tuesday:

teal sweater: banana republic factory outlet
white tank: forever 21
"pearl" necklace: claire's or the icing
gray pants: petite sophisticate outlet
black flats: steve madden via off broadway shoes

Wednesday:

(I actually took this in my room!)
blue cardigan: the loft outlet
blue & white shirt: banana republic factory outlet
belt: forever 21
khaki pants: banana republic factory outlet
(unpictured)tan shoes: target

This week - I only took two pictures because again, I had a case of the I-couldn't-get-myself-together.

Monday:

brown sweater: the Loft outlet
brown cami: banana republic factory outlet
pink necklace: forever 21
khaki pants: petite sophisticate outlet
brown shoes: off broadway shoes

Wednesday:

green cardigan: target
salmon-ish colored tank: target
belt: forever 21
khaki pants: banana republic factory outlet

Hope you had a great week and have an even better weekend!

jersey bound for the weekend

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:52:00 +0000

"I am from NJ. I curse... a lot. I sure as hell don't pump my own gas. I know what real pizza tastes like, and I know that a bagel is much more than a fuckin' roll with a hole in the middle. I judge people by what exit they get off the parkway. I can navigate a circle--with attitude. All good nights must end at a diner--preferably with cheese fries. It's a sub, not a hoagie or, worse yet, a hero, and I wash it down with soda, not pop. I don't go to the beach, I go down the shore. And boardwalk brawls are just a part of the atmosphere. Yes, I drink cawfee. I know that 65mph really means 80. I've always lived within 10 minutes of a mall. When someone cuts me off, they get the horn AND the finger. And they expect it. I am from New Jersey, and damn proud of it."

I wish I knew the origin of this quote other than it having been the FB status update of no less than 50 of my friends in the past few years.

Posting has been a little sparse this week because I've been both running around checking things off my checklist and jumping up & down like a kid on christmas eve because I'm heading back to my home land aka NEW JERSEY this weekend.

It's no secret that I miss jersey (for all of its gloriously bad and good). However, it's not because of the things: the great malls, proximity to the city, great pizza, NOT pumping one's gas, and so on, but it's because of my friends. It's true, jersey girls are made like no other and my jersey girls are simply the best.

The last time I visited was last November for my friend's baby shower. Now, I'm going back to celebrate the baptism of that same friend's little girl who's turning ten months.

TIME? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME?!

This weekend, I look forward to the return of my suddenly thicker jersey accent, sipping some quikcheck coffee, hopping on the train to head into the city to see a show (hopefully seeing Sister Act), shopping at H&M (CHARLOTTE NEEDS ONE!) and some hardcore belly laughs. I can't wait.

What's in your bag? Trader Joe's edition

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first of a series of What's In Your Bag? posts. Monthly, I'll share what I usually purchase whenever I go to a larger-known or chain store because whenever I'm shopping, my eyes tend to glance over at others' carts/baskets just to see what they come to get.

First up, Trader Joe's! When I lived in jersey, I never heard of/nor lived any where near a trader joe's. It wasn't until I moved to Charlotte and a couple of the stores popped up nearby about three years ago. I only became interested in the place because my former co-worker used to gush&gush over the trader joe's that she frequented when she lived in DC. Curiosity will always kill this cat, so when one opened up about 10 minutes from me, I high-tailed it down there and it's been adoration ever since.

I usually make a once-to-twice monthly shopping trip and try to go on saturday mornings to avoid the bulk of the crowds.

These are the staples usually in my trader joe's resusable bag (because I will win that raffle one day!):

unsweetened vanilla almond milk

original tandori naan

multi-grain puffins (so much better than the original)

either chocolate chip cookie or smores ice cream sandwiches

white cheddar popcorn (caution: a whole bag of this solely left under my supervision may disappear in a half hour)

unsweetened dried mango slices

lemon-flavored or lime-flavored sparkling water

veggie fried rice

almond or sunflower butter

plain or vanilla fat free greek yogurt

turkey chili

Seasonally, I usually pick up anything pumpkin flavored (pumpkin butter, waffle/muffin mix, etc) and candy cane joe-joes.

What's usually in your trader joe's bag?

So what's the big deal about Erin Condren life planners?

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Aside from that sentence being my reaction when I initially saw how much one cost, my curiosity would peak every time I saw someone tweet about their just-delivered planner.

If you've never heard of Erin Condren, she's like the belle of the personalized, paper product ball. She creates stationary, gift labels, calendars, business cards, planners, etc., with her signature use of bright colors and bold fonts. You're able to create any of those items using your own photo(s) or a variety of her prints.

I decided to go ahead and place an order for a life planner because I was reaching a point where I kept misplacing all of the post-its on which I would write "little reminders" or shopping lists. Also, my brain was tired of trying to keep track of what I needed to do/when and typing into my blackberry didn't always work because I would forget that I even typed it in there. naturally. Point? an organized me equals a happy me.

I missed the time frame to purchase a groupon for erin's products as well as a deal that was available on another one of those similar sites, so I did some sleuthing around the Internet to see if there was a coupon code posted somewhere. Luckily, I found one that saved me $25 on my order (email me if interested in the code!) and excitedly awaited the two weeks for my planner to arrive. I chose the 'lattice' style in yellow & gray:

And this is how it looked when it arrived:

(name has been blurred)

What I liked:
>Loved the detail given to the presentation and the fact that my order came with the bonus of personalized, adhesive gift labels (just in time for the holidays!).
>The condren customer service team - they're very responsive via email or twitter!
>Stickers! there are preprinted stickers for baby showers, weddings, concerts, vacations, etc., as well as blank ones that you can categorize as you so choose on your calendar.
>Clear pocket and folder - I like that I have a spot to stick all of loose-end pieces of paper
>Plenty of blank, lined pages to jot down any ideas, lists, whatever

What I disliked:
>I was shocked by the ENORMOUS size of the planner. Like, how in the world am I going to carry this thing around? I regularly carry big bags that are already heavy and this thing only adds to the heft.

(this is what it looks like stuffed into my bag - it's a tight fit)
>The clear spiral ring that binds the planner only adds to the bulk.
>The tabs are not very durable and I suspect that by the end of this year, they'll look pretty raggedy.
>The price of the planner caused some wincing but the coupon code helped. a lot.
>I wish it was resusable/re-fillable. especially considering the price.

Overall, I like the planner and my brain is much happier now that I have a place to write down all of the stuff that gets jumbled around in there. But the size really hinders my desire to want to carry it daily because I don't always want to lug a big bag around. The dimensions of 7"x 9" are listed but I don't think the weight for the planners is listed. I would guess it's around two pounds. I could've easily been just as satisfied with a planner found at Target or my alma mater's campus bookstore (at a much cheaper price!). Hopefully, Erin has future plans to design a more compact version of the planner.

Do you own an erin condren planner? What do you like/dislike about it?

*Disclosure: I did not receive a planner nor any kind of compensation from erin condren inc in exchange for a review. I purchased the planner myself and these thoughts are all my own.*

What I wore this week: business casual according to Lauren Conrad

noreply@blogger.com (thatShortchick) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:57:00 +0000

I recently stumbled across Lauren Conrad's blog (she's the only one from the Laguna era that I even give a second glance. audrina, kristin cav? both of them get the severe eyeroll treatment) and she shared her thoughts and favorite looks for dressing business-casual in the work place. My office is more on the laid-back scale of business-casual attire but I very much agree with her on that nothing neon or shiny should be worn. It only makes a person look cheap.

onto the outfits, shall we?

Monday:
Top - old navy
Necklace - forever 21
Pants - petite sophisticate outlet
Shoes - isaac mizrahi for target

Tuesday:
Sweater - the loft outlet
Cardigan - banana republic factory outlet
Brown Pants - kohl's
Shoes [not pictured] - gold thong sandals from target

Wednesday:
Top - the loft outlet
'pearl' necklace - claire's or the icing (same thing)
Pants - petite sophisticate outlet
Shoes - target

Thursday:
Top - old navy
Black cami - forever 21
Necklace - betsey johson (gift from my best friend)
Black pants - delia*s
Shoes [not pictured] - leopard flats from forever 21