The New Year's Resolutions are still intact!

For once in my lifetime, I am doing pretty well with my New Year's Resolutions. I thought I would fill you in since it has been almost a month since I swore I would change my ways! If you need refreshing on my NYR's, please check out this post.


I have been doing my best on the organization front. Some of my new tactic do include some pink and green finds, including these precious file folders that I found at T.J. Maxx the other day for $2 for a set of 10 (continue to read to see how I am doing on controlling the shopping). My closet is the most organized that I have ever seen it. I have everything color coded! And last but not least, I have started using my iCal calendar, which has proven to be invaluable. I always know where I am supposed to be when. Here is a little preview of my organized desk...


As for losing weight... I don't think that I have done that well with that one. BUT I have not relied on fast food nearly as much as I used to, and my diet has included much more fruits and vegetables. Oh and I have actually been working out a little here and there. Overall, I am feeling better and making healthier decision, minus the Lofthouse cookies that are sitting in my pantry! What I am struggling with the most is my addiction to Diet Coke. I know that it causes you to retain water weight. I must have at least 2 or 3 cans a day or I transform from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde! Please fill me in if you have any tips on how to cut the caffeine cravings!

On the job front... I don't officially start until May, but they have me doing a lot of pre-planning. I have kept up with the the work load pretty well, and it makes me get more excited every day. I thank God constantly that I have a stable job to go to right after graduation. In this economy, I know that it is becoming a rare find.

Last, and certainly one of the hardest NYR's to keep up with is my shopping addiction. I have done EXTREMELY well with this one. As you have seen on the blog, occasionally I will pick up some inexpensive happy's, but that doesn't break the bank account. I finally convinced myself that I do not need anything else to put on my body and that includes shoes (there is a post in the works for that situation). I want to keep the junk (oops... I mean things) to a minimal because I will have to schlep it away from here at the beginning of May. Yes, it is hard to resist the sales right now; but I have managed to control myself fairly well.

Beware!!

I never stop being amazed at how clever crooks are. They have now figured out how to use simple technology against you! My sorority sister just sent this to me, and I thought I would pass it along to yall!

GPS

A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they wereat a football match. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently
mounted on the dashboard.

When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen.

The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear th at they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.

MOBILE PHONE

I never thought of this.......
This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet... Etc...was stolen.

20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.'

When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

Moral of the lesson:

Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad , Mom, etc....

And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.

Also, when you're being text by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you.

Grograin Ribbon Accents

Inspired by everyone's craftiness, I decided to show you a preppy solution to a problem I had. My favorite shopaholic shower curtain shows window displays from different countries, so Tokyo has kimonos in the window, London has Burberry plaids, Paris has lingerie, New York has trench coats, etc. etc. I found it for our freshman dorm and have enjoyed it ever since. Unfortunately, it was ripped off the rod by a past Evil Roomie (can you believe that people are that mean?!). This action resulted in multiple holes for the shower curtain rings being broken, ultimately keeping it from being able to hang. :( I was determined to figure out a way to bring it back to life AND make it look cuter than it did originally.

Off to Michael's I went... and I came back with a roll of Ultra Stitch Witch and 2 rolls of black polka dot ribbon. Here is what the final product turned out looking like!


I used the thick ribbon to fold over either side of the top, and made sure to Stitch Witch both sides really well. Then I was able to hang it back on the rod, but I still felt like it needed a little something extra. This is where the thinner coordinating polka dot ribbon came in handy. I just knotted this ribbon onto the shower curtain rings, and let them dangle naturally.


After I got finished with this project, I decided that my bathroom clock was looking a little bland. I decided to use the leftover thick ribbon to add a bow accent. All I did was tie the ribbon in a bow and hot glue the ends to the back of the clock. I then hung the clock with a nail, and attached the bow to the wall with 3-M Poster Tape.


P.S. -- If you don't have a clock in your bathroom, you will be amazed at how it helps you get out the door on time. I am notorious for taking a long showers and completely loosing track of time. This way, my clock is right outside the shower; and I can gauge exactly how much time I have to get ready.

I need help from people that travel!!

I am leaving to go on a business trip this week, and I am having a slight problem with luggage. The only piece of rolling luggage that I own is a hot pink bag that I have had since the 7th grade. It has always served its purpose, because it is easy to spot at luggage claim! Now that I am entering the real world, since the pink is not really "business-like" I was thinking that it is time to trade it in for something new!

Most of the time, I will be going out of town for only 2-3 days at a time, so I am thinking that carry on size would be the best. Also, since they have started to charge for checking luggage, that would save a few dollars here and there.


So here is what I am thinking... my Vera Bradley collection is this pink and brown pansy pattern. I would like whatever I find to coordinate, since I will be carrying these pieces together a lot. Espresso brown seems to be the most logical answer, because it will not get dirty and is still different enough from the black, navy, and hunter luggage everyone else has.

Here is what I found at TJ Maxx for around $50 each. I'm not sure if I can get away with the 25" size for carry on, but I know that the bottom two are the right size.


The small one on the right caught my attention with the blue lining (which matches the blue on my Vera Bradley pattern). I know all this really doesn't matter in the end, but it is nice when things match! Let me know what you think I should go with; or if you can think of a better option, I am all ears!

The Search for Preppy Puppy Continues

I am sure many of you remember the cute Jack Russell/Shih Tzu mix that I found in November. Well, I didn't end up getting it. After much debate, I am leaning towards getting a big dog. I grew up with big dogs, and I was afraid of stepping all over a little creature.

I was watching the Today Show on Friday, and they were talking about the most popular AKC breeds. You can check out their segment on the top puppies here. As usual, the Labrador Retriever topped the list off.

2008 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Yorkshire Terrier

3. German Shepherd Dog

4. Golden Retriever

5. Beagle

6. Boxer

7. Dachshund

8. Bulldog

9. Poodle

10. Shih Tzu

I absolutely love my black lab, Hunter, that lives at my parent's home. We rescued him from the local animal shelter; but we swear that he is full blooded, because he has the most beautiful block head. So now I am leaning towards getting another boy black lab. Not only are they snuggly, but he will be able to go running with me. And best of all, when I live in the new house, he can scare away the big, bad wolves (hehe)!

If you have never seen the Southern Proper mascot Beau, please go check him out now. He is too precious! I would love for Preppy Puppy to look just like him :)

I have started to look on Petfinder, and there are plenty of labs to adopt. If you are interested in adopting, you can check out The Today Show's tips. I found two that look really promising, but one is in Kentucky and the other is in Georgia. With that kind of distance, I am hoping one will come up that is a little closer! I would love to snuggle with this little guy!


Adoption can be such a daunting task. Some of the shelters will not allow out of state adoptions, while other require a home visit that would make it impossible. I downloaded some of the applications and you would be amazed at what they ask you. A veterinary reference I can understand, but do they really need to know my income?! I know that all of the hassle will be worth it!

I cannot wait to welcome Preppy Puppy home, and let him wear his new Lilly P. collar!

Aren't the Weekends for Relaxing?!

I hate how house work piles up over the week, and the weekend is the only time to get it done!! Seriously... I have been avoiding doing laundry for 2 weeks and as you can see, I need to do it (this was only one of the piles!).

Five loads later, it is all done and put back in its place.

I have got to stop changing clothes so many times! It never fails that I will wake up and go to class in one outfit, change to go workout, and then change again to go out at night. One of my resolutions is to make an effort to stop the vicious cycle, and to not wait until I have to do a million loads. We will see how that pans out.

Still on the list of things to do is clean the kitchen and vacuum. Yucky! I am so not cut out to be a housewife. Maybe one day I will earn enough money to hire a housekeeper. We had one when I was growing up and she was basically part of the family. When I came to college it was a little bit of a shock when I had to do my own laundry and clean my room, but it has gotten much easier over the years.


My roommate sophomore year gave this to me... at first I think it offended me, but now I can laugh at it because it is so true! It hangs out behind my sink, and all my guy friends get a kick out of it. Call me high maintenance if you want, but cleaning is not my forte!

Back to housework I go! Hope yall are having an amazing weekend!

PINK SWAP!

Today both my partner and I received our packages from Kappa Prep's Pink Swap! What a way to start the weekend... it was such a treat to have a present waiting on me when I got home from school! THANK YOU CONSTANCE!!

Here is what she sent me...


It is all TOO CUTE!! I already put a picture of my BF and I in pink outfits in the frame. The cross is hanging over my door bedroom so that I can be blessed every time I leave! Also, I am waiting to put the luggage tags on my new luggage (please check back later this week to help... I have got to find luggage for a trip next weekend). And I am saving the bath mat for the new house... my shower curtain is a white waffle weave with a large pink monogram, so it will match perfectly (not to mention all of my pink towels)!! Oh and I loved the note she sent with it. It is the gerber daisey, which is my favorite flower!

Here is the package that I sent her...


I went with a theme for her package... including all things for the kitchen! I love the grapefruit soap and lotion from Williams-Sonoma, so I had to include that in there. Then the rest of the things were fun finds from Target including: pink and green dish towels, a pink heart kitchen towel, green scrubbers. pink and green dish gloves, and pink and green sponges, and the pink tub. I just could help but include a good amount of green in her package... it's just in my nature!! haha!

VV Sale :)

Vineyard Vines is second in line behind my obsession for Lilly. This really wasn't helped when a Vineyard Vines store opened up in my backyard. If you have never been to one of their stores, you really should! It is a whole new experience! I got this email this morning, and I am thinking this might be a really good excuse to make a VV purchase!

Here is what I am thinking about...

Women's Short Sleeve Polo in Ruby Red ($39.99)

Under the Sea Lazy Pants in Navy Blue ($24.99)


Seaward Stripe Stanwich Shirt in Honey Dew ($74.99)

Then I can't decide between getting a new tote bag or the Falmont Fleece... Oh well, I can't go wrong with either one!

Happy Shopping to all of you!

Is it too early to start decorating?

So I am not moving to my first house until May; but after seeing Target's new ad campaign, I really want to start decorating it now. Some of my favorite items are the woven natural rug and their kitchen bar stools. After seeing this collection, I am leaning towards having a blue and brown dining room (maybe with zebra print accessories). Anyways, it is fun to start thinking what my new house is going to look like!

Click on the picture below to check out all of the fun decorating ideas from Target.

Don't you love it when $4 makes your day!

Sorry that I have been MIA for a few days. I made the long haul back to the farm this weekend to get some work done and managed to squeeze in a nice long trail ride! I haven't been on a horse in 3 weeks, and let me tell you... my butt was sore the next day!


Here is one of my latest shopping finds that made me happy. It is a hand painted terracotta pot, that sits on top of the Lilly look-a-like pants. I have this nifty ledge on my bathroom mirror that now houses my find... I am thinking it will hold my makeup brushes.

Lilly P. Placemats

I got these lovely Lilly P. placemats for Christmas one year, and I have never used them because I didn't have napkins that matched. Now that is not the case, thanks to a recent trip to Tuesday Morning!! I found these pink, green, blue, and purple napkins that match my place mats perfectly!


I was thinking that I would use the pink and green napkins with the blue side, and the pink and blue napkins with the green side.

What I can't decide is whether or not I should get the napkins monogrammed. If I do get them done, what thread color should I use?

I just love what Lilly P. has to say on the back of the placemat box...

These four quilted placemats are not only vibrant and fun but they are reversible too! Now your table can look as cute as you do dressed in Lilly.

Check back later to see what other entertaining tips Lilly has to offer!

Gotta Love Target!

As usual, you go to Target looking for one thing and you walk out of there with way more than you came for!! Here are a few things I ran into and just love!

Aren't these place mats just precious?
The green ruffles on the edge have little polka dots. Tres Preppy!

This shower curtain would brighten up any bathroom.

These melamine place settings are fabulous.
They come in a 12 piece set.

Cute coasters are hard to come by!

You can never have too many kitchen towels!

I just thought that this tray would come in handy.

My 50th Post!

School is AMAZING!! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love my new classes. I get to have one of my favorite political science professors for the fourth time for a seminar, and I am learning tons in the American Law class. Both of my horse classes keep reminding me that you can never know everything about something (even if you have been studying it for over 10 years). Lastly, communications will be easy; but I know that I need to hone my presentation skills. You can never be too good at public speaking!

Now for the really fun stuff...

Lou Lou in Lilly tagged me in this game. If yall haven't been to her blog, please go right now and see the Spring Lilly line! She has a sneak peek, and it is truly divine.

Here are the rules:

1. Grab the nearest book.

2. Open to page 56.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the text of the next 2 to 5 sentences, along with these rules.

5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual book. Pick the CLOSEST!

6. Tag five other people to do the same!

Okay so here it goes...

The closest book to me is What Would Jackie Do? My mom always gets me some fun books for Christmas, and this is one of them. I haven't done more than flip through it but here is a little glimpse.

This is from the Know when to fold your fashion section:

She even did the matching logo thing for a quick minute. It's always difficult to know when the moment is right to shed one look and chase a new one, but here are a few clues:

• If you look like everyone else everywhere you go -- paying special attentions at the airports -- it's over.
• If anyone in the British Royal family is wearing anything remotely close to what you own -- it's over.
• If women stop asking, "where'd you get that?" or cease to give you the icy up-and-down -- it's over.
• If it reminds you of a scene in a hokey, post-Hepburn movie -- Annie Hall, Flashdance, Charlie's Angels -- it's over.
• If you mother likes it too much -- it's over.
  

Here is who I am tagging:

Billy Anne at Panache
The Preppy Polka Dot
KAG at Monograms and Martinis in Manhattan
Rose Marie at Just Moi
Gwen at Confessions of a Total Control Freak

I cant wait to see all of yall's!!

Boy Update

There is an update on Guy Friend... I ran into him this weekend for the first time since the crazy night over Christmas Break.

My roommate and I were walking into a bar when the first thing I notice was GF (are you noticing a trend?!). Of course, I booked it towards the bar (ignoring him) so that I can attempt to get some liquid courage before having to face reality.

After mingling around for a bit, I decided that I would be a big girl and face him. I walked up to the table and started talking to some of the girls he was sitting with, while he got up to talk to other people. Eventually, I made my way over and started the short conversation.

He really didn't say too much except for "he is going to rekindle the relationships he lost last semester, now that his 'alcoholic' roommate has moved out." I found it quite ironic that he blamed his roommate for his lack of communication with me. What does that have to do with anything?!

What I find to be even more ironic is that I ran into his roommate over Christmas break after I saw GF and his sister. I bluntly asked him what the deal was and he stated that GF had mentioned something about me liking him... guys are so self-centered! GF's roomie told me not to worry about anything GF said or did and to realize that I am an awesome person and friend (that made me feel better).

Oh and did I mention that GF promised to call and we would hang out soon?! 2 days later and it still hasn't happened. I am starting to think that our friendship has died.

Jubilee Scarf

Lilly always comes out with some fun scarfs. The Jubilee scarf has 50th and Lilly hidden in the patterns. I have one of the breast cancer scarfs that I wear as a belt because it is long and narrow, and I was thinking this one would make a really nice pillow. It's always fun to find new uses for ordinary objects.

Fast and Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Two things make it very hard to cook dinner when you are in college. First, you are on a tight budget which requires getting creative with less expensive ingredients. Also, when you are making dinner you are usually cooking for one. Although I figured out how to make that one easier... My roommate and I which off cooking during the week, so that we can cook for two and maybe have some leftovers for lunch. We don't cook on Monday because that is when our sorority meeting is, so we rely on take out or Lean Cuisine those nights. We look at our calendars and decide who can cook on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Friday and Saturday are up for grabs depending on what is going on and who is going out of town. In the end, this makes it a lot easier because you only have to cook half the time. It has also made it to where we can afford to cook nicer meals more frequently than if we were both cooking every night.

Okay, so here is where I was going with this post... I am always on the lookout for recipes that are quick, easy, and feed around between 2 to 4 people. Here is the most recent trial that I did this week. It is from the back of the Cream of Chicken soup can. It was so yummy!!

From: Campbell's Kitchen

Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 50 minutes
Stand: 10 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1 1/3 cups water
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 tsp. onion powder (I substituted Mrs. Dash's Lemon Pepper for this and the pepper, then I sprinkled it on the top of the chicken also)
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (I used half green peas and half carrots, celery, and onions)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts halves
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

Heat the oven to 375°F. Stir the soup, water, rice, onion powder, black pepper and vegetables in a 2-quart shallow baking dish.

Top with the chicken. Season the chicken as desired. Cover the baking dish.

Bake for 50 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. Top with the cheese. Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes. Stir the rice before serving.

Sneak Peak at the Latest Lilly!!

How cute is this?!?! Any day now... the newest addition to the Lilly Pulitzer line will be able to be previewed! I am starting to get really excited!

A Colorful Getaway

For all of you that are jet setting down to Palm Beach for the winter (that is on my agenda for next year, but it will be for work)... here is the collection for you. The collection is comprised of mainly beach wear that would be appropriate for Spring Break, weekends at the beach, etc.

All of the new fabrics are amazing! I love the light blue and coral combination that has become ever so popular. Make sure to check out the latest Lilly print stories here.


My top pick from the Getaway collection is the Pillar Tunic; and to be honest, I couldn't decide which pattern I like better. The design looks similar to a oxford shirt dress that can be flattering on all shapes and sizes. Not to mention, at $138, it is a bargain for true Lilly fashion.

Back to the Books

I made it back to Knoxville safe and sound, despite the massive amount of rain that poured from the sky the entire time I was driving. Today was the first day of my last semester at UT. It is hard to believe that after 7 semesters, this is the beginning of the end. Thank goodness my schedule is pretty laid back so that I can finish with strong grades, and hopefully senioritis won't set in too early on.

Good luck to all of you that are getting back in the groove of school also!

Sunglasses Anyone?

I cannot live without sunglasses! Mainly, I go for the huge Jackie O ones. Not only are they classy, but they actually serve the intended purpose to keep the light out. Since my last sunglasses purchase was in August (BCBG's), I think it is about time to treat myself to a new pair.

But I have a confession to make... I did not go to the Lilly store the WHOLE time that I was home!! Partially because I knew that I shouldn't be spending a lot of money and partially because there was no time. That means that I haven't had a chance to see the new sunglasses line. I can't wait for them to appear on the web!

Has anyone seen them yet? Is there a pair that you are dying to own?

Cocktails for Three

I absolutely love to read "chick lit" as most people call it. Unfortunately, with school commitments, I don't get to read as much as I used to. Thank goodness, I was able to sneak in a quick read over the Christmas break. Last night I finished Cocktails For Three by Madeleine Wickham. It is an enjoyable book that shows the ups and downs of friendships and growing older. The book has the same feel as her other books, the Shopaholic Series, which I am addicted to! I found Cocktails for Three to be uplifting, while showing the importance of having a core group of girl friends.

Here is what the back cover reads:

Roxanne: glamorous, self-confident, with a secret lover -- a married man

Maggie: capable and high-achieving, until she finds the one thing she can't cope with -- motherhood

Candice: honest, decent, or so she believes -- until a ghost from her past turns up

At the first of every month, when the office has reached its pinnacle of hysteria, Maggie, Roxanne, and Candice meet at London's swankiest bar for an evening of cocktails and gossip. Here, they chat about what's new at The Londoner, the glossy fashion magazine where they all work, and everything else that's going on in their lives. Or almost everything. Beneath the girl talk and the laughter, each of the three has a secret. And when a chance encounter at the cocktail bar sets in motion an extraordinary chain of events, each one will find their biggest secret revealed.

In Cocktails for Three, Madeleine Wickham combines her trademark humor with remarkable insight to create an edgy, romantic tale of secrets, strangers, and a splash of scandal.

Go Rebels!!!

Since my team (cough, cough) didn't make it to a bowl game this year, I was forced to cheer for the opposition. As many of you know, my family are huge Ole Miss fans... so it was natural for me to want them to win the Cotton Bowl.


And win they did!! I could not believe it. I saw the score at the end of the first quarter (Ole Miss - 0, Texas Tech - 14) and really did not think they had a chance, but they proved everyone wrong. Sometimes the underdog really can get the job done!! My brother will be on his way home from Dallas tomorrow, and I cannot wait to hear his recollection of it all.

Hope all of your teams won! Sorry Alabama fans!