No less special

I don't normally cite articles or even share my opinions on articles on my blog; mostly because I don't think anyone would care.  However, I recently read something in Glamour that I found sad.  Not infuriating, not joyous, but sad.  It was one very small part of a larger article - it was a multi-page spread of shoe statistics.  Buried in this spread was statistics of women who would wear flats vs. heels in various events.  It was all sorts of occasions, like a first day at work, first date, etc.
It listed, "first date" and gave a percentage of ladies in heels vs. flats; then it listed, "27th date with that same guy" and gave another percentage of ladies in heels vs. flats.  The percentage dropped approximately 15%.

Upon reading that, I was disheartened.  15% of the ladies interviewed for that question thought someone they barely new was worth "getting all done up for" than a person who they actually care about and had a real connection (assuming that you have those two criteria if you make it to the 27th date with a man).  I just doesn't make sense to me.  I don't see how you invest time and effort into a relationship with a person, but then not think they are special enough to warrant you wearing your "nice" shoes for them.

And I've been in new relationships and gone on first dates. I get that you want to lead with your best foot forward (har har). It's normal to want to impress new people in your life, or try to ensure they would like to at least consider staying in your life for that matter. I also think there is something to be said for still putting in some effort once you've been in a relationship for awhile. And I'm not trying to be archaic and say that women need to not let themselves go if they want to keep their man.  I'm really not. I'm just pointing out that someone who means something to you is still worth the effort.  I've been with my fiance for two and a half years now and I still think he's worth wearing heels for on a date; never mind I love wearing heels. I just still want to wow him like when we first started dating.  I know he won't love me any less in flats, I just want him to know that I still consider myself lucky.

Lucky

Well, it's been a while since my last post, but here I am again.  Life is good and busy, hence my absence, not that anyone noticed I'm sure.  Well, let's start with the holidays.  They seemed to have flown by.  Between working about 60-70 hours a week and trying to enjoy my life with my family and friends, the whole season seems like a whirlwind, and a lovely one at that.  I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas and New Years.  Both were an absolute ball.  I was also apparently a very good girl last year or at least that's what you'd think if you see all of the presents I was lucky enough to receive.  My wonderful fiance gave me some lovely items, including a beautiful emerald palm tree necklace.  

I was also lucky enough to start receiving items for my China pattern for once I'm married.  It's Wedgwood and it's beautiful. Here's what it looks like:

Some more very exciting things happened. Very exciting and very big.  The first is that my lovely fiance moved into town! He lives less than 5 minutes away now and  I couldn't be happier.  I think it's a great thing. The second big thing is we picked a date for our wedding!!! How exciting is this?  There's actually a date for when I get to marry the greatest man I know. It's beyond exciting to me. 

So, aside from that, life has been going on as normal, as tiring as that may be.  I still work a lot and try to spend as much time as possible with my friends and family.  I did hit one major milestone while slaving away, however.  I managed to pay off all of my credit card debt, which is huge for me.  I amassed most of it while in college and have been paying it off since moving home.  It's done and it will never happen again.  I still struggle with organization. (This is said while staring at the struggles throughout my room.)   I've been steadily moving through all of the products I have collected along the way; including candles, lotions, soaps and anything else that can be used up.  If it weren't for a minor weight gain of a few pounds over the holidays, I'd be beyond impressed with myself, however the weight makes me sad.  Anyway, there will be plenty more updates in the coming days, weeks and months. Stay tuned. 

Christmas time!

So I make a lot of excuses for not posting as much as a I should, etc. etc. Well here we go. No more excuses. I'm going to be back and correctly tend this blog!

So let's recap this past weekend.  It was Thanksgiving and Black Friday.  Thanksgiving was nice. It usually is though. I've never had a "bad one" and this year was no exception. I love my family and friends dearly and love an excuse to dress nicer than usual and eat and see them.

The more surprising occurrence this weekend was how everyone in the tri-county area decided to go out and spend spend spend. Don't get me wrong. I work in retail and people spending money is great job security for me, but this was unlike anything I've ever seen before.  I will also say that all of the displays, sales and Christmas music is certainly getting me  in the holiday spirit. Furthermore, there is even snow already.  How can you fight the Christmas spirit with all that going on? I can't wait for Christmas. Never mind that I become like a little kid about Christmas, I can't wait! The whole month of December is always the most enjoyable whirlwind of a month. It doesn't get better. Now all I need is for Rudolph to come onto TV and I'm set.

Further putting me in the holiday spirit is that I get a whole Saturday off next week (see retail jobs consuming souls in December for further explanation).  On my wonderful day off, I'm lucky enough to be going downtown to Love Park in Philadelphia to see the Christmas Village. Life is good.  Hopefully I'll have some wonderful pictures of Christmas all around to share.

Influenster Site Makeover!!

Check it out here: Influenster

This is a great site to be a part of. You get sent VoxBoxes and are able to review the products and let people know what you really think of the items! Not only that, but Influenster now lets you review everything! It's a great way to spread the word about things and companies you love.  It's also now a wonderful forum where you can ask questions or share your knowledge with other people!

I'm glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

"I'm glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Truer words have never been said.   Although October is apparently one of the busiest months of the year for me, I love every second of it.  It is just refreshing to feel the weather cool down and the leaves change color. It's a beautiful time of year here. It really is.

I adore all events of the fall as well.  I've been lucky enough to go apple picking for the first time ever this year and I also did a haunted hayride, etc. It's been good.  Baking in the fall is also my favorite.  It's an excuse to slip pumpkin into as many foods as possible..and I LOVE it.  In fact, not only have I been baking all sorts of muffins, I even tried my hand at ones shaped like pumpkins:

Not only this, but there are tons of birthdays to celebrate with some of my favorite people this month.  Between all of these wonderful people and Halloween, this month is by far one of the most fun and memorable ones of the year for me.  Stayed tunes for pictures of costumes, baked goods and happy people to follow.  

working girl...strikes back

working girl...strikes back by manda553 featuring a cable knit cardigan

Clare Tough cable knit cardigan
$455 - net-a-porter.com

SEXY STRETCH BRA CAMI
express.com

Ripped jeans
quizclothing.co.uk

Impo stretch boots
dsw.com

Effy Collection freshwater pearl necklace
lordandtaylor.com

SCOOP-NECK TANK at Express
express.com

Welikefashion.com Tanktop Beauty
$45 - welikefashion.com

I'm engaged!

As I've been writing about how well I am doing with things and how pleased I have been regarding my resolutions, etc. some more great happenings came my way.  My wonderful boyfriend, who I have mentioned once or twice before, proposed.  Now he's my wonderful fiance!  I couldn't be happier or feel luckier.  

Stay posted since now wedding ideas and all of those lovely things will be popping up!