This Life, Redefined...: Busy Days

Monday, September 26, 2011

Busy Days

October hasn't even started, yet, and I'm already exhausted by it. Part of it is work-related and out of my control. But the other part of it is completely my fault because October means fall, and fall means a nonstop schedule of weekend activities and the start of the holiday season.

(Why yes, I do consider Brigid's birthday the official start of the holiday season...I like to decorate and throw parties and any excuse is a good excuse in my book...).

So, anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you start to notice the bags under my eyes, or the fact that I haven't had time for a haircut since the beginning of August, or if I seem to forget I've been wearing the same shirt for a week, a gentle reminder would be much appreciated, ok?

Thanks.

And now...it's Inspiration Monday over at Two Birds!

The inspiration (which made me think nothing but thoughts of I have GOT to get my hands on a sparkly jacket!):

And the outfit (which is seriously lacking in sparkle, obviously...):

Tank: WHBM

Jacket: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

Jeans: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Shoes: Nine West

7 comments:

TiffanySeptember 26, 2011 at 3:41 PM
You look cute, Tara!! And let me just say, I know what you mean about busy! Ugh. Work has been crazy and I haven't been able to focus on the last few things I need to do for school and I just feel overwhelmed and in a crappy mood because of it! Blah.

Sorry I just ranted all over your cute blog!! I actually love this time of year, too. From now till New Years, I'm loving it and then on January 2nd, I'm ready for spring to get here asap! =)
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Style JourneySeptember 26, 2011 at 4:24 PM
I agree with Tiffany! Things are so crazy in our little world too. It's the glam life we live though!

LOVE your jacket too!

Heather
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two birdsSeptember 26, 2011 at 4:39 PM
i hope you can get some rest! you certainly don't look tired or ragged. in fact, you look pretty cute! and your smile makes up for any lost sparkle!
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rlutzSeptember 26, 2011 at 5:43 PM
We are all crazy busy here as well. I agree, the holiday season start with the kids October birthday and does not end until the new year! Love how you style your jeans with that cute jacket!
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Bird Bug PugSeptember 26, 2011 at 6:12 PM
this is a great outfit! i have no sparkle either, would have loved to wear a fun sparkly cardigan in my post, but oh well. i love this look! you've got the military inspired look going on for fall which is always, always a winner!
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oomph.September 26, 2011 at 7:01 PM
that sparkly jacket just made my must-have list! oh, and i just love ali larter, period. (ok, i just saw a netflix recommended movie with her not-so-great acting, but still love her!)

i've been hunting for a military-ish jacket like yours, too! it's very fall :)

[oomph.]
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CSeptember 26, 2011 at 9:42 PM
I'm sorry to hear about the work stress :( Home stress doesn't count, b/c that's supposed to be enjoyable, right? ;)

LOVE this soft blazer on you -- it flows beautifully!
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Leave a comment, if you'd like...I'd love to hear from you!

2014 List

1) Send more mail...thank you notes, birthday cards, and 'just because' messages.

2) Be nicer, in general, to my husband and family. They deserve a much less crabby me than the one they were stuck with for most of 2013.

3) Make more of an effort to communicate with the long-distance people in my life. I got away from facetiming with my sister on a regular basis, and I miss it. Plus, now that she's making me an aunt, I think it's even more important that we get back into the habit of seeing each other every week. I do not need her new baby asking 'are you SURE you have more than one sister?', just because Aunt Mary lives in Indiana and Aunt Tara lives all of the way in Georgia.

4) Call or email or even text my friends from college more than I do now, which is hardly at all. Just because we can pick up after not talking to each other for months like no time has passed at all does not mean I should keep letting all of those months pass without the talking. I'm afraid the picking back up can't keep happening in a friendship like that.

5) Do one fitness/health related challenge each month. - You know all of those '0 to 1,000 sit-ups in just 30 days!!' kind of schedules that pop up on Pinterest all of the time? I'm going to start doing those. One each month. Fifteen minute plank? I'M COMING FOR YOU. I'm also throwing my meat-free/sugar-free/alcohol-free months in this category, as well.

6) Run another organized 5K. - It was so much more fun than I expected. Minus the running up a hill part, anyway.

7) Renew my vows with Steve, in Vegas, by Elvis, for our 10th anniversary in October.

8) Create an art wall somewhere in my house.

9) Organize a workspace for me

10) Attend The Blathering in Seattle. - Charleston was such a great time, I'd love to make it back for the Seattle trip.

11) Read at least two books a month.

12) Take Brigid camping.

13) Find a yoga studio and start taking classes regularly.

14) Write something, anything, not blog related.

15) No spending money on new clothes this year. Using gift cards and rewards points are fine, but I need to get out of the habit of spending money on new stuff, just to make myself feel better. I swear, shopping is my addiction, but the high I get from buying a new sweater probably isn't enough to justify the amount of money I spend on clothes I don't need.

16) No buying anything at all unless I absolutely need it. I have a bad habit of stocking up on things at sales (candles, lotions, make-up, beauty products), even if I have a cabinet full of the same stuff already at home. I will use the cabinet full of crap before I add more crap.

17) Be more consistent in updating my family blog, because my parents give me a hard time when I let it lag, and my personal blog, because I'm not as happy with myself when I let it lag.

18) Find a general practitioner and get a physical.

19) Post at least one picture a day on Instagram, to get myself into the habit of taking more pictures of my sweet girls, since I find entire events have passed where I've forgotten to photograph said events. Like Christmas. Sadly.

20) Get a haircut. - You can laugh at this one, if you must, but I did not get one single haircut in 2013. In fact, I haven't had a haircut since before Caitlin was born in November of 2012. I do not even know how this happens, but I know it must end. Soon. I think a Locks of Love kind of donation might be in order. My hair, it is long.

21) Make an effort to get to know the neighbors. - I tend to not get dressed/leave the house on the weekends, and this extends to not fraternizing with anyone who lives near me, because I'm afraid people will judge me for my make-up free, sweatpants clad weekend laze. I should probably get over that.

22) Write more thank you notes. - I am terrible at writing thank you notes. I should not be so terrible.

23) Buy new rugs for my new house. - The sunroom and foyer, in particular, need something fun.

24) Be more fearless in forming and maintaining relationships. - There are many times where I think of something I want to send to someone, whether it's an email, text, card, or what have you, and I don't, because I'm afraid I've maybe overestimated whether we have the type of friendship where I can do something like that. I don't want to worry about stuff like that anymore.

25) Put together an Advent/Christmas activity calendar for Brigid and Caitlin. - I did that for Brigid when I was home on maternity leave after Caitlin's birth, and it was so much fun. I didn't get the chance to do it this year, and I feel like I missed out on some part of the excitement of the season. I'm bringing it back.

26) Institute a once-a-month date night with Steve. Or date lunch, I guess, if necessary.

27) Institute a once-a-month girls' night, whether it be with my old college roommate, my SiLs, or the neighbors. I should get out of the house at least once a month with people who do not live in my house.