She Believed She Could, So She Did.

Happy Tuesday, all! Life, man. Am I right? Sometimes it throws you some curve balls that while you may have been expecting them, still shock for a bit. Precarious times call for reflection and a look into how this will shape who you are and who you will become. This quote has stuck with me the last few days and I've even made it the background on my phone to remind myself that damn it, I'm a tough cookie. I know what I want and how I need to achieve it. Though sometimes, I still feel like this girl:

I think we all have those days from time to time. I've mentioned before that I'm contemplating turning this blog into a book, or somehow compiling a book of essays a la Mindy Kaling and Tina Fey. Who knows, it's just an idea, but an idea that has really taken hold the last month or so. Because, look. 

I found this great challenge on Facebook the other day, about naming 3 people a day and telling them why they're your FB friend and what they mean to you. I thought it was such a great idea and am implementing it to realize how many wonderful people I have in my life, and though monetarily I am no Grace, Princess of Monaco, friend/family wise, I am rich as hell (Stitch that on a pillow!). 

I know the last few posts have been life-based, but we'll start to get back to our traveling, lady friends and literature posts here very soon. Sometimes, girl just needs to vent. 

Just another Manic Monday...

Good morning, loves! Hope you all have had a wonderful weekend and your week is starting off delightfully! My weekend was WONDERFUL. And what beauuuuutiful weather! Had to enjoy it, as I'm sure it will be the last really nice one for a long time. Saturday was the highlight of my weekend, getting to meet Tony Hale at a book signing at Happy Up, Inc. in Edwardsville. Happy Up used to be what many of us remember as Once Upon A Toy and what a FABULOUS store! Take your kids immediately. Or your 29 year old friends.

For those not familiar with his work, he played Buster Bluth on Arrested Development and currently stars on HBO's Veep as Gary Walsh. He could not have been nicer! He did a reading of his new children's book, which I had no problem telling him to make out to me :) No shame!

Yesterday's weather was GORGEOUS. Spent it on the deck with some sunshine, wine and good friends. Love days like that. I'm loving lots of these things these days: getting back to writing, reading plenty, good wine, great friends, learning to stand up for myself, sticking to my guns, and being happy in the moment and not stressing about what's ahead.

Also, I'm toying with the idea of a book. WHAT? I don't know. Something maybe stemming from this blog? Anywho, it's an idea percolating.

Enjoy your Mondays, unicorns. October is coming!

Happy Friday!

We've finally made it to the end of the week, muffins! Time to celebrate! (Well, maybe not quite yet. I mean, it is only 12:40 in the afternoon, but you do you. YOU DO YOU).

Just a short post today, wishing you a great weekend and a genuine and heartfelt 'thank you' to new and old friends. And new-old friends, if that makes sense. I've really enjoyed getting closer to a lot of people and bonding over our shared loves. Hoping our friendship continues to flourish! (Stick that in a Hallmark card and smoke it!).

One of those days....

Do you have one of those days where you wake up feeling good, and than by the time you get to work, you're so mad you could spit? Today, I have terrible drivers to thank for that. And a pretty healthy dose of PMS. So, in order to calm myself the hell down before it's time to go home, drink wine and watch the hell out of some Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder (THURSDAY, FINALLY!), I made a list of 10 things that make me happy. And you know what, it worked! I may start doing that every time the bitch in me crawls out and I can't currently calm her down with a cookie.

You know what else makes you feel good? Funny, ridiculous selfies. Look, I hate that word a LOT and I kind of hate the whole concept itself. But, sometimes, you just need to look like an asshole and have a good laugh (even if it's at yourself) and realize how little shit really matters in the long run.

And sometimes, you need to take that selfie in RIDICULOUS glasses that are 20 times too big for your face. Don't worry, those aren't my real glasses :) Mine are much more 'wine bar' than 'hipster.' And look, I know I have frizz for days. I KNOW. Any tips that don't result in me getting a $84 million blowout? I have tried everything, outside of bathing in olive oil. I NEED HELP.

Now that I'm back in a regular posting pattern, I forget how much I missed it! Let's do this, all. High-fiving a million angels! Also, important to remember:

Amen, Sister Christian. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday, loves! We're almost there! :)

My WCW Now and Always: Sophia Petrillo

For those aren't familiar with the acronym WCW, it stands for Woman Crush Wednesday. As much as I abhor the term, and much prefer the friendlier lady friend, I'll use it in this instance. How many of us grew up on The Golden Girls? How many of us can recite and sing along to every word of that theme song? All of us, amirite (by the way Google, in no way do I want to use the word emirate. How would that even come up in regular conversation)?

Making its debut in 1985 (the best year EVER), and still in syndication 29 years later, The Golden Girls tells the story of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia as they navigate their golden years in Miami. My personal favorite and who I aspire to be is Sophia, Dorothy's mother, played by the wonderful Estelle Getty.

                                                         Credit: (Pinterest)

She fills my heart with such laughter that I can't help to hope to grow up to be just like her and start my stories with, "Picture it: Edwardsville, 2008." Every night, the show runs on the Hallmark Channel and I watch religiously, even though I've seen the episode a million times. It's still a show that holds weight today and much of their story lines are still absolutely relevant. And fun fact! Did you know that even though Estelle Getty was supposed to be the oldest, the matriarch, it was actually Betty White that was the oldest in the cast? Trivia for your next dinner party.

                                                                 Credit: (Pinterest)

Sophia is even going to be my Halloween costume this year! She loves fiercely, lives life with a humor unparalleled and rocks those glasses like no one's business. The top of my list of favorite lady friends. I, of course, will leave you with this.

Halfway through the week, pumpkins! (I like to make sure my pet names for you are seasonally appropriate).

Not Going to Apologize

Happy first official day of autumn, guys! I like saying 'autumn,' sounds cozier. I'm weird, alright. We've all known that for awhile now.

Anywho (I also like saying 'anywho,' because I'm your 54 year old aunt who's about to tell a story you don't want to hear), at the start of 2014, I went into the year with all kinds of expectations. But, those expectations never really pan out, do they? I wanted to be in a different job, in the field I went to school for, I wanted to be in a relationship with a man who wasn't emotionally stunted, I wanted lots of things. And at first, when none of those things were coming to fruition, I got upset. But, as the year has gone on and I've gotten more to a place of being okay with who and where I am, it started to not bother me as much.

I'm where I should be,  I've got the people I want around me and I won't apologize for living my life on my terms. Cutting out the toxic and the negative is something that's necessary sometimes. Like I've said in previous posts, I only wish good things for all those who have passed through my life. I don't wish negative energy on anybody. But, we weren't meant to be on each other's journeys forever.

I've learned lately, that saying no is okay. No is a complete sentence. I don't need to explain myself at all. I've learned that humor is something I rely heavily on and it has brought me closer to a lot of people. I will never apologize for that. I will never apologize for my rants, for my goofiness, for my inability to pass up a good pun. Because I'm sorry, this shirt? HILARIOUS.

It's taken me a very long time to be comfortable in my skin and be confident in who I am, and I'll be damned if anyone takes that away from me. I know people think I can't be such a Positive Polly all of the time, and they'd be right. I'm not. Quite often, I'm a Debbie Downer, a Negative Nancy, a Bitchy Brenda. But, I try to make those days few and far between. I try and make those times only when I'm in the solace of my own home.

I am so grateful to everyone who reads these words and has surrounded me with such kindness. You make my heart swell and I am so lucky to have you in my life. I'm so glad that my ridiculousness can bring you some small bit of happiness, it really does brighten my day to brighten yours. Does that sound arrogant and indulgent? UGH. I'm sorry if it does. That's not my intention. My only intention is to introduce you to fierce women, my terrible jokes and my reading list that's 2,987 miles long (an accurate assessment).

You are all beautiful, fierce, strong, intelligent, kind human beings and here's looking at you, kid (I'm a Bogart impersonator in my free time?).

FAAAAAALLLLL!

Happy first day of autumn, loves! The best season of the year, in my humble opinion. The air starts to get a little more brisk, sweaters and boots come out and fall TV comes back (anyone else excited as hell for Scandal on Thursday? Bueller? Bueller?). We're on tap to have a gorgeous week, weather wise, which always puts me in the best mood. Does anyone else create lots of little things to look forward to? It can be something as small as coming home to the book you're currently reading or as big as a date that night. I try and do that at least once a day, to make the anticipation that much sharper and put me in a great mood.

Today is also the 20th anniversary of the best show EVER. Friends premiered on this date in 1994 and has worked its way into popular consciousness ever since. I watch it every time I'm down about something, or I quote it relentlessly and sing "Smelly Cat." Throw on a marathon today and you won't be sorry to be back in Apartment 20.

Also, not sure how many have seen Emma Watson's wonderful speech at the UN over the weekend speaking about gender equality. Please, do yourself a favor and watch it. And while you're at it, check out He For She. Feminism is my second favorite F word and something I am never afraid to be vocal about and preach about all day, every day.

Hope you all are having a great start to your weeks! Sending you good vibes!