What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm LOVING.. that my mama will be back in Texas this weekend!

I'm LOVING.. this weekend is a 3-day one, thanks be to Labor Day. It also makes me feel like MAYBE we're a little closer to fall :)

Source: someecards.com via Alana on Pinterest

I'm LOVING.. catching up on the phone with Nate's mama. I miss them so much since they moved, but we always have plenty to talk about.

I'm LOVING.. the trip I have planned to Sephora this week, thanks to winning Lindsey's giveaway :)

I'm LOVING.. how good the sweat feels after leaving Bikram yoga, and the shower is my best friend when coming home.

Source: someecards.com via Amber on Pinterest

I'm LOVING.. seeing movies after I've read the book.

I'm LOVING.. the cute new stationery I got this week. :) If I have your address, watch out - you just may be receiving a card from me!

What are you LOVING?

Hairdo Help!

Okay ladies, I have an appointment to get my hair done this weekend, and I'm still up in the air on what I want to do with it.

My hair is VERY long.. almost to the top of my pants.


Should I cut it? I feel like when it's shorter I look younger (and I can't afford to look much younger than I already do), but the longer it is the thinner it looks. It's already baby fine!

I don't want it to look stringy, at all. I am thinking about maybe 3 or 4 inches? I'm nervous it's going to be too dramatic though.. ahhh.

My hair also grows VERY slow, so I'm afraid to change it, and hate it and then have to wait forever for it to grow back.


I really like both of these, but think they may be too short?

Also, bangs? I'm thinking I'll do side bangs..




I'm also getting an all over color, and am thinking I'm going to go darker. A shade under black? Super rich dark brown.. Fall is coming (hopefully) so that'll be a nice color.



What do y'all think?

P.S. I'm guest-blogging over at Michelle's today! GO check it out :)

Namaste

In my daily emails from Groupon, I recently saw one for a month of unlimited Bikram Yoga sessions for $20.

I've practiced yoga and love it, but never practiced Bikram Yoga. I had seen Kerbi's review about it, and heard others talk about how good it is, and I decided to look into it.

After doing some research and learning that the room was 105 degrees with up to 50% humidity, I was a little leery, but I bought it anyway!

Source: bikramyogasanjose.com via Amber on Pinterest

I was very anxious for my first class. I showed up 20 minutes early, and spoke with the instructor to let her know this was my first Bikram experience. She gave me the 411 (which I'd already read on the website) and told me just to do the best that I can, but try and not leave the room if at all possible. Once you're in the room, your body starts adjusting to the heat, and leaving just wrecks havoc on yourself if you come back in.

30 minutes into the 90 minute class, I started feeling incredibly dizzy and light-headed. I should've stopped and allowed myself to rest during some of the postures, but instead I continued to push myself because I wanted to see how far I could go. I tend to do this a lot with more than one aspect of life..

All of a sudden I was overcome with an awful sense of nausea and HAD to leave the room. I made it to the locker room just in time to vomit. I was thinking to myself the whole time "What in the hell am I doing here?!"

The instructor came out and told me to come back in whenever I was ready. I already had it in my mind that I was leaving, and wasn't too sure if I was going to come back for another class.

After cooling down, I realized that I could do it, and I got back in the hot box to finish the class.

That night, I was SO sore.. more than I expected I would be, but I was back at it again the next morning. I knew it would help work out some of the soreness. I asked the instructor what I could do in order to prevent leaving the room to vomit again. I wanted to stay in the whole 90 minutes.

She said when I start to feel dizzy, don't do the next posture. If it's a standing posture, stay standing, but don't do anything. If it's a floor posture, I could either sit Japanese style or lay in savasna position. So, that's what I did.

I made it through my 2nd class without getting nauseous and I didn't have to leave the room. I've now been to a few classes, and always hate the heat and the sweat, but when I leave I feel accomplished, refreshed, energized and PROUD of myself.

Like most people who practice, I'm sure, Bikram and I have a love/hate relationship.

Have you ever practiced Bikram before?

Source: google.com via Amber on Pinterest

Book Club Friday #2

Okay, so I finally finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I've been reading it for a while, but not because it wasn't good.. I was just busy the past couple of weeks.

I am definitely planning on seeing the movie.


Here's the synopsis from Good Reads:

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

This book was incredibly touching. I found myself getting involved with the characters and sincerely caring about them. I cried a bit, laughed and felt joy. I definitely recommend reading it if you haven't already!

It's OK Thursday #4

Thanks so much for linking up with us! We had an awesome turnout last week, and hope to have one just as successful this week :)

It's OK..

..to be really upset about your fave sandwich shop by the boyfriend's place closing

..to feel like you need a workout buddy in order to stay motivated

..to wait to do laundry until you only have 1 pair of scrub pants left

..to feel overwhelmed about school starting

..to also wonder how you're going to find time to blog/read blogs/respond to comments all while attending classes

..to feel like you're never going to be able to read your Kindle as long as you have textbooks to read

..to use foursquare to score free stuff

..to still have a Myspace account because your playlist is pretty bad ass :)

..to not really care for the fact that football season is beginning

..to use a sleep mask on the weekends so you aren't woke up by the sun

..to use your twitter friends as sources of advice, love y'all!

..to skip out on hanging with friends because sometimes you just need me time

..if you don't get out of bed until after NOON on the weekends

..to love eating leftovers

..to make lists for everything in life

Oh, how pinteresting #4

Source: toms.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: invitationadvice.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Marianna on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Charlotte on Pinterest

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Anne Sophie on Pinterest

Can you tell my favorite color is red? ;)

Currently..

I've seen Jenn and other blog friends do this lots of times, and thought it looked like fun!

current book(s):
I just downloaded One Day by David Nicholls for my kindle this past weekend.

current playlist:
Dirty Laundry - Bittersweet
I Know You Want Me - Pitbull
Best of You - Foo Fighters
The Kill - 30 Seconds to Mars
What's Up - 4 Non Blondes
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
6th Avenue Heartache - The Wallflowers
Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
Warning - Incubus

current color:
do You Think I'm Tex-y? by OPI


current drink:
water

current food:
leftover chicken crispers from chili's

current favorite show:
Grey's Anatomy & Pretty Little Liars



current wishlist:
2 new tires, inspection, oil change, new windshield, car detailing

current needs:
a mani/pedi. yes I NEED those things. If you saw my nails, you'd agree.

current triumphs:
getting my booty back into school.. I'm so proud

current bane(s) of my existence:
the weather. I'd kill for some rain and less than 100 degrees.

current celebrity crush:
Ryan Gosling - hello gorgeous!


current #1 blessing:
the roof over my head & having the option to further my education

current indulgence:
chardonnay

current outfit:


current excitement:
trying out Bikram Yoga this morning. (will let you guys know how it goes!)

current mood:
accomplished

My Style Monday #2

Linking up with my sweet friend Lindsey for her weekly My Style Monday link up.


I usually forget to take pics of my outfits.. but this week I made Nate take 2 of myself. He asked, "Do your blog friends really care what you're wearing?" Um yeah they do! ;)

Top - Miley Cyrus (don't make fun, it's cute AND was cheap!)
Cami - Forever 21
Gauchos - Kohl's (yes I still wear gauchos)
Heels - Charlotte Russe

These heels are my FAVE pair of shoes. I've even had them resoled because I wore them out once already. They're so comfy and I always get compliments on them!

Shirt - Aeropostale
Shorts - American Eagle (my fave!)
Shoes - TOMS

It's OK Thursday #3

Hey ladies! Thank you all SO much for linking up last week. I don't think that neither Neely or myself expected there to be such an awesome turnout for this.

It sure does make me happy when y'all tell me you can't wait to link up with us! :)

So.. you know what to do! Write your post, grab the button there on the right and come back here and link up!

IT'S OK..

..to be oddly excited that your boyfriend "liked" your blog page on Facebook

..to also be excited that he admitted to reading your blog the other day

..to get annoyed when people don't know what they are going to order at Starbucks

..to already know what you're going to buy with a gift card that you won from a giveaway! :)

..to buy something to bake every time you go to the store

..to play those silly games on Facebook because sometimes you get bored

..to be really depressed over the price of textbooks

..to not be able to see Turk when you watch Scrubs.. instead you see Murray from Clueless

..to think up things for my It's OK list, and then not be able to remember them

..to come home from work & strip down to your undies because it's so damn hot

..to actually enjoy dressing up because you basically wear pajamas to work all week

..to sometimes be okay with not having cable because you probably wouldn't read as much if you did

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm LOVING.. that my sweet boyfriend is staying with me tonight AND tomorrow night. It's not often that we see one another during the week, so 2 nights is great! :)


I'm LOVING.. when I have people over because I take advantage and cook. Last night, my best friend came over and I made us french toast with strawberries. Tonight, I made crunchy onion chicken, parmesan roasted potatoes (found from Manda's blog!) and green beans with bacon. Tomorrow night is taco night! Yum!

I'm LOVING.. that I am off work today. Not excited about why I am off (having to go take care of something) but it's nice to have a day off from doing WORK where it's been crazy busy.

I'm LOVING.. mine & Neely's It's OK Thursday link-up. You should totally link up tomorrow!


I'm LOVING.. that my little sister finally started a blog. You should go check her out! :)

I'm LOVING.. that I'm registered for classes this fall. It makes me feel accomplished and good about myself!

What are you guys LOVING today?

Perspective

I am an overly dramatic person.

There. I said it.

No, but seriously. I am. Especially when it comes to my health. I won't joke around if something is seriously wrong with me, but if I have a minor ache I'll make it seem like I'm dying.

It's so bad that one time I had kidney stones, was curled in the fetal position in bed bawling my eyes out, and Nate had a hard time believing me when I told him I needed to go to the ER. All the way there, he still wasn't sure that anything was seriously "wrong" with me. Once we got the CT scan back, and it was confirmed that I did in fact have kidney stones, he felt bad.

He also told me that I need to quit crying wolf so often.

Maybe he's right.

This past weekend, we went out to a Frisco RoughRiders baseball game. Between innings, they had a young man by the name of Michael Horak come out and do a "Homerun for Heart" event. They had someone pitch to him, he hit the ball and ran all the bases while high-fiving all of the players.

Michael has been through more than most of us could imagine. Since he was a child, he's had heart issues. He was dealing with a condition in which his left ventricle was enlarged, and it then caused many other problems.

I wish I could find something on him on Google.. but I'm not having any luck..

It was so touching to hear his story and watch him run the bases like that was his only care in the world, and it really made me think.

All day I had been complaining about a headache, and Nate's been dealing with some back issues. He looked to me and said, "Maybe a headache or a backache isn't so bad after all, huh?"

He's right.

We, as humans, go on all day long complaining about such minor things that could be MUCH worse if we actually thought about it.

I know we all suffer from a health issue at times. I have a health issue myself, but from now on....

I won't say my brain is going to implode the next time I have a headache.

I won't say my ovaries are going to fall out of my body when I have cramps.

I won't say that my foot is going to have to be amputated when I stub my toe.

I won't say that I'm on my death bed when all I have is a minor cold.

I won't say I'm having a heart attack when I get indigestion.

Maybe we should all take a look at our lives, and our health and be a little more grateful for what we DO have.

Swap Goodies!

A few weeks ago, Meghan mentioned how much she loved getting mail. Even if it was something small, such as a card or a letter.

She decided to host a swap in which we send our partner something within a $5-$10 range that will fit in a flat envelope.

Fun, RIGHT?! :)

I was paired with Michelle from Brunette & Blessed and got some great stuff! :)

Super sweet and cute card

Recipe for cilantro lime rice.. she'd read on my blog how much I love Chipotle :)

Great mascara. It's her fave! Can't wait to try it!

I got some good stuff, huh?

Did you participate in this swap too? Don't forget to link up!

Thanks again Michelle! :) and Thanks for Meghan for hosting!