Going in to a new week....

After a crazy weekend, I'm taking my Sunday and preparing for the new week. I vow to have a good attitude and make good choices all the way until Friday...
















A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.

Wisdom Wednesday

“While clothes may not make the woman, they certainly have a strong effect on her self-confidence — which, I believe, does make the woman."

my inspiration:

Traditions

I'm lacking a little blog-spiration so I'm setting up some weekly traditions around here.

Monday - Menu/Food/Wine/Restaurants
Tuesday - Top picks for the week
Wednesday - Weekly wisdom

We're gonna start with that.

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Tuesday's: Tess' favorites this week

1. Fall Candles
I have the same type of candle as below, but my flavor is "coffee". It's really subtle and cozy smelling.

2. Fresh Flowers
I hadn't realized how much I really like having fresh flowers in the house.

3. Fall decorations
Yes, I have already started! Joel is not happy. I really want to start to bring out the Halloween decorations but Joel literally forbid me, so we cut a deal and I will bring out the Halloween decorations on October 1st. Until then, however, I am allowed to deck things out in fall decorations, so, the craziness has begun.


I bought this wreath for $2.50 at Micheal's. The white, fuzzy buds were $1.29 and came in bundles, I ended up just sliding them into the wreath to add a little color. This wreath will be so easy to change up depending on the season and holiday. It's hanging on our front door now, and I'm happy with the results.


4. Tostito's with a hint of lime
I run home from work just to get my hands on these babies.



5. Quints by Suprise
Such a cute new show. I am NOT a fan of Kate Gosselin, so I'm loving this fresh new show on normal, nice people and their sweet little babies.
It's on TLC, I believe on Monday's.

A week in review

2nd week of work is behind me! Overall it was good week, I was very successful but did make a pretty major error on Friday. The good thing is, mistakes are expected your first week, bad thing is, mistakes give me anxiety, so hopefully it's a one and done kinda thing.

While I was busy makin' deals at work, I also had time to slip in an evening cubs game with Katie and Dan. The cubs are having a miserable season, but Wrigley Field is too cool to pass up, so the 4 of us, caught up, had a few beers, and enjoyed the scenery.




Yesterday was my big 10k! The weather did not coporate and poured down on us the entire time. I ran with my cousin Amanda and I was so happy to have her by my side the whole time. We hadn't ran together before the big race so I wasn't sure how we would run together, but we had a very similar pace and ended up finishing the 6.2 miles in 70 minutes. We never stopped and had an overall great run.

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Wouldn't this be nice?

Your It

Happy Labor Day!

I spent the weekend at my parents house and it was filled with all of my favorite things. We shopped, walked along the lake, had a big Sunday night dinner (eggplant Parmesan and it was beyond deish), read magazines, and indulged in lots of twizzlers.

Now, I'm back in Chicago, ready to start my 2nd week of work, watching the Bachelor pad, and eating Cadbury eggs. Yes, I found them in my sister's desk from Easter, and they still taste amazing.

I was catching up with all of my favorite bloggers and saw that I was tagged by Mrs in Training. So, naturally, now "I'm it".

What is your favorite meal to cook for company?

I just moved into my own apartment and have yet to have a dinner party. We have had a lot of guests over for drinks, so I always like to serve up homemade guacamole and chips. I also, have a new obsession with baking cupcakes. Not the most normal pair but both seem to be crowd pleasers.

What's your favorite fashion accessory (i.e. shoes, handbags, earrings, scarves, etc.)?

Easy - Designer Handbags

Have you ever met an Internet/blogger friend in real life?

Nope!

What's your favorite room in your house?

Let me show you! I just took these pictures a minute ago.

If you could go back to college (for fun), what would you study?

Interior design

What's one talent/skill you wish you possessed or were better at?

I wish I was more creative, I'd love to create things, make things, draw things, everything!

What's your favorite thing to give as a gift?

I love themed gifts.

When Joel started Grad School *which only lasted a year* I got him a new school bag, a map of his new city, umbrella, coffee mug, highlighters, pens, notebooks, and a few quick study things - like a map of the brain, how to deal with patients, etc.

For my BFF Claire's birthday, a month in advance I asked her to fill out this survey. I told her I had to do a research assignment on only children. I asked her a bunch of "What's your favorite_________" Then, for her birthday card, I printed out the survey that she took for me, and then she opened up her gift with all her favorite things! Favorite magazine, favorite color was in the form of a new blanket, favorite animal in the form of a stuffed animal, favorite gum, movie, book, CD, etc.

Sara turned 21 in Vegas so I did a whole Vegas themed thing. All of the gifts had a little tag on them, with a witty little saying. I can't really remember everything I got her but some included Hundred Grand bars, Dice, Stack of Cards, Lucky Charms, condoms ** It was Vegas! **

Have a great short work week! We're off to the cubs game tomorrow, which makes me feel like the weekend is just trucking onto Tuesday.

September

September is one of my most favorite months of the year. With September, I think you get to hit the refresh button on your life. More so, even than New Years, I feel like September is the true "beginning of the year".

What I'm loving about the next 30 days

1. Office supplies

I have a legit addiction to all things office supplies and I love having an endless supply of post-its waiting for me every morning

2. Football

I have a crush on college football. I like that it makes people crazy and brings strangers together because they share the bond of the same college team. **I like to honk and wave at cars that have hawkeye stickers, much to my passengers dismay.

This weekend, we are buying tickets to a bar ($25 dollars, all you can eat/drink) with some friends/fellow hawks and I'm SO excited.

3. Lung Run 10k

I'm not going to lie here. Mainly, I'm excited to get this done with. My 10k is next Sunday and I'm ready to rip my training schedule off my wall and send it on its way.

4. Boots

I can't wait to put away my flip flops and bring out the boots. I have a great pair of brown riding boots, but this season I will also be investing in a black pair. These are by Juicy Couture and I'm loving on them right now

5. Knits

Riding Boots + Leggings + Long Knit = Nuff said

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TOTALLY UNRELATED

Can I please just say that these two ladies look SO flawless its almost not fair?

Talk about knocking it out of the park....far

All Grown Up

Big girl work starts tomorrow! I'm absolutely ready to tackle this new challenge and couldn't be more excited, but of course, I'm super nervous.

In preparation of work I needed to update my closet. I found out that my office doesn't have a dress code. My "office" is no small office. Located on Michigan Ave in downtown Chicago, I would imagine it's home (well, work) to probably upwards of 5,000 people. I have a friend that works there and says you see a true mix of styles. Some people dress casual, some will wear suits. My goal is to fit right in the middle. I am only going to allow myself to wear jeans on Friday because I feel a little more professional when I take the time to put business clothes on.

Here are some of the new goodies I've found:

Top, Skirt, Belt - J.Crew

Top and Skirt- J.crew
Shoes- Gap

Dress- Eci (at Nordstroms)

*this did not photograph well but its really cute

Dress and sweater - Forever 21

Top: Nordstroms BP
Skirt: Micheal Kors

New work bag- Cynthia Rowley

This is my "First Day of Work" Outfit!

Top and Pants - Gap
Shoes - Juicy Couture




I also treated myself to my first 'No Chip Manicure'. Sara and I went to CiCi's on Lincoln Ave and splurged a little on our nails. The french comes in at a stiff $55.00 but regular color is $45.00. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, and if it lasts for 3-4 weeks, I will be really happy with it!

Wish me luck!

ten random thoughts

Saw this today at Kentucky Mama and decided to give it a try


1. The top of my left foot hurts every time I put pressure on it. I think it's from wearing heels and dancing like a crazy person on Saturday night, but I actually have no idea. I have my 10k in 3 weeks, and really need to be training for it. However, I don't want to run 4.5 miles today, so I may milk this injury for all its worth.

2. It's 10:10am on Monday morning and I'm still in bed. This is the last Monday before I start my Big Girl Job and I'm guessing (if the job goes well, that is) that I won't have the chance to do this again for a very long time.

3. Speaking of my Big Girl Job, I have no clothes for it.

4. I am SO ready for fall. I want to light pumpkin spice candles, cook chili, watch college football, turn off the air conditioning and open the windows, and decorate the house. I'll even take September, which in Chicago could be as hot as July, or it could snow.

5. We literally have no food in the house and I will be having dinosaur egg oatmeal for breakfast - most likely in bed. Don't fret, I'm making a trip today

6. I get to see my best friend Claire this week before she leaves me for a year in Italy. She has started a blog that she promises to keep up and you should check it out here

7. I check my mail box fourteen times a day because I'm anxiously awaiting my new Tory Burch Reva's

8. I really want to get fake nails put on but I have to type a lot at my new job and they destroy your nails, so I'm forcing myself to wait it out

9. I got new Marc Jacobs rain boots (I'll post the picture this week) for SO cheap I could cry

10. This list of ten random things was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.

Work

I started the hunt for work clothes today (I'll post all my loot next week). I really don't have the necessary items for a corporate job.

I need shoes, clothes, accessories, and most importantly, a work bag.

I headed to Nordstrom's this morning to swipe this beauty up...


...but it didn't do it for me.

Longchamp is huge in Chicago right now and I thought I would join in on the trend. There isn't much going on with the bag, and for $150.00 I felt like I could do better.

Now, I have to find something for under $150 that's actually is better. Easier said then done.


On my way back from Nordy's I popped into Marshall's. Thought about grabbing this for $80 but ultimately decided against it. It's a good shape and size but its too logo-y so I left empty handed.



I've straight up spent 2 hours on ebay and haven't found anything.


Good thing I don't start work for another week, because, I mean, you cannot start work without a new work bag.


The search continues on...

...

Well there was no Louboutin's written into the offer but...

I GOT A JOB!

I am now an Advertising Sales Planner!

I must go now, I need to put the champagne on ice

it's a denim party

Denim tops have exploded.

I cannot allow myself to do the denim on top and bottom, but I love the look of a denim top with ---> a skirt, black pants, white pants, white shorts, etc....pretty much anything EXCEPT blue jeans.

Here are celeb inspirations:



And here is how I rocked it:

I ordered mine from American Eagle, and I wore this outfit to a Sunday outdoor birthday party.





















My next outfit with the top is to keep it open with black leggings and a black tank. Perfect for my Thursday plan of going to Eat.Pray.Love with girlfriends!

Fall Forecast

After a week of +100 tempature days I have been dreaming about the crisp, cool air of fall. I'm ready to keep my windows open, watch the leaves change colors, and start wearing all of my fall clothes.

I like to follow the trends, but subtly. No point in investing on leopard print "everythings", if come spring, the trend is out. So, I tend to pick up on the trends in accessories.

Trends I will splurge on, our trends that are classic (which is a paradox because how can you have a trendy classic? But, whatever).

We will see a lot of leather in the fall - that's an area I'll put my money into. Camel coats - again, I'll splurge for that. Neutral colors, I've been dying over, but, a leather sleeveless moto jacket - uhh...no. ***However, I did see a really cute one at target for 20 dollars, however I'm no where cool enough to wear it.

This is how I will be rocking the trends for the fall

Also, I'm not going to lie....but I'm also really ready for some Christmas music.

Reality Check

Let's get real here for a second: My current job ends on Thursday, in a big-I-dont-know-how-im-going-to-pay-rent-or-afford-my-clothing-addiction kind of way.

Here's a short recap of my life: I just graduated and was planning on being a teacher. Then the teaching economy in Illinois bombed in a very large way. It made getting a teaching job hard, which made me think, "hmm, its hard finding a job, maybe I don't really want to teach anymore" and which then made me think that I want to go into business.


Well, fast forward to the present ----- NO JOB!


I have been shockingly, make that very shockingly, calm about this ordeal. I have been positive that I will have something lining up in no time. Ya, guess what.....


NO JOB!


I have a few leads here and there, but I really don't know what is going to materialize.


On one hand, I'm God forsaken scared shitless that it will be months and I will be unsure, unhappy and broke. And on another strange side, I'm really excited to see what is going to come of my life. Maybe I will fulfill an unknown part of myself and find great success and happiness in an area I didn't know I would love.


I'm a big girl now, with big girl bills to pay, and I need a big girl job.



Here's hoping I get a really great phone call tomorrow offering me a 100k job where I only work 3 days a week and they offer me a bonus in the form of Louboutins!

Lady Gaga

I'm minutes away from going to see Lady Gaga at Lollapalooza. Lolla is a huge music fest in downtown Chicago and Ms. Gaga is opening up the weekend long concerts. I'm not a huge fan of hers but I think the experience will be bananas.




I went on the hunt for a black jumper today to wear for tonight (I've actually been looking for a good one for months and have had zero luck), but, again, no success. I did however find this cute dress for a bridal shower I have tomorrow. It was a great deal from 90 bucks down to 30. Gotta love Ann Taylor sales!



When I came home, I got creative. I decided to make my own jumper, so I combined black J.Crew shorts and a black halter from White House Black Market, with an old J.Crew belt, and believe it or not....made a jumper! I'm happy with it and it will be perfect for the concert!

Have a great weekend!