What I'm Loving Wednesday

Linking up with This Kind of Love for What I'm Loving Wednesday


I'm loving...that Coach (AKA my Dad) is now officially retired. He will still be giving baseball lessons of course, but his days of being a high school teacher are over. I'm really happy for him but also incredibly PROUD of him. Growing up with two teachers for parents I saw first hand what a hard and all-too-often thankless job teaching can be. I could not even wager a guess at how many students my dad has taught over the years or how many kids he coached on his wrestling and baseball teams. I can tell you they probably all remember him very fondly and that makes me one very proud daughter.

I'm loving...that Coach is utterly fascinated by the iPod my mom got him as a Father's Day/Retirement present. He emailed me today and said "It is so small so I have to keep an eye on it. Maybe I should put a lanyard on it like my keys." And for anyone who may know Coach and how he loses things...then yes, he should put it on a lanyard. Actually, I should start taking bets on how long til the poor iPod goes MIA. Maybe I need to get Coach the Danglet?


I'm loving...that in just ONE WEEK I will be in Tucson. Yes, it will probably be 115 degrees (and lord knows I do NOT do well in the heat), but I will be getting to see some ladies I haven't seen in quite some time, staying with two ladies I have come to really get a kick out of, and according to the resort's website, there is a "a complimentary and lively Tequila Toast every evening beginning at 5:30pm" Cheers to that!


I'm loving...this mason jar drink dispenser and matching mugs.

Want. This. So. Bad.
I guess it must be the 1/4 Southern in me, but I have a real fondness for mason jars and julep cups.

I'm loving...that I got to talk to one of my favorite friends last night. Only for a little bit, but it's just good to hear her voice. We haven't been able to properly catch up in awhile, but I love that we are the sort of friends that can always pick up as if a day hasn't gone by since we last spoke. Even more than that, I'm loving that I will be seeing her in 6 weeks!!!

I'm loving...that I had an appointment with the best stylist ever this week. Fresh color and a cut makes you feel like a million bucks. Or, in this case, Jennifer Nettles in Sugarland's new video which we used as our hair color inspiration.

I'm loving...that finally it feels like karma is coming around balancing things back out. I can feel good things around the corner...

Soliciting Book Suggestions - the College/High School edition

I stayed up WAY too late last night to finish "The Paris Wife"...I was crying towards the end of it and it definitely not a great way to go to sleep. Oh and depressed. I felt terribly sad about it all. Now, I don't want to dissuade anyone out there from reading this book because I actually really loved the whole thing. It was so beautifully written and I can't remember the last time I read something where characters were so compelling that I felt actual emotional stress/pain over what happened to them in the course of the story. Maybe I am a bit of an odd duck, but a book that makes me tear up reading it on the Metro gets a big thumbs up from me.

But here I am again....bookless and looking for reading suggestions. Reading "The Paris Wife" actually made me realize how very little Hemingway I have read in my life. Which is kind of unusual for a bookworm English Major like myself. And I kept thinking about that...and realized that there are actually quite a lot of classics from the canon of literature that I don't think I have ever read. As in, I may be the only person on the face of the planet who has an English degree but has never read any Jane Austen. Shame on me.

So what were some of your favorites that you remember from High School or College? Something that I should truly be ashamed with myself for not having read yet in my life? Was there some book that really made a differnece in your life or a huge impression on you?


Please hurry, people. I can't waste too much time going bookless...lest I fall back down the rabbithole into Us Weekly and People magazine.

Is three a crowd?

Look out, James Franco. I may have something new to snuggle up to in bed soon....

Yes, that's a plush Chase Utley doll. And by may have, I mean I actually just placed my order. I am assuming in the marketing write up when they refer to this as "perfect" for a "young fan" they mean me, right?

And because I know she's probably reading this and yelling out loud "I'm the one who found that for you!", thanks for finding it for me, Mom. You can stop reading the blog for now and go back to playing Words with Friends and watching coverage of the Casey Anthony trial. I know you have a pretty full plate these days.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Linking up with This Kind of Love for What I'm Loving Wednesday


I'm loving... "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain. This book has made me cry on the bus. In a good way, I promise (although I am weird and actually love movies and books that can make me cry.) It is so ridiculously good to read that I actually can't read it before bed at night because I will start reading at 9 or 10 and the next thing I know it's 1:30 in the morning.

I'm loving... the Chesapeake Cobb from Chop't. Just when I thought I couldn't love Chop't any more than I do, they go and give me a salad with Old Bay on the chicken and in the dressing.

I'm loving...Wawa iced tea. I mean, let's be honest...I LOVE Wawa anything, but I was able to make a stop at a Wawa over the weekend and pick myself up two jugs of tea. It makes me ridiculously happy to see them there in my fridge. You know, until they're gone. Which will probably be by the end of tonight.

I'm loving... that in just TWO WEEKS I will be reunited with some lovely ladies I have not seen in over 10 years. Craziness. I may have to go alllllll the way to Tucson where it will be 115 degrees in the shade to see them, but is is gonna be so very worth it!

I'm loving... the very helpful and HONEST sales associate who helped me wade through my ridiculous return to the Limited last night. When I returned home last night I had received two more packages from them of stuff I didn't order...wtf. I was there at the store for two freaking hours processing the returns last night, but the person who helped me was beyond wonderful and said bluntly "I don't know why they can't get their sh*t together."

This isn't what I ordered...

I recently treated myself to a little online shopping. Well, "treating" sort of implies that it doesn't happen very often...which it does. Online shopping is a huge downfall for me. I once gave it up for Lent and think it was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

I digress...

I had some coupon in my desk drawer for the Limited and decided I'd take a peek at their sale section. Found some pants for work, 2 scarves (why I need scarves just in time for summer, I have no idea) and 2 super-cute pairs of ballet flats. I wear out ballet flats like nobody's business.

Friday I walked up the stairs to my apartment to see a H-U-G-E brown box from the Limited, along with two smaller boxes, one FedEx and one plain brown. Again, I have problems with online shopping. The size of that large box seemed a little odd to me, but then I figured I did buy two pairs of shoes, maybe they were both in boxes inside that huge box? That would make sense.

Lugged the boxes inside and obviously went to open the big one first. And inside was...well...


In case you can't tell, that's a wedding dress. A short one, yes, but the tag on it notes it is part of their bridal collection. The box was addressed to me...and the packing slip on the inside said it should have been one of my pairs of flats. But no. The Limited sent me a freaking wedding dress. Most of my order was in the other two boxes, but missing that one pair of ballet flats. The pair they decided not to send me and sent me a freaking wedding dress instead.

Since I didn't get around to it over the weekend, tonight will have me driving to the mall to send this little white thing back from where she came. I have to imagine it is bad karma to have a wedding dress in one's possession without actually being engaged.

Actually, I just went and stuck the big box in the trunk of my car to get it out of the apartment. It was creeping me out just knowing what was in there.

What I'm Loving Wednesday - extreme heat edition

Linking up with This Kind of Love for What I'm Loving Wednesday


I thought a good WILW could help take my mind off the fact that today DC feels roughly ten degrees cooler than the surface of the freaking sun. Seriously, let's eeeeeaaaaaase into summer, shall we? Not go full throttle into 90+ degree days with off the charts humidity and 100% certainty that there will be a huge thunderstorm in time for the evening commute. So I am going to really try here and fid some things that I am loving despite the fact that I melted walking from the Metro to my office this morning.

I'm loving...air conditioning. Duh! But growing up, we did not have central AC in my house (my parents still don't) and I seriously feel like a high-falutin' fancy pants that I have been able to indulge in central AC ever since leaving college. We didn't have AC in my sorority house either...but something tells me my Philly suburb non-AC twin-house upbringing had me a little better suited for this rude awakening than some of my "fancier" sisters ;)

I'm loving...that I finally unpacked (most) of my summer clothes boxes. Thank the lord...I would have had nothing to wear to work this week that was suitable for these steamy conditions. Although, looking at the outfit choices of the associate across the hall, I guess I could have just busted out my regatta wear. I mean, seriously, this is a law firm. While cute, you have no business wearing this to the office.


I'm loving...sugar free popsicles. I can eat 4 of them for only 20 calories? Yes, please.

I'm loving...good self tanner. I don't even want to see my pasty arms and legs, so I can't imagine anyone else would either.

I'm loving...not even bothering to do my hair. Just let it go curly, who cares. I am only going to be pulling it back anyway.

I'm loving...that I actually braved the heat (and this cold that won't go away) to go over to Nats Park to see my Phillies on Memorial Day. I love the lady with the disco-ball hat on that was sitting in front of me (a little to the left....you can't miss her) even more. How hot must she have been? That's dedication! Although I think most of the sunburn on my face might have been just the reflection off of her sparkle hat.


I'm loving...reading actual books again. I had stopped reading for a bit (I am putting the blame on Angry Birds, Bejeweled and Words With Friends) but now I don't think there is anything better then getting home late at night, putting on PJs and pouring a glass of wine and sitting quietly and reading. Or maybe I am just really old....hey, at least they are cute PJs and not a housecoat! Currently finishing up "Commencement" before moving on to "The Paris Wife." Anyone have other good suggestions to add to my summer reading list?

I'm loving...my latest decorations in my office. Now if only I could find some time to actually GET there this summer.....