Hurricane Saaaaannnndy

So, my precious dog's name is Channing.  *see evidence below for preciousness

For some reason, most of her 6 years on this earth, I've called her Sandy about half the time.  I guess it started from Channing to Channie to Sandy?  I usually say she's as crazy as a hurricane so not surprising that this one's name is Sandy and she's tearing stuff up.  I have quite a few friends on the East Coast- from South Carolina up to NYC.  I'm sending some good vibes and crossed fingers their way- I hope this storm is more bark than bite!

On a work note, today was one of those days that I really really really wish I could have "real walls" in my office.  Instead, we have these 3/4ths walls that are really just glorified cubicles.  I was grumpy, tired, cranky, pmsing, annoyed, hot, cold, headachy the entire day and I think I took it out on my team. It doesn't help that Mondays are usually my busiest day, have to get payroll in for each and every client and it is not an easy feat.  On top of that, we were extremely short staffed with one of our clients and it always sucks to have that, "surprise, we sucked today" conversation with them. However, they're the most sweet because on bosses day, they got me a cookie cake, flowers (in pic below) and decorated my office with different words that reminded them of me (courageous, thoughtful, sassy, best boss ever, thorough, dedicated, funny, etc). So, I've kept these words up just to remind myself that I AM AWESOME AND OTHER PEOPLE THINK I"M AWESOME, TOO!!!!!

On a positive note, I ate mostly healthy today and am convinced I am going to lose some serious weight this year.  COMMITMENT. I keep telling myself this:

Everyone- stay safe out there!  We're starting to get the hurricane winds here in Kentucky so I can only imagine what it's like on the coast!!

Blogs I've been reading

So, I've been watching all of these reality shows recently who just have the most ridiculously dramatic lives over being rich and famous.  Then I turn on my old school macbookpro that only works if the cord is plugged in just to  be reminded by looking at all the blogs I normally look at, my life sucks!  Everyone is married, getting married, planning a baby, planning a wedding, talking about how crazy their lives are with all the 234235 children they have and how in the world can the wife and the husband even begin to think about sex when there are so may children and then she feels fat so she goes on a diet and the diet is disgusting so then she starts running and then goes back to eating rallys every night in front of the tv.

I'm sick of seeing blogs like that.  What  I want to know is where are all the SINGLE and FABULOUS girls at?  I know I am not the only one so I'd love to hear from people where those blogs are... maybe this blog will become a single and fabulous blog for all the others like me who need it.
Like, what are you doing on a Saturday night? If you're me, then your saturday consisted of watching movies, eating, cuddling with your dog, and taking an ambien at 10 then not waking up until 11am.  Superlame but also so wonderful.  I just want to know I'm not the only one.  My sunday was a bit of a step up.  I got up, went to lunch with a girlfriend, went to whole foods and got some good shit, then went home and cooked some good shit (chili yum yum) and also some granola for the am and some lunch for the week.  Then I took my dog on a walk.. then I sit on my couch and wait for revenge to come on because ohmygoshitisthebestshowinthewholeworld!!!!!

Anyone else like this? I'd love to hear from you!

Life's been a bit of a roller coaster the past week or so. No real reason why, it just has been. I think a lot of it has to do with my birthday being a week and a half away- 27 is not the most exciting birthday, I'll tell you that. I also think it has to do with me being away from home, family, friends, and my dog.  Not really feeling like I have a "home" because the day before I came down to Nashville, I moved out of my apartment and put all my stuff into my mom's house. So, when I go home I'll have to find an apartment for myself- of course, my mom wants me to stay with her but I really have enjoyed living on my own so I'd like to do that.  Decisions, decisions.

On a funny side.. I completely embarrassed myself today but finally met someone in my apartment complex here in Franklin! I was swiping my gate card to get into the apartments and the card literally flew out of my hands.... it's pouring down rain so I jump out of the car and am looking EVERYWHERE for it. Cannot find it. Meanwhile, a boy in a car pulls up behind me and is all Prince Charming like, "Is everything okay?" dumb me says, "Yeah, I'm sorry. I swiped my card and it jumped out of my hand and now I can't find it." So he jumps out of his car and tries to look through the grass with me and neither of us can find it and we're both getting soaking wet. THen, he so cleverly asks me if I've looked under my car, which I had but didn't see it. So, he jumps down (in the pouring rain and puddles) and finds it halfway under my car. Such a cutie. Thanks, neighbor dude :)

Beauty Products I'm LOVING Right Now!

So I'm sort of a makeup/product slut. I like to jump around and try it all so that I know what I really like. After 27 years on this earth, I think I've actually found the products that suit my skin/hair/body/etc. So, I have them listed for you below:

First up, Palmer's Cocoa Butter lotion. IT IS SO AMAZING. It smells like chocolate and feels like butter on your skin. It sinks into my skin so well and then leaves a bit of a hint of cocoa all day long.

Second up, it's Thistle Farms Lavender Lip Balm... smells amazing and is so nourishing on my lips. LOVE IT.

Third, we have Daisy by Marc Jacobs. I use the Daisy Eau So Fresh.. it's a bit lighter and not as in your face floral-y. I get compliments all the time on this scent, it is the perfect summer smell.

Next up, we have my favorite facial soaps.. LUSH is phenomenal. In the mornings, I use Ocean Salt. It is like a margarita and sand mixture on your face! It smells so fresh, feels so exfoliating, and leaves my face so bright it's unreal. This is a MUST have for me right now.

In the evenings, I use Coalface. It's a bar of black soap, made up of charcoal, rosewood, and sandalwood oils. Perfect for combination/oily faces like mine :) It smells delish, also.

After I use these bad boys, I tone with the Tea Tree Water toner from Lush. It's such a nice little surprise when you spray it. Smells great, feels great, win/win for me. I use it mid day sometimes for a wake up spritzer.

Last but DEFINITELY not least is my NARS Sheer Matte Foundation in Light5. Takes all the oil out of this shiny face and leaves me looking flawless. Can't get enough of it.

That's the end of my beauty lovin' post right now. Any products out there you are crushing on? I love trying new products and wouldn't be surprised if I spend about 1/3 of my paycheck in Sephora on the reg. 

25 things about me

I feel like I've been extremely productive tonight so why not do a list of 25 things about me?

1. I.LOVE tons of ice in my drinks- usually a ratio of 3/1 (ice/drink).
2. I have a 5 year old dog who literally rules my world. She's a gordon setter mix and is so smart and sassy it's unreal. I've taught her to whisper, catch, play with frisbees, sit, lay down, crawl, come, speak, howl, the list goes on. She's a mess but I wouldn't change her for the world.
3. I have a nephew who also rules my world. He's 10 months old and I can't imagine my life without him. I've never wanted kids and wasn't sure how I'd feel about my little sister having a baby but boy was I wrong. I would lay my life down in a second for that little rascal.
4. I'm living in Nashville for 3 months for work and it's weird how similar it is to Louisville, yet it feels like a thousand miles away (it's only 2.5 hours away fyi).
5. The only place I sing freely is in my car. You'd think I was on crack if you drove next to me- I really belt it out. I am completely tone deaf so I don't dare sing anywhere else.
6. I danced for 15 years of my life and miss it terribly.
7. I also coached dance for 2 years and took my middle school team to Nationals (which we won both times) about 3 years ago- it was a great experience but it was more trouble and time consuming than I thought it would be.
8. I just moved back in with my mom (well, I moved in then 2 days later moved to Nashville for 3 months) and I am dreading when I go back home and have to live there for a bit. I'm trying to save money to help pay off some debt.
9. I am a workaholic. I work hard and a lot but I feel like it will be worth it in the long run.
10. My grandpa passed away last Easter and it was the first family member that I've been close to and lost. So, this Easter was a bit difficult but I know that he is in a better place.
11. I broke my arm on my birthday when I turned 11 and each year since have been terrified that something bad will happen on my birthday (it's may 2 by the way)
12. I HATE TEXT MESSAGING. HATE IT. Just call me. Actually, I don't really like talking on the phone either. I'd rather have a face to face :)
13. I love reality tv. Seriously, could spend hours watching TV
14. I hate working out but am slowly starting to get back into it.
15. I don't sleep in "late" but I hate mornings. Waking up is so difficult for me. My body naturally wants to stay awake super late and wake up around 8/9 but my job doesn't allow that. I try to get in bed by 10 and wake up around 6/630 every day (except weekends- anything goes there).
16. That being said, I am a horrible sleeper. Like, clinically horrible. I've done sleep studies, taken all the sleep meds, teas, exercise, hot baths, warm milk, no lights, no computers, no tv's, etc. NOTHING helps me. I have to run myself ragged throughout the day and even then, I still can't fall asleep at night. GAH!
17. I love reading! Books, Blogs, Magazines, Articles, Journals, anything! You put it in front of me, I'll read it..
18. My vision at night is AWFUL. I have astigmatism in one eye and the other doesn't have perfect vision so at night it all jumbles up and I drive like a grandma. I have glasses but I'm not supposed to wear them "all the time". Whatever that means.
19. I have a freckle on the tip of my nose- people mistake it for dirt ALL THE TIME. I'm 26.9 years old- do you really think I have dirt on the tip of my nose?
20. I am single but am really ready to settle down and date. Mr. Right, where are you?
21. I want to ride horses. I have a secret obsession for them. Maybe this can be a goal next year? Learn how to ride horses?
22. I've just watched 4 back to back episodes of Bad Girls Club and am kind of embarrassed about it. Remember #13? See? I told you.
23. My washer is making INSANE noises in my apartment right now and it's scaring me kind of.
24. People in Nashville say weird things. Case in point: "Buggy" for a grocery cart. "Meat n Three" for a restaurant that serves one meat with three sides- why don't you just say "restaurant"? Finally, "might to could," as in, "you might to could have gone to the store."  Why don't you just say, "you could have gone to the store," ????
25. I have had a sinus infection/cold/allergies that hasn't gone away for about 2 weeks now. Maybe I'll go to the doctor this week... maybe.

Rattlin' some Cages

So since we've last typed, I've moved to NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE for about 8 weeks for my job. Our branch down here needed some seriously love so my owner and my boss thought, Why not Kristen? So, four hours later, I was on my way down here with nowhere to live and no clue what I was doing. And GUESS WHAT?! I've loved every minute of it. It's been fantastic.  I'm working two awesome girls (had to fire one but pssshhhhaaa glad she's gone) and am now looking for another recruiter to help run the branch.  I go home April 28 and I'm honestly sad about it. I'm kind of hoping my boss will ask again if I would be okay extending my time down there. I'm starting to really like the place.  Here's what my last couple of months have been like, in picture form.

Dyed my hair back to blonde: WOO WOO

 Drank some really good beer that you serve over ICE. DUH.

Set up a cute little welcome station in my office

This is my face that was permanently on when my friends came to visit and blow up the town.

THE.BEST.BREAKFAST.EVER. The Irish Omlette ffrom a cute little Irish bar in downtown Franklin. The name has escaped my mind.  

 Jwhite. She's one of the ones who destroyed this town. I LUUUUHHHHH her to death.

Got this sweet little package in the mail from my good buddy Pswing. Known each other since 6th grade. I had no clue what to expect to find in it.....

HOW CUTE IS THIS?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?! She's adorable and of course I said YES!

 Here's the lair errr.. Bedroom where I live. I'm in a corporate apartment so I have no decorating choices. Stuck in a land of brown and lime green. I guess it could be worse?

 

 This is the most BEAUTIFUL vineyard close to my house. Kix Brooks from Brooks and Dunn owns it. You know you want to go there.

Arrington Vineyard Wine. The gewurztraminer wasn't the best I've ever had but it was good enough to drink the whole bottle..... not a lush, I swear.

Me with said wine.

 Jessica and I with our wines at the Vineyard

So, I went shopping the other night in the liquor store, of course, and came across this JEM.  Yes, that is my entire name on the bottle.... KRIS (I sometimes go by that instead of Kristen) at the top left and then at the top right, SCHWEIZER spelled EXACTLY the same! What are the odds. CLearly, I had to have it.

This is my gyms in my apartment complex. Poor guy doesn't get much use but I'm TRYING. LAY OFF ME I"M STARVING!

So this bumpkin this weekend. He only wanted his aunt shristen all day long. THis is what he did when I told him I had to go back to Nashville. SAD FACE.

There is a restaurant near my house that has $6.50 create your own bloody mary's. THis has turned out to be dangerous for me. I made the most DELICIOUS BM that I have ever had in my whole entire life and could have just as easily ordered 10 more. I was trying to save my tongue from the acid. But, it was SOSOSOSOSOSO good girl.

 Okay, now that you're caught up with my life the past few weeks, I"m going to try to start actually blogging. Like for real. Tomorrow, let's talk about LUSH products. I'm a lush for lush!!

Well, I was planning on going to sleep but since it's already midnight and I have to wake up at 6 am, why not spend a few more minutes blogging.  I'm going to put up a bunch of silly, ridiculous pictures of myself, my friends, and my family so you can have a clue as to who I am and where I come from:

This is me (on left) and my friend Taylor. We can't take a normal picture.

This is me (on the ground) and Taylor. Once again, not a normal picture. On the beach at Myrtle Beach, SC.

Taylor, Jessica, and Myself at some bar in Myrtle Beach Summer 2011

My friend Katlin, who moved away to Charlotte, NC and I miss her dearly!

This was our vacay group of friends, from left: Sarah, Jessica, ME, Taylor, and Justin. Yes, Justin went with all girls, by the end of the week I thought he was going to kill us.

This is the most perfect human I've ever know. My nephew, Levi was born on May 27, 2011 and I am forever grateful for him. I have never loved anyone as much as I love him.

My sister and I circa 1993, shut up- Glamour Shots were ALL the rage back then.

My extended cousins

Levi, a bit more grown up now. 

Levi, Me, and My sister at our step sister's wedding

De Bebe and me. He looks so pleased.

My two step sisters: Megan and Meredith, then Taylor and Myself.

My best friend, Sarah. She lives 2 hours away but it feels like the other side of the world with our crazy busy schedules. I'm having withdrawls.