Monday Night Basketball

As you all know the weekend went wonderfully. I quite enjoyed myself. I hope you all had an equally fun and safe weekend. Monday came along entirely too quickly as usual. Thankfully Monday evening held fun plans; my dad and I were going to be attending the Bobcats game. As always when you have evening plans the afternoon at work d-r-a-g-s on and on.

I got home as quickly as I could changed, picked up the pup, and headed to my parents house. I was thankful that my mom offered to watch Callie while Dad and I were at the game since I was at work all day. For the Bobcats game I decided to wear a pair of wide leg jeans, black top, and of course orange heels.

I had heard that the games had not been selling well, however I had never imagined to see the stadium this empty. It was a little sad but it was still fun being there. The Bobcats had a social media screen up; however it was just rotating over and over from comments on a Facebook page. I was a little surprised they did not have a better social media person. I was a bit excited...maybe a little too happy...too see that I got retweeted by the Bobcats.

Well, the Bobcats ended up losing even despite my encouraging Tweet. It was a valiant effort on their part but alas they did not prevail. My dad and I had a really great time together.

My Dad & I 

Once I got home I blogged for Fifi's - check it out its all about wearing orange this spring. Especially since the only fashion item in this post are my orange shoes. To keep up with all my other posts and things I see during the week, like my page on Facebook.

Kiss Me I'm Irish

Okay...I am part German too but it's the thought that counts, right? I started off my morning making sure I had some sort green on. I wanted to be a little subtle with it, so I went with my maxi dress - outfit pictures later in the post. I am not one for shirts that have phases, I don't have anything against them I don't really wear them personally unless it is in support of a sports team.  I did hear about a shirt that said, Mom, Dad, I'm Gaelic which I thought was quite clever. Ha. I headed over to the Green Jean Consignment Sale with my friend, Sabrina. She had texted me the night before and I am so glad I went because today was the last day of the sale which meant most items were 1/2 off. I like 1/2 off! I have to say ladies when you are pricing your own items for consignment, you need to be a bit more realistic about what it is worth. Think about the label/designer and how well it holds it worth, how long you've had it (is it 1-3 years old), how worn/used is it, is it still on trend, all those kinds of questions should be factors when pricing your own items. I was surprised by some of the prices and what was discounted and what wasn't. However, I did get some goodies. I ended up with a pair Anne Taylor petite pants, Lotus and Banana Republic tops....drum roll...all for...$10.70!

Missed the sale? Thats okay more to come in Charlotte! 

After the sale I came home to recoup and a little snacking before heading to the US National Whitewater Center for St. Patrick's Day festivities. It was a packed house! Mel and I arrived at 12:30ish and had to park in overflow parking which was fine - a little hike was needed since I didn't make it to the gym this morning. Thankfully some friend's of Melanie's had gotten there early and they secured a great spot on the patio overlooking the river...which turned a slime green at 1:00pm.

Green River at the Whiterwater Center

Sweet, right? The music was rocking, the company was great, and the weather was perfect. The weather was so perfect that I didn't think about sunscreen until arriving at the Whitewater Center. Due to that fact I am now sitting on the couch with a lovely sunburn.

Melanie and I in front of the green river

As you see I did a striped strapless maxi dress, normally I wear it with wedges but due to the atmosphere I wore flip-flops. Thankfully since I wore a strapless dress I won't have weird tan lines.

Did everyone have a great St. Patrick's Day? I hope so and that there was lots o' green in your day...and no pinching. (Well, unless you like to be pinched).

Casual Much

I wish I could fully tell you about the insanity of my day, but due to some confidentiality issues I cannot. Lets just say the power going out what the least exciting thing going on today. Here is hoping tomorrow is a little less exciting and a bit more normal.

This weekend was a lot more chill than last and I kind of enjoyed it. I started off the morning with a pilates class with the roommate and that afternoon I had a personal training assessment. Worked hard. And I think I overworked my body honestly. I was really hurting and a bit weak. I was a bit frustrated by my Friday plans that I worked hard to solidify and it is as though people don't have respect for other's time and effort. So I ended up being perfectly content staying home.

Saturday morning I woke up and didn't realize how sore I actually was and decided to take the pup to Latta Plantation. Except within a short amount of time I really started to feel that my soreness typical soreness. The walk ended up being quite short, but the pup was just happy to go for a car walk and to the park. I came home and took a hot bath for my legs and just relaxed the rest of the afternoon and watched What's Your Number? Which ended up being funny and cute, which was quite surprising to me.

Sunday was my dad's birthday but we celebrated on Saturday night. I kept asking him what he wanted and all I got was I don't know. Finally he gave me a silly answer, a basketball, even though he really didn't want a basketball. Well on Friday I got an email from LivingSocial for a deal to see the Bobcats and shoot from court after the game. I bought a basketball balloon with his card. It was a different gift but I figured it was better than me buying him another shirt, which is what I normally do. We had dinner at Loco Lime, which was yummy and our waitress was so much fun. Afterward, we went back to my parent's house and played the game Zero again. Which we all laughed through again...which is probably why I love it so much.

I ended up staying up way too late watching Contagion and Catch & Release. I love love love love Catch and Release. Something about the main character roles and that love story. I don't know what it is. I think its the way the main male character, Fritz, looks at Jennifer Garner's character. Makes me swoon. Needless to say I did not make it to service on Sunday morning.

photo credit

I ended up spending most of the day with Irene and Lillian. It is so different now that L is around how much things have changed. Normally I don't mind at all, sometimes it is just hard honestly. I feel like it is a constant adjustment now. I think it is just finding a healthy balance between knowing that things are changing and knowing that your friendship hasn't changed just how you hang out has. I had gotten so use to my friends just  being married and now there are kids involved. L is just shy of being a year old, you would think I would be use to it by now...but I'm not. I don't think I ever will be as long as I am single.

Love these easy casual looks

Speaking of balance....while I was getting ready to head to my dad's birthday celebration I was going through my closet (and partially due to my recent weight loss I've been purging) I was faced with this dilemma of finding something casual but not tee-shirt casual (if you see me in a tee shirt and jeans it is a RARE occasion - take a picture). I realized how slim my pickings were for just easy going outfits. Mission bulk up the closet and keep purging what doesn't fit. Continue to find classic pieces that can be mixed and matched.

Well its off to bed I go. This whole losing an hour and me staying up to ridiculous hours of the night just to watch feel good chick-flick movies.

Oh Baby Baby

Today, Hailey Grace was born to one of my best friends. I have known Ryan & Lori Beth for years and I am so incredibly happy for them.

I was anxiously awaiting to get off work all day to meet this precious new addition to their family. I left work early to meet up with some friends to grab dinner for the new family and carpool to the hospital. It was so great spending the evening with friends I love and celebrating the new milestones in their life.

I called my mom on the way home from the hospital after texting her the picture of Hailey...then I am not going to lie, I started to cry. I am so incredibly happy for them except I so want this for myself as well (and even now as I type this I am getting emotional) and I don't see it happening any time soon. I don't want to play games. Seriously, I am over it. Don't want to waste time.

Until that time comes, I will just keep working on myself. I lost 15lbs in 2011. I am determined to keep losing keep trimming down. Look awesome. Beyond my health goals. I have some other goals for this year as well. Vague I realize. Ha. Ha. (insert evil laugh here).

Again, happy birth day to Hailey Grace! I cannot wait to spend more time with this little one.

Battle Field

I know I am normally saying, oh work has been so busy lately it is kicking my butt. However, today...this week, last week...it is killing me emotionally. I am in need to go out of town, and not go out of town for work. I am thankful that I have a trip with the fam at the end of the month to see my PawPaw in Georgia. I am really looking forward to seeing him and his wife, Ruth. I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw him...it has been years. Which makes me sad.

photo credit

Well back to me b*tching about work. I feel like it has been a constant battle where I leave work feeling beaten down. It is not a good feeling. As I was writing this, I realized I just need to do my job. Keep my head up and enjoy my life outside of the office. Those positive thoughts made me feel better right away. I remembered how I made a list of things I just want to do, just for fun. Just because. I am not going to make excuses. I am not going to let anything get in my way. It is my life. I can't blame anyone else but myself.

Billowy Layered Dress

I know this isn't much of a happy post so far. Kind of my mood this evening. So I wanted to share a little dress that made me smile. I was at the mall Friday afternoon, and found a cute little dress while in Forever21. I really to make more trips to Forever21 because they have great pieces at even better prices. Yellow is so on trend for this spring. How could it not be? Bright. Fun. Beautiful color. I like this dress because of it's layered structure. Such a fun piece.

Have you found your spring pieces yet? Warm weather is on the way ladies so even small inexpensive pieces can spruce up any closet.

Remember to bookmark the new domain name: fashionableaffairblog.com!

Weekend Update: Mistakes & Food

It's official the blog has a new domain. Probably by ignorance and fault of my own. I didn't follow up for my confirmation from Google after my year renewal, despite receiving a receipt. I will know better for next time. I can't believe it happened but it did. Problem has been taken care and it is time to move on. Otherwise, I will drive myself into the loony bin when there isn't much I can do...well unless I want to shell out $280 to purchase it back.

I love this city

I had a really packed and fabulous weekend. Friday night, I spent it uptown listening to jazz at the Bechtler Museum followed by walk around the exhibit. I just love the beauty that is created by another person. It always invokes some sort of emotion and response. I am still obsessed with Monet since seeing it in Raleigh years ago. Dinner at the Dandelion Market followed the walk around the Bechtler and dessert at the Ritz. Yes, defintely a good way to spend a Friday night. I highly recommend the lamb lollipops. They will make you want to eat any ounce of meat that is left on the bone. Delish. Really really delish.

Saturday, I desperately tried to figure out the origin of my blog/domain issue. Running in circles. Desperately doing my best not to pull out my hair. That evening my family celebrated my mom's birthday. Yay for birthdays! Yay! After giving my mom her gifts we had dinner at Bad Daddy Burgers (formerly Big Daddy) on East Blvd. I normally get the Frenchie, I can't help it I am addicted to it. After an order of fried pickles at the table I had the Cob Your Enthusiasm....and once again another delicious meal. When we got home we played this new game my dad bought called Zero, it is like Family Feud in reverse. I thought it was funny, kind of ridiculous but I definitely laughed. I so enjoyed the time I spent with my family that night.

Sunday I skipped service and took the pup for a walk at Latta Plantation. Definitely a great way to spend the day if I wasn't going to be at service.  That night I had my first Grange meeting for the Queen City chapter. It was great to continue to learn about this organization and to plan our first community project. If you are looking for a great organization to join in the Charlotte area that does projects to better the community, message me! Our first meeting was at the restaurant Pewter Rose, it was my second time eating here. I had the risotto, oh my oh my. I ate too much. Way too much, I was still full when I woke up this morning.

Did you all have a good weekend? Yummy eats? Family time? I would love to hear about it. This weekend is looking just as promising and fun. Hopefully I will actually take more pictures.

Commence Hair Pulling Now

Late Friday afternoon I got a Twitter DM from fellow blogger and friend, Jessie, that my blog page was gone. I freaked but I was in the midst of getting ready to head out the door and there wasn't much I could do. Before putting on my high heels, I shot Google a quick email with hopes that it would be quickly resolved. Except as of 2:30am on March 4 I have only received auto-replies from Google. (After I typed this, I went to bed).

send help now!

I awoke this morning to my alarm for the 9am service, I quickly smacked the phone. The hallelujah ring tone was the last thing I wanted to hear after being up since almost 3am running in circles. I did wake up to an answer from Google - finally. Though it was not what I wanted to hear and it cranked up my frustration way too early in the morning. I decided since the sun was shining I wasn't going let this day pass me by. Yes, I could have easily gotten ready for the 11am service but I did not. I put on my stretchy pants, a long sleeve shirt, and a vest. As soon as the tennis shoes came out and I said walk/park, the pup went crazy. 

Our first stop was PetSmart, the pup's pulling on the leash has gotten out of control. I walked in asked for the best harness they had, and the customer service rep even helped me put it on her.

We went to Latta Plantion and walked the trails for a good hour, and the new harness makes the pup a pleasure to walk. Only once did she try to go after any squirrels and the harness stopped/tripped her in her tracks. It was a perfect sunny day in the Queen City for this walk. I so enjoyed myself.

The pup really pushed the limits on the edges. Which surprised me, she is usually a bit skidish and not as daring. I knew what she wanted, to get in the lake.

And she succeeded. The cold water did not seem to bother her, since it was in the 50's during our walk. All she really wanted was to get a little drink of water and get her paws wet.

Well after all that, I may have found a solution to my domain problem. Stayed tuned. I will have a weekend update tomorrow of all my fabulous eats. Hope you all had a relaxing Sunday, I am off to eat at another fabulous place in Charlotte - the Pewter Rose.