52 Questions: Week 4

For the complete list of 2014's "52 Questions," you can head over here.

Tell me about your mother (her name, birth date, birthplace, parents, etc.) Can you share some memories you have of your mother?

My mom is amazing.

She loves to sit with a glass of wine on our back deck on summer evenings. Her cleaning skills put Danny Tanner's to shame. She's a compassionate nurse who goes out of her way to help anyone in need (once we pulled over on a busy road because she saw a runner collapse). She even buys Christmas gifts for our garbage men.

She's 5'9" tall (why the heck am I so average?) and always looks so polished and put-together.

My mom is also one of the strongest women in this world.

In our family, she's always the one who keeps calm during stressful, scary, or sad situations.

When my laptop was stolen from my dorm room freshman year (Day 2: Welcome to college, Jenna!), my mom did zero freaking out.

"I am so sorry," she said, as I sat in the Residence Hall Director's office, a Chicago Police Officer examining our room (not dramatic at all). "But it'll be okay! Don't worry. It's just a thing. We'll buy you a new one."

She is the one who drove our sick golden retriever to the vet's office and then held her as she passed away, right there in the car.

My mom gracefully handles anything life throws at her, and I so often wish I had her strength and calm demeanor.

The two of us talk daily on the phone, and she's the first one I want to call with any sort of news.

I am very, very lucky to call her my mum! <3

My blog's THIRD birthday!

As usual, I totally forgot my blog's birthday on January 20th.

Please note that it January 26th today.

I'm essentially a week late.

I took some time yesterday to go back through my old posts.

My very first blog post! I was (am) such a dork.

I feel so grateful to this blog.

Thanks to blogging, I have beautiful, little tidbits of my life over these past three years (minus that stretch of time I went on a hiatus), and I love that I am able to go back and relive small moments I would have otherwise forgotten if it wasn't for "Leggings Love."

I also must give a humble merci to my blog for introducing me to some of the most incredible women in the world.

So, happy third birthday, "Leggings Love"!

I hope we spend more time together in 2014! <3

None of that six month hiatus stuff.

Promise.

My new Kate Spade newspaper clutch!

On Wednesday morning, I awoke to my alarm (which happens to be the song "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall because ever since I saw The Devil Wears Prada, it's the first song I think of in terms of getting up and getting ready in the morning).

Groggily, I reached for my iPhone and disabled the alarm.

With heavy eyelids that were nearly impossible to keep open, I quickly scanned through my emails.

Promotional email...promotional email...KATE WAS HAVING A SALE?!

Eyelids light and eyes bright, I tossed my phone aside and grabbed my laptop instead.

Kate was not only hosting a sale, she was having a "Greatest Hits" kind!

"No...it can't be...!" I audibly gasped, as I came across the Newspaper Clutch.

It was at a fantastic price and so with a few clicks, I secured it as mine.

I told everyone who would listen about my amazing clutch that was soon to be arriving and how it looked like a legitimate newspaper, and when it made its appearance on my doorstep just one night later (impressive), I tore open the box eagerly.

Okay, so the clutch?

While totally awesome in appearance and definitely a statement piece...is made out of paper.

PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!

So basically, this clutch cannot be brought out in any sort of inclement weather...any occasion that involves red wine...etc, etc.

OH, and it must be stored in light tissue paper and away from the light because it could fade.

Because I dropped $$$ on a PAPER CLUTCH.

Anyway.

It really is gorgeous, and I like that it has an actual purse lining and all...really, I'm quite fascinated by the clutch's construction in general.

But would I buy it again?

No.

Because really now, how impractical is it to be carrying around a clutch made of paper?

52 Questions: Week 3

For the complete list of 2014's "52 Questions," you can head over here.

Tell me* about your father (his name, birth date, birthplace, parents, etc.) Can you share some memories you have of your father?

My dad is one of my most favorite people in this world.

Golf fanatic. Nap enthusiast. Wonderful sense of humor. Hard worker. Lover of libraries.

All describe my dad.

The two of us have been called the sensitive ones of our family and tend to be more laid back about things. We're very alike in personality.

Since my mom worked a lot of evenings and weekends when we were little, my brothers and I have an especially close relationship to our dad.

I can remember my dad taking us to the airport and letting us marvel at the planes taking off and landing. He would make special trips with me to the incredible downtown library and let me check out a dozen books.

While my dad can be on the quiet side when he first meets somebody, once you get to know him, he's just hysterical.

He has the best sense of humor, and few people can make me laugh as hard as he does.

We call him "Cam" sometimes because of his dramatic stories and over-the-top reactions.

You know, like Cam on Modern Family.

Totally normal.

My dad is such an incredible husband to my mom. He loves her like crazy, and I love that he has always helped out with the cooking and housework. My parents definitely work as a team, and I really admire them both for that.

With my new job downtown, my dad and I are now able to have lunch dates.

It's so crazy neat.

I know that I am a very, very lucky girl to have such an amazing father.

*Note: Who is this elusive "me"? The creator of these questions? Weird.

...and that's all you can do.

I only blogged once this week. I hate that!

I wasn't able to workout tonight. No wonder I'm not at my ideal weight.

Why didn't I have more insightful points to make in class? I wish I had spent more time on the reading.

I should have known how to do that work task. How could I have forgotten?

-*-

Confession: Sometimes, I can get really down on myself.

I often feel like I have to perform all of my daily responsibilities perfectly.

No mistakes. Total confidence. All the time.

You know, like Kate Middleton. 

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For example, tonight I stayed later at work and was faced with the dilemma- should I workout or go to Target (where I actually needed quite a few necessities)? 

I only had time for one since I knew I needed to be home around 8 or so to do schoolwork.

Rather than be proud of the work I had accomplished for the day, I was really hard on myself, questioning why I wasn't someone who worked out in the morning or why I hadn't made time for Target over the weekend.

Leaving work and heading out into the cold, January night, I thought of something my mom would tell me whenever I was anxious about a school project or other event.

"Just do your best, and that's all you can do."

I reflected on my day.

I really had done my best. 

I had devoted myself fully to all of my tasks and done my best work. 

And it was in that moment that I made a promise to myself.

I am going to keep trying my best at everything I do and knowing that's all I can do. 

I'm never going to do everything perfectly. 

There will, of course, be days that I do manage to pull everything off flawlessly, but as long as I know deep down that I gave something my best effort, I am going to be satisfied with that.

:)

Pity Party

If I have to spend my entire weekend doing schoolwork, I at least reserve the right to do it from my bed.

Being warm and cozy definitely brightens up the mood of a pity party, after all.

More exciting and interesting blog posts to come soon.

Maybe.

52 Questions: Week 2

Happy Tuesday, bloggers!

For the complete list of 2014's "52 Questions," you can head over here.

Now then...on to week 2!

When and where were you born? Describe your home, your neighborhood and the town you grew up in.

I was born on December 19, 1989 in Cincinnati, Ohio. I wish I could tell you I was born in the backseat of a BMW on the side of the Autobahn or perhaps in a charming old hospital adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, but neither is true.

My family moved to the house I grew up in when I was only eighteen months old so it's the only house I've really ever known. I've always loved my family's house- red brick, a big backyard, and loads of neighborhood kids to play with. As the only girl, I had the biggest bedroom out of the children. When I was younger, it was painted a pale pink with tulips stenciled around the top and my name written above my window. Of course, when I was 12, I begged my parents to paint it purple.

Au revoir, lovely tulips!

Teenagers make the worst decisions.

Our suburban neighborhood was full of children, and we would all get together and play giant games of "Ghost in the Graveyard" and "Capture the Flag." My childhood best friend lived right next door, and we were always running back and forth between our two houses. On Friday nights, we would have sleepovers where we would spread out our sleeping bags in front of the TV for TGIF and eat popcorn and have the crazy cool privilege of having our drinks in the family room.

Wild stuff, I know.

I've almost always lived in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati is in the southwest corner of Ohio and is fun to say- Cincinnati! I mean, that has major pizzazz, right? It has a beautiful skyline, especially if you're driving from Kentucky, and is home to the headquarters of quite a few major companies, such as Procter & Gamble, Macy's, and GE. We also have two major universities, the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, the most incredible zoo and botanical garden, an extraordinary museum center, amazing art museum, a majestic fountain right in the middle of town...I'll stop here, but there is surprisingly a lot to see and experience around the city!

Thanksgiving Day Race! Rachel raced, not me (obviously)

An outdoor concert at Music Hall!

The Macy's Christmas Tree downtown

In Cincinnati, we love our chili with spaghetti and cheese, everyone cares what high school you went to, and whether you're from the east or west side is a huge factor in your identity.

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It's a city that despite its population of over 2 million (that is the major metropolitan area), so often feels like a small town.

I don't know if it's my forever city, but I'll always hold a special place in my heart for Cincinnati.