Random musings from my kitchen counter.

Hi friends! I'm coming to you from my teeny-tiny kitchen "counter"/center-island/rolling storage thingy, where I've been parked in a cold-and-dark-induced coma scrolling madly through Pinterest for the past hour or so. Thought it was time for a bit of an update, since I've been absent a few days. 

One of St. Paul's famous buildings…I thought the "1st" was appropriate. Plus, I can see it from my desk!

I started my new job (after nearly a month off--finally!) on Monday! So far, so good…it's crazy-different than my previous job in public accounting. My team is small, and I have a lot of responsibility and am fairly senior on it, which is weird. I sort of got thrown into my role with almost no formal training or HR…so different from spending nearly a month learning how to be an auditor when I started with the Big 4. With three whole days (wowwww) under my belt, though, I feel like I'm getting a little bit more comfortable. Fingers crossed it stays that way! Another perk: I get in early (around 7:30), and accordingly leave at FOUR PM EVERY DAY. How's THAT for work-life balance?!?! I love it. 

We're in the middle of a miserable cold snap here in the frozen tundra I've called home for nearly 25 years…it's been in the negatives for a week straight now, and I'm already ready for winter to be done. Too bad it's only December…and not even technically reeeeally mid-December. If it snows until May like it did last year, we're in for like…four and a half more months of this. The walks to and from my new office from the parking ramp about eight minutes away have been enough to leave me with dry, chapped skin…and the air is so frigid and dry that I've woken up the past couple mornings with nosebleeds! Glamorous side effects of Minnesota winter weather, right?  Let's just say I've been bundling like a crazy person--my fur scarf, Uggs, and cozy cashmere hat are my new favorite things. We're also cranking the heat HARD every morning and evening--now that there's nobody home during the day, we can justify having it warmer, for a shorter amount of time. Nice. 

Get me here. Stat. 

Given that the weather outside IS frightful--so frightful, in fact, that I don't want to do anything at all but snuggle in my fleecy socks--Jon and I are starting to plan a warm-weather trip! He's become BFFs with Expedia, and I've been asking everyone I know for Caribbean or Mexican recommendations. So far, our favorite option is Puerto Rico, but we'll see what ultimately pans out. With a tentatively planned departure in late February, I may or may not already be counting down…the deal is only sweetened by the fact that I won't be in busy season working 65+ hours a week!! That's definitely a great excuse for a Caribbean getaway. Plus, it'll be the first time Jon and I take a plane trip together…is it super dorky that I'm really excited about the prospect of that? 

That's about all I've got for anyone news-wise right now. Hope things are cozy and cheerful for anyone with the attention span to make it through this oh-so-random brain dump! As always, happy holidays and, til next time, stay warm!

My grown-up Christmas list

Not gonna lie…I am a huuuuuge sucker for presents. Giving and getting them! I adore wrapping paper, get warm fuzzies from shiny bows, and may or may not be guilty of Christmas shopping months in advance. This year, I was done and had all my presents wrapped by mid-November! 

I completely agonize over what to give others for Christmas. In my eyes, it's got to be heartfelt, tailored to the recipient, and out-of-the-box…no gift cards here (although I do love receiving them!). I'm actually really proud of how I did this year on my shopping! I think the gifts I picked out for my family, friends, and Jon are really creative and well-suited to each person. 

In shopping, I happened to do a lot of window-shopping for myself. If I had unlimited capital (not to mention storage space in my apartment), or if Santa Baby was so inclined…here's what would be on my list this year!

1. J.Crew Pavé Link Bracelet: 

I think this is so pretty! Just the right amount of sparkly and fun, while still classic enough to wear to work. 

2. Kate Spade Mini Bow Ring: 

Almost anyone who knows anything about me knows I adore bows. To the point where I tied hair ribbons on my ponytails most of the way through college (and still do when I go back to football games). This is a more adult take on my very favorite accessory. 

3. Anthropologie Boulangerie Candle: 

The Vanilla-Cinnamon scent is literally olfactory crack. Every time I go to Anthro (and it's been more frequent than I'd be okay admitting, lately…), I sniff this until I'm pretty sure the staff think I'm a bit unhinged. 

4. Pottery Barn Jewelry Box: 

I was trying to find a necklace to wear to church this week, and literally every single necklace in my jewelry box was knotted together. I'm dreading untangling them. This pretty leather box is much roomier, with separate compartments…and would look so nice on my dresser. 

5. Rifle Paper Co Notes: 

As convenient as email, Facebook and texting are, there's just nothing quite as lovely as receiving a handwritten note in the mail…and with notecards as cute as these, what better incentive to write lots of letters?

6. Lollia lotion, Bubble Bath and Perfume in Breathe: 

According to the website, this scent features "a floral heart of ruffled Peony and White Lily with sheer hints of fresh Grapefruit and Orange. A fresh air impression infused with leafy green notes surrounded by a hint of cool, mossy forest paths." Sign me up!

7. Paper-Source custom stamp: 

To go with my goal to send more personal notes. I think this is the cutest idea, and so convenient!

8. Madewell "Ex-Boyfriend" Flannel Shirt: 

Could anything be cozier than a flannel? I'm obsessed with Madewell's new take on the classic boyfriend shirt…a little more feminine, a little more fitted, but just as comfy-cozy as if it was actually stolen from a boyfriend's closet. 

9. Deborah Lippmann Glitter Nail Polish: 

I've recently gotten obsessed with painting my nails, and I love this incredibly crazy, over-the-top sparkly "Happy Birthday" polish. 

10. Target Threshold "Cheers" highball, tumbler, and pilsener glasses: 

We have a cute bar cart sitting in the corner of our living room that's currently home to a motley assortment of stolen pint glasses and cheap Ikea champagne flutes, along with a few cute cocktail plates and shot glasses. These festive and fun glasses would definitely kick it up a notch!

So there you have it. Stocking stuffers and pretty little presents that I'd love to unwrap this year! Please send any additional ideas or suggestions my way, and make sure you CC Mr. C up at the North Pole for good measure ;) 

Good-Luck Charms.

Today, I had a very important thing to attend that I was really nervous about. As I got dressed this morning, I changed my top about seven times to see what looked best with my outfit (yes, I am absolutely a typical girl). I applied a little more makeup, a little more carefully than usual. I put about 110% more effort into taming and shaping my insane curly hair into something presentable. I spent like TEN MINUTES shaving my legs just to avoid that awkward "Shit, I missed a tiny spot" feeling. 

And then I hurried out the door because all this primping had made me late.  

And I forgot my Notre Dame class ring on the bathroom counter.  

My ring, pre-monogram flip, on graduation day. 

This is an extremely big deal. Yes, clearly it is an inane detail that wouldn't make or break an appearance with ^that^ much effort put into it; for me, however, not having that damn ring was an absolute blow.  

 See, that ring has become my talisman over the past five years (dear God, how has it been five years since junior fall of college?!). That ring is so significant to me, for so many reasons. And not having that ring on made me feel bare and empty all over, not just on the third finger of my right hand but from the tips of my hair to the tips of my toes. 

My friend Zach's ring is so big that mine fits inside it. 

I still remember the day I picked that ring out with my parents, spring semester of sophomore year.  I had been ogling the specific ring I wanted since pretty much week one of freshman year, and I was so excited to go pick it out and officially place my order--class rings are a status symbol for upperclassmen at ND. I was, however, apprehensive about the cost…upwards of $600, minimum. 

My parents were amazing about it…gifted me the ring, adored the classic "traditional" design and color combo I picked out, and even upgraded me to 14k gold instead of 10k. I was thrilled. Since then, I've worn that ring nearly every day and on three continents. I get a tan line from it in the summer, and if I don't have it on, I wear at the skin underneath where it usually sits because I'm so used to playing with it. 

When Conk and I get together we tend to pinky promise things, Notre Dame girl-style. 

At any rate…I forgot my ring today, on a day when I was pretty sure I could use some pretty serious good-luck charm action. I spent my entire 20-minute drive fidgeting with the naked skin where my palm met my finger, feeling completely uncomfortable and weirdly stressed.  Thank heaven for pump-up jams and best friends (Conk, loooove you) who know exactly what to say to calm a stressy bitch down. 

Bottom line, at the end of the day, I didn't need my good-luck charm. I did just fine without it, and after the initial shock wore off, I barely noticed it was missing.  

Needless to say, though…better bet I'm sleeping with that thing on my finger from now on. Every Irish girl could use a little good-luck charm in her life, right? 

Guilty Little Pleasures

I'm home alone today--Jon has gone home for a quick overnight visit, and left really early this morning. My day was busy with brunch (see previous post), but this late afternoon and evening have been soooo indulgent with all my old single-girl guilty pleasures. So that naturally got me thinking about these cheap, cheesy little things I so enjoy...

-Television: Right now, "Scandal" is the currently-airing show I adore, but I am a HUGE sucker for the "Bachelor/ette" franchise. Disgusting, right? Addicted. I'm also finding myself way more motivated to work out if I know I can watch "Gossip Girl" like a crazy person on my iPad...and of course I'll never channel-flip if "Say Yes to the Dress" is on! 

-Movies: No judgment...MaryKate and Ashley movies. You cannot...CANNOT...go wrong. "Holiday in the Sun" and "Winning London" for LIFE, people. Although any Meg Ryan movie ("When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle," "You've Got Mail") will forever have my heart.  

-Music: Mid-90's cheese a la "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "The Middle," "You Get What You Give." Or top 20. Somewhat out of character because I actually think I have pretty solid taste in music... 

-Internet reading material: Um, anyone else addicted to Mormon mommy blogs? I blame my sister for introducing me to Rockstar Diaries in 2012. Now I have a rotation of about 10 I check out every day. I'm also way unhealthily hooked on wedding blogs. Weddingbee, Style Me Pretty, etc. Major eye candy, superficial and completely not my life right now. Great escapist reading! 

-Foods: Savory is Kraft boxed mac and cheese. Sweet is Graeter's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream. Kill me. Then go buy yourself a pint. You'll bring me back just to thank me later.  

-Habits: reading in bed. Writing in bed. Doing pretty much everything in bed. Wearing pajamas way past the time it is socially acceptable to still be in pajamas. Leaving my laundry everywhere  and not even caring. Turning the heat up way too high because I am allllwayyys cold. 

-Miscellaneous: Candy Crush. Omg. Level 109, go die.   Cosmopolitan magazine, you are so trashy I'm embarrassed to love you, but I still spend $$ on the latest copy every time I fly. Essie nail polish, if you stopped looking so cute on the shelves at Target, maybe I wouldn't be compelled to buy at least one new color a month. Online shopping is officially now the reason I am broke and I blame J.Crew 100%. 

What are your guilty pleasures/secret habits? 

tids and bits.

Yikes. Already failing miserably and it's not even the end of Week One on this here blog. As I mentioned, I went to Chicago for training. To be more accurate, I went to the western suburbs of Chicago for training, which was an altogether different experience involving copious amounts of liquor, late-night Giordano's deep-dish pizza, and the most bizarrely wonderful Wednesday night out in the city.  

One of my co-seniors has an uncle who works in set design and buildwork for the Chicago Lyric Opera. We met up with him at Primebar in the Loop for delicious mascarpone mac-and-cheese balls and an unpleasantly medicinal acai martini (think Triaminic with a vodka tang), after which he suggested taking the four-block walk to the Lyric for a private backstage, after-hours tour. I drooled, died, and probably totally embarrassed myself with nerdy questions and an abnormal level of excitement. We walked across the rake (slanted stage) for the current production of "Otello," shuffled across the catwalks--my toes went numb and tingly from the fear of heights--and took the conductor's podium in the orchestra pit. It was, in a word, magical. 

Safe to say that was the highlight of my training week. By Thursday afternoon, we were bored and alcohol'd-out, and by Thursday night the three of us were feeling particularly apathetic and misanthropic, a trend which has carried over into my weekend with fairly unfortunate results.  

Some other musings:  

-One of my staff refused to wear a seatbelt and spilled green tea in my car on Friday after team lunch. Endlessly frustrated.  

-I ran a meeting, completely solo, with the controller, directors of financial reporting and upper management of my major client. Huge rush. My palms were sweaty with nerves for an hour.  

-Met several friends' new relationships, with mixed results. Interested to see how their integration into the social fabric of our circles develops. 

-I bought, among other things, a J.Crew Downtown Field jacket, new Williams Sonoma kitchen towels, and a six-pack of assorted Oktoberfest beers over the course of Thursday through Saturday.  

-Notre Dame beat USC in what was simultaneously the most tense and anticlimactic game of football ever. I never thought I'd say this, but please get well soon, Tommy Rees. Our offense misses you and, weirdly, so do I.  

-Caroline Smith and The Avett Brothers each have utterly transcendent new albums out. Can't wait to become better friends with these tunes and hopefully have more on those soon.  

It's my Papa Bear's birthday today! Off to work out, shower off the sweat and crankiness, and celebrate one of my favorite people in the world.  

Happy Sunday, campers.