Festival Fever

I... like the radio. I like to hear the same songs over and over until I know every single word. I'm still not sick of Call Me Maybe, if that gives you some idea of where I stand on 'musical taste'. Today, about 40 minutes in to my hour long commute, I thought I'd finally figured out how to sing. Then I turn the radio down and listened to myself and, nope, I'm still completely tone deaf. I just like happy music and I like to car dance.

That being said, I wanna go to Coachella so so so so so bad. The experience would probably be wasted on me because I'd only know the REALLY popular artists but that's not the point. The real point of music festivals is obviously the festival clothes. Oh, festival clothes. How I desperately want a good excuse to go all out, head to toe QUIRKY with some festival clothes. The cheaper option would just be to get dressed up and go to a local concert, but I just want to be a part of the awesomeness that I see on WhoWhatWear.

So, while I probably know 10% of the artists at Coachella, I think I know 100% of the celebrities attending and exactly what each of them wore so far and I'm also kind of hoping they turn it up a notch this weekend because so far, it's been pretty safe-zone. I'll definitely geek out on Sunday and scavenge every picture I can find of the event.

My top three from last weekend were:

Vanessa Hudgens is clearly higher than a kite, rockin' what looks to be lacy pajamas as day wear but I love it. It just makes me so happy when I see her.

And Vanessa, Take 2. The giant flower is stupid but I am CRAZY about that top and, again, I'm pretty sure she was drunk when she put this together, but it's HAPPY. She's obviously ready to party.

A much more mild, mature take on Coachella, but I can't help it. I love Diane Kruger. She can do no wrong and if she lost the shearling jacket, I'd be even more in to this look.

Shut up Alessandra Ambrosio. We get it. You're super hot and the perfect little boho cutie. Have a seat.

But these are seriously the best looks I found from last weekend and Vanessa's the only one that wasn't a total snooze. If I were going to Coachella (and had Ambrosio's legs), this is what I'd wear:

First of all, I'd put on these boots and never take them off (seriously dying for these, not just for Coachella but for life. *sigh* please magically appear in my closet?)

Then the flower crown. Duh. But just an understated one.

Then maybe I'd wear this one day...

And this the next...

Then obviously a tasseled poncho mini dress...

And on a casual day, thigh high socks with a moto jacket...

And this by the pool...

Obviously this skirt with a denim top

And most definitely these pants with a white crop top...

And when all those clothes were covered in beer and grass stains, I'd put on this top with a pair of distressed jean shorts, stick a flower behind my ear and vow to never leave Coachella as long as I live.

Oh, please, someone take me to Coachella and let me live in weird festival clothes forever and ever?

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Dust Bowl Blues

I was a pretty good kid.

I got good grades and stayed out of trouble.

I studied hard and got my degree and got a good job and I work hard.

But this week was one of those weeks where I look around and ask myself, how did I end up here? I followed all the rules. I did what I was supposed to do. But this is just not what I imagined it would be!

My life is so...

Dangerous

Secluded

Dirty

Sterile

Disheveled

Casual (I wore Nike shorts and an Astros tshirt to work Wednesday because I knew I'd be in coveralls and a hard hat all day).

Today, I miss Houston. I miss the high heels, the fast walkers and the fast talkers, the fancy downtown apartment, the happy hours, the view from my 17th floor cubicle. I miss walking through downtown to meet a friend at a cafe for lunch. And I REALLY miss my Houston job. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm super blessed and I'm reminded of that when I drive around the block to drop my pup off at my parent's house, and get to goof around with my parents and kiss on my niece and giggle with my sissy, all before 7am on a random Thursday.

It's just... today I miss Houston. :( This too shall pass. 

It's okay though! Tonight D and I are celebrating his Birthday Eve and then tomorrow, we're heading to Lubbock in time to get to the Spring Game! YAY! That way we can pick out our season tickets and get a sneak peak at our boys before the fall. I'm so excited about it! Then, it's shenanigans Saturday night, golf Sunday, lunch and then coming home.

Happy Friday! Get crazy this weekend, kiddos! (but stay safe)

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Chivalry Gone Wrong

My Mel and I were talking about awkward chivalry this morning. She was saying that she's not a fan of the 'ladies on the elevator first' move. While I don't mind this one as much (although the first few times I felt a little like they were wanting me to test out the integrity of the hydraulics holding the elevator up) but I understand what she's talking about. Sometimes it's an awkward inconvenience that could have been avoided if the dude just evaluated the situation and was like, 'actually, I'm kind of in the way this time. It would be easier for her to get on the elevator if I just got in first and THEN held the door open'. "Courtesy" in general can get awkward real fast if you're not careful.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not some feminist that hates chivalry. Not even close. I still get butterflies when D opens my car door for me and I'll yank a teenager by his ear if he doesn't give up his seat for an older person in a waiting room. But there are a few niceties that we as a human race need to agree are officially too much.

• Mel would like a ban on the 'Ladies First Always' elevator hold.

Hahahahaha I'm going to start giving her photo assignments more often! These are hilarious.

• I personally would like a society agreement that 10 feet is the maximum door-holding distance.

• Never have I preferred a term of endearment in the workplace over my own name. Not that it really gets under my skin, but it almost always catches me a little off-guard. Unless you are over the age of 70 and then I can't help it. You can call me "sweetie" or "hun" all day and I'll eat that up.
• Apologizing for cursing. OMG how I loathe this. Your cursing doesn't effect me one bit. I mean, yea, the way you speak will effect my opinion of you as a person, cursing or not, good or bad. But get over yourself. I've heard all those words. If you choose not to curse in front of me because I'm a lady, that's pretty cool, but I honestly don't PREFER it over a guy who speaks kindness all the time but cusses a little. And if you choose to curse with reckless abandon but it's not in a degrading or hurtful way, I won't think any less of you at all. In moderation, in front of the right audience, I won't even NOTICE you're doing it. But you don't get to have your curse cake and eat it too. You don't get to curse and then get the chivalry points with a "pardon my language". Sorry, bro. And if you do it more than once, I can't just let it slide. I have to point out that you aren't some knight in shining armor gentleman saint because you apologized for cursing after the fact. This is my only REAL chivalry pet peeve. It is SO self-involved. Treat me like a lady or treat me like an equal, but don't treat me like a child. *sigh* ok, sorry, end rant.
• Actually, no. Not end rant. While I'm ranting, but on an only mildly related topic, do not tell me to smile. By all means, I welcome attempts to evoke a smile. Some polite small talk, a joke or something of the like? But should someone I don't know give me a "oh, c'mon, it's a beautiful day, how about a smile?" while I'm, say, sitting in a Starbucks waiting on my coffee, writing out a grocery list, so help him God. I have a range of thoughts and emotions, good sir, and not all of them result in a stupid grin plastered on my face all day. I was not put on this planet to be my most visually appealing at all times to all people in all the land. And I know. It's harmless. It's really an awkward guy's way of starting conversation. He's not meaning to insinuate I'm anything less than someone he wants to talk to and most guys have never thought twice about it. But when you do think about it, am I crazy to think it's SO self-involved and belittling? Okay, now really. End rant.

Let me reiterate, chivalry is still super cool. These are the only ones that seem to have gotten out of hand, in my personal opinion. For the record, guys (because I'm just sure a bajillion GUYS are reading my blog), pulling our chair out, paying on the first date, walking street-side on a sidewalk, us girls still eat that up. Please never stop. When you're a gentleman, it holds us to a standard of acting like a lady. And vice versa. Can I get a amen?

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Whole30 Day 10

I am 1/3 of the way through my Whole30 challenge. I haven't really written much about it because it's kind of confusing and boring at the same time, AKA the worst blog topic ever. Also, I seriously doubted I'd stick with it even this long.

The rules are laid out in In Starts With Food, the book I mentioned yesterday. It's just a strict Paleo diet for 30 days.

Also, no beans, legumes, grains, corn, or booze. And let me reiterate, NO SUGAR. At all. For 30 days.

I accidentally drank half sweet/half unsweet tea on day 6. It's just what I always order so I didn't even NOTICE I had drank it until after. On day 7, I tried a corner of one of the cookies Ashley brought over not on accident. On day 8, I ate a piece of macaroni to see it if it was done or not. That was an accident. I've also been eating SunButter... I'm not 100% sure that's on plan but ignorance is bliss on that one. But I mean, overall, not bad! 

It's been sucky to say the least. I have a serious sweet tooth and breaking that habit has been painful, difficult and emotional. It sounds dramatic and that's because it IS dramatic. I have been laid up in bed in the evenings with headaches, nauseous, exhausted... I've cried at dog food commercials, because D went to the gym to play basketball, because I couldn't fall asleep one night. But I survived.

This bowl was just KILLING me my first week.

I made it through craving the candy/cookies/cakes by the end of last week. These last few days, I just haven't felt like eating anything. I'm beyond bored with the foods I know how to cook and when I do cook, I never finish the food on my plate. 

Breakfast is the easiest... although I'm almost always late to work because it's my favorite meal and I want fresh eggs every morning.

Lunch is the most boring. It's been a salad with whatever leftover protein I have. Lame.

Dinner is the most difficult because D isn't doing this challenge with me so I want to make something he'll enjoy, too. He swears he's cool with eating whatever I'm eating but I know better. 

But as of day 10, it is getting better. A little. Today, I had an overwhelming urge to do push ups. I definitely have a little more energy. Instead of falling asleep on the couch last night, I went outside and threw the dinosaur for K. That's progress, ya'll. Also, I've lost a few pounds and that's without working out. I haven't worked out AT ALL in a month. I should break the lazy streak tonight but I won't make any promises. 

I've read it's all downhill after day 14 so I'm looking forward to this weekend. At the same time, I'm bummed I can't drink this weekend! Not even my go-to DD drink of Red Bull! Granted, Sunday morning, I won't feel like death, so that'll be a nice change. And I would have been DD anyway, since it's D's birthday and he's going to be the one in charge of getting messy and entertaining us all (hopefully with a karaoke performance). 

So yea. That's my 1/3 report on the Whole30. In a nutshell, it kind of sucks, it's kind of boring, it kind of makes you cry a lot, I can see it's working, I'm glad I haven't quit (yet). I can't recommend it yet though. Maybe by day 30 I'll be singing it's praises like all the other Whole30 bloggers. Stay tuned. Oh, the suspense.

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