Just another Lilly Sunday

Got up EARLY today, made breakfast and started writing. LOTS going on in my life right now, but it's all good. I unfortunately can't share everything online, but as soon as I can share more, I definitely will.

Now, it's time to enjoy the day -- I'm off to hang out with the girls for another unforgettable Sunday in Georgetown.

Today's Outfit

Weekend, Where Are You?

So I saved this draft instead of publishing it yesterday. #fail. Here it is now...

Thursday's are brutal. It's not quite the weekend, but it feels like the weekend. More often than not I end up going out on Thursday nights and feeling like hell all of Friday. I really need to rethink this strategy because the feeling like hell part isn't worth it, but there are always so many great Thursday evening opportunities in this city that I just can't pass up.

Today I've been plagued by a 24hr (hopefully) stomach bug. I completely feel awful, but my friend is moving back to Australia on Sunday and we're having a goodbye happy hour for him tonight, so that's where I'll be. And then I'll proceed on to Georgetown to help support Fashion for Paws.

Today's outfit:

Shopping Wish List

I'm doing my darn best not to shop right now. I've become a bit of a spendthrift as of late and in order to curb my loose spending habits, I've decided to just post everything that I want on my blog.

BC Footwear Thicker than Water II Peep Toe
$49.95 at DSW
How perfect would this versatile flats be with all of my Lilly favorites? *Let's not lie, I WiLL be purchasing these sooner or later...

Classic Reva Flats
$195 from Tory Burch
If you've read my blog before, then you may know that I had these babies stolen from me a few weeks ago. SO sad I know. What's a girl to do without her go-to Revas? *I ultimately need to replace these simple beauties, but I've spent so much on other shoes lately that I just can't afford to go for them right now. Then again, how can I afford not to?

Market Bag - Creme Fraiche
$9.95 from Lilly Pulitzer
If I buy one more darn recycled, reusable bag... well then I'd have 15 more than I actually need. Seriously, I bet you I buy one almost EVERY time I go into Trader Joes. And now that "fashion" ones have started coming out, I just can't help myself. I have so many in my trunk and in my closet now. *Can't give in to this one. Regardless of how cute it is, just can't allow myself to ever say yes.

First Mate Blazer
$128 from Anthropologie
How great is this jacket? Perfect for a fun nautical motif. Super versatile, I could wear this work or wear it out shopping on the weekend. *This is going on the list of 'things I'll one day own, but probably not before it goes on sale.'

Merona Women's Meg Twill Skirt - Floral Print
$24.99 from Target
I'm a huge fan of classic floral skirts and this one just screams ELIZABETH. Seriously, I have the perfect top, shoes, handbag and accessories for it. Good thing it's from Target, because that means it will be on sale before I know it. *Definitely buying as the weather gets warmer.

Seahorse Oversized Pendant Necklace
$19.99 from Target
I saw this necklace when walking in the store the other day an absolutely loved it. For only $20 it's a total steal. I would have bought it right away, but my Target has been putting things on sale so quickly I figured I've give it a week or two just to see what happens. *Bought this morning, because it's sold out online and I was afraid it wait around for it.

Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Print Sateen Sheath Dress

$42.90 on sale at Nordstrom
I've yet to try this particular dress on, but I'm a big fan of the style and the textile seems pretty versatile. Definitely can't beat the price.

Maggy London Short Sleeve Mesh & Satin Sheath
$58.00 on sale at Nordstrom
What a great spin on the Little Black Dress. I hate showing up at cocktail parties with the same style dress as all the other girls and this one is definitely fun and isn't something that I've every other Georgetown-loving lady wearing yet.

Adrianna Pappell Shantung Dress

$89.90 on sale at Nordstrom
I've become a huge A.Pappell fan over the past year. This is simple little ditty would be perfect for picnics on the mall or an evening out on the Georgetown waterfront.

Adrianna Papell Matte Jersey & Taffeta Dress
$178 from Nordstrom
Not actually sure how this one would look on. I like the aesthetic in general because it's different, but no stronger opinion that that.

Donna Morgan Printed Shift Dress

$98 from Nordstrom
LOVE this. So simple, so pretty. Definitely something I could wear for years to come. *Using my Christmas gift-card an indulging ASAP.

I'm fairly certain compiling everything that I want in one post has only made me want certain items more, but I'm trying to save and save with all my might. We'll see how long I can hold out.

Hindsight is

Hindsight is the perception of the nature of an event, after it has happened.

Some people say hindsight is 20/20. While I think it has the capability of being pretty close to that, but it's never 20/20 perfect. I mean I don't really think people can ever look back and understand and know everything perfectly. Sure they can get a better idea of how things were and how things should have been handled, but they can't understand it perfectly. Furthermore, who cares if you can look back on things and know them fully. We are exactly who we are because of what we've said and done, and because of the things have happened in our lives. Yes, some things we live to regret and some things are quite painful, but it's those things that create us. Without them, who would we be?

Even the best of people are flawed. We're a culmination of our errors, our successes, our hopes, our fears. Yes, there's been times in life I've been able to look back and say, 'damn, I wish I didn't say that' or even do that, but fact is - I did. I did what I did at the time for whatever reason I saw fit. The play I made fit perfectly into the universe and everything thereafter.

I've lost friendships along life's path, but perhaps without losing them, I never would have gained the amazing ones I have now. I wouldn't appreciate the smaller things in life that really make me smile. From my suffering, comes my strength. Don't get me wrong, I've made more mistakes that I can count that I've hated and desperately wished to change in the moment... but now I've come to learn from them. Albeit the hard way more often than not, but those situations have made the strongest impressions on me. They became the blueprints from which my present has built its foundation.

Hindsight is merely a tool for us to learn from for the future. It's our careful reflections of the past that give us the wisdom and the will to move forward and persevere when times are tough. Hindsight creates our hope, because it shows that life is flawed, but it always go on...

Back to Basics

Wrote this on Saturday, not sure why it didn't post then...

Today was the last day of CPAC 2010. While normally I sport colored suits at this event -- so that I'm easy to find when talking to the Press or various authors/speakers -- today I decided to go for the simple black suit. One, because it's a classic. Two, because I was SO tired. I figured if you didn't already know me or have my walkie number, then you probably didn't NEED to speak to me with too much urgency.

This outfit has also made me realize I'm beginning to have enough polyvores that I'm able to repeat pieces without having to go and look for them. Like handbags and shoes. Granted I ALWAYS repeat my pearls, but this is nice. Makes things MUCH easier.

OK, totally beat. Bed now. REAL post tomorrow maybe.

Book-Signing Management 101

My outfit for the first day of CPAC 2010. Had to sport the Republican red.

Today my life was bananas crazy. I had an absolutely fabulous time manning the book-signing here at CPAC, but man oh man am I tired. So tired in fact, that now that I've read everyone's blog updates for the day, I'm hitting the hay.

But not before...

BOOK-SIGNING MANAGEMENT 101

Rule no.1: All authors are insanely famous regardless of how many people want them to sign their books. I mean they did get published after all. Treat all authors like demigods because of this. They will give you no problems.

Rule no.2: Set your standards early in the day. Make sure your team knows what you want from them from the start. Otherwise they'll run around and make mountains out of molehills. Thus creating more work for you to handle.

Rule no.3: Make exceptions for no one. Even if they're running late to donate their kidney to their sick uncle. Exceptions breed exceptions. Again, creating more work for you.

Rule no.4: People truly are like sheep. Not in a mean, derogatory kind of way, but in the fact that herd-mentality can get you through your day. So if you can get one person to do something, you can pretty much get the rest of the bunch to learn to follow suit. This a brilliant way to save yourself time and headaches.

and finally

Rule no.5: Never stop smiling. Especially when (a) the author is running over 30 minutes late or (b) the line is over an hour long or (c) the person having their book signed is also telling the author their life story in such great detail said author could probably pen their biography at the end of a 2 minute conversation, all the while the rest of the line is left waiting for their books to be signed. I mean people have a really hard time being mean to you if you're smiling at them. It's as though they're afraid to tell you how upset they are with the situation. So don't dare drop the smile else you'll watch the complaints flood in.

Follow these simple rules when running book-signing lines (probably applicable to countless other situations too), and you'll be good to go!

Maybe a longer post tomorrow. If nothing else, I'll be back around blogging on Sunday.

P.S. I've added new blogs to my blog list (over on the right) to include some of my new favorite bloggers. Be sure to check them out.

CPAC: Set-up Style

For those of you who had to deal with me today -- I apologize. Not that I was mean or anything, because I wasn't. But rather because I more than likely failed to respond to to you at any point today, leaving you hanging.

Not cool. Not cool. I know.

It actually makes me feel like a lousy friend when I don't get a chance to respond to phone calls/texts/emails, but this is that one time of the year that I go into crazy-political mode. And if you believe that line, can I sell you an igloo in Alaska as well?

But in all seriousness, it's my crazy Winter political week, where CPAC becomes my life because I LOVE CPAC.

Today's outfit, exact down to the shoes...

because you gotta be comfy when you're setting up the show.

But CPAC aside... my knee is healing nicely. I think I'm pushing it a bit too much. When the meds wear off it aches, but the doc is happy with me (or at least he was 2 weeks ago when I last saw him before it snowed)... yeah, probably will get yelled at during my appointment this weekend. Either that or he'll consider me brilliant and brave for pushing myself.

I'm trying to keep up with blogging and intense hours this week. I hate blogs that go MIA for weeks at a time, so I don't want to get in the habit of making excuses and being that kind of blogger. I'm also gonna read and comment on blogs tomorrow morning before the morning news. So, I'm trying on all sides of this equation.

Catch ya on the flip-side.

CPAC 2010

Not exactly my typical post topic over here, but I just HAVE to talk about CPAC.

And while I don't know if anyone else is headed to CPAC this year, I'm here working the conference once more.

For those of you who don't know, CPAC is the Conservative Political Action Conference. It's kind of like the annual mecca of Republicans and Conservatives.

We're expecting over 10,000 people this year, so it's going to be unreal with TONS of great speakers. Definitely a great time to energize the Party and with the Tea Party movement and the failures of Obama we've seen in the past 12 months. This is going to be an interesting year.

Let me know if you're coming!

Love Is A Battlefield

So retreat now or prepare to fight for your heart

Today when Cupid carelessly nocks his bow and slings amorous arrows at unsuspecting victims, such as you - duck! - his impulsive actions just might prove to be your undoing. I mean, sure, there's the possibility that when struck, you'll find true love, but really, what are the odds of that?

Call me a pessimist if you will, but I have a valid point here-in the throes of collegiate a Georgetown existence, very few are willing to take on the challenges of love. After all, these are the carefree days when you party 'til 2a.m. 4a.m., wake up at noon seven, go to class work for a few hours and then do it all over again the next day. Does love even stand a fighting chance amidst an over abundance of keg scene parties and one-night stands? With so many willing to settle for random hook-ups, it's amazing anyone ever seriously dates at all.

In fact, relationships in college DC are more of learning experiences than anything. Yes, some people find true love, get married and live happily ever after, but what about all of those who don't? The ones who put their hearts on their sleeves and end up nowhere. Shouldn't they be forewarned that the odds are stacked up against them?

We live in a society where going out on actual dates has been pushed the wayside. Where going out to dinner and a movie, has been replaced with hanging out downtown somewhere off Wisconsin Ave. We've accepted so many shortcomings for what relationships should be. In fact, that only time that we're even slightly aware of it at all is when either a good friends points out that we're "settling" or we see what a semi-functional relationship looks like on TV or in the movies.

Nowadays, neither of the sexes even knows how to function in a healthy relationship. Both sides wait for the other to call, unaware that all they have to do is pick up the phone themselves. Dating has become so complicated, that guys and girls alike avoid it for fear of being tangled within its dense web of chaos and confusion.

What's more, is if you actually think about all the possible dilemmas in the way of love, you'd be half-crazy even to attempt to pursue it. On this Valentine's Day, stop and assess what your ideal of love is. Evaluate what you're accepting versus what you actually want. After all, love is a dangerous game and you're likely to come out on the losing end if you're not careful.

If nothing else today, remember Arthur Pendragon, Tess Durbeyfield, Romeo Montague, Orpheus, Eowyn, Don Quixote, Charlie Brown and of course the king, Cyrano.

Like so many of us, these are the lovers who were losers. The ones who just couldn't catch a break. I think this is just as much their day as it is of the happy couples. If nothing else, pause a moment for their memory -- you may end up like one of them.
---
Wow, it's funny how easy it is to reprise something that I wrote for the university paper is still so applicable in my "grown-up" life with just a few minors edits.

Random Musings of a Snowed In 20-Something: Take 2

Generally I'm online all day long. Not just because I'm an online junkie, but because it's my job -- New Media and all. But today, not so much. While making just two brief guest appearances on Twitter (amuse me here), I spent the rest of the day curled up in my big chair, sipping coffee and reading in one of my pjs.
*The Lilly pjs are my way of silently begging Mother Nature to send warm weather my way -- Lilly sundress weather to be exact, please. But heck, any weather but blizzard weather would be nice.

1) I need a 12 Step program to help me stop spending so much time on eBay. I've officially done some major damage during this break. Clearly I didn't spend enough time window shopping on Etsy, because my wallet's hurting big time right now. But I'm AWESOME at finding eBay deals and knowing all sorts of tricks, so I tend to get amazing deals. Check out some few of my favorite deals below:
---> a) Missing piece in my Lilly tennis collection. Davenport short in Catch Me if You Can to go match my tennis racket cover. For just $10, when they retailed for $98.
---> b) J. Crew faceted raindrop ribbon cluster necklace. I got this current retailing $135 beauty for a mere $16 (that's WITH the shipping). Yes, someone listed it improperly and I made out.
---> c) Lilly's Brighton dress in Boca Chica. I've lusted after this dress since the day it came out. But back when I just graduated college, spending $248 on a dress wasn't in the cards. So I set my alarm today with the sole intent of getting this $30 steal.
a) b)c)
* All items are NWT. Or for those not addicted to eBay, that's "New With Tags."

2) Whining is an art. Albeit an under-appreciated art, but to do it with the finesse that I've mastered takes real skill. Ha. Ha. But in all seriousness, I think I've taken to complaining about some things not just because they bother me, but rather because it helps pass the time. And unlike Ugly Betty, my blog is just as much for me as it is for anyone else.

3) While I love all the blogs I read, I really hate blogs with captchas. They annoy the crap out of me. 9 out of 10 times I'm closing out a page, when I see it refresh with one. And thus, I've lost my comment. I seriously have stopped commenting on a number of blogs because of them. So if you have one and I AM commenting, know that I must really love you. XO.

4) Biggest Loser makes me cry. Have you ever watched this show? Man is it good.

5) My parent's preacher down in Jacksonville, NC is on the top ten SBC preachers to watch list in 2010. He's the #5 person on the list. And boy does he deserve the spot. He's INCREDIBLE x a billion. And this is coming from a girl who's not had a church home since 2001. Sure I've been to church since then, I've just yet to find that place that I really "love" and feel at home. When I listen to Jason (my parent's preacher) when I go home, I just wish I could find someone like him up here in DC. That or I could pack him in a bag and bring him back up here with me. I mean, all the corrupt politicians up here could use someone like him.

That said, if you ever want to hear some great sermons... because maybe you don't have a church home either, or maybe you just want someone to rock your socks off, check him out online at www.fbcjax.net (JaxCast in the top right corner).

6) I've probably only watched 10 commericals in the past year. Thanks to my handy dandy DVR, I NEVER stop to watch commercials. They're boring. I ONLY rewind to see them if they look particularly interesting, and that's less than once a month.

OK, back to reading.

Random Musings of a Snowed In 20-Something: Take 1

Cabin fever has officially set in. Despite my best attempts in keeping myself occupied, not being able to leave the confines of my apartment and drive anywhere is really getting to me. Perhaps it's because I've already been pent in all January because of my stupid, or perhaps it's because I've been stuck here since last Friday thanks to Snowmageddon. Either way, I'm miserable.

And so I've watched more TV, read more books and written more than I count. I've also let my mind wander and go on explored tangents. Thus, come the musings.

1) Whatever happened to that cute little kid that used to do the Welch's grape juice commercials? Ya know the cute lil one as seen below.

Turns out he's been MIA since 2002 and going to be in a movie this year. Thank you IMDB.

2) I really want to see How to Train Your Dragon. I've seen the commercial half a dozen times today and it makes me laugh. Thus I need to start babysitting again so I can go with a little kid and seem normal. Normal being relative.

3) I'm addicted to Etsy right now. But unlike eBay (which I've been addicted to since middle school), I'm perfectly OK with window-shopping on Etsy. It's crazy. I've found a billion things that I like, but I'm trying to shop less since my 1BR apartment is at its max on things it can hold, but darn if I don't like to look.

4) Someone stole my beloved black Revas from me on Thursday night at the Team Blonde Reunion in Georgetown (technically Glover Park). I was amongst people I knew -- I maybe didn't know 6 people in the whole place the time, so when I laid my bag down for a minute I thought nothing of it (DC girls do this a lot. Stupidly so, I might add). But sure enough, 15 minutes later when I left my shoes were gone.

I have these go-to shoes in other colors, but my black ones were my favorite. So I'm a bit heartbroken. I've decided it's all I REALLY want for my birthday this year. Another pair.

5) My cat is like a puppy. He follows me where ever I go. I've noticed that especially since I've been down and out thanks to knee surgery, he's been especially glued to my side. It's kind of cute though. I think he's trying to take care of me and be supportive. As best a cat can anyway.

6) I love my job. This is only my 2nd job post-grad, but it's the 2nd job I absolutely love. So blessed to work for a Party I believe in and with such great co-workers.

7) I've procured a few side writings jobs lately. Some of you already know, I write a review column for a well-known paper since moving to town, but now I've expanded my horizons into the political universe. Expect to see more of my name in print (and online) in the weeks ahead. Super stoked about this.

8) I'm working hard to be a better commenter on blogs. Silly goal I know, but I read so many that sometimes I just go from one to the next without saying anything. But then I realized, comments are pretty much my favorite part about my own blogs. I need to show more love.

I guess that's all from me for now. I'm playing over on Polyvore, so there will be more from me soon enough.

Snowed In: Day 1

Bundled up on the couch for the past 5 hours. Many more to come. Just like this one. The problem with having a full-leg brace is that traversing the elements, even if just for fun, are nearly impossible. At best my snow captured moments come from the front porch of my apartment complex or one of my back windows overlooking the woods.

It's far from fun. Being stuck here like this. It also is one of the only times that I wish I lived in the District. So close to all my friends who are able to spend the day at the bars, just hanging out.

Don't get me wrong. I like my solitary me-time. But I like it when it's a choice. Not when I'm forced into sitting here for hours on end.

I guess that comes with the territory of dealing with blizzards.

Friday's Loungey, Snowed In Style

Blog to Follow: The Glamazon Diaries

So I'm trying something new here -- I'm going to start featuring one of my favorite blogs each week that I think other people should follow.

This week, I present:

.

The Glamazon Diaries are fashion musings from a 20-something African princess here in my beloved DC. The blog itself is enough to keep you busy for a few hours, but what's really great about this blog is the accompanying daily email. Filled with pictures and fashion-related commentary, going through it is always great.

So be sure to check them out and let me know what you think.

As Makeda (the genius behind the Diaries) says: Fashion is about versatility, fun and risk. The world is not black and white; it is filled with color.