I sell beer!

I got a job!  Well, I got a second job.  Eventually it will help me pay for some of my schoolin', but for now it's to pay off my big 'ol credit card bill$.

I'm working at my favorite bar on the weekends and I'll pick up weekday shifts if someone needs a day off or some emergency comes up.  AND I'M SO EXCITED!!

My first day was Saturday and it went great.  I was only there for a few hours but I learned the POS system and generally where everything is-- there are close to 600 beers for purchase or consumtion on-premise.  Yeah, it so awesome that it's not only a bar, but also a retail store AND we sell Growlers.  Don't know what a growler is?  It's a 32oz jug that we fill with your draft beer of choice.  It generally costs around $10 so you're getting 5 beers for a bargain!  Look at me sellin' to you?  I'm a pro already!

Now I know what you're thinking, Mom (hi mom!).  How on earth am I able to take on a second job with a full time job, studying for the GMAT, planning my sorority alumni fundraiser, and raising my child?  Yeah, I don't know.  But hey, I always say I'd rather be busy than bored so I'm just never going to be bored.  Ever.

Tonight I'm cooking gumbo and a black eyed pea casserole.  I'm doing the gumbo the lazy man's way and it's currently in the crock pot a.k.a. my favorite kitchen appliance.  Tomorrow night is my Galentine's Party for a bunch of my girlfriends that live in Dallas.  The menu isn't completely set for tomorrow, but I'm thinking tilapia over wild rice with steamed broccoli and cauliflower, and a big ass salad with homemade balsalmic vinegarette.  There will be crafting and chocolate involved as well, duh.

Oh, and life is really rude.  I have to go to Rich's to pick up a gown I left there and some other odds and ends I left (because I'm terrible at keeping track of my personal belonging), and the only day this week that I'm not available is Thursday.  Valentine's Day.  What is that shit?  Not funny!

Dating dilemma for the girl who isn't dating

This past week has been the best week in a while!  Friday night's party at the DMA was a lot of fun.  It's always nice to see old friends and catch up.  My weekend in Austin was amazing.  We went to Zilker Park on Saturday to enjoy the absolutely gorgeous weather.  I was in shorts and a t-shirt and sweating on the second day of February.  {File that under reasons why Texas is perfect.}  Sunday we went go-kart racing and I crashed into Creighton.  That guy really needs to learn how to drive.  After that it was a Super Bowl party with friends, and I stayed until Destiny's Child {and Beyonce} performed and then hit the hay.

Monday I was at the dentist all day (which doesn't sound great, but I got a $50 Target gift card and it was free so suck on that sucka$$$!).  My friend is in dental school and needed a patient.  Tuesday I met with some ADPi girls to discuss our upcoming fundraiser party and work out some details.  Wednesday was a Dallas Summer Musicals Associate Producers happy hour so Caitlin and I enjoyed a few drinks and made new friends.  Last night I had a Big Brothers Big Sisters event and hung out with my little for a few hours, and today Caitlin and I are heading to The Nasher for more boozin' and schmoozin'.  It's a rough life.

About the dating dilemma...I was asked to grab a drink this Sunday by a super cute guy with a beard.  {Ooooh I love beards!}  Soooo is that a date?  Grabbing a drink?  I guess it could be, but then again it could just be new friends grabbing a drink!  I'm not cheating on my no dating until 2014 by going out for a drink, right?

Today in the elevator, I met a really hot guy who works in my building at Red Bull.  We flirted (we were the only ones on the elevator...it would have been real awkward if others were around/listening) and as he got off on his floor, he said to come by and ask for him any time I want some Red Bull.  Um, ok!  Can I just follow you now, you super hot man?  I didn't, for the record.  But do I go back?  I over think everything.  This is probably one of those times.  But I definitely don't NOT think I'll be going back.  In other words, I'm going to go back and ask him for Red Bull.  And probably his number.  Still not dating!  Just friends exchanging caffeinated beverages and phone numbers!  Completely platonic. 

It's February! And the weekend!

...and thank goodness for that.  January started out very high and ended lower than low and all I can say is GOOD RIDDENCE!  I'm glad that it's a new month.  It feels fresh.


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Tonight I'm volunteering at the Curator's Choice at the Dallas Museum of Art.  Emma works there and it's always fun to help out.  I meet the most interesting people at the events there, including a wonderful, incredibly handsome guy I dated until he quit his job and went on a worldwide adventure (which he's still on!).  Last night I was using up my Christmas gift cards and found an adorable high-low chevron dress at The Impeccable Pig that I plan to wear with some nude patent leather heels.  It's a very striking dress, and the attire is "museum chic," whatever that means, so hopefully I hit the mark.

My big plans for the weekend are to run my first run with the Dallas Running Club and celebrate my amazing friend, Scott's, birthday in Austin.  This is what his friends at work did to his cube this morning.

HA! How hilarious is that?!  His stories from work are always really funny and I think this is proof that they have an amazing culture there.  I still think the company I work at is better. :P

I'm so happy we're in a new month!  I plan to celebrate this month of love by showering my friends with affirmations and gifts and affection out the wazoo.  I hope they love it!

Sunny days are here again

Taco Tuesday was delish last night!  I made regular ol' beef taco salad with a black bean soup.  Yummo!  It was the smallest Taco Tuesday I think I've ever had- just my roommate, David, and Emma.  Next week we're celebrating Fat Tuesday because the following week's TT will be a special surprise!!

After dinner, we started to watch a really weird movie with Eva Longoria called Without Men.  I thought it might be good even though it was on Netflix {and we all know Netflix doesn't have the best selection of movies...} because it starred Eva and Christian Slater!  Emma couldn't stand it but I was so intrigued as to why Eva would choose to do this movie.  The acting was really out-of-this-world terrible.  And everyone is so complacent with their gender role in the community, but I was thinking well maybe it's like this in Latin America?  {I think that's where the movie took place.}  Guys boss around girls and the girls can't seem to function without men.  I want to finish watching it.  I don't think we gave it enough time to get past the suckage.

I'm currently digging these guys on the YouTube:

• A red-headed Alabama boy singing my favorite Marvin Gaye song: Bam!
• A super intense Brit who likes Twilight singing R. Kelly's "Ignition": Zing!

If I like a song, it's on repeat until I find the next song I'm obsessed with.  The song I've been obsessing over before these two lovely gentleman is really popular right now {sidenote: ohmagah I am about to cut a bitch!  There is constant construction on the floor above me and they keep dropping shit and banging and drilling.  Rull annoying, guys.  Make it stop!}.

Swedish House Mafia - Don't You Worry Child: Kablam!

This afternoon (aka in like, 15 minutes) I'm heading to do some recon for our company volleyball tournament.  After such an ugly day yesterday, it will be nice to have a meeting while soaking up some sun on a patio.  Good 'ol Texas weather-- it's never boring!

Yesterday 4:00pm

Today 3:30pm

Then I'm meeting an ADPi friend to plan our alumni group's annual fundraising party.  I'm super excited about it all!  We're trying to appeal to a wider community audience this year so hopefully our committee approves all of our ideas.  Like the safari theme.  And a DJ.  And lower ticket prices.  Those are the big things.  Oh, and a complete name change.  Go big or go home, people!  I really hope they approve it all...

Tonight I'm heading to TurboKick and I know it's going to kick my ass.  It's so tough!  I sweat buckets and want to die while I'm doing it, but I feel so accomplished afterwards.  Anything to keep busy, though!

Off to the sunshiney patio!

Trying to find my happy place

I'm an outwardly happy person.  I try to be because I myself can't stand to be around Debbie Downers, but ughhh I cannot shake the sad.  It's been really tough this past week to not stop thinking about and analyzing every detail leading up to the break-up. 

I have stopped crying.  That's a win!  I only listen to NPR and songs that have nothing to do with love.  Because right now I just feel sick to my stomach any time I think about it.  I have been constantly surrounding myself with friends.  And as much as I want to stop talking about it, I can't!  It's the only thing on my mind and I hate that!

A friend suggested a book to me, It's Called a Breakup Because it's Broken, that should be arriving to my door in the next few days.  She and a friend of hers read it and it helped both of them to heal from their heartbreak.  I also love that there's a pint of ice cream on the cover.  Ha!

I've made a few goals for the remainder of the year to help me keep my focus and not just wail about how much life sucks.  Because it doesn't suck.  It just sucks right now and I know it'll eventually get better and I'll be able to move on with my life, not constantly dwelling on the past.

By December 31st, 2013 I will:

• Take the GMAT and get into business school (which means I also need to decide on which program I want to do!).
• Not date until 2014.
• Strive to eat healthier and drink less.
• Find my zen at yoga at least once a week.
• Go on a trip, just me and Coop.
• Move on

I had such a great meal with Katie, Nathan, and Brian last night, and I will miss those two boys while they're off exploring a new city.  We ate at Coal Vines in Uptown and I had the roasted chicken with arugala salad.  Super tasty!  They have these zuchinni chips as an appetizer that are incredible!!  And lots of wine. :)

Today it's raining in Dallas.  The storm moved in really quickly and the radar had a red line going across the screen, but actually being in the thick of the storm 17 stories up, it's not too bad.  I expected more lightning and thunder.  Here's a view from my desk.

Tonight's Taco Tuesday and I'm going old school with some good 'ol crunchy beef tacos.  Except mine will be over a bed of lettuce with no cheese or tortilla shell.  Yeast Free has helped me lose two pounds so far!  {It was four but then I ate and drank my weight this past weekend.}

It's 5:00 now.  Goodbyeeeee!

Weekend Update: Single in the City

This weekend was a little bit out of control, but I had so much fun that I don't even care that I didn't get any laundry done, or get groceries for the week, or deal with anything for my sorority alumni party planning.  Or be frugal.  No, no.  I had fun.  And a lot of it.  And I was surrounded by friends and went back to my favorite bar of all time AND DRANK BEER!  Beer is not on my diet.  But beer is delicious.

I'd like to say the weekend started on Thursday when I went home from work sick and napped in the sunshine for five hours.  Heaven!  I'm so thankful for sunny days in January.  It makes me so excited for summer!

Friday we had a work happy hour at St. Ann's and a couple of us decided to stay for dinner.  Oh man.  St. Ann's is so freakin' delicious.  And valet is free so that makes me like it 10 times more.  I had the bacon jalepeno bites.  With wine.

Then I went back home and took forever trying to find an outfit I liked.  There were none so I settled on one that was meh and met up with friends at The Lemon Bar.  I hadn't been there before and it seems pretty swanky.  The upstairs bar is cool and lounge-ish.  After that we went to The Old Monk and that's where the night ended.  Sadly it wasn't the Slip Inn.  But it was a good night!  An old (really old) man at The Old Monk offered to take me on a trip to go skiing in Colorado and a girl gave me an Uber gift card (Sweet!) and also possible freelance doing copy for her PR company!  Makin' out like a bandit, I tell you!

Saturday morning I was awoken by Molly telling me to get my ass ready for brunch.  So I did!  We went to The Cedars Social and ohmagah SOOOOO great!  Ask for Danny.  He's a cutie and an awesome waiter.  Our bottomless mimosas were never empty.  Ever.  And I had the steak and eggs.  Paleo FTW!

Then we went back to her place for some wining and dinosaurs.  But Jurassic Park didn't record!  BLAST!  So one Walmart trip later we were back with Jurassic Park and a meat tray.  Mmmmmm meat.  We slumbered for a short while with the pups before heading out for dinner. 

Max's Wine Dive, y'all.  Do yourselves a favor and go.  The waitstaff is awesome and the food is sooo good.  We started our with Chicken Fried Brussels Sprouts and Duck Leg with White Bean.  Then we split a 26oz steak with au gratin potatoes and bone marrow.  And now my mouth is watering.

That's my empty plate with three wine glasses because Molly couldn't decide which wine she wanted.  Gotta try 'em all!

Sunday morning I went to yoga with Sarah and then met up with friends at the best bar in the entire world, The Bottle Shop.  That is seriously my happy place. 

On top of such a fun-filled weekend, Cooper let me sleep in until 9:00am both days!  He's usually an early riser so we're up by 7:00am at the latest, so it was the cherry to my delicious Sundae of a weekend.  If this is what single is like, I think I'm going to be just fine.

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Moving on

I'm feeling a lot better and I'm in a much better place since Tuesday night.  It still hurts to know that our relationship is over, and I know that most of that hurt is from the abrupt ending and lack of closure, but I'm trying my best to move on and stay positive.  I'm pretty good at seeing the positives in a situation, and I do, but that doesn't make the hurting just stop.

My friends have been doing an amazing job of making me feel loved and taking my mind off the situation.  And they're there to hash everything out and go over the details when I want to and give me the reassurance that I need right now.  I'm feeling vulnerable.  They're helping me pick up the pieces.

But I know that you can't make a person love you and I have to keep telling myself that.  The crying has mostly stopped.  The pain is still there and sometimes it really does feel like there's a part of me missing.  This was the first relationship that I was in that I fell hard and fast and I couldn't help but put his happiness above mine.  I thought he was perfect for me.  I've never felt so committed to anyone as I was with him.  He made me happy just being around him.  And I miss him. 

I've had this thought in the back of my head that maybe we'll get back together, but we could never do that.  His actions, the way that he ended it with a lack of emotion or care for me, make me realize a major character flaw.  I still think he's a wonderful person, but I could never trust him with my heart again.  And that really makes me sad.

This weekend will be really good for me.  Tonight I'm going out with friends to dance and drink.  A lot.  Tomorrow I'll wake up late and maybe go shopping before heading to yoga with some friends.  Kacie, one of my closest girlfriends, has her birthday party tomorrow night at a restaurant that is probably amazing.  She throws some of the best parties and is so thoughtful to the people invited, atmosphere, and of course, food.  I'm looking forward to it.  Sunday will be a run in the morning and then yoga with Jill.  She's incredible and I'm so looking forward to zenning out with her.  I need to keep myself busy to move on, and I'm doing just that.