WILW

My week wasn't complete last week without What I'm Loving Wednesday so cheers to a week-full-oh-lovin!

I'm loving....that I finally went running again last night. And I pushed myself.  And I'm sore. I feel so energized and refreshed after I run..Why don't I do this more often?

I'm loving...that I get to go to Clemson again this weekend, see my brothers, see my parents, see my sister AND stay with my boyfriend.  I am counting down the minutes until Friday!!!!

I'm loving...that my mom booked our family Christmas vacay for a week long cruise in the Bahamas.  Yessss!

I'm loving...my job!  My boss is such a caring person, I have great ownership over fun projects and I get to wear so many hats!

I'm loving....that my friend Christina came to visit me last night.  It was so awesome to have someone from college come see my new life in ATL.  Such a great way to spice up the week! :)

My New Best Friend

SAMSUNG QX

I finally did it and bought myself a new laptop!  I've been wanting needing one since around February.  Folks, I couldn't even put my LAPtop on my lap since it was burning up!!  It sounded like it was ready to explode.  (By the way--It's a 2007 Lenovo Thinkpad if anyone's interested in buying it and the charger for CHEAP from me, let me know!)

I had spent probably a total of 5 hours in Best Buy researching and researching and finally settled on a higher-end computer...I splurged and I am confident that the splurging is totally worth it!

It is sooo sleek and teeny--great for traveling.

Does this look familiar?  Yep, it's like a PC for mac lovers :) Oh yeah, without all that extra money being spent!

An i5 processor and 6GB of storage...this thing is lightening!  And, it's got great touch features.

I highly suggest this and if you'd like any help picking one out...I've had WAY too much experience in Best Buy lately! :)

So Proud of Clemson

Clemson passion.

This weekend brought back all the confidence I remember having in my team!! Sophomore year of college I worked in Clemson's recruiting department as an intern helping recruit high school players.  I was absolutely head over heels in love with Clemson football.  I've since taken a step back from my former obsessive behavior, (knowing every player's name and never missing a play).  Well now, after this weekend..it's back--my love affair with Clemson Football!

WE LOOKED AMAZING.  Our offense was incredible.  Underclassmen ruled the game!  Mike Bellamy, Sammy Watkins, Tajh Boyd...Boy, in 2 years when these boys have a couple years of playing time under their belt, Clemson University is going to be a FORCE TO RECKON WITH.

Tajh Boyd comes in 2nd in Clemson's history for most passing yards.

By the way, did anyone hear Urban Meyers' incredible compliments of Clemson, as an amazing University and campus?  Brought tears to my eyes.

Clemson hasn't beat Auburn since 1951.

This weekend marked the third time in Clemson history that we have beat the defending National Champions.

Such a great weekend!  My sister let Justin & I crash at her apartment so we got some extra bonding time with each other :)

Fill in the Blank Friday

Linking up with The Little Things We Do for Fill in the Blank Friday--a new link up for me :)

1.   You should always take time to

                     Connect with your family and friends each week on the phone or in person

                     Exercise

                     Have time Alone

2.  The little things in life-like holding the door for a stranger way behind you or laughing with the cashier at the grocery store- make the world a happier place to be.

3.  I can hardly wait for my next three day weekend-shew!

4.  Saturday  is my favorite day of the week.

5.  Something totally dumb and ridiculous that I love is  well besides Jersey Shore of course, I'm kind of in love with chronologically and obsessively organizing all of my photos, all the way back to freshman year...of high school!.

6.  If I could, I would live closer to my family & stop my boyfriend from moving to Charlotte :(

7.  I rather like soggy cereal, specifically Honey Bunches of Oats.  Don't knock it til you've tried it.

A great product

I have a question for all of ya'll working women.  Do you absolutely dread washing your hair every. single. night. after a long day of work, even if your hair isn't even dirty? For all of us going through crazy weeks, I wanted to quickly let ya'll in on the best product man has invented: The dry shampoo.  Ya'll, it is amazing and has saved me hours of blowdrying my hair many times.  Yes, I shower every day but during the week it can be such a life-saver to skip a day of washing your hair (not to mention good for your hair, too!)  So, if you haven't tried this, please do.  I have noticed, though, that every one of my bottles clogs up or stops spraying even when there is about half of the bottle left!  Still, totally worth it!

I'm Thankful

Today, I am thankful.  I'm not happy, nor excited nor frustrated and definitely not sad.  I am simply thankful.  I had planned to write about some of my favorite makeup products or something trivial like that but right now I simply cannot.  I have been touched by some instances in my life lately that have made me want to do something more to help those less fortunate than me.

Tonight, I ran past a man walking down the side walk on Piedmont Rd carrying about 3 bags of heavy groceries in one hand.  In the other hand, he held his blind sensing stick.  His eyes were completely shut.  As I passed him, the public bus stopped and started yelling at him thinking he was waiting for the bus (he happened to be near the bus stop and since he was walking so slow the bus diver thought he may want to get on).  He didn't want to get on the bus but confusedly continued to walk, wondering who was yelling at him, and the bus seemed agitated that they slowed down for him.  I even saw the blind man, who seemed young-about 30, trip as he came very close to the cars speeding past him.  He was very slowly making his way down the incredibly loud and dangerous side walk in the heart of Buckhead Atlanta.  I cringed at the thought of his long journey but I kept running.  Fifteen minutes later, I passed that same block, now driving my car.  There he was...still inching along, clutching his groceries, eyes closed shut.

I am thankful.  I am thankful that, when I complain that I have to go to the grocery store, I have eyes and a car that can get me there.  I am thankful for so many more things that nearly bring me to tears at the thought of how blessed I am.  Tonight reminded me that this bubble I sometimes live in only shields me from hardships that, unfortunately, too many of our neighbors experience.  I plan to do something and I hope one day you'll be inspired to do something too.

Orange & Purple is back!

I went to Clemson this weekend and had a blast!  My boyfriend and I split ways and went to different football games.  So here's the deal: he went to Clemson but somehow still has a soft spot for University of South Carolina, which is located in Columbia where we are both from (also known as the intense rival of Clemson).  So Justin went to the USC/UGA game while I-of course, no questions asked- went to Clemson to have a girly girl weekend!  

As you can tell, we take this rivalry pretty serious.  Circa 1966

A great start to my week, spending time with amazing friends, great food and beautiful scenary!  We had our own tailgate, just us 6 girls and then probably walked a total of 7.62 miles to make pit stops at other tailgates.  Two of my best friends date players still on the team so we always go on the field after the game and hang out/say hey!

BY THE WAY: Did anyone watch the first season of CMT's Sweet Home Alabama?  Personally, I thought it was pretty lame.  The girl, Devin, who picks her guy, is a mere 22 or so years old and it seems a bit unprofessional...not even comparable to the Bachelorette!  Anyways, my bf's friend, Tribble Reese, was one of the guys she was chosing from.  What do you know, he was the runner-up to "win her love" and then he was picked to be the next one to have his own "Sweet Home Alabama" show.  Sound familiar?  Just like....BEN F!  Anyways, Tribble went to Clemson and played QB (never actually played though) so that's why CMT was taping him walk through all of the fans during "Tiger Walk" with his girls on his arms before the game.  I'm pretty excited to see Clemson's feature on CMT during the next season.  Maybe I'll be on it :)

I really had a great weekend but I have been going through a certain phase lately that makes me feel so guilty for all of the good times and things I have, especially on a day like today when we remember thousands of families whose worlds were rocked 10 years ago.
I am so proud of the work that is being done on Ground Zero.
1) The concrete pool memorials

2) The "One World Trade Center"

These two things at this location is perfect...one to remember and pay respect to everyone who was killed during the 9/11 attacks and the other, the tallest building in America, to serve as a notice that America will recover even stronger than before!  I went to Ground Zero several years ago but it just looked like a bunch of construction so I cannot wait to visit when it's finally finished.