Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Today has been a day of very mixed emotions for me. I love the Christmas season (except for the music). I absolutely love giving gifts and experiencing the joy on people's faces. But oddly enough, it hasn't been enough for me this year.

I've spent the past two days at my parent's house, where I do enjoy myself. While I do love my apartment, sometimes, it's just a good feeling to be at home. But I can't shake this feeling of emptiness that has been occurring over the past couple of weeks. I hate the fact that my sister/bro-in-law/nephew aren't here to spend Christmas with me and my parents, but I know that eventually, they will stay in GA once. It's sounds so dumb, but I love thinking back to when my sister and I were kids and would fight to open presents first.

I guess I've learned over this past year whom is really special to me and who isn't. I have a huge tendency to care too much and to do too much for people. A friend of mine keeps telling me, "Christine, you're a great girl. You really are. You're miserable because you care too much and you let yourself get walked all over." How true, even though I really hate to hear that statement. (Thanks D.)

I don't believe in making New Year's Resolutions, but I am striving for complete happiness in 2011. It's time for me to care more about me and less about the people who, ultimately, never have cared about me. I am blessed to have the close friends and family that have struck by me over the past couple of months. I know they were difficult. I can't thank you enough. I'm attempting to do so here.

Mom: You've always been there for me, no matter what. Even if it wasn't feasible, you were always there to take me to lunch, talk to me at midnight, or wake me up at 8am asking me about one of my tweet's. Never can I replicate the love you have given me.

R: We've been best friends for five years now and I can honestly say that you've never supported yourself to me more than this year. You've held me up in my toughest times and made me feel like I could make it through anything. I can't ever repay that.

M: Even from 1000 miles away, you're always there with "I'm hopping on a plane just for a Christine hug" or "Damn girl, when do I get to see your face?". After 17 years, we're still going strong.

D: While only being friends for a short time, you've helped me realize my true worth. True friends understand and aren't afraid to say the truth, even though it hurts.

I have many people to thank, but these four have helped me through some of the toughest times this year. Going through my final year of college, dealing with a rough breakup, going back to serving after not knowing what to do post-graduation, and everything else, they've been there. I can't wait to see what 2011 has to hold for me, because I know I have these people there to support me through anything.

I can't wait to experience all of the new in 2011. I have an optimistic feeling about the future. :-)

SHOES!

Everybody knows my love for shoes. These two are my new loves.

Vince Camuto Mistys

Jessica Simpson Alany

I'm pretty sure I need shoe therapy.

Oops

I hardly ever get on my computer anymore, so I hardly ever update this blog anymore. In the new year, I plan to change that. I've realized that I rely on my iPhone way too much. (Doesn't everyone?)

I promise, I'll get back on here and update everyone on my life. Soon.... :-)

I'm back.

I know, I know. It's been a crazy long hiatus from blogging. For one, I almost never get on my lap top anymore unless I have a specific reason to (yes, yes, I know blogging is a specific reason). My big sister from KD Jenny wrote on my Facebook that I haven't been online very much lately, so due to popular demand, I'm back.

Whew. The past few months have been crazy. I've been working a ton, serving at Peachtree Diner. I know I said that I never wanted to go back to serving (still don't), I have actually enjoyed working here. The atmosphere is completely different than Taco Mac. No more high school drama (well, barely any). I've made two very strong friendships with people that I feel blessed to know. All in all, working here has been a blessing in disguise.

Now, eventually I'm going to have to find a real job. Yes, I know serving is a real job, but I'm not going to be $22,000 in debt to the government for a college degree that I'm not going to use. It's a matter of figuring out what I want to do. This is why I'm serving right now. I don't want to to take a job that I am settling for. While the economy is bad, I want to be happy when I go to work every day.

I've been an emotional basketcase for the past couple of weeks, mainly due to not having either of my professional life OR love life straight. I've been very blessed to have had some special friends to help me get through this rough (annoying) time in my life. Patience is not my strong point, but I'm trying to get better at not rushing things and letting things happen the way AND time that they are supposed to happen.

Oh...in case anyone remembers from my last blog post...I did buy the shoes. AND I LOVE THEM!

Shoes...uh oh...

I went and visited my best friend Rebecca last Wednesday (my first off day in 11 days) at her new job at a boutique called Fab'rik. Well, after she dressed me for two hours and my purchase of two tops and a belt, I am still swooning over the shoes her boss was wearing. So, I need someone out there to give me a damn good reason why I shouldn't buy these shoes.

Michael Antonio Gatsby

$59.99

Piper Lime

Blog Spotlight!

Well, well. I'm alive. I've been working NON-STOP, along with trying to figure out when to do my French class and my last SPCM class (sad). Also, been looking for stuff to decorate, although I'm saving every penny I have for when I move in since I believe there are things I MUST HAVE before moving in (new bedroom curtains, side table, lamp, etc). So...in order to keep whoever reads this blog excited, I give to you a new feature: Blog Spotlight!

My first one goes to my amazing friend Jenny. I met Jenny my freshman year of college at UK, the night before Bid Day. She was in our hallway, hanging things up (which she always tried to recruit people into helping, which no one wanted to do), when I stuck my head out and she introduced herself to me as my new R.A. Little did I know that 6 weeks later, she would also become my big sister in KD (small world, I know). Well, four years later, she's a nurse at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and married to Justin, whom I also met right around this time. Enjoy her blog!

 

Cotton Couple

Still searching...

In my last post, I wrote about how I was figuring out how I wanted to redecorate my apartment. In my current place, I painted every room but one, because frankly, I hate white (or eggshell, ivory, or whatever) walls. They just make me feel depressed and sad. So, after living there for six months, I painted everything (living room is blue, kitchen is gray/purple, bedroom and bathroom are taupe). Now that I'm moving into a new place, I don't want to paint everything, but I decided to just paint an accent wall in the living room where my fireplace (!) is.

Now, you might be thinking, "Gee, Christine, you just said you hate plain walls". You are right. I do. So....voila!

I will be putting these lovely decals in my vanity area of my bathroom. I found these on Cupcakes and Cashmere, just like I do everything else. I bought them in brown.You can get them at www.whatisblik.com.

On another note, my big KD sister was interested in the vase that I posted also in my last post. Well, here is another AMAZING find that I just scooped up in plum. They are only left in indigo, but they are still for an absolute steal of $15!

Latte Bowls ($15; originally $30)

Finally, one more thing that I am swooning over is the comforter that Ali had in this week's episode of The Bachelorette. I am 99% that it is also from Anthropologie, but in all honesty, I have way too many comforters, blankets, duvets, and sheets as it is. Sad.

Rosette Quilt (Queen $248)

Happy Decorating!