Oh-Twelve. My Grades.

2012. What a friggin' year. I have been reading new resolutions and hopes that 2013 is better than 2012 because 2012 sucked in social feeds all morning. I have to say, for me, 2012 was crazy, amazing, trying, unexpected, and just a friggin' roller coaster but in no way did it suck. 

At the beginning of 2012 I wrote some goals for myself and so now, on the last day of oh-twelve as I watch CNN to see if I have to go into the office on Wednesdays this year, here are my grades on my goals.

1. Become a more consistent runner. 
GRADE: C. I have an amazing route when I run, but I have found out that I prefer playing soccer and sports more than just running. That being said, I became a more consistent soccer player this year and since soccer = running, does that count? 

2. Straighten hair more & dress up more. 
SCORE: B-.  After doing the Keratin treatment I thought I would straighten my hair more. It happened for a short bit, but then I realized that I really like the natural curl of my hair. People would give for some texture in their hair. I have a ton of it and I am embracing it. In terms of dressing up more, I did alright. 

3. Watch less TV. 
SCORE: D-. The only reason I don't give myself an F is because I was able to turn off the TV when studying this past month. Other than that, the TV is usually on in my house. Improvement on this goal is still needed. 

4. Read more. 
SCORE:  D. I read a few books but not nearly as many as I had hoped for. Unfortunately with one, maybe two bars in 2013, I don't see this grade changing. 

5. Cuss less. 
SCORE: F. I still cuss a ton. At least I don't do it front of counsel. I do cuss in front of co-workers though... most of them think it's hilarious. Or at least that's what they tell me to my face. 

6. See my faves at least once a month. 
SCORE: D+. Moving across the country put a damper on this goal. I have not seen my faves nearly as much as I wanted or envisioned when I made this goal. Additionally, some of the people I thought of when I made this goal have changed. I have managed to stay in contact with those I love, but I haven't been able to see them. 

7. Never give up but play it smart. 
SCORE: B+. I know this is a vague goal, but to me it meant keeping the faith, but not when it was smart to cut your losses. I have definitely done that with most things in my life. Thankfully I did not have many situations where I had to cut things from my life, but there were a few. I zigged when most people zagged, and through it I kept the faith, followed my heart. In the end, I believe I did the right thing. I never gave up, and I played it smart. 

8. Get a job I love. 
SCORE: A. Never in a million years would I imagine that I would love my job this much! There was a learning curve and a bullying co-worker but I got through both of those. The co-worker is gone and while I continue to learn something new every day, I have learned so much about my job that I now feel more confident in my performance. I have some of the best co-workers and a boss that truly is a mentor and has my back. I don't know how I got so lucky.  

9. Get a new car. 
SCORE: A+. I beat my own goal. I got a whole mass transportation as a replacement for my car. Mass transportation trumps car.  

10. Get my own apartment. 
SCORE: A. I love my apartment. I am still working on some things in it so the full tour of it will probably come next spring, but you can't beat the rent and the location. 

Those that read this and know me know that 2012 brought a ton of changes - some expected, most unexpected. 

I graduated law school - expected, got a job - both expected/hopeful and unexpected, moved to the Midwest - unexpected, by myself - unexpected, didn't take the California bar yet - unexpected, signed up and started studying for the Illinois bar - unexpected, sold my car - expected, didn't buy a replacement car - unexpected, had people step up - unexpected, had some fall away - unexpected. 

Needless to say, never in a million years did I expect to be writing this post from where I am right now. But I am so grateful that I am. 

So, in the end, I have to say...

Freak outs.

YOU’RE ALLOWED a maximum of one freak-out per month.  After said freak-out, get it together… call your mom, text your sister, walk it off, dance it out, massage it away, buy a new lipstick, fax your accountant, write your grandmother, and eat as many Tootsie Rolls as necessary.

Exceptions include: Bar prep, tax season, and any month that contains one or more days of jury duty. If said exception applies, you're allowed one freak-out per week. Also, be kind enough to not burden any one person with repeated freak-outs.

(adapted from Joy the Baker)

Normal?

One of the benefits to living by yourself is being able to decorate however you please. In my world, this means Ryan Matthews autographed cleats from his first pro bowl on the mantle. Totally normal, right?

Simple.

Source: haaay-im-dieing-to-live-ova-here.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Ain't that the truth. As a girl, I analyze. As a lawyer, I analyze. I am double hosed. Sometimes, I just need to remind myself to keep it simple.

So I put this picture as the lock screen on my phone. :)

The Tutu Project.

We are going to get a little personal here. I, like every human being, have been affected by cancer. I lost my aunt to breast cancer and I miss her everyday. Multiple members of my family, including myself, have been lucky enough to catch it early and beat it. The "C" word is something that many people will deal with at some point in their life but we are all afraid of it. The mention of it makes everyone act different around the person with it. No one quite knows what to do.

One man, Bob Carey, reacted in a total unique manner and created The Tutu Project when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. He started taking pictures of himself in random settings in a pink tutu to make her smile. A man willing to wear only a pink tutu in public... Now that is a man, and that is love!

He is hoping to publish a book titled Ballerina of the photos. Profits from the sale of the book will go directly to breast cancer organizations. However, the book is going to be self-published and Bob needs help raising $75,000 to publish. You can support the publication by donating, following The Tutu Project on FB, or by passing on the word. In the words of another cancer organization - F&^% Cancer!

Bieber.

Yes, this was my status update this morning. What's even better is the conversation that followed on FB. Last names have been redacted to protect the innocent (except my own - guilty as charged.)...

Funny thing is that everyone that commented or liked were women. Hmmm. Maybe Biebs does have some charm?

Oh and one more thing: I AM DONE WITH LAW SCHOOL! Took my last final this morning. 

Beat It.

‎"Only hang around people that are positive and make you feel good. Anybody who doesn't make you feel good, kick them to the curb, and the earlier you start in your life the better. The minute anybody makes you feel weird and non included or not supported, you know, either beat it or tell them to beat it."
-Amy Poehler

Kids These Days.

I swear that kids these days are getting dumber by the minute. Maybe it is the heavy use of all things electronic to do almost everything that weakens the use of common sense. I don't know the cause, but I see acts of stupidity on their part every day. I was never so stupid! (insert sarcastic face here)

Just this Saturday I was driving down my quiet residential street at 8:10pm when I saw three cars parked in the street. Mind you all of my neighbors have large driveways and no one parks on the street. I quickly saw what was up when all of the car doors slammed and I saw HS boys skimpering about in white tshirts and reflective running shoes -- They were toilet-papering my neighbors house (or TPing as it was called in my day). I didn't call my neighbor because I don't know them. If I did, I would have called them. Not because these boys were wrong for stringing rolls of toilet paper all over my neighbor's property but because these boys were doing it all wrong and needed to learn a lesson.

Get it together boys!!!

If you are going to go TPing, do it right. Here are some tips for next time from a seasoned pro (I was never caught).
1. Wear black. Common sense? I think so.
2. Go later at night. It was just daylight saving time so it stays lighter later over here. The sun just went down and it is barely dark.
3. Avoid reflective clothing. See #1.
4. Take cover. Do not stand in the middle of the street when a car comes. Hide you idiot!
5. Take a limited number of cars to avoid neighborhood watch. Many cars looks suspicious.
6. Weekdays are better than weekends. Did you really not think that people would be out and about, driving past you on a Saturday night?

Youth of America - I expect more next time.

Always Knew.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I always knew the woman I wanted to be.”
- Diane von Furstenburg

The Eight Kindes of Drunkennes.

Back in 1592, Elizabethan satirist Thomas Nashe produced and distributed a popular pamphlet named "Pierce Pennilesse," within which was written the following — a list describing the "Eight Kindes of Drunkennes."

It seems that very little has changed. I know many of these "Drunkennes."


THE EIGHT KINDES OF DRUNKENNES

- The first is ape drunke; and he leapes, and singes, and hollowes, and danceth for the heavens;

- The second is lion drunke; and he flings the pots about the house, calls his hostesse whore, breakes the glasse windowes with his dagger, and is apt to quarrell with anie man that speaks to him;

- The third is swine drunke; heavie, lumpish, and sleepie, and cries for a little more drinke, and a fewe more cloathes;

- The fourth is sheepe drunke; wise in his conceipt, when he cannot bring foorth a right word;

- The fifth is mawdlen drunke; when a fellowe will weepe for kindnes in the midst of ale, and kisse you, saying, "By God, captaine, I love thee. Goe thy wayes; thou dost not thinke so often of me as I doo thee; I would (if it pleased God) I could not love thee as well as I doo;" and then he puts his finger in his eye, and cryes;

- The sixth is Martin drunke; when a man is drunke, and drinkes himselfe sober ere he stirre;

- The seventh is goate drunke; when, in his drunkennes, he hath no minde but on lecherie;

- The eighth is fox drunke; when he is craftie drunke, as manie of the Dutchmen bee, that will never bargaine but when they are drunke.

(source via Lists of Note)

2012.

I have known that 2012 is going to be a rough year for me. I am not saying this to be negative. This post is not venting - just pure honesty.

I go to Coachella - f*&^ yeah!
I turn 30 - mixed emotions.

I graduate law school - yay! Only to be thrown into bar prep two days later..
I study for the bar - eh.

And then I will have to find something to do with myself until -

I get my bar results - hopefully that is a yay. *fingers crossed*

I don't have a job for after school despite doing all the "shoulds" that career services (and almost every teacher) gave me. Even when I do get a job I know there will be a learning curve - that I will suck at things and will have growing pains in learning the trade of law.

I just have to believe that this entire process is a growing process. A process in belief. A process in keeping the faith.

I found this video on a blog and even though it is written about creative writing I believe that it applies to MANY other aspects of life. I will get through this phase. I will... because what other choice do I have? I have to keep moving forward. I can't just sit and pout.


Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Touche.

YEAH, HER DRESS IS TERRIBLE. YOU WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AT ALL THE AWARDS CEREMONIES AND FASHION SHOWS YOU’RE ALWAYS ATTENDING.

… OH, I’M SORRY. ARE YOU BLOGGING IN YOUR JAMMIES?

FOR A SECOND THERE I THOUGHT YOU WERE ANNA WINTOUR OR SOMETHING.

(Reality Check provided by ANIMALS TALKING IN ALL CAPS)

The Pose.

I am sorry but WTF was up with Angie's pose tonight on the Oscars? If you have to pose like you are mid-lunge for your ginormous dress to look any bit fashionable then you probably picked the wrong dress Angie. You are Angelina Frickin' Jolie - I know you had a ton of choices. But really this was just ridiculous.



And frickin' eat something woman!!! You look too skinny. Unhealthy skinny. Not attractive.

UPDATE: Angie's Right Leg officially has its own twitter account. Appropriately named @Angiesrightleg. I am a follower. Win.

Another UPDATE: Angie's pose has become a revolution. Legbombers unite!

Source: Uploaded by user via Lauren on Pinterest

Pins = Where You Are In Life.

I have a new theory - you can tell what stage a person is in by their pins on Pinterest...
- I will survive themed pins = breakup
- Wedding pins = engaged or hoping to be VERY soon
- Baby stuff = kid or one on the way
- Lots of travel = needs a new job

Happy Pinning... Whatever your stage in life.

Gummies.

Best way to get anyone to take their vitamins...

Put them in gummy format.
(Sidenote: You can never get too old for gummies.)

The Definition of Cool.

Showing up is cool. Take note peeps.

Soccer.

I have started playing soccer more and it made me realize how much I need it in my life. I have been playing 3 times a week and my body is feeling stronger. I LOVE IT! I also find myself being more healthy overall. God help me if I am ever not able to play soccer... It brings so much happiness into my life and really is part of my life balance.

Murphy's Fashion Law.

As soon as you get an amazing pair of heels and plan the perfect outfit with them, you twist your ankle in soccer and are forced to postpone their debut.

Next week... **Fingers crossed**

Curious.

Truth. If I am anything, it is curious. I am constantly asking why.