Sick Days & The Bag

whew! it seems like it has been a looong week. I'm ready for some relaxation this wknd! Between food poisoning, Talulah Grace getting sick, and lots going on at work...I'm ready to kick my feet up and not do anything.

talulah being sick in bed, and me being in sick in bed (and working)..i think she likes sick days alittle more than me...she knows it means mid day snacks & all day belly rubs!

Thursdays are tied with Mondays my favorite TV days, so I'm looking forward to heading home, cooking grouper (and looking on Pinterest for some hints...), doing laundry and dishes, and watching Person of Interest (do ya'll watch?! soo good!! and less trashy than my Monday night shows, aka: Real Housewives) and Big Bang Theory. i know, i know, i really live on the edge.

so, i finally took down my Christmas decorations. whoops. Its always a bit depressing, right? the house just seems like its missing something because, well, it is! a 7ft gleaming white tree, duh. here's a small picture of the tree, i don't think it really does it any justice, but again...no iphone.

but with Christmas decorations down, it means one thing: my birthday is coming!! which means one more thing: a few weeks of my mom and i buying things in the name of "well, just give it to me for my birthday"....which brings me to Saturday & the day i was reunited with my purse. We went to TJ Maxx Saturday to "see if they had re-stocked since Christmas" oh, boy have they ever...within 5 minutes of being in the store i found: my gold Michael Kors bag seen below. i stalked this bag for MONTHS. then one day, i went by the handbag section to Dillards, and it was gone. but THEN....TA-DA! Then i stumbled upon Kate Spade cake plate, a few Kate Spade bags, Waterford wine glasses, and the big honcho: a set of Wedgewood plates & salad plates. dear shopping gods, SHAME ON YOU. and to dad, if you read this, i DID NOT BUY ANY OF IT. I let some other deserving sale shopper have these massive deals and finds. i moved right along with only one purchase: the bag.





hello lover..



one last thing for the day, my friend Britain partnered with Great Oak Circle for a giveaway on her blog, SimplySouthernGirl. Great Oak Circle did B's current blog lay out, and its adorable! I highly recommend entering, it looks like Christine from GOC does FANTASTIC work! I know my blog could use some lovin'..... ;)

one last one...for now

i promise i will take a break from The West Wing clips, but as I'm home sick today, i caught one of the best scenes of the final season. while, i don't think season 6 and 7 can hold a candle to seasons 1-5, they still trump every other show currently on television. 

i think ill be back to working condition tomorrow and so the return of my hard hitting and content filled blog will be up and running. just kidding, ill be back with the usual..a new purse! come and get it, boyfriends.

hope y'all are having a great Wednesday! 

xo raa

Bartlet for America

to say that I'm interested in politics is a gross overstatement. i think I'm more so overwhelmed by them than anything.

with that said, if real life politics reflected the dedication to service, integrity, and humanity (and humor) that the West Wing portrays politics as, i would've traded my merchandising classes for political science classes a few years back. but they don't, so i didn't. instead, i earned my degree and the West Wing DVDs haven't left my DVD player since the first time they entered five years ago.

I don't know how many of my friends watched The West Wing while it was on the air, but I know i certainly did not. i used to grumble and gripe when my parents turned it on, and i went to my room to, probably, watch some other trash-ass sitcom. what a mistake.

i was drawing a blank on inspiration today. honestly, i was just craving a good happy hour, so i needed a subject to write about that came naturally. enter: The West Wing.

Season Four Episode 1

Season 6 Finale

both of the videos above focus on key speeches in various times within the series. One is a reaction of a domestic terrorism attack, and one is seemingly, an acceptance speech by the President Bartlet's soon to be predecessor.

Season 3 Episode 1 "Isaac and Ishmael"

I don't remember which episode this is, but I know its in season 1 or 2.

Aaron Sorkin is a god.

Season 6: King Corn

and finally, not only is the subject of The West Wing amazing, the music producer was incredible. half of the impact came from the music that corresponded with the scenes. true magic.

this post is kind of like when i meet guys at the bar, and after the common exchange of "getting to know you" questions, right before i decide if I'm going to accept their free mic ultra, i ask: "so have you ever seen The West Wing?"

i am a mess.

xo raa

Friday Five

its Friday!! i know, personally, it could not have gotten here fast enough. i am ready for the weekend! I've got myself a very full To-Do list full of finally taking down Christmas. (so gross, i know. I've got to get myself in order!!!) Brunch with Sarah, getting some jewelry repaired, and seeing a new baby, Mia Leanne!

here's what I'm loving:

1. My stack:

this is my everyday stack, with the exception of the Susan Shaw bracelet. I'm also wearing a pair of her earrings. for locals, you can find them at Cole Couture! aaand, i hear the sweet owner, Carrie is offering 30-50% of the ENTIRE store! i may have to stop in on my way to happy hour this afternoon.

which brings me to...

2. Midtown Tallahassee:

I am so fortunate to live in my favorite area of Tallahassee! i am a block from my favorite restaurants (Red Elephant, Chez Pierre, and Midtown Filling Station to name a few), stores, bars (Finnegan's Wake & Krewe De Gras), Nail Salon & Spa (Kanvas), and even hair dresser (Haute Headz).

3. A healthy family:

My dad is doing really well, and we could not be more thankful. A few weeks prior to my dad's surgery, my mom's brother had the same surgery. around 3pm yesterday, my uncle was taken back to the hospital,and to every one's surprise, had to have another surgery. he seems to be doing well, and we are all trying to find the good in everything that has been going on. for example, this has probably been the most time we have spent with our extended family in years. its a true testament to blessings are, sometimes, disguised!

this was so long ago! i think it was my senior year of high school.

4. The Gap:

i have been a Gap shopper for a looong time. bordering on forever. I even worked there in college! i am hot and cold on their clothes, i go through phases of LOVING and then HATING their clothes. currently, I'm in the love phase. see below:



all three images via



5. the Michael Kors flats vs. Tory Burch flats:

sigh, the fight for my Tory Burch flats has gone on for oh, around 5 years. My parents finally agreed to purchase them for me. (yes, I'm grown, but look, i have billz to pay.) and i TURNED them down. i, instead, purchased the Michael Kors flats seen below. as you know, i already have them in the silvery-pewtery color seen in my last post. i was just so nervous about ordering a size up in the Revas and all the complaints about how narrow they were. home girl has chub-a-lub feet. i border on needing a big ol' W next my size 7, but i cant go down that route yet. not until I'm in orthopedic shoes. so these little babies are currently in route to my house, and for around $110.00 LESS than the Revas.



hello lover..image via



 Hope ya'll have a great weekend!

xo raa

OOTD

a quick, Happy Wednesday to you!

Here's what I'm wearing today:

checked button up (these are just all the rage! i want more!!) Old Navy AMAZING, seamless leggings Gap fun, flowy cardigan Talbots corsage (old) Anthro and pewter, quilted, Michael Kors ballet flats (i call these my Jr varsity Tory Burch flats.) Zappos

since i don't have a swanky iphone, i wanted to do two close ups to highlight some of the awesome-ness (in my humble opinion...) that you cant see in that terrible not iphone picture. First: the Michael Kors ballet flat. love them. they are super comfy; i can wear them multiple days in a row with no problems, and the pewter color becomes such a neutral and alternative to black flats. Second: an up close picture to show my checked Old Navy shirt scored for less than $15.00 and the corsage! (yes, i am available for modeling...if your models need to have a double chin and strange facial expressions.)

PS. don't forget to order your Valentine's Day cards! 15% off at Ashley Brooke Designs ends today!

xo raa

i should be ashamed!

..but I'm not. at all.

well, there isnt much im ashamed of, but at this point in time, I'm referring to my taste in TV shows. I have terrible taste in television. awful. My idea of heaven would be a ol' TV screen playing new episodes of various seasons of the Real Housewives franchise and maybe some Kardashians thrown in there too. y'know, just for kicks.

If you choose to stay with me on this blogging adventure, you're going to hear a lot about the Real Housewives. except NeNe, i hate NeNe. HATE. but oh, i do love all of the other hot messes. they're just ridiculous, and i hope they never stop. i hope they just continue and continue forever.

so who is my fav? glad you asked! i really could only pick these two; i dont have any strong ties to the rest of them, but dont get your panties in a wad...i still turn down plans with my real friends to watch them.

i mean, obviously, Bethenny is my number one girl. i love how inappropriate, funny, honest, and ugh, just amazing she is. i cant WAIT for her new show...FEB. 20 HURRY UP!!!  god, i need a life.

i dont know who i love more, Adrienne or Paul. its a tie. i KNOW if someone agrees to marry me, its going to look alot (maybe too much) like Paul and Adrienne's marriage, but im assuming, taken down about 8363820 million dollars...maybe. hey, a girl can dream. 

then there are my favorite scripted reality television family, the kardashians. say what you will about them, and ive probably said it too, trust me, but ohh i just love to see what they're going to wear and do. i know i sound ridiculous, and honestly, i do have a college education, but they're so pretty! Kourtney? she is literally one of the most beautiful women on television. shes super cute and tiny and dresses well, minor girl crush. Khloe? no. no girl crush there, but shes dating a former Lakers player/current Mavericks player, so ill let any insults revolving around her resembeling a troll go. Kim? god, what a mess. but enough people have gone there. every joke worth anything is overdone. lets get real: i love them all, even Kris and Bruce Jenner and yes, even super hot mess, Scott.

ok, ive let myself look like an idiot for long enough.

have a great Tuesday, ya'll!

xo raa

OOTD+Weekend Recap

Regardless of my jealousy of everyone off of work today, I'm still excited to say that I'm keeping up part of my New Year's Resolution by actually putting myself together, and if time permits, snapping an OOTD Picture!

Here is my Outfit Of The Day:

Red, Knit Top Talbots Black, knit Skit (with pleated front) The Gap Plaid Scarf Old Navy 

I also wore my {new} coat that i purchased on super, super sale from Gap! I ended up getting two; one camel, one black for LESS than the original price of one. Having two coats is saying a lot for me, I hate coats. My ma was so excited, getting me to buy coats (and shoes) is like pulling teeth! OK, lets be honest: getting me to buy reasonably priced coats and shoes is like pulling teeth.



both images via

Being back at work after such a great weekend is hard! Here's a quick recap:

• A great FSU win over {previously} #3 UNC! I wish I'd been at the game, but no worries, I enjoyed a few Magic Hat #9s at a favorite local restaurant, Chez Pierre.

original image via 

• speaking of Chez Pierre, I may have gone there for AYCD Champagne brunch on Sunday too! Thanks to Sarah for taking this pic:

so this is what a decent phone picture looks like...ah, iphone, a girl can dream...

• a great shopping trip to Gap landed me two GREAT pieces: a pink blazer & their new "sexy boyfriend" jeans. To say I'm hooked is an understatement; i cant wait to buy another pair!

• and finally, my dad treated my mom & I to the "deluxe" manicure and pedicure...it was, well...deluxe. i definitely could not rationalize it for every month, but man oh man...it was so worth it. I went with Essie's Fiesta seen below, i love it!

image via

Happy Monday ya'll!

xo raa

I love me some paper

I can vividly remember my mom & dad getting into a, lets call it, disagreement. usually, my dad would get wound up about something my mom or i was doing, and being the smartest woman I know, she let him think he was getting his way & winning said disagreement.

but lets all be clear: dad has never won a thing in our house other than the privilege to call my mother and i his very own.

the disagreement I'm speaking above was about...paper. mom & i love paper. we love notebooks, day planners, stationary, and even post its. we love paper. the disagreement ended with the famous last words: "if you don't stop buying paper, we're going to drown in it!!!" Then mom replied with "OK" and handed him a candy bar; dad ate the candy bar, and all was back to being A-ok in the Amy Household. (we're real functional.)

aaand we're back to the point (whoops): one thing i love more than paper is finding fabulous paper vendors. enter, Graphic Image, Ashley Brooke Designs, and Lydia and Pugs just to name a few but, the list of my drug dealers  favorite shops has just increased by one: Gadabout Designs. holy moly.

{all images via Gadabout}

oh, they're just FAB! I must own a set, but which to choose? mom, you have less than 16 business/shipping days before my birthday...

xo raa

5 Friday Favorites

well, since everyone else is doing it...

1: Target's new home decor collection

this collection is whimsical and matches my furniture to perfection (pictures to come). i love it. thanks to Danielle Oakey Interiors for doing a post on it. When I had gone to the target website, (which I find rather difficult to navigate) i was unable to find exactly the items i was looking for...but thanks to Danielle, I was able to find them all in one place...perfection! I want to order the majority of them online, that way I can use my Ebates and get my 3% back (every little bit matters now that I have a car payment..!!)



all 4 images via



2. My New Car!!

yes, i {finally} broke down and purchased a new car. My poor baby 2001 land rover had finally bit the dust...and bad. everyone asks me what my favorite part of the new car is? I respond: cup holders! working heater! working breaks! only $54 to fill up! regular gas vs premium gas! *disclaimer to prospective dates/boyfriends: i am not as easy to please in every other area of my life. cars are, clearly, an exception.

image via

3. my new crock pot & new recipes

now i get to try all of the recipes that I'm always seeing on Pinterest. (shameless plug: check out my boards here: http://pinterest.com/rachelaamy/) so far I've tried the Hawaiian Chicken...too spicy! More recipes and reviews coming



image & recipe via

4. Why I hate Religion but Love Jesus

I'm sure ya'll have already seen it, and I'm late to the party (would not be the first time), but I really enjoyed it & it really hit home.

5. My dad being home & well

A week ago, my dad had a heart attack, it was a big scare for my mom and I, but luckily, it was small relative to what it could've been given his, excuse me, shitty eating habits. although i kept myself together during those few days, seeing my dad on that hospital bed was, in short, terrifying. BUT! after a few days in the hospital, one "interesting" as the Cardiologist put it, surgery, and a lot of pain meds, dad is home and slowly getting back on his feet. I could not be more proud of my mom for how she handled everything, or more thankful for the doctors, nurses, and techs who helped my papa, and of course for my friends & family who never wavered in their love and support.

Hope ya'll have a great weekend....I'm looking forward to a weekend of pedicures, hopefully a FSU basketball WIN, champagne brunches, putting away Christmas decorations, and FINALLY reading The Hunger Games!

xo raa

OOTD

I'm trying to make more of an effort to get myself together in the morning. For no other reason that I seem to be replacing going out on weekends with happy hours after work. With that being said, I really need to stop looking like such a ragga muffin at work/after work get togethers.

Here is my first day making effort for the workday:



Anyways, today's OOTD: Black Qquilted Vest: Talbots (Holiday '11) Leopard Button Up: Old Navy (Sept/Oct) Sabrina Ponte Leggings: Talbots (Current) 



*Sorry for the blurry phone picture; we thought I was due for an upgrade (aka: iPhone) in Feb, turns out its Feb 2013...bummer. Meanwhile, my mother has an iPhone. you do the math.

I've really been loving Talbots lately; my mom has been trying to get me to shop there for ages, the main reason being: it is our only charge card that my dad pays the bill...thanks dad! Right now Talbots is offering 25% off all Full Price Items w/ promo code: JANUARY; I highly recommend purchasing the Sabrina Ponte Legging. They remind me of the J.Crew Minnie pant, but personally, I find these a little more flattering and true to size.

image via

Hope ya'll have a fabulous Thursday!

xo raa

Ashley Brooke Designs Saves My Valentine's Day!

Even though Valentine's Day is still a month away, I could not help but order my Valentine's Day cards early when I saw the cute designs + the discount code..

I'm sure you've heard of Ashley Brooke Designs; if not...go to her site. Immediately. Right now she is offering 15% off her Valentine's Day line, just use the promo code: HUGSANDKISSES.



image via



These are the actual cards that I ordered; I can not wait to send them... i need to pick up a special, pink sharpie pen (i love how my handwriting looks when i use sharpie pens...) to write my Valentines special messages!!



Here are some other cute cards that I resisted ordering...



image via







image via



Buying stationary always makes me want to order new address labels....

xo raa

helllooooo 2012

im back! im back! im back!

listen, i have a confession: i didn't have wifi. it was an excuse to not blog, to not keep up with people, to not pursue certain interests. 

i dont know what 2012 holds; four days into it, i have high hopes for the next 361 days. with that being said, i hope that, if nothing else, it is a year of no excuses.

listen, its almost 11pm, time for b-e-d. or at least chelsea lately. i will be back. 

xo raa