This week...

This week has been a hectic one. I'm tired. I'm stressed. I've more things on my plate than I think I can manage. But, I'm still here and still smiling. It might be a few days before I can type up a post with several AMAZING updates, but hold onto your horses because they are really good, I mean really great!

Sometimes you just gotta keep breathing and hanging on.

Friday Faves

Did you click? Did you listen? Did you dance? If you said no, please turn around and memorize these moves :)

So this video sums it up > The East Coast is drying up. We're suffering. Actually my office is freezing so I could use a little heat wave action in here, but the minute I step my toes outside I might change my mind.

The current temp is 104, BUT the heat index reads 119! Did you see that? It feels like 119 degrees out there!!!

Today is Friday (woohoo) and that only means one thing:

Friday Faves - "Like a Heat Wave"

Mmmm Ritas! It's an East coast treat. Think frozen ice + custard. It's deliciousness in a cup!

 

In Idaho we don't have a lazy river, nope we have the Boise River. It's something
we all love and can't wait until it's hot enough to actually put our bums in our inner tubes.

Since I don't have a pool and sprinklers aren't that common out here,
I could really go for a patio and some misters. Nothing like a light cool-off in the summer sun!

There is nothing more amazing to me than laying out. My skin will hate me later in life,
but I love the warmth of the sun. Nothing like a good book, a day of nothing to do, and getting your glow on.

So it might not be the best plan to drink in 100+ degree temps,
but honestly nothing says sign me up for summer like a frozen margarita.

If you're hiding from this heat wave like I am, please go treat yourself to some frozen custard, a trip down a river, and lots of SPF. Have a fabulous weekend!

The Good Ol' Customer Service

My first job, besides pulling weeds around my dad's work properties, was at Pier 1 Imports as a Sales Associate. I know the pains of working truck days, I know the stress of trying to force a customer into a credit card to save 15% on their purchase, I know the smell of cardboard, candles and more cardboard, and I can certainly spot a pissed off customer from a mile away. My second job was working as a Barista and cute little coffee shop (slightly outdated) called Moxie Java. This is where I learned about amazing foam, picked up a few steam wand burns, knew a crazy train the minute she/he spurted off an essay of a drink order, and wanted to vomit every closing shift when the dirty mop came crawling my way.

In the midst of these two customer-service based jobs, I knew one thing was true > The only way to get by each day was to smile, laugh at the little things, and remember to set the alarm when leaving. Easy Peasy! I actually love customer service. If the pay could pay my bills and guarantee me a few vacations every year, I'd catch my last breath doing something customer service related. I love people. I love talking to people. 

Here comes the catch - I find it more difficult every day trying to walk away as a satisfied customer. Workers these days are either 1) not happy, 2) stressed, or 3) just lacking the necessary skills to work with people. Here comes the next catch - This customer service-free world I'm currently witnessing seems ever-so bumped up a few notches in Baltimore. That's right. Call me the Grinch from the West, but this town is a rough one to find a smile and a "please come again."

But, I found a gem, an outlier, a little treasure tucked away here in Charm City. I found a place that needs to set the standard for the rest of the customer service world out there. I'm talking about a little place called Trader Joe's! Oh My Amazing! This place is too good to be true. It's also right next to my office, which makes it a convenient stop when trying to figure out what's for dinner, but also the perfect fix for my disappointment in every other people NOT pleasing stores. 

No matter the time I walk in (somedays it's 8:00am, somedays it's 8:00pm), I am always greeted with a smile, encouraged to try their demo of the day, made sure I found everything I was looking for, always prompted to move to a smaller check-out line, and my favorite thing of all - the only place that doesn't sigh when I asked for $10 in quarters. It's rough paying for every load of laundry, but it's life. Trader Joe's employees know about life, they appreciate their customers, and quite frankly I think they sincerely love their job!

So if you're finding yourself swimming in the same world that I am, a world lacking in customer service, then please drive, bike, walk, blade (however you get around) on over to a Trader Joe's. I promise and pinky swear you will walk away with a smile and of course some of the most amazing treats around town.

Picture

When a best friend sends you the best gift of all ...

Today was something special. Something I can't even believe, but something I simply can't stop smiling about. I received a text from one of my best friend's, Megan, over the weekend asking if I received a package.

(As a side note, Megan and I have been friends since 2007 when we were both fulfilling an internship at CASA as Guardian ad Litems. We became attached at the hip shortly after - from workouts to birthday dates, to boy drama to girl drama, from halloween adventures to taking care of beta fish disaster :( we were amigas like no other.)

Back to the story -  I ran my legs to the basement to check the mail room for any delivered packages, and after searching up and down and wall to wall in an empty room, there was no package in sight. I'm not sure if Baltimore is the last stop, but packages, mail, anything related to delivery seems to be a hassle to receive or ship (but that's another story).

So today I rushed home, ran straight for the mail room, and came across a perfect little cardboard box with my name Sharpied on it. Next thing you know, I'm in my room carefully cutting the tape away from the box only to find a cute little book inside:

Oh this is too perfect. It was only a few weeks prior that I stubbled across the words, Megan went from being "In a Relationship" to "Engaged" on Facebook!!! I was beyond ecstatic. My heart was full of so much love after reading this update and knowing the amazing adventure and life ahead for Megan and Logan. After going over the engagement deets with Megan on the phone she said, "Brittanie, I want you to know that I want you to be in my wedding!" Oh goodness, gravy I thought I was going to have to press help for an oxygen tank. I was so happy and was honored to be asked to be a part of her big day!

Well the story doesn't stop there. Upon receiving The Everything Bridesmaid Book, I started to flip through the pages when I saw just how cute Megan was to surprise me with little post-it notes on specific pages of the book. Oddly enough, I was flipping through the book backwards and came across the last post-it note stuck on the Maid of Honor page and read this,

"Will you please by my Maid of Honor? xoxo Meg"

Oh my goodness, gracious!!! I still can't believe it! I would love nothing more than to be Megan's Maid of Honor and to help her through the wedding planning, prep, nerves, stressors, joys, tears, you name it! I might stress over the small stuff myself, but when it comes to my best friend's Big Day, there is nothing more that I want than to be by her side and help her every step of the way!

There is always a little surprise knocking at the door when you least expect it. Megan, I simply can't thank you enough for this honor and I can't wait to watch you walk down the aisle on August 4, 2012! You have been one of the most amazing friends a girl could ask for and I can't wait for the memories that are about to be made!

XOXO,
B

I missed what?

Word on the street is yesterday was National Ice Cream Day! How did I not get the memo? How did I miss the news? How did I not already know this date? I'm just all sorts of frustration right now.

If I haven't said it enough, ice cream is my favorite treat, meal, happy hour outing, you name it ... I get weak in the knees for two scoops of Baskin-Robbins Raspberry Cheese Louise (now only available in Canada), my heart skips a beat for Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, my eyes see double for Uncle Wiggly's Graham Cracker, and without a doubt my mouth waters hearing the name Coconut Almond Fudge from Little Man Ice Cream.

What's a girl to do? I can only think of one solution - go big or go home! I missed what could be one of my favorite days of the years. I'll wipe away my tears tonight with a big bowl of love covered in sprinkles :)

Did you celebrate National Ice Cream Day? If so, what did you get?

How cute is this dog? He is so happy!

Cutest picture ever.

Another Sunday Adventure

Sundays, along with Thursdays, tend to be the best days of the week in my eyes. Thursday means the weekend is so close and you've already tackled more than half of the week, and Sunday just brings about the rush and energy to fit in everything you can before Monday rolls around. That was a mouthful.

So what did today bring? An adventure unlike any other :)

Mike is a dedicated worker bee. Whatever it is he's doing, he's got some wheel spinning with his job in mind. So with a full day ahead and a boy who "wants to see and know it all" ... well we did just that. Okay so maybe not "it all," but we checked off one city that hasn't seen our tracks. Bethesda, Maryland!

Yup, this cuter than cute little stretch of shops and a gazillion restaurants around type of town located above D.C., and under Baltimore's belt. Mike was curious what this land held and what properties are either up and coming or available. So why did I tag along? Because every Pilot needs a co-Pilot and well I just like tagging along. But what else accompanied our adventure? Our bikes! That's right, this day might go down in history as one of the most creative, fun and best-days-of-my-life type of adventure that was a spur of the moment planned effort.

We would pedal for a block, jot down some notes on the next, pedal 5 more blocks, spin around, avoid some pedestrians, write down something else, and continue this routine for the next 6 hours. Oh and we also snuck in a little marg drinking.

This weekend, and especially today, was a fabulous one. Throw a little sun on my shoulders, put my boy in the picture, add our bikes, and a foreign city bustling with love = one of the best Sunday adventures.

P.S. We rented bikes one weekend and toured around D.C. by cruisers and had so much fun. I guess the moral of this post is, if you're looking for something fun to do with your love and/or friends, pick up two wheels and ride around. Also, it could just be something Mike and I find fitting to our curious minds.

Hope you all had a great weekend! Sweet Dreams!

Friday Faves

Based upon the fact that I almost forgot about today's faves, and also that my two previous posts have been about the west/the country, I'm not going to waste anymore time. Here she is:

Friday Faves - Country Bumpkin 

Every person needs a picnic basket. I'm still working on finding the perfect one,
but when I find her boy o boy will we have a few dates. 

Mike thinks I only have eyes for guys in firefighter uniforms.
What he doesn't know is I also have a little fling for chaps. 

From old school Shania Twain to newbies Lady Antebellum, my car has heard me
sing them all. Something about country music is something I can't get enough of.

My Pops would be a little too embarrassed knowing this is what I refer to
as a "good western flick." I grew up with these girls.
They knew how to make a good movie.
They definitely knew what the west was all about.

This song is the perfect date song. 

One day I'm going to sweep Mike off his feet and take him fishin in the dark. 

Saddle up and have a fabulous weekend! 

Wandering away from the Wild West

Driving home from work yesterday the first thought that came to my mind wasn't about the record breaking 110 degrees, but instead how the further I have moved east, the closer I consider myself a "westerner."

It's the little pleasures 2,000 miles away I miss:
- Red Cowboy Boots (well actually these just seem more appropriate over yonder)
- Always remembering to say "Please" and "Thank You"
- Wide Open Spaces
- Garages
- Manners, but more importantly being Courteous, Friendly & Appreciative

I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to teach Charm City the wild ways of the west, but I can admit I never knew what existed out of my own frontier until I settled down here:
- Crab Cakes = A(100%)mazing
- Less Fast Food Chains = More Local Little Eats
- Girls aren't over the top with their hair, make-up, or appearance. Nope, these girls are a-okay with going au-natural. I can definitely appreciate throwing my hair in a bun everyday and not feeling out-of-place.
- Craigslist Heaven! The best gems are here, trust me on this.
- The most beautiful neighborhoods are tucked away here. I have a gazillion dream homes. You can find yourself in a row home, a cottage, a mansion, a fabulous apartment, a high-rise, a farmhouse, a you name it!

For a girl who may have been able to get away with these:

I'm now falling in love with these:

On a lazy Sunday like today

While browsing through some of my past blog posts, I came across one of my favorites. And because it's a lazy Sunday and I'm starting to wind down from the weekend, there is nothing better I can think of doing than painting my nails. 

A little over a year old, but still one of my favorites. Enjoy!

_ _ _  _ _ _  _ _ _ 

A small, but obvious fact about me: I love love love OPI nail polish colors. In hopes of one day marketing their line, naming their latest colors or winning a lifetime supply of nail polish I submitted this letter:

To The Fabulous, Beautiful and Ever-So-Fun Team behind OPI,

I am in love with your product. More than in love, I represent, wear, display, promote, shout, apply (over and over), and above all follow your name anxiously waiting for the next line to "line" my nail polish basket (slowly turning into a bucket)! 

Trying to decide what shade to sport for the weekend, I looked no further than "Need Sunglasses" due to this weekend's weather forecast and summer being around the corner. I'm sure you receive inquiries and suggestions a gazillion times a day, but I was thinking while showering, "Wow...OPI needs a country-bumpkin line!" Not sure if the shower sparked my Idaho roots to fruition, or I find myself listening to Lady Antebellum on repeat, but one thing I know is nothing would be more fantastic with the summer sun, plethora of picnics and Daisy Duke shorts around every corner, than a seasonal line dedicated to America's finest toe-tapping, calf wrangling, dosey-doe-ing, spare me another heartbreak, and the dust hanging over the horizon world of the wild west. 

My first suggestion: "Lady Antebellum's Lemonade"

 

Your yellow-nail-polish-wearing-fan,

Brittanie

A Friendly Reminder

So I've decided to skip out on my Friday Favs (well maybe not quite skip, but this post will temporarily take its place), and provide something a little different ... something that I was reminded about today.

For a few weeks I haven't quite been feeling like myself, you know the B I can laugh at, but also feel confident in. I'm not sure if it's being so far away from home, knowing I've been so far away from home for quite some time now, I'm trying to prioritize my life when it's in a million different parking lots, or I'm simply just in a funk. Without even thinking too much about it, this afternoon I came to the conclusion that this has been one of my best weeks in a while. What happened? What cleared the air? If I'm going to treat this blog like I live in a glass half-full world, I think I also need to treat this blog the way life can sometimes be - a glass a little too empty.

So let me break this down:
- I wasn't working out on a regular basis like I enjoy
- I wasn't setting professional or personal goals, which keep me in line
- I was finding anything and everything wrong with Mike/our relationship
- I was too focused on the fact that I'm 2,000+ miles away from home
- Oddly enough, I wasn't sketching out room designs, which is something I've always found myself doing
- I was too focused on lack of funds, rather than the fact that I have five dollars to my name
- I just wasn't acting like the B I know, and maybe myself was feeling a little too empty

So what happened this week that made all the difference?
- I've worked out everyday and enjoyed every minute of sweating and smelling
- I woke up one morning to a list > A list of things I want to accomplish at work and want to see within myself
- I have been so honest with Mike about my funk and us. I thought a few days of not talking would help, but then I woke up and realized I wanted nothing more than to say "good morning" and hang out with him later that night. I know you can't always see eye-to-eye with your best friend, but knowing you have your best friend at your side, looking at you eye-to-eye is priceless.
- I remembered I'm moving in three weeks to a new place, and my life has been a series of adventures miles and miles away from home. It's about time I start planting roots in my own home.
- I've already designed three houses. Now I'm just working on the landscapes, joking.
- I budgeted out my funds for the next month and realized, I might just be okay. AND, I even calculated in "fun," which says a lot for a girl who has always pushed fun off of the budgeted list.
- I found myself singing out loud on my way to work, laughing at work, and chit chatting to anyone and everyone. This is the B I know :)

This seems a little odd to be pushing out for your reading self, but when trying to be optimistic and grounded about life, sometimes a little kick in the rear is the biggest life lesson anyone really needs. No matter the blue days, glass half-empty days, or simply not feeling like yourself days, a reminder about what it is you enjoy is the only friendly reminder/remedy out there.

Party in the U.S.A.

Happy 4th of July!!! 

I'm already singing my heart out, painting my nails red, white and blue, prepping my stomach for some ice cream, and celebrating America's independence.

I dug through quite a few songs and movie clips trying to summarize today, but I kept coming back to Miley.

From this land to your land, have an amazing day!

Friday Favs

Wait, it's been a week since I posted anything? Cripes, what happened? Here goes another excuse of listing work, trying to finalize an apartment move, trying to squeeze in working out, and making sure I get enough sleep to add to my "please forgive me" bucket. But in all honesty, this week has been a crazy train and I'm not sure how I managed to make it ... but I did and I'm here with something short and sweet:

My Friday Favs - Red, White & Blue Inspired

I love red lips. I can never pull off this look, but I envy those who can. Gwen, keep rockin' the red!

Sparklers, period! I love them and would love to spend all night sparkling the street!

Need I say more. A pearly white smile never fails.

Two of my favorite fruits mixed together with love!

The American Flag! You might have to zoom in, but sometimes the sight of our country's flag
is the only reminder we need to remember how fortunate we are.

Have a wonderful 4th of July!