Today's Three Things

1) The Pacific Coast Highway

2) Meeting James' Online Friends

3) Local beer

Today's Three Things

1) Cacti

2) Local food & people

3) New city skylines at night (San Diego)

Today's Three Things

1) Old friends that never seem old

2) Coors light

3) Tiffany & Co.

Every Girl Needs

A Longchamp bag.

I picked this pretty one up in Paris and it's been the best, most reasonably priced handbag I've ever owned. Even better? When bought in Paris it comes in at $115 rather than $145 in the U.S. Score!

Today's Three Things

1) Old friends that never seem old

2) Boulders

3) DH

Today's Three Things

1) Leaving for vacation

2) Phoenix

3) Getting to see Melissa!

Today's Three Things

1) facials
2) clean bathrooms. even better - MY clean bathroom.
3) banana puddin pops from The King of Pops

Day 08 – A Picture of Something That Makes Me Happy

Three reasons:

1) Jimmy Johnson

2) Jimmy Johnson winning

3) Jimmy Johnson winning one of our brand's race

Today's Three Things

1) convertibles

2) Chi Omega

3) new dresses

Note From the Universe

Whatever you dream of, live it, live it now, as fully as possible, to whatever degree you can, in your thoughts, words, and deeds. And sure enough, as day follows night, as rains fall from pregnant clouds, and as melodies float from bells and whistles, your dream will come to pass.

Today's Three Things

1) Goat cheese

2) Running

3) 9 weeks

A Note From the Universe

Whatever you dream of, live it, live it now, as fully as possible, to whatever degree you can, in your thoughts, words, and deeds. And sure enough, as day follows night, as rains fall from pregnant clouds, and as melodies float from bells and whistles, your dream will come to pass.

Day 07 – My Worst Nightmare

I don't have a worst nightmare. I think I'm good at rolling with the punches.

Today's Three Things

1) Football

2) New friends

3) Old friends

Day 06 – Describe My Day in Great Detail

5 a.m. - My subconscious turns off my alarm.
5:28 a.m. - My semi-conscious looks at my BlackBerry and lays my head back down.
6:30 a.m. - I wake up in a panic as I'm supposed to be walking out the door right now.
6:20 - 6:50 a.m. - I dig through the massive piles of laundry in my bedroom, bathroom and closet in search of my Georgia Tech shirt. I fail, so I resolve to wearing a goldenrod tank with a white sweater and cuffed skinny jeans with matching yellow flats. Swap the long necklace for dangle GT earrings. Nice :)
6:50 - 7 a.m. - I brush my teeth, wash my face & put on my makeup, forgetting my contacts 'till last. I hate that.
7 a - 7:10 a.m. - I comb & then flat iron my hair. Today's a teasing kind of day, so I poof, pin and spray.
7:10 a.m. - BlackBerry check. Shoot! Late. Ugh.
7:10 - 7:15 a.m. - I grab my things, kiss the James and scoot out the door.
7:17 a.m. - I get to my car, am unhappy with the bottom half of my outfit and decide to go change.
7:19 - 7:20 a.m. - James wakes up to me rummaging for clothes (again). Throw on barely boot cut dark wash with brown and gold wedges. Much better. :)
7:20 - 7:32 a.m. - I drive to work. I'm tired, but Martina McBride is on the radio, Independence Day. Love this song. I also heard two Tim McGraw songs.
7:32 - 7:35 - Park (floor 1!), walk into the office with EVP of HR. Off on 6 to get 10 training packets from Lizz's desk. Take them to our conference room on 3.

This is so ridiculous, I cannot even continue.

Half Marathon in November?

4th Annual USMC Toys for Tots Half-Marathon Trail Run 2010

Day 05 – My Favorite Quote(s)

I can't pick one, so I pick three -- three very different quotes illustrating three very different aspects of my life. Up first...

Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change. -Frank Lloyd Wright
I wont say that everyone who knows me knows I love Frank, but I can confidently say that many people do. I love Frank so much, in fact, that I think we're on a first name basis. When I refer to Frank, the unknowing often ask, "Frank, who?" as though I'm referring to a friend. Frank, who? Pssssh! The Lloyd Wright himself, of course!

I digress...

I love Frank. I admire Frank. I am in awe of Frank's work. The lines! The blending of earth and man! The organized abstract nature of it all. And that's just his work.

Frank himself is such an interesting man. His house burned twice. He left his wife and children for his mistress, and then his mistress and her children were murdered in his home by his employee. He married someone half his age -- and had a child with her. He was banished from Chicago society, had a sporadic streak that nearly bankrupted him more than once and was wildly impulsive. His best work came after he nearly lost it all, and I love him for that. He was cocky as hell, didn't listen to clients and was notorious for going over budget. I'm talking more than double what he was supposed to spend. He pushed the limits of design and engineering (have you seen Falling Water?). He freaking rocks my world. Sigh.

I love this quote, not because it illustrates what is quite possibly his biggest strength and his biggest weakness -- his confidence -- but because I actually think it's a pretty damn good motto by which to live. Don't pretend to be humble if you're not. Even if you are -- exude an air of confidence. Better -- be confident. Be yourself. And above all else, have no regrets.

Next...

Follow your bliss. - Senses Fail
This one comes from the song "Can't Be Saved" by emo/post-hardcore band Senses Fail, whom I also love. The song starts with this line, and I think its a good way to start every day: follow your bliss. Follow what makes you happy. Do what makes you happy. And be who makes you happy. Bliss.
And finally...

For we walk by faith, not by sight. - 2 Cor 5:7
This was the second Bible verse I ever memorized (the first was "Your word is the lamp to my feed and the light to my path," though I can never remember the book and verse. (It's Psalm 119:105. I checked.)). It was a time when I was starting to discover and grow my relationship with Christ through a discipleship with my dear childhood friend, Andrea. I thought, and still do think, that it speaks a lot to what I was feeling at that time and what other people who are new to their faith often feel. When I am ever uncertain or unsure, I remember this verse.

Back to School

The good news?

I decided to take only one class this semester.

The bad news?

The book for the class I dropped cost $15. The book for the class I'm actually taking? $200. Ouch.

Day 04 – Worst Movie I Ever Saw

Fran Drescher knocks off a Disney movie? Enough said.

Day 03 – A Song That Makes Me Cry

Many songs have made me cry the first time I heard them.

The first time I heard I loved her First by Heartland, I was six months away from my wedding & knew my dad wanted to dance to it. I was in the backseat of my parent's car after looking at the house they'd eventually purchase -- the place they'd move to after leaving the only house I'd ever known. The insurmountable change I knew I was facing suddenly became more than I could handle on a gray February day in Ohio.

I still remember hearing Something to be Proud Of by Montgomery Gentry for the first time. I was in the audio department at Circuit City and something overtook me. I think it was the story of the simple life that we all can be proud of.

For a long time after I moved to Georgia, many country songs would get to me. I'd be stuck in rush hour traffic on I-85 south and find myself sobbing. It wasn't any particular song. In fact, I couldn't name anything specifically that made my tears fall. It was simply the reminder of home, my parents and the life I no longer had.

So I guess it's not even one song that makes me cry, it's just whatever song that speaks to me based on what is going on in my life at that time.

The good news? Nothing is making me cry of late! :)

Day 02 – A Place I Hope to Visit

Bora Bora.

When James & I were dating and still working at Circuit City, Bora Bora was on one of the loop tapes that played in the TV department. We always said that's where we wanted to go for our honeymoon. Turns out we didn't get a honeymoon, so it's still at the top of our list of places to go.

Today's Three Things

1. Paris

2. Catching up with Friends

3. Not having homework.

Day 01 – A Celebrity That Inspires Me

Jackie Robinson

Strong. Daring. Charismatic.

Bienvenue vers Paris!

Sooo... DH & I are headed to Paris!

I have to go for work Monday through Wednesday, so I thought I'd tag on a weekend before and half a day Thursday to explore the city since I've never been. I looked into how much it would cost for James to go, but $1,600 for a coach ticket was feeling unrealistic -- that's one whole class + books (is it sad I think of money in terms of grad school costs?).

Low and behold, a simple mention of my skepticism in front of my dear FIL resulted in the donation of Delta Sky Miles and therefore -- a trip to Paris for James & I. Best part? It's two days after our third anniversary. Perfect, right?

I'm trying to plan out what we're doing, but I am so overwhelmed, I just want to see it all! These places are on our must-see list (when I say ours, I mean mine ;):

- Champs-Elysees
- Eiffel Tower
- Arc de Triomphe
- Harley Davidson (for my uncle)
- Le Moulin Rouge (maybe? I'm not a huge fan of the movie, and it's kind of far out. Is it worth it?)
- Hermes at 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré - this is one of the most fashionable streets in the city; it's also home to French Vogue!
- Laduree at 16 Rue Royale for Macarons
- The original Chanel location at 31 Rue Cambon
- Avenue Montaigne - for shopping!
- Hotel de Ville
- Place Vendôme
- Place de la Concorde
- Église de la Madeleine
- Elysee Palace
- Louvre Museum
- Musée d'Orsay
- Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés
- Stanbridge, the maker of wonderful men's shirts (www.stanbridge.fr)
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Notre Dame
- Panthéon
- Catacombs
- Place des Vosges
- Place des Bastille
- Statues of Liberty on Île des Cygnes and in Jardin du Luxembourg
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Les Invalides
- Palais des Tuileries (Tuileries Palace)
- Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Paris(Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Paris)
- Palace of Versailles
- Conciergerie

I think we can hit most of these along the Axe Historique. Anything we're missing?

Note From the Universe

If you want better from others, be better yourself.

Today's Three Things

1. meetings that go well

2. long lunches out

3. taking time to read a book every day

Today's Three Things

1. convertibles

2. oatmeal cookies

3. hugs

Note From the Universe

You are the right person, this is the right time, you've paid your dues, you're thinking the right thoughts, you're doing the right things, and this very moment, you are exactly where you're supposed to be... poised for the happiest time of your life.

Today's Three Things

1. Charles Shaw

2. Skyping with Momma & Daddy

3. Genuine thanks for a job well done

I lost it.

Somewhere around the time when my big project at work kicked into full swing & three MBA classes peaked, the weather got warm and I found myself sitting poolside with a book and/or binder of PDFs rather than sitting on the computer.

The bonus? Much more efficient reading.

The downside? Much less blogging.

In fact, I have rarely turned on my beloved Mac lately (though that is more likely due to the fact that I have some kind of issue that makes it constantly create HUMONGOUS log files that fill up my 120 GB hard drive. [Help? Anyone?])

As a result, I've neglected my "three things" posts, and I think that's a loss. As my life has gotten no less hectic or stressful, I should, no need to keep it up.

A Note from the Universe

Fact of the matter is, everything is a non-issue until someone decides otherwise. And that means you can now chill.

Note From the Universe

The one thing "bad days" have over "good days," is that they're completely optional.

Note From the Universe

Buy something nice for yourself, Leslie. Show it off. Be proud. Love your taste. Love yourself. Spin some secrets, tell a few. Stay out too late every so often and sleep in too long. Play loud music. Make a few mistakes. Celebrate everything. And when no one is looking, kiss the back of each of your hands in quick succession. Happy love affair, gorgeous.

Note From the Universe

To empower another, is to empower yourself. To celebrate another, is to celebrate yourself. And to free another, is to free yourself.

Note From the Universe`

My own personal policy is to only do those things that I want to do, with whom I want to do them.

BK Sign & Drive!

Note From the Universe

Changing what you have comes from changing who you are. And changing who you are comes from changing what you think. Changing what you think ultimately changes your words, your actions, the kind of music you listen to, the movies you watch, the places you visit, the friends you hang out with, and, yes, even how you look in jeans.

Note From the Universe

It's OK. Everything is fine. You've always been guided. Even now you are watched, and held, and adored. You've made great stuff happen, and you will make more great stuff happen. You've changed lives. You've changed your own. You've moved mountains and done the impossible. You've been scared and you overcame. You've been knocked down and you rose. And you've been lost, or so you thought, only to discover it was just the calm before another storm of creativity, love, and fun.


Humbled like the rest of 'em.

Note From the Universe

Have you noticed how moving toward a great dream summons from life's jungles the fiercest lions, the scariest tigers, and the grizzliest bears... who eventually turn out to be the noblest teachers, the bravest guides, and the dearest friends?

Note From the Universe

Appreciating what you already have is how to get more of what you don't.

Note From the Universe

Dare not wish to change even the slightest thing about a loved one without first understanding how it might change the rest of them. Besides, if the big picture is rocking you, why make a fuss over a few splots?

Note From the Universe

Little is more impressive, inspirational, or sexy, than watching someone in the throes of action, driven by purpose, oblivious to all but their aim.

Note From the Universe

Be the love you wish to see in the world.

Note From the Universe

What if I told you that you couldn't have anymore of anything... No more friends, no more money, no more anything, until you first got happy with what you have?

Today's Three Things

1) Chi O!

2) Finishing finals + homework

3) Sleeping in after a long night of flight delays & homework

Today's Three Things

1) Unexpected, warm days

2) My Momma & Daddy

3) Family birthday brunch

Today's Three Things

1) Family photos

2) Old friends

3) Weddings

Today's Three Things

1) Watching the Smokey Mountains and Ohio River from the plane

2) Going home!

3) Swenson's burgers

Today's Three Things

1) After-class happy hour

2) Mid-afternoon ice cream

3) Applying for my job

Today's Three Things

1) Green beer :)

2) Productive days

3) James

His name is Prada...

I've been looking for new food & water bowls for Prada for some time. As it turns out, cat foot bowls are ugly. They come in bright colors and have cutsey pawprints on them. Gag.

Imagine my excitement when I see these beauties in my inbox.

Too bad they're $86(!) for the small version, as they'd look quite fab in my house.

Today's Three Things

1) not bringing my computer home from work

2)Tuesday night marathons of The Office on TBS

3) Going to bed at 11:00

Today's Three Things

1) Birthdays!

2) Chocolate-covered nanners from Sarah

3) Relaxing

Today's Three Things

1) My husband

2) My kitty

3) Fresh pineapple

Today's Three Things

1) Carmel, ice cream & espresso dessert at ONE

2) Matthew!

3) Birthdays :)

Today's Three Things

1) First-time Homebuyers Tax Credits

2) Continuing Education Tax Credits

3) Property Tax Re-assessments

Today's Three Things

1) Boondock Saints

2) Good calls with good friends

3) 6.76 miles

Today's Three Things

1) Coffee with Kristin

2) Gym time

3) Finishing papers

Note From the Universe

I bet you could do something for someone today, Leslie, who'd remember it for the rest of their life. In a good way. On your mark, get set...

Today's Three Things

1) Thrashers Hockey

2) Top-down driving

3) Junior Achievement

Death by Caffeine

Ever wondered how many cups of coffee you could drink before it killed you?

You're not the only one, so the smart folks over at Energy Fiend made a handy little calculator called Death by Caffeine. It really puts all those Red Bulls into perspective...

Daily Candy Knows Me

Today's DC was tailor-made for me.

Exhibit 1:
Invoice for Day-Ruining

&

Exhibit 2:
Banana Bunker

Today's Three Things

1) Spring Break

2) Sleeping in

3) Top-down driving

Today's Three Things

1) NASCAR!

2) Sunshine

3) Fast cars!

Today's Three Things

1) Stew & Brew

2) reconnecting with old friends

3) philanthropy

Today's Three Things

1) cooking

2) Boondock Saints!

3) Sam Adams Noble Pil

Today's Three Things

1) Jimmie Johnson

2) Luke Bryan

3) Waffle House

Today's Three Things

1) the farmer's market

2) FINALLY getting back to the gym

3) laughing at work

Today's Three Things

1) Christmas-size snowflakes

2) Being on the news

3) Getting to talk about Garth Brooks on the news
Edit: I decided I want FOUR things today, as 12th-row Thrashers tickets are worth mentioning :)

Today's Three Things

1) Being in bed before midnight

2) Leaving work at 4 p.m.

3) Hugs

Today's Three Things

1) Hockey

2) NASCAR

3) BW3

Today's Three Things

1) Chi Omega

2) Top-down Driving

3) My TV

Today's Three Things

1) Fresh Starts

2) Two Buck Chuck

3) Letting Go

Today's Three Things

1) Marketing

2) Two Buck Chuck

3) Downtown Skylines

Today's Three Things

1) James

2) Not having class

3) my condo

Today's Three Things

1)Being on TV

2) Sunshine

3) Chi Omega

Today's Three Things

1) Drinks with friends

2) Not having a large tumor or aneurysm

3) Relaxing

Today's Three Things

1)Online classes

2) Fresh mozarella

3) family

Today's Three Things

1) Oysters

2) Photos

3) Family

Today's Three Things

1) Oysters

2) Photos

3) Family

Today's Three Things

1) sisters-in-law

2) Grey's

3) the end of work weeks

Today's Three Things

1) marketing class

2) The Office

3) sun-kissed skin

Today's Three Things

1) Skyline Chili

2) hubs

3) hugs

Today's Three Things

1) coming home to my condo

2) my kitty

3) the Atlanta skyline from the plane

Today's Three Things

1) quads

2) the desert

3) mountians

Today's Three Things

1) Garth Brooks!

2) Garth Brooks!

3) Garth Brooks!

Today's Three Things

1) Hoover Dam!

2) new friends

3) Old Vegas

Today's Three Things

1) Mountains

2) Visiting with old friends

3) Prada sunglasses

Today's Three Things

1) Vacation!

2) Vegas!

3) QT with DH

Today's Three Things

1) Half-asleep James when I leave for work in the morning

2) Good deals on cute clothes

3) Team lunches

Why Me?

This weekend, I experienced the single scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I write about this, not for attention, but for the clarity and understanding I hope it will one day provide.

James and I started having "date night," either on Friday or Saturday. It's a night when we can spend time, just us, to relax and enjoy each other's company. I've made big strides in my life in the last six weeks (more on that later), and this has been instrumental in my life changes.

This week, we decided to check out Steele, an Asian/sushi place in the Plaza Midtown condo complex off West Peachtree. We LOVE sushi, so it seemed perfect.

As we prepared to leave the condo, I started seeing spots, like I'd looked at the light in the mirror too long. No big deal.

By the time we arrived at Steele, less than 1.5 miles away, I'd lost my peripheral vision.

After we sat down, within 10 minutes, I couldn't feel my right hand, save the sporadic tingle.

In 10 more minutes, my hand was fine.

In 10 additional minutes, I couldn't feel the lower right half of my face.

In 10 more minutes, I was fine.

Soon after we'd sat down, I started getting a little spacey. I couldn't remember little details about our upcoming Vegas vacation. No big deal, though, as we've never been and I don't know much about the city.

As James' and my conversation progressed, it became apparent that something was wrong. I could not remember common information -- the name of the Hoover Dam, the Bellagio, gondola rides and the Venetian. One of my favorite artists is Dale Chihuly, and while I can tell you most anything about his career, I couldn't remember his name. I couldn’t' tell you the name of our friend who lives with us, the name of one of my best friend's fiancées nor write the name of the street on which I live.

When it became clear that something was awry, we decided to go to the ER. However, by the time we arrived at the car -- I was fine. I knew all I had not known a mere 10 minutes prior. Even more, I knew the surprise at my prior condition; I knew something had been wrong, and I could explain that I had been conscious of it the entire time, despite my inability to articulate even the most simple point.

I went to the doctor on Monday – he could find nothing wrong, but could only suggest what I feared, the worst – possible stroke, inappropriate stress, aneurysm, brain spasm – all things that a 24-year-old should never experience. All things that my young husband and parents should not have to experience.

Yet here we all are, experiencing the unexperiencable… and for the first time, I feel like I can legitimately ask – why me?

Today's Three Things

1) Wine

2) Being busy to a fault

3) True, spontaneous compassion

Today's Three Things

1) Neighborhood bars

2) Fellow nerds

3) Continuing education

Today's Three Things

1) Football

2) Sleeping in

3) Friends

Today's Three Things

1) "Family"

2) City life

3) Flip

Today's Three Things

1) My memory

2) My eyesight

3) My life

Today's Three Things

1) Four-day work weeks

2) Two Buck Chuck

3) My husband

Today's Three Things

1) Finishing seemingly unfinishable projects

2) Nice valets

3) Wonderfully Southern older women

Today's Three Things

1) Treating yourself to lunch

2) Corner "offices"

3) Good horoscopes

Today's Three Things

1) Early class

2) Good hair day

3) Happy friend