be the girl you want to be

A couple days ago, I was chatting texting with my mom about random things: social media, friends, life in general, and she said something so simple, that has really stuck with me:

Be the friend you want to be.

It's like, Duh! Why didn't I think of that?  Its so simple!  I also took this as "Be the girl you want to be."  It's easy for me to to get weighed down by the pressure of who I think I should be, and who society expects me to be. I have this vision of this woman who I want to be, and I keep figuring that I will get there.  I will be her in a few years, when I have my life together and figured out.  I will be kind and beautiful and passionate and intelligent and witty and I will have an amazing job, husband, and family.  I will be put together, there will be no drama, and my life will be fabulous.  However, I have been thinking I will be that woman since I was 13.  That I will eventually get there.

But I am not there yet. And truth is, I may never be there. But why can't I just be that woman now? Maybe not the most put together, knows exactly what she's doing and where she's going girl, but I can be the kind, smart, fun girl I expect my future self to be.  I can reach (and then exceed) my own expectations right now. I don't need permission from anyone and I don't need to wait for the perfect time to come along.

These are simple words to live by.  If I just remind myself to be the friend, daughter, sister, employee, woman I want to be, I  will be her!

Warby Parker

A couple of months ago, I discovered Warby Parker, a company that sells chic, inexpensive glasses and also donates a pair to someone in need, with each purchase.  They have a few retail shops, but if you aren't near those (NYC or Oklahoma) they will send five pairs straight to your door for you to try on at home.  Perfect!  I loved the styles, the price and the cause, and I was in the market for some new spectacles.

I had five pairs shipped to my parents house over Christmas, so I could get my friends and families opinion on which pair to get.  I tried on:

Linwood in Striped Chestnut

Marshall in Striped Sassafrass

Japhy in Revolver Black Crystal

Pierce in Revolver Black

Sloan in Rum Cherry

Love this post on the Sloan glasses, but unfortunately they didn't look that great on me.

(taking selfies in a coffee shop is awkward, in case you were wondering)

I ended up getting the Marshall glasses in Striped Sassafras  I love them!  They were $95, and I had a Wrapp Coupon from Glamour Magazine, so I got a great pair of glasses for $75.  Quite a steal!

Be Thankful

This is something I really need to work on:  Being thankful for all the blessings I have, and not obsessing about the things I want or think I need.

It is easy for me to become obsessed with something (right now its lipstick:  I want to find the perfect shade) and I will lust after something that is not at all necessary. Even now I have a pending post labeled "Wishlist" about all the things I want to buy if I had the money to spend.  Instead I need to focus on all of the great things I do have- and not in just the materialistic sense.  I have a wonderful family, great friends, a good job, a nice cell phone, a working car, cute clothes, tons of make-up, a full fridge, insurance, running water, and the first and second seasons of Happy Endings on DVD.  I mean, what more could I want?

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12 Things I learned in 2012

1.  How to French braid my own hair (I know I am super late to the party on that one, but its still a big deal to me).
2.  I have, hands down, the best parents in the world.  They drove me across the country, encourage me every day, and give the best advice. Mark and Katharine are the most generous, silly, hard-working, amazing people and I am a lucky girl to call them my parents.
3.  I don't want to live in the following states:  South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Delaware.
4. Social media is either the greatest tool, or the most wretched, narcissistic activity we as humans engage in.
5.  How to spell 'hors d'oeuvres' perfectly, every time.
6.  Growing up is scary and highly overrated.
7.  There are functional relationships out there.  There are a lot of crazy people in dysfunctional relationships, but then there are really good people, who are really in love, and its refreshing and inspring to be around them.
8.  Comparison is the thief of joy (my buddy Teddy Roosevelt said that- and its so true).
9.  There are so many people in this country.  Let alone this world.
10.  I definitely took the mountains for granted when I lived in them.
11. My friends are awesome.  All of them.  Even though I may not see them every day, or every month, or even every year, I know a lot of really incredible people.  And I am blessed to have the friends that I do.
12.  I have come a long way.  And I still have a long way to go.


2012, you were a wild ride.  I can't wait for 2013.

Dream Job

How does one go about getting the following jobs?  I would be perfect, and then some, at each of them:

1. Nail Polish Namer.  Tart Deco?  Mrs. Leary BBQ?  I can do that!

2. Host of Diners, Drive- Ins, and Dives.  I know that technically Guy Fieri is a chef, so he knows a whole lot bit more about cooking than I, but he doesn't cook on this show.  No, he just eats.  And that is something that I have mastered.

3. Professional People Watcher.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know this probably isn't a real job, but according to the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation, I am a very observant individual. Therefore, (I have no idea how exactly that is related) I am a very good people watcher.  (PS, best place for people watching? Vegas.  Hands. Down.)

4.  Professional Pinterest-er.  Yes, I know that this too is not a job....yet.  Just you wait, I am going to make this my career.

{check out my pinterest here}

SBB

If you haven't read Suri's Burn Book, you are seriously missing out.  It is a hilariously funny little blog written in the words of Suri Cruise as she passes judgement on the other children in Hollywood.  I was not a huge Tom/Katie/Suri fan until reading this- and now I like to think that Suri thinks and talks and acts just like the witty girl behind the blog. 

The author of the blog has actually written a book, and she is having a book launch party in DC next week.  I secretly want to go.  Any one in the DC, MD, VA area want to join? :)

follow Suri's Burn Book: @surisburnbook

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Matchbook Magazine Survey

Remember in middle school when you would get email surveys forwarded from all your friends?  And then you would fill them out and forward them to all your friends?  I have a confession: I loved those!  I loved learning random facts about people, to what they liked, what they didn't, what they would rather do...

Matchbook Magazine (one of my absolute faves!) has really classed up those surveys and their cover girl gets to take them and share their thoughts.  I stole this from the August Issue of Matchbook Mag.  A little about Maria.

TEA OR COFFEE?  Sweet Tea or Iced Coffee

I COLLECT... Koozies

FAVORITE CITY? Rome

SPRING OR FALL? Fall in Montana, Spring everywhere else

BLOOM OF CHOICE?  Hydrangeas.

STYLE ICON? Reese Witherspoon

CHINA PATTERN? Don't have one.  I will someday though!

I'M LUSTING AFTER... Frye Boots

MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?  This is a tough one.  The pearls my parents gave me and my postcard book from Europe.

GIRL CRUSH? Kate Middleton

BOY CRUSH? Ryan Gosling

ON WEEKENDS... Sleeping in, brunching, going out, church, reading, being outside.

have a great weekend!

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