My New Workout Routine

I cannot tell you how many times I've said pushing a cart full of books around is a good core workout.

One Thing I'd Like To Be

Pharon and I had a Skype/Facetime date last night that lasted approximately 3 hours.  There was wedding talk (Yeah! to us being engaged at the same time!), shopping talk (it's totally fine to return something you've worn if it's defective, but NOT if it smells like you sleep in an ashtray), and rehashing of conversations we've had 12 other times...pretty much the best 3 hours EVER.

One part of our conversation was the discussion of Kate Spade and telling Pharon that Ms. Spade has an awesome coffee table book out right now.  Which made me wish that #1- I had just sent her the book as a gift without telling her and #2- I had the ability to keep that sort of surprise secret from her.  

I also told Pharon that some day when I'm rich, I'm probably going to be the sort of friend who buys her (and presumably my other favorite girlfriends) fun random gifts.  I once had a conversation along these lines with my super fun friend, Courtney.  We talked about what we would do if we won the lottery and she told me that not only would she spend her money going on trips and buying fun stuff, but she would also take me with her.  She also told me she'd do nice things like paying off my student loans.  Granted, if she actually wins millions of dollars, I don't know if she'd actually do this (nor would I do something like sue her if she didn't) but it made me think "I've got great friends!" 

And then I saw this on YoungHouseLove today

You should probably just follow that blog and read the story yourself (and every single other post they do) but the short version of the story is that Sherry and John (of YHL fame) went to visit their friends Katie and Jeremy Bower (of also fun BowerPower fame) for a fun weekend that coincided with a book tour stop for their great new book (which I definitely purchased immediately upon it's publication).  As a nice surprise, Katie left Sherry this box of treats outside their guest room door to celebrate their great year.  

I immediately looked at this and thought of the conversation that I had with Pharon last night and went "I want to be THIS sort of person!" I want to be the person who sends random fun gifts to people out of the blue.  I want to be the person who puts together thoughtful welcome packages for visitors.  I want to be the person who tells people when they're thinking of them.  

In general I'm not that person.  I do buy gifts for people but then I usually hang on to them until I see them next which means I'll have them for like a year or I'll forget them for the next 10 times I see that person.  *which reminds me that I have a Christmas gift for someone I've seen on almost a weekly basis that I should probably give them* I need to just send those gifts in the mail.  STOP BEING LAZY GIFT GIVER, MADELINE! And I do try and buy welcome gifts for people but usually it ends up just being a bottle of wine so it doesn't look so gifty when I'm opening it up myself when they get there...or in the case of my mother, it's a dress that doesn't fit me anymore and a bottle of patchouli shaving cream that I hate with a passion.  Way to keep it classy, Solien.

Anyway, watch out folks, this is my new personal goal.  Don't expect me to start sending out massive amounts of trinkets but you just might get a heartfelt card someday...and maybe a cute coffee mug next to your bed...or something like that.

Just Call Me "Captain"

That title has literally nothing to do with anything.  But when I was thinking of titles for this post, that was the first thing that came to mind. Sometimes I think my brain has a short in the wires somewhere *no comments from the peanut gallery, m'kay?*

Anyway, I don't know if you guys know this or anything but

I GOT ENGAGED THIS WEEKEND!!!!!

*hold on while I scream in excitement for the millionth time*

So of course, now that I have absolutely nothing planned and no idea what we're going to do, I'm filling my time looking at pretty married lady things like these earrings from Kate Spade



Granted, I'm also then looking at things like this bangle that Kate Spade probably made with me specifically in mind



But whatever, I still just want to go run around being giddy.  I'm probably going to.  And I very well might take all of you down with me so be prepared.

No Way No Neva'

There was a lot of awesome stuff to come out of my weekend with the girls...Mostly things like hangovers, meat comas, and bargains from the mall....

This might be one of my favorite things from this weekend.  This is a cartoon version of a guy sitting in his closet while tripping on acid.

Trust me.  It's HILARIOUS.

Big Girls Weekend

I get to spend this weekend with these ladies....Pharon and Kelly...2 of my best friends in the whole world...I'm so excited to see their pretty faces I can hardly stand it

Start Your Valentine's Day Practicing