Redemption

After spilling my guts to you guys and sharing what a nut job I truly am in my previous post, I realized that you might think I live in an awful, dungeon like home with junk blocking the windows and preventing natural light from entering my house- a scene from some A&E Hoarders episode... Well, as crazy as I am for the mini stock piles of my favorite things, I'm just as good of a burrower too. {think: squirrels} I'm pretty good at shoving things where you never thought things could be shoved... {Did you know that a full size dining tray fits just fine in the water reservoir in your toilet? Just make sure it's rust free...} HEY- don't judge me. I live in a tiny town home- I barely fit in a room with my dog. We take turns getting in and out of different rooms. No, really, when he's in the kitchen I just wait patiently until he's done because there's no room for me. It's that small.

I really was just going through some MAY-JAH cleaning and decided that I really needed to "deep clean". The good old get-messy-in-order-to-get-clean clean. Emptying pantries, swapping cabinets, reorganizing closets... that kind. It's been a slooooow 3 day process. I'd tackle a room, sit and look at pictures... go to another room, paint my nails, wait for them to dry... go to a different room and read my favorite blogs... go to a different room and decide to play with all my make up and skin products before scrubbing the tub... you get the point. It was a long process. But it's pretty much finished... Except for the office. So no pictures of the office but you can see how it looked in the very beginning before it got stuffed with junk that has no real home... and def no pictures of the spare bathroom... because that thing needs help... it's like a cave. I don't even know how to decorate it {and that's saying a lot...}

A few pictures I felt necessary to post just to redeem myself from your judging eyes... jk. 

The closet errr, kitchen. It's actually fine since it's just me. Just right. But get one more person in there and you are quickly in a different mood. haha. I promise there is actually a double-kitchen sink {that I love} right next to the fridge.

The bathroom... Ordy and I painted the stripes on together. Imagine, both of us, trying to paint straight lines, in this itty bitty bathroom! It's so small, I have to step OUTSIDE to take pics of it :) and turn the flash off because it just bounces off the door frame haha. The stripes go all the way down on the walls except for the one with the toilet and sink because it would have been crazy hard to even try, so Ordy had the brilliant idea to block off the lines before the sink with the chair rail. I love it.

**please note, there is NO room for me to even TRY hiding things... No shelves. No counters. No cabinets. It's the world's worst bathroom for a hoarder! haha

The bedroom PRETTY MUCH looks the same since the big makeover, and the bedding is NOT done/right (so IGNORE IT altogether because the black and white is on its way out the door)... I'm sewing my own comforter once I learn how to sew {remember my resolutions?}
But, I wanted to show y'all the new nightstand and lamp from Christmas...

Aren't they just presh?

Love the nightstand!

Close up- love the texture

can't wait for the ruffle comforter!

Can I tell you there is no belonging in my room that I cherish more than my huge window... The natural lighting that comes in is priceless! It makes my room feel so bright and airy...

Ok, so as you know, the room never stays the same long... so check back in like two weeks for more recent pics haha {the bedding really does kill me... but oh well!}

The cozy "quaint" dining room area

Someone wanted his picture taken... {with his booboo}

The living room is also always changing... there's always something "missing" haha

I fell in love again with my coffee table. And i've had it for over 3 months now... but I still catch myself staring at it. 

 She's just such a breath of fresh air in a room with masculine furniture...

If you haven't already, enter here for a chance to win a LOVELY package of a few of my favorite things!! The longer the days last and the more I clean, I keep adding to the pile. There are currently 13-18 {I'm still debating what I want to add/subtract - remember, I'm TRYING to let go!} things that are included in this sweet little package! I promise, as a girl, any girl would love this! It would be like Christmas all over again, for no reason! Just follow the blog and comment to let me know! I'm trying to keep the items a suspense, but once the winner is announced I will show what was included...

Could this not be more appropriate? From my absolute favorite blog out there... in a time of chaos and clutter in my home, she has this. {it's on groopdealz for only $6 now- you can put the vinyl anywhere}

House of Smith's Picture- not mine

Mrs. Smith helped ME simplify here with her adorable vinyl:

Seriously, how cute are they? I'm kind of obsessed with labeling everything. I already ordered her last Groopdealz and I am just a broke student getting broker <--is that possible? haha it's just too darn cute. Multiples. I bought multiples of her vinyl and they're just sitting in a drawer for "some day"...


But back to my psychotic inability to simplify:
Here's more OBSESSIVE pics for you guys!!!

If you had the pleasure of going to undergrad with me {i've since improved a little... i don't wear the bright colors to law school...} you would know that I.lived.in.these.sweats.

No, really. I'd sleep in yellow, wake up and put on orange, and work out in green, before I got into purple for bed. It was sick.

This doesn't even include the ones my sister and friends are borrowing or the ones I've given away. after many years, i sucked it up and let go of my "XS" ones. There's no chance I'll ever get into them!

True Story: {since it's 1/2 his blog too <--HA! joke} an Ordy Story for y'all...

I asked Ordy if he could remember the first time he ever saw me. I remember I met him in our International Business class junior year, so naturally that means first week of school = dress semi decent so people knew you at least HAD potential and weren't a complete bum {fooled them...} so I remember Junior Year = First Day = White sun dress, Urban Outfitters flats, turquoise necklace, and killer summer tan. I was positive this was going to be his memory of me. A radiant, dark beauty in a white girly dress. {<--a girl can dream...}

Wrong.

His answer: "Well, I remember always being early for class and standing outside the door waiting to be let in and we'd all just hang around the hallway talking, and I'd always see this girl with dark black curly hair, always frazzled half sprinting down the halls like she just woke up just barely making it to class... and she always had on bright sweat pants."

Awesome. Not.

Then he finished, "I noticed in the summertime 'she' would wear flip flops with them and in the wintertime 'she' would wear them with Uggs..." omg nailed it. I'm half flattered he was so observant and noticed, but then again, we all know he's crazy observant. But DANG. He doesn't even know what white dress and turquoise necklace I'm talking about when I discuss the first time we ever met in the International Business class. haha I wish I could have fooled him better! just kidding. it is what it is and I will always be his disheveled Joon Bug running around frantically late somewhere... in sweats.

The First Step to Recovery is Admitting You Have a Problem

If you read this post before, it has been edited to include a give away! Don't miss out...

Hi. My name is _____ and I admit I have a problem. I don't know the psychological term for it yet because I refuse to categorize it as *hoarding* or obsessive compulsive. I'd rather it be seen as a positive thing than a negative...

Ok, so for all you other people reading, I personally don't mind if you judge me or not, because chances are you won't yell at me like a relative/Ordy would :) Plus, we can't have Ordy thinking he's dating a crazy now, can we???

Let's see... it all started one fateful day. I was at the Victoria's Secret semi-annual and I found out that they were discontinuing my favorite bronzer. **GASP** I know, it can't be. So, I did the only natural thing to do and bought every.single.one... at every.single.store. in metro Atlanta (that's 6)...I left the store with the assistant manager helping me with the boxes, not bags. So, I had quite the stock up on the bronzers... but it didn't take long for friends/family to catch word and that nice stockpile quickly dwindled and I was already depressed over it, but kind of relieved because I really didn't have room for all of the boxes. 4 years later and I am down to about 7.

#7 not pictured. In Heff. God forbid I'm in my car and pale

{If you haven't caught on to my "disease"... it's that I buy multiples. of everything that i love. it's sick.} I guess you could kind of tell here, how I got 2 bottles.

For no reason. Just because they were cute. I couldn't just get one, no I had to get TWO. The irony? My sink ledges are full and waiting for the other 19 million I have from Bath & Body Works to be used in rotation. These soap dispensers are hidden, stored away. Sometimes, I catch myself washing my hands every 5 minutes just to use the soap to get to a new bottle waiting patiently under my sink. I have no where to put these pretty things. I have seriously caught myself saying, 'one day, in my future house...' wait whhhaaaaa? like they won't have cute soap dispensers when I move in a few years? I honestly think it's OK to buy stuff just to pack for a home I don't even have any intentions of buying or moving into soon?! Ugh.

Side note/true story: Emily ran out of soap, and needed some before her family came in town. Have no fear, my personal store gave her a bottle in no time. Where else can you get B&BW soap when the mall is closed?

Even if the item is in NO IMMEDIATE threat of being discontinued, if I like it, I buy multiples. Sometimes 2, sometimes 20. No, really, yesterday I bought 35 candles from the Better Homes & Garden collection because I loved all 5 of the scents, so I bought 7 each- you'd do that too, right??? I mean, candles burn! I'll miss out if they discontinue... It'll be a shame! Well, the true shame, is trying to find a home for 35 candles when I currently have around 24 (no exaggeration, I counted) of Bath & Body Works candles from semi-annuals past. No lie, when my sister wants to go "candle shopping" she skips the mall and comes straight to my linen closet. Last week, she walked off a happy girl with 4 three-wick candles in her scent of choice...

Back to the 35 candles. I'd prove it with a picture but as I have no room for them in my home, they are in the trunk of Heff. Waiting to come in.

The ailment continued to progress as I walked in a Bath & Body Works one day and the lady ringing me up decided to misinform me that they would no longer be carrying the rose salve I'm obsessed with. I left the line and purchased every single one in the bin. Well, India and I split the bin from what I remember, and it was comforting to know that she too sensed the urgency of the issue and participated in purchasing while we could... The weird thing though- is they didn't discontinue them- they still sell them and it doesn't bother me one bit that I have a shoebox full at home... I feel safe. That if I didn't have a car but had chapped lips, I could just reach into the pile. Pathetic. Even more pathetic is I've had chapped lips before and didn't want to open a new tub just because I misplaced the full open tub I had. I cleaned my entire room just searching for the open one... how can I buy so much and still be so stingy??

Then, I walked into my local Sally's and they didn't have my item on the shelf. Of all nine hundred and ninety million items to pull from the shelf and they plug my favorite finishing spritz. Really?? The WEIRD thing is because my obsessive-multiple-shopping behavior struck years before, I had about 5 bottles at home I could live off of, but now with the immediate emergency I was panicking. {Did you think it was weird that I was out to buy some when I had 5 at home? Yeah, me too. That's why I'm admitting I have a problem. I'll know I have the stuff at home, but still go out and buy more...}

I discovered if you go to Sally's in East Bumble, it's actually on the shelf until someone buys it and they just don't reorder it. So, I bought them all. All 7. And now I'm down to 4 and panicking. {so, if you see any, call me and I'll paypal you to ship em to me!}

The urge hits with everything. Things I love. Things I know will never be discontinued (Suave, really??) and things I just don't want to go low on. I thought this behavior was normal. My sister and I always buy multiples of clothing we like. You know, in case something rips, splits, stains, shrinks, or shreds. You'll always regret not having that circa 1997 GAP denim jacket that your best friend Sue never returned to you- well, not I. Because that no-good Sue can keep the dang thing, I have another one cozy in my closet waiting to have the 13 year old tags ripped off it... That's planning ahead.


Last summer, I couldn't choose a color for new sunglasses, and got 3. When would I EVER wear WHITE sunglasses?? {for that same reason, a friend is borrowing them, and I have yet to wear them... I'll stick to black and tortoise shell...}

• I have 6 pairs of the classic Old Navy yoga capris. 3 black, 3 navy. And I still struggle with walking past them when they have a sale. sick. 
• I have 16 wallflowers from B&BW in Vanilla, 8 in Sensual Amber, 8 in Japanese Cherry Blossom, and 4 in Black Amethyst.
• I have 4 tubs of Bare Minerals bronzer (in case they realize the tiny particles really do cause severe lung damage and they do a worldwide recall, they can't take the ones from my closet - lung damage or not!)
• I have 8 pairs of pearl earrings in case I lose any. (Forever 21... not real or anything)
• I have 2 of my favorite nail polish colors. 
• At one point, my fridge was completely empty except for 36 bottles of San Pellegrino. For weeks.
• I have 6 pairs of Rainbow sandals (sand thick strap, brown thick, black thick, yellow thin, black thin, and another sand thick because the first was worn out)
• I have 4 pairs of Uggs (had 5 but quickly realized I wouldn't wear leopard Uggs as often as I'd think...)
• I have every single color Polo Oxford they made for women
• I have 5 pairs of Toms
• I have 14 white watches
• And I only have half a brain... 

The list could go on, but I'm sparing myself the embarrassment...

Warning: The following pictures will make you want to send me to a mental hospital.

When the end of the world comes, can I borrow your milk and dry goods in exchange for some hair products and self tanner? At least we'll look good...

 It's like a drug store in my closet. I will never run out of any one of my "staples"... Like I risk never being able to buy .99 gel?? Really? That's how I know there is something wrong with me. But it all started from discontinuations. Legit concerns.

 Every single bra in this drawer has the tags still attached on it. Why? WHO the heck knows. I don't get it. There is something wrong with me. These fall under the category of "too pretty to wear, but want one in every color". I had to bring them all out and remind myself why I will NOT be going to the Victoria's Secret in store semi-annual tomorrow. Every year I spend over double the average person's rent. I go to all 6 stores the morning they open and leave with 2 huge bags from each store. Every single year I hoard away bags of underwear, bras, and pjs that never get worn. I've gifted many, lost some, and hidden all that's left. It's like I'm some creepy care taker of these goods that I love too much to use/wear. It's organized chaos.

I couldn't just stop at the soap. It's like a collector's joy to get the whole line...

This is a picture of LAST years day after Christmas shopping. That's a BIG room. It's actually the sunroom in Ordy's house that could double as a second living room...Yep, one girl, all alone, did all that damage. I don't even have kids or a family and I went all out. This is why I only did half that amount this year (I'm improving)...

I did manage to get 180 coffee cups. I loved the pattern and don't care that I will be drinking out of a snowman cup in July, it beats the ugly boring cups the grocery store sells... but really. 180?

Those trays... I love those beaded silver trays. So much that I bought every one the store had. I couldn't just get one. So, I got 3. (and looked at other Target's with no luck) Three looked suspect stacked, so I put one on my coffee table and hoped that the stack of two wouldn't be too noticeable...

Bandit saying, "help me. my mom is crazy..."

Please pray for Bandit (oh, and I guess me too. with my disorder and all hahaha)... but he has a 'hang nail' with exposed nerve on his wittle paw. The big guy is just a baby! I don't want him to be in pain!

In order for me to embark on my journey to recovery, the process requires a semi-purge. A gentle nudge in the right direction. One lucky reader will win a package of "my favorite things"... It will include more than you see here in the 'drug store' shots. It'll be a fun box full of things I love and clearly can't live without! So go ahead, comment and leave your e-mail address for a chance to win my version of Oprah's favorite things! Giveaway ends Sunday, January 9th. 

Christmas Post

I had this post saved and just realized I never posted it... sorry! The blog is all sorts of out of order now! ha

I had a great Christmas, and I just want to remind you guys the beauty of having a list for your loved ones! Because this is what happens:

Bummer about #3, right? I know... I know... just kidding. No Tory Burch flats but I did get two pairs of TOMS and Gap City Flats!

Having a list is great because you know you're helping THEM out by not running all over the city "guessing" what you'd like! {I know this, because this year Ordy gave me a list and I LOVED it! Like I would know he wanted a Dremel 4000 or an air compressor?!? Exactly. Seeing him get the gifts he wanted made it that much more fun for me on Christmas! Of course there are always the surprise gifts- those are fun too! Like these:

How adorable? I love him. Ordy saw this nightstand that was "so me", and I do believe he's right... 

And check.out.that.lamp. Seriously? I'm in love. The pair look SO good by my bed! I can't wait to post pics once my room is clean! I contemplated returning the lamps and just making them, but I don't need another project on my list and by the time I found all the materials and bought matching bases and found the time to do it all... I just decided I'll keep these and be happy :)

I also got the blush I've been wanting! I wouldn't normally {as in, I'd never} spend $30 on blush... I'm pretty low maintenance and you can find all my make up at Target/Walmart... but for the sake of making a list and getting goodies I'd normally never buy, I enjoyed being spoiled... I did the research between Nars (#1 blush in the world), and Lorac's Hot Flash... and this one gave such an amazing glow I had to have it!

Another "splurge" that I highly recommend is Hope in a Jar by Philosophy. It goes with my goal of trying to take better care of my skin. You can find it on Amazon for $10 cheaper than Sephora which is pretty awesome!

and more skin care {which I CANNOT BELIEVE is $65 at Sephora and only $24.99 on Amazon... giving you guys the links and finding them online is kind of killin' me... I realize how much I could have saved- or my family/Ordy but still! I can't believe the price difference :( ugh}:

More stocking stuffers included your typical candle/soap/lotion/trinkets/smell-good-stuff/girly stuff etc:

(oh my gosh, how i LOVE this nail polish!! it dries MATTE!) and in case I don't want NAVY, I can use this top coat that makes ANY polish matte! how cool is that?? {and i found it on Amazon for $3 instead of $8 each polish at ulta! i am racking up these amazon savings for y'all... jk}

{best chapstick ever! but don't get from Amazon, because it's $7 at Bath and Body Works and USUALLY Buy 2 get 1 free, so 3 for $14!!! I just put Amazon links up here for y'all to click and see the items}

More goodies (not actually pictures of MY gifts, but similar):

An adorable frilly apron AND Pyrex loaf dishes to bake my banana bread in... and I can also use the ADORABLE yellow ceramic nesting bowls Ordy's parents got me... and the other stuff I love from them:

an AWESOME king.size.quilt. i will use forever :)

now my mason jars can be vases! and actually hold the flowers in place... so excited!

I don't feel it's necessary for me to list every single gift, but I did want to share my favorites! The most thoughtful gift I got this year though, was from Ordy's sweet sister. She got us all these beautifully wrapped boxes, and inside there were rubber band bracelets that said Charity:Water on it. For every bracelet she bought the organization provides well water to someone for 20 years! Now that's a gift that keeps on giving! She's so cute and thoughtful to give a meaningful gift like that. 

Also thoughtful, is opening a jewelry box containing an antique gold with ivory rose pendant that I noticed at Scott's Antique last month and said, "ooh! look at that!" to Ordy, and him sneaking off to buy it... I had no idea! It's so dainty and girly! I'll have to show y'all later :)

Ok, I'm off to bed. I am a blessed girl... when I'm sitting at a computer trying to think of my fav gifts and realizing I left so many out. The weird thing is this Christmas was my favorite Christmas. Not because of any gifts, because we all know last year was by far the most humbling... but because of the time I spent with my family. We all just enjoyed each others company and it was amazing. Here are some pictures hahaha {excuse us, we are pale and pasty and lack make up-- but we are one big happy family}

self timer = some goofy picture taking...