I'm a turkey for not posting on Thanksgiving!

I had a jam-packed day yesterday so I was unable to write anything inspiring, so here I go today. Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! It took an eternity to get here his year, but despite that fact we have much to be grateful for all year round. Here's a quick version of what I'm thankful for each and everyday: my family, my friends, sorority sisters, my kitten-cat, my wonderful boyfriend, my job, my coworkers, being financially sound (no debt!), being able to pay my bills, enjoying my job and getting to see my extended family!

What was that last part? Extended family? Oh yes! Yesterday, I worked a shift at the radio station (and got to watch both the Macy's parade and the dog show! A big bonus since I've decided against cable) and then bolted home, grabbed the cat and headed home for a long weekend! Both grandmothers, a second cousin, her daughter and her daughter's friends (long story) were all able to get together last night! We had a grand total of nine people at our table and three dogs and a cat at our feet!

Blast from the past - I love hand turkeys!

But, as the Christmas season begins, remember to stay grateful. It's a jungle out there! We are all so blessed - perhaps not in the same way but we can all find something to be thankful for each day. Having a roof over our heads as the weather gets colder, a friendly pet, and a closet full of beautiful clothes are things I think about everyday. 

Which brings me to... Black Friday. This is the first one I haven't worked in several years! I even got the day off at the station- another blessing! I was starting to get a little cold too, so I'm extra grateful for my long weekend! 

My mother and I sometimes go down to Phipps Plaza because it's never as crowded, but with family in tow, most of my shopping has been online. J. Crew Factory is having a to-die-for sale though, I may have to sneak a bit! 

Where are you shopping this Black Friday? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Wintery mix... of beauty problems

As the weather gets cooler - in Georgia we've had some unusually cold weather lately - the humidity disappears from the air. Not a big deal... except when I try to curl my hair!

While I love the cooler months and even winter on occasion, my beauty routine both intensifies and suffers during the dry times! The natural curl in my hair loses it's "oomph," laying flatter, sometimes frizzy and not defined. I've only recently learned my hair can even curl! Last year, I let it lay natural and blow dried my bangs. So far this year, I've just given in and blow dried the whole thing straight.

I love my curls... but sometimes straight just works better!

My skin, like many women's, takes a big hit in the dry winter air. I wake up with split lips frequently and my hands crack. Not at all attractive or comfortable! With a job in radio, a split lip hinders performance as well.

The best lip balm I've found to date is the Fresh Sugar lip balms. They are so expensive, but I usually hold out until my birthday and select them as a free gift from Sephora. However, I would hands down shell out the big bucks for this thing if push came to shove.

I've also started using Olay soap to keep my skin hydrating. They also make an in-shower body lotion, which saved my skin last year! I found a gift kit at Target last year... I'm on the look out for it again this year!

How do you combat winter dry days? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Life Update: Extra Hours

Did everyone remember to turn back your clocks? By now, you've probably caught on that Daylight Savings Time gave us that extra hour back it so savagely stole last spring, which feels like mere weeks ago.

Cairo used his extra hour wisely.

Speaking of weeks, last week was my last week of evening shifts... and this is my first week of mid-morning shift! I'm technically working a split shift - anchoring in the morning and doing my usual tasks in the afternoon. Basically, I get a super long lunch, I get to go home early and I get an additional hour of work each day, all while it feels like I'm working the fastest shifts in the world. I could totally get used to this!

Now if I could just get used to anchoring for longer than an hour... (there are those extra hours again!) Well, there's plenty of time for me to reach the top.

Did you do anything fun with your extra hour, or have any other fun extra hours? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone! Today is one of my favorite holidays. Plus, I now have a little piece of Halloween in my everyday life with my little black kitty!

He may be tricky, but mostly he's a treat!

We had a Halloween lunch at work today and while most people didn't go all out, some people did. We had people dressing up as each other, a samurai, American Gothic and more!

I dressed up as, well, a retro girl I guess. I decided to wear a poodle skirt this year. I like retro and vintage styles anyway, but I also thought it would be a cute, modest, work appropriate costume! Plus it was easy to make.

Not visible: my sassy argyle scrunched socks!

I made a simple circle skirt out of felt by following this tutorial, but instead of elastic, I used a split waist and velcro. I paired it with a white collared shirt, scrunched pink socks, Keds and a cardigan. Pearls and a neck scarf were optional, but I found they added some extra flair.

For those who aren't really into the "costume" thing but also want to be festive, I also made this jack-o-tee-shirt for a party I'm headed to this evening!

I took some sparkly black felt and cut it into a jack-o-lantern face. I made two large triangles, one small triangle, and a little mouth. Then, I took some heat-n-bond and ironed them to an orange tee shirt. Quick and easy!

A literal happy halloween!

Before I knew we were doing costumes at work, I considered wearing my Lilly Pulitzer "Fancy Fest"cat scarf. I wear this scarf all year round, because it's adorable, but with a black bottom and an orange blouse, it could also be festive without breaking the bank, or going too crazy.

Via

What did you do for Halloween? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Cat-sual Friday

I may be too casual this casual Friday, but for once I don't care. I have had a week.

Monday my car broke down. So the week has been pretty hectic on that factor alone. I have a party this weekend that I've been planning for and looking forward to for a whole month and it almost got muddled by my silly car.

Luckily, the fix turned out to be simple (three shops later.... sigh!) and it's back in my parking lot, longingly hoping for a joy ride.

Wednesday and Thursday were somewhat trying days for me, as work completely kicked my butt. There was so much there but also not much there. I can't even explain it.

And of course, the one week I would really like Friday to be the beginning of the weekend... I have a shift tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I love money and I love my job, but man I could have totally used a morning to sleep in.

Oh, did I mention? Cairo has been un-banished from my bedroom. He now sleeps with me (because it's getting SOO COLD and my heater doesn't exactly work) or in his little bed on the floor. While this is cute and precious and I love it, he also wakes me up at 6 am for pets by licking my eyelids with his scratchy tongue.

Zzzzzzzzz... for now.

But it all could be so much worse. I'm grateful I've got a cat who has learned not to bite me and can behave in my room now, I'm glad I have a job that not only gives me hours but also money, I'm glad my car is fixed and I'm glad I have a roof over my head, even if the heater is a little behind the times.

What was your week like? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Turning over some new leaves

I began this blog right before I graduated college. It's hard for me to believe that in less than six months, my whole life has completely changed. 

I've been working on finding a balance between my college self, high school self, middle school self and so forth. I've gone through a lot of changes (especially fashion-wise) so the real question I'm trying to answer is, Who the heck am I, anyway? 

I've been really introspective lately. Who are all these versions of Alyson and how do they all fit together? It's like a puzzle. And really, that's what being a post-grad twenty-something is about. 

So really, this is a warning to my readers. There are tons of "preppy" and "southern" blogs out there and I'm starting to think I don't really belong in that category as much as I belong in a "life advice and lessons" category. So expect to see some changes, including a possible name change! Now that I've secured the job and am really settling into adulthood, I don't feel like I'm exactly who I've been trying to brand myself as.

Before I go, I will tell you who I think I am so far: I'm an unmarried woman who's just finished being a girl and is still getting used to life on her own. I'm a homebody who likes to take walks. I'm learning a lot about life and patience from my first pet cat after a lifetime of dogs. My wardrobe is fluctuating as I figure out what makes me feel confident and my nail colors have gone back to middle school- dark and crazy with lots of glitter. 

I still plan on focusing on the young adult life after college and the life lessons and experiences that come with it, as well as how to transition from college to work, including fashion, social norms and work ethic. 

It's important to stay true to you, after all, I sign off each post with that reminder. However, I don't want to lie to my readers either: sometimes being true to yourself means changes. 

Have you gone through a transitional time? Share with me in the comments below.

Stay true to yourself,

Alyson

Kitten Caboodle

I took my cat, Cairo, to the (surprisingly expensive) vet this morning. He was amazingly well behaved and only meowed once when then vet went to examine his, uh, manhood.

Me-ow!

Even after two vaccines, blood work and being prodded by some people he didn't know but knew meant well, he was still well behaved. His ears were alert and he was cautious but he also flipped his tail happily.

For a vet visit, it was quite pleasant. I think the last time I went to the vet was to put my good old dog, Snowy, down after a long 16 years. He was also a good boy.

The elder statesman, Mr. Snowy.

So what can we learn from Cairo's trip to the vet today? The nips, pinches and sticks in your skin will hurt temporarily, but it's no reason to act out.

Have you learned anything from your pets today? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday folks! I have to apologize for my recent absence. I've been on the move!

For starters, I've been reconnecting with one of my best friends from college. I've never really been a "text your friends all the time" kind of girl but I've really been missing this friend and it's really been working for us! We're not texting back immediately (except on lunch!) so we can still get our work done!

Second, I've been picking up some more tasks at work. Both this week and last week I've had assignments - events to cover outside of the station - but both weeks I've been bumped up to two assignments a week! These assignments are often additional to my work hours, so I get a little extra cash, and it helps me work on my writing and reporting skills.

On top of assignments, I've also been dabbling with some advertisements at work. I think they're super easy, so I've been helping out with their input.

Up next: Kitty Mews

Finally, I've been trying to connect with my little Kitty Man more. I ended up adopting the cat I was sitting, so we've been learning together. Last night he even got to sleep in the bed until 2:30... then he started prowling. I had to put him in his "bedroom" - my office that's cat safe and filled with his necessities.

I've also been watching "My Cat From Hell" for kitty tips and also to appreciate my calm but curious little man.

The weather is also getting chillier here! It makes my outfit choices a bit of a struggle... but I'll get the hang of it soon!

How is your week going? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Life lesons from Kitty: Patience

Yesterday I received a call from the coworker I had been cat-sitting for. His daughter has officially relinquished her ownership of the cat, Cairo, and I was allowed to send him to the humane society I volunteer with.

But... Cairo is really growing on me. He drove me CRAZY for a few weeks, but after bringing him home to meet my family dogs, I learned that it wasn't him who was being crazy.

I wasn't executing any patience. He would jump on the counter and I would scream. He'd bite me in the middle of the night and I would scream. He would meow and I would scream back. I was at the end of my rope! But it was because I didn't know how to talk to the cat.

I realized that dogs and cats are actually very similar, but cats don't understand punishment like dogs do. Cats need patience, just like puppies do. It doesn't end with litter box training.

I learned that he was jumping on the counter because he knew I would chase him. He knew that if he rattled the plate I left in the sink or knocked over the papers I had on the table I would pay him attention. When I took away the papers and washed the dishes and put a little food in his bowl, he stopped jumping on the counter.

Cairo, halfway to Mt. Cabinet.

I also learned the "Ow and Down" technique. When kitty bit too hard during play, or when he bit me lightly while I slept to wake me up, I made a high pitched "Ow!' sound, similar to a yowl, and place him on the ground. He got the message very quickly.

Patience is a serious virtue and a very difficult one to master. I decided to keep Cairo because I knew I needed a lesson in patience and he needed a home willing to love him. I want him to grow up and be a fat, happy cat. I don't know if a humane society would give him that opportunity right away and as a kitten, he is in a critical stage of development. Without the proper nurturing, how could he be expected to be a "good" pet?

I still wouldn't call myself a "cat person" and I'm definitely still a dog person, but I felt that this was the right choice. So welcome home, Cairo! We've got a lot of learning to do!

Have you learned any lessons from pets? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Ripe for the picking

Some people bite their nails, some people never paint them, some people keep them long, some short. Me? I pick at imperfection.

I must get this from my daddy, who picks at his cuticles under stress, anxiety or boredom. But I pick at polish. Dent? Smudge? Chip? Pick it off. All of them. Good bye polish!

I guess it's because of stress, anxiety and boredom, but unless my nails are perfect, they are subject to the picking monster I keep within. And I refuse to be seen with chipped polish or half of a mani... if one goes, they ALL go.

I think my nail picking shows people that I'm a perfectionist and perhaps a control freak. I like things to always be pulled together effortlessly, and bare nails are better than chipped nails.

Do you pick at polish? Any home remedies to stop? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Curly que's and the product junkie in me

As the fall approaches, the humidity disappears. And while that's fantastic weather-wise, curly hair tends to fall flat with less moisture in the air!

With Georgia finally catching up to the idea that Fall means cool weather and crunchy leaves (after our disastrous hot, rainy summer) I've found that it's time to haul out the good old blow dryer and diffuser!

I've been playing around with different products for my curls. I've been actively working to empty my cabinets of products, make up and the like so I won't have ghastly amounts of stuff.

Just yesterday I polished off a bottle of mousse for curly hair... I only had about two days of product left in it anyway. Gave me some sassy Carrie Bradshaw-esque hair when I blow dried! I can't believe I never tried to blow dry my hair using that product... no wonder I didn't like it! I wasn't using it right!

So as I continue on my adventure down the curly hair path and as I polish off these products, I'll give you a heads-up on what worked for me and what didn't.

I'm currently testing out the L'oreal Advanced Haircare Power Moisture Moisture Rush Mask. I heard good things about it and I like it so far! I'll feature it in a post when I get further along!

Via

Are you a product hoarder?

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

It's Fall, Y'all!

It's that time again... crunchy leave, thick sweaters and pumpkin EVERYTHING! It's finally fall!

Today I got a surprise visit from my mom, dad and puppies! We celebrated the autumnal equinox by taking a little trip to Georgia's Alpine City- Helen!

We visited my best friend, Kegan, who works at a yummy restaurant up there!

I hadn't seen my mom for a while, since I've been cat-sitting and can't really come home. Unfortunately, the cat and I are on each other's last nerve! I hate that he disobeys me for attention and he hates that I want to cuddle all the time but then don't let him sleep in the bed.

Bedtime is for quitters, says Cairo.

The cat-sitting has been interesting. All I can really say is that while I really like cats, I'm not cut out to own one. I am very controlling and they just aren't meant to be controlled! But even without that, this relationship has been slightly strained. I'll have to do a separate post on that when it's all over.

The excitement for fall has me thinking of doing a little revamp to my front door... I think I need a fall themed wreath! My current wreath, while adorable, is very summery and would look great somewhere in my apartment, perhaps on my den door.

No way this puppy is going into storage!

My plan this week: to create a burlap wreath with interchangeable centerpieces so I can get festive for the holidays! In honor of my little kitten guest, I think I'll paint a little black cat for my Halloween piece!

Do you like seasonal decor? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Julep: Galaxy Mystery Box unveiling!

I ordered the Julep Galaxy mystery box the day it came out because I was mesmerized by Estelle, the sparkly black holographic glitter. Despite the fact I don't wear black very often, I just couldn't pass it up. And I had a gift card.

After waiting patiently (kind of), my box... mysteriously... showed up on my doorstep today. No shipping notification, no nothing. Huh. 

I received the Cosmic box (the middle one at $24) and I received version 1. 

Oh, indeed. Is this why I didn't get a shipping notification? ;)

Presentation counts! 

From L to R: Charlotte, Estelle, Francis, Reiko, Lexie, Blakely

Rockstar hand cream duo! 

I haven't ordered a julep maven box in a few months... Mostly because I had some difficult customer service experiences. However, I'm really pleased with the mystery box I was given. It was as if the colors I liked from past boxes but didn't really feel like it was worth it were all tossed into one box! Plus, the colors will be great for recreating the galaxy nail featured on their website... Which will be the perfect touch of fun for Halloween at the office!

Did you order a mystery box? What did you get? Share with me in the comments below!

Never Forget.

12 years ago, I was sitting in my fifth grade class room watching a television broadcast. We, including my teacher were all silent. Just watching. Another teacher had to come in to tell my teacher that the principal had sent an email saying to turn all televisions off... but no one got it. No one could turn away. We were sent home early.

Today was one of the scariest days for my generation. Shock and confusion turned, 12 years later, into a heated memory that has shaped us- our political opinions, our views on the international world and maybe our views on life itself. We couldn't forget if we tried.

Today, I encourage you to look for the good in the world. September 11, 2001 was terrifying, but remember the men and women who fought so hard to save lives, who dedicated their peace of mind, their bodies and their spirits to protecting our country. Remember those who suited up and shipped out to protect people they've never met, even if they disagreed with the cause.

There are amazing people out there. Be one of them.

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

Sunday Funday

I've started moving up the corporate ladder... sort of... by picking up Saturday shifts! The extra hours mean more money, more experience and I get to anchor the shift by myself! 

On the downside, it eats into the weekend, of course. So Saturday has become a work day- at the station and at home! Cleaning and errands have begun to take over Saturdays. This Saturday, my parents brought up my newly reprinted desk! My den/office is coming together! 

                                  

    

So Sundays are my big weekend days! Today, I went to church with my boyfriend then decided I was feeling crafty. I went to my local craft store and bought fabric and made another work skirt out of turquoise cotton jersey. I also finished off a canvas I had started Saturday night! 

                                   

What do your weekends consist of? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,

Alyson

Puppy madness, part 2!

Remember earlier when I said I wanted a puppy? Well, the little guy I mentioned in the post got adopted and unfortunately, not by me.

It's probably good that I don't have a pet, because it keeps my budget in line and I can come and go as I please without worrying about them. But getting used to the sounds of my complex is taking longer than I expected and I sort of wish I had some sort of companion. 

I've always had - and loved - dogs. I'd be happy as a clam with a little dog buddy to snuggle with who will bark at strange noises and potentially keep me safe.

Via

However, dogs take a lot of care. They need time, love and attention. They need to be taken outside to do their business at odd hours. They prefer constant companionship to being left alone. They need shots, grooming and lots of food. They take effort. 

Cats have the opposite reputation. They don't crave attention, do their business is a box and do well alone. I've never owned a cat, so I'm not sure how true this is. Plus, my dad is allergic to cats. Especially the furry ones. 

So I'm kind of in a lose-lose situation. Looks like I'll be sticking with pictures of my dogs from home instead!

Do you have any pets? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,

Alyson

Lilly Pulitzer Endless Summer Sale

After logging on and then waiting for a considerable amount of time (too much traffic and not enough bandwidth!) I think I've decided not to buy anything from the Endless Summer Sale, at least for today. 

Why? The prices didn't amaze me, but I think it was more so because the products didn't amaze me. I haven't been too keen on the "new" Lilly and I wasn't in love with the summer line.

I did see a few things I liked (including a tie for my sweetie) that were worth the price and I may buy them later on. The sale does last for a couple of days!

Finally, I felt that some of the other customers were acting very childish and that sort of ruined the fun. People were writing scathing comments on Facebook posts and then when the requests they made were accommodated, they were still mad! I understand this sale is a huge help for those on a budget, but it's just clothes. 

I, too, was disappointed the site crashed so quickly, but I wasn't surprised. Instead of writing nasty messages to the social media team, I closed my computer and did something else. Patience is a virtue that I am working very hard on!

As for today, I think I have enough Lilly to last a while. And if I end up craving something new, I can always A) suck it up and buy it (or put it on my Christmas list), B) scour eBay and Re-Lilly or C) find a similar piece elsewhere. 

How do you feel about the Endless Summer Sale selection? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself (and don't let the sale get your goat!)

Alyson

Uptown girl

I did something really stupid at work the other day. We had a staff meeting and went over some basics with writing, editing and procedure. The boss lady, our news director, went over a lot of little mistakes we've been making. We've got two "newbies" on board, myself included, and some procedure changes so it was more like a reminder session. 

Now here's where I get absent-minded... A few hours after the meeting I was assigned to work on a story, just like every day. And you know what? I made the same mistakes I always make- the ones we had just gone over earlier that day. 

My boss was really nice about it and tried to make it a learning opportunity but I was totally flabbergasted and a little embarrassed. I even took notes at that meeting... Why hadn't this settled in yet!?

The truth of the matter is, this is not the first time this had happened to me and I really don't know how to fix it. (So if you wanted to give some advice today, now is the time!) I have a hard time grasping changes like that and it usually takes a second opinion (or in this case, a proofreader) to help me see what I've missed. 

The weird part about this mistake though was that it made me feel different from before. Usually these things just make me feel a little dumb, but today I really felt like a fish out of water. 

A lot of the things we covered in the meeting were local things that I had no clue about. I didn't know roads and counties or public information officers. It made me miss being home with my parents in the suburbs on the edge of metro Atlanta. We weren't in the perimeter, but a short drive took us to the heart of the city- an urban playground with a daily sense of danger. 

I think the confusion of a local road with one on which my favorite mall is located brought the whole thing on. I was subconsciously missing home so much I wrinkled a news story for two days. 

Dad says the first move is always hard. I definitely believe him... It's nothing like moving to college!

How do you handle mistakes? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself, 

Alyson

T-Minus 4 days!

By this time next week, I'll be blogging from my new apartment!

This is my last week at home. I call my landlord tomorrow and start moving my things Thursday! Over the weekend, my mom and I are going to set up and decorate and make the apartment truly mine!

I have a few ends to tidy up before I go though... for one, I have to pack. BLECH! I hate packing! I am most certainly not excited to do that. I've decided to start with my bookshelf and work down from there.

I also still need to make some curtains and wrangle a microwave. If this was a perfect world, I'd move everything I have ready out first and then do a second wave of moving things after all that was set up. But it looks like I'm going to need to do the Big Move instead!

Do you have any packing tips or tricks? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson

It's offish....

I've found an apartment!

It met three of my four previous criterium... It's within walking distance to work, pet friendly and in a great neighborhood!

A quick run down on the place... I have a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment on the second floor. It has carpet throughout and each room has a window. It doesn't have much in the way of overhead lighting but I dislike overheard lighting. I have my own  entrance way (with a peep hole and three separate locks!) as well as a den, my own kitchen and two doors! The rooms are also BIGGER than my room at home! And the closets.... well I hit the motherland! THEY'RE HUGE!

Mom and I stopped by the other day to take measurements and it had a fresh coat of paint, a new stove and two new air conditioners! We've been shopping around for all kinds of home wares and I've been feeling crafty (so get prepared for a butt-load of tutorials!)

I move at the beginning of August. Look out, Gainesville!

Do you have an apartment? Share with me in the comments below!

Stay true to yourself,
Alyson