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

Planning to plan: paper or digital planners?

As the year comes to an end, I feel like I'm at a very weird cross road: My planner is almost used up.

I've been using a Lilly Pulitzer planner for about 2 years now, but now that I'm not a student and don't need/want an 18 month agenda, I feel like it is slightly wasteful. But is a paper agenda as a whole just as wasteful?

I have a serious problem.

I like the environment. I like trees. I like living on Earth and breathing air. I like that there may be water on Mars but it's not vital to our existence if there isn't any water there because Earth still has tons.

So, as an adult who is obsessed with their iPad, should I just skip out on the paper planner all together? Think about how many trees wouldn't make me feel guilty. And what do you even do with a filled up planner? Digitally, you can just delete.

The big downside to the digital planner is you have to take whatever it's on everywhere and my iPad is a little heavier than my past planners. Then, you have to sync it to your phone and computer and all that.

So which is better? I like writing stuff down, it's soothing. But seriously, what the hell do I do with a used up planner!? And just how many trees sob as they watch sorority girls scribble on their family members each year?

Are you a digital or paper planner? 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