(too long bangs. what. up.)

• plaid shirts (picture!)
• the fantastic books I’ve read lately: Rules for Saying Goodbye, I Am Not Myself These Days and This Is Not Chick Lit to name a few
• cleaning out my closet and rediscovering my love for all my old Nike Dunks and Air Maxes
• Kiehl’s lip balm. I was gifted this when I was flown out to Vegas to attend the Swagg party and it is AMAZING.
• Blow Pops
• my new OPI polish: Metro Chic (picture!)
• Amy’s Kitchen frozen dinners. Pesto tortellini and mac and cheese are my faves when I’m too lazy too cook which needless to say is A LOT.
• my hair finally getting long again (picture!)
• DiorShow Iconic. BEST MASCARA EVER.
• music flashbacks: ska, 90s r&b and pop. Holler.

Your turn.

Go.

• nail polish. I’m currently wearing Concord Grape by O.P.I.
• Icing on the Hair. I’m getting ready to order a headband and you better not order the one I want before I get to it. I’m not above shanking a bitch over hair accessories.
• chocolate and champagne first thing in the morning
• Jenn
• Glee parties
• Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
• The Get Up Kids. I can’t stop listening to Something To Write Home About and On A Wire. No really, I can’t stop listening to them.
• those of you who voted for me to win Best Secondary Blog for Oh How Lovely Shops
• trying to plan interview outfits around a new pair of shoes (it didn’t work so I have to wear different shoes. LAME)
• my puppy who guards my room from my dad’s dog and chasing him away when he looks in here. EVERY TIME. It’s really hilarious.
• the internet because we managed to raise over $2,000 in 24 hours for www.loveharder.org. Go donate.
  

Send some good vibes my way today?

I could use them.

• my ridiculously big purple bag
• Mad Men (the show, the clothes, dreamy Don Draper and the fierceness that is Joan Halloway)
• chicken gnocchi soup at Olive Garden
• adding some color and dresses to my wardrobe. We’ll trying to at least.
• Groupon (just scored one for my favorite cupcake place ever, Swirlz)
• perfect autumn days
• honey apple brie bites (more about that in my recap of touring Pampered Chef test kitchens if I ever get around to it)
• Rufus. I finally got to meet that little guy (and Kaya too!) and I wanted to steal him so him and Edie could hang out and be adorable together.
• movies on ABCfamily. This weekend I watched Stick It and The Prince and Me.

Also, I’m looking for a new show to start watching. I was really late to the game on picking up Mad Men and How I Met Your Mother but I’m all caught up on them now. I’m sure there are other amazing shows I have been missing out on.

Suggestions?

• Barney Stinson. I think he says “awesome” as much as I do and I’m kind of in love with him (and How I Met Your Mother in general).
• Slouchy, flat boots. The past two weekends I’ve acquired a pair of black and a pair of grey boots.
• Greek. I would do naughty things to Cappie.
• Second day hair. It’s always better than first day hair.
• Ridiculous convos with Doni that literally have me busting out laughing over gchat. Totes.
• Good Reads. You on it? Add me as a friend!
• Reaffirming my love for Cursive, Thursday, Murder by Death, onelinedrawing and Alkaline Trio.
• Berets, scarves and cowls. Fall fashion is in full effect.
• Pretty wine. Duh.
• Crossing my fingers and toes this freelance work comes my way. I know I’d be awesome for this project.

What are you currently obsessing over?

• Shark Week
• adding TW to every word because of Twitter
• Dane Cook
• people who are ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION and ignore multiple important emails
• possible employers not realizing my absolute awesomeness and just begging me to work for them*
• Chicago weather
• people who treat you like shit then have the balls to ask you for favors
• lying by omission
• why 3oh!3 felt the need to throw Helen Keller into a song that was catchy and fun and ruin it***
• Britney Spears hanging out with Lindsay Lohan again
• puppies who like to jump on your bed after playing in puddles

Feel free to add to the list in the comments.
* Before anyone jumps on me for that statement, I know it doesn’t work that way. Ever heard of a little exaggeration?**
** But for the record? I really am effing awesome so shut it.
***I’m not saying they are musical geniuses, it’s just a fun song. Okay, music snobs?

Love lists seem to be going around again. I couldn’t help myself because I’m feeling quite optimistic today.

I love –

Great hair days. Las Vegas. Library books. Ordering in. Perfect 75 degree Chicago days. Having a dj at my disposal who plays silly poppy songs for me that he wouldn’t play in the club. Wine tastings with my favorite girls. Ryan Leslie’s music. Meeting old friends for the first time. Polka dotted flats. Ice cream sundaes. Pedicures. Friends who look out for you.

BlogHer in a few weeks. Summer mix cds. Brand new notebooks. Puppies named Edie. Gchat convos with my Vegas people. The Beatles. Chick lit. Real lit. Pretending I’m a foodie. Finding the perfect shampoo and conditioner combination for my hair. Mac and cheese. Sitting down to write and the words just flow. Movie nights.

Swirlz cupcakes. Getting a tan. Super cold Pepsi. Honesty. Rereading favorite books. My iPhone. Greek. Ideas for days. Puppy swimming pools. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  Discovering you and your friend could have had the same prom dress. My hot pink MacBook. Having options.

What’s is one thing you are loving lately?

Hi, I’m brandy and I write here. Jamie asked me if I wanted to do a guest post for her and I said ‘yes! absolutely!’, because I have it on good authority Jamie will one day own the internet and I want to be on her good side when that happens.

You know when you have an idea that’s so crazy that you have to write about it? Like, that time you decided to go a week only drinking things  from a funnel? Or that time you went to Mexico and got a gang member to explain to you what each of his tattoos meant when you bumped into him in an alley? Or that time you voted *Republican?

That’s what todays post is like. After getting 4 random emails in the last week asking for dating advice, from both bloggers and real life friends, I thought I would impart some tips for the ladies about relationships.  Why is this idea so ridiculous? It could be because I’m currently as single as humanly possible. So much so that asking me for relationship advice is similar to asking Tara Reid tips on sobriety. It’s just a silly idea. But, I thought it would be fun to try and everyone needs a good laugh during a long week. So open up your knowledge basket, because I’m about to fill it up.

1. If a person likes you- YOU WILL KNOW. Stop. Re-read that first sentence. Now read it again. AND AGAIN. Read it until it is carved into your memory, burned into your eyeballs. Read it until you choke on it. Guys don’t play hard to get, so if he IS hard to get? Then he’s not the guy for you. Move along. Trust.

2. Sure, relationships are work but if it’s more work and less play, more tears than laughter, more Ike and less Tina then it’s not worth it. Relationships ARE work, but a relationship shouldn’t feel like a full time job, unless you are getting paid. And if you are getting paid for sleeping with the guy? Then you are a hooker and not a girlfriend and this post doesn’t apply to you.

3. Make up sex is hot, but you know what’s even hotter? Compromising so you don’t argue in the first place. Okay, that’s a lie but you could try it and see if it works for you.

4.”I’m sorry” doesn’t fix things as quickly as “I was wrong” does. But, sometimes it’s nice to hear both, so say each when you mean it.

5. If you have sex in person, you need to dump them in person. If you’ve only had phone sex, you can dump them on the phone, but I assure you, a message left on a machine is just not classy.

Any tips you feel should be on the list?

*Kidding. I promise. I miss politics. Let’s still be friends?

For my internship, I have a huge, gigantic, massive project with the potential to be amazing that I’m working on right now. I swear it will be awesome and soon I will be asking for your help with suggestions, feedback and using you all as a sounding board. Not only will you be helping me out but it can also be potentially amazing for you!

Yeah, if that wasn’t vague enough, I don’t know what is.

(But really, it will be great. Promise)

Goals for this week:
- water water water
- cook, don’t waste money on take out
- buy Edie a birthday present
- do some Christmas shopping
- make birthday plans for the boy
- work work work work
- try not to fall so behind on blogs
- try to stop being a crappy blog friend because I can’t keep up with my reader and emails
- work work work work work

How was your weekend? Anything fun planned for this week?

I was going to make today a music post, but I’m unsure of what I want to put up here. Tomorrow, expect presents. Lovely presents for your speakers and ears.

Awesome Things

- only working 2 days
- I am Legend and Juno opening Friday
- being almost done with Christmas shopping
- ice skating later this week
- hitting up one of the museums
- 10 days until the boyfriend’s birthday
- 15 days until I leave for Las Vegas
- new shoes

Not Awesome Things

- ice storms
- only working 2 days. I could use the hours.
- unsure of gifts for boyfriend and boyfriend’s parents
- America’s Next Top Model finale. Worst cycle ever. I knew who makes final two since the beginning of the season. Boo to me for reading spoilers.
- Project Runway. You bore me. Please spice things up a bit or I might just fall asleep because of your blandness.
- ugly boots

Awesome Things for YOU

Christmas cards. Do you want one? I might send you one, if you send me a lovely email with your address!