WILW

Link Up with Jamie here.

Hey y'all,

I've been really busy but here are a few things I have been loving...

...being back at work. While the hours are a lot(25 hours already this week) & I only have Friday off this week I am blessed to have a job even if it is in a large retailer. I love seeing all of the other salespeople and managers and getting back to a schedule.

....the air conditioning is fixed! For those of you not in NC right now, it has been in the upper 80s/low 90s in my hometown and I can finally stand to be in my room.

...my baby sister is coming home! My little sister has been in Africa over the past few weeks on a study abroad and she finally comes home this weekend!

kDi and I at a campus acapella concert in December

We love each other!

...Crystal Light Energy mix.I picked this up on clearance at Target in Peach Mango and it has quickly become one of my favorites(it even has caffeine!)

...lusting after these items

A Cut Above Boutique's Chevron Flow Tank

A Cut Above's Spring Fling Dress

...these swimsuits from Target.

via

via

via

via

via

....and I loved babysitting my bestfriend's little sisters yesterday! They are like my little sisters and I can't believe that they are getting so big! We baked Pink Lemonade cupcakes and played Wii. I remember when these girls were 2 and 4 and now they are 8 and 10! They are so sweet and I treat them like my own baby sisters and love spending time with them.

I hope you are all having a great week so far! I can't wait for my Friday off which means pool time!

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

My Obsession Monday (& Sunday Sayings)

Hey y'all,

Sorry I have been MIA this weekend. I actually began back work at my retail job yesterday so I was pretty busy and came home to only want to put my feet up (yay for walking for 5+ hours!) and sleep. So quick update on  my life: my room's air conditioning unit broke and it has been in the 90s so I have been sleeping downstairs since my room is now like a sauna. But enough about my struggles. This week I am obsessed with....

I'm obsessed with my new Essie nail polish. This week I ran to Ulta to grab a couple of things for my mom and pick up a few colors. My collection so far is mainly OPI (I have 4 minis,Pretty Edgy, and Splash of Grenadine.) So here are the colors I picked up.

Status Symbol.
I'm wearing this right now and it is a gorgeous almost neon pink.

Turquoise & Caicos
I have been eyeing this one for a while so I caved in.

Lapiz of Luxury

What's your obsession?

Now since I missed Sunday Sayings I thought I would throw them in as well. Here is some inspiration to jump start your week!

via

via

via

via

Now I am off to get ready for another day of work. I can't wait until Friday when I have a day off! But in the meantime I have also read three books over the weekend and I thought I would share.

The Season by Sarah MacLean

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn

What have you been reading?

I hope y'all are having a beautiful Memorial Day and long weekend!

Peace and Blessings,

jDl

J.Crew Lust List

via

Hey y'all,

Did you catch CNBC's special J. Crew & The Man Who Dressed America last night?I am not much of a news person so I was grateful someone on Tumblr posted about it so I could catch it at 10pm. Here is the preview if you missed out.

It was a great insight to one of my favorite companies and I loved hearing about CEO Millard "Mickey" Drexler's life in retail and his control over J.Crew. He really has done a lot for the brand over the past few years.
Some of my favorite things of the interview and inside look were the inclusion of the J.Crew catalog/style guide. I love looking through the pages when mine comes in the mail and it was interesting to see how they create the looks and vote on the cover as if it were Vogue and The September Issue (and yes, Anna Wintour made an appearance in the special too!) Here is a video discussing the creation of the J.Crew catalog from the special.

I really hope they re-air the special sometime soon since I thought it was rather interesting and not that widely marketed. I only saw the post about it during a commercial break on So You Think You Can Dance tonight. Who is your favorite dancer so far?

Anyhow, since we are talking about J.Crew I thought I would include some of my current wish-list items from the website.

3" chino short: ornament orange

3" short in antique paisley

Silk Bow Cami

Chambray Clambake Skirt

Seersucker Underwire Tank

Stripe Ballet Flat

Are you lusting over any J.Crew pieces? Did you watch the special?

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

Clearing Up Some Desk Space...

 Hey y'all,

One of my many things to do yesterday was to clean and work on cover letters for jobs. I was happy to say I did both. By starting my day with a to-do list I was so productive and felt like I had a goal (plus who doesn't love the joy of crossing things off as you go?). But before I got to my cover letters I needed to find a space to work. The desk in my room had been commandeered by my parent's "family" computer though both of them only use it to print things now that my Mom has her own laptop. But furthermore, my high school study space was no longer. So I took over the table randomly stored in my room for the current time period. After cleaning it off I am proud to say I created a clean usable space to work at over the summer while I complete cover letters and resumes. The clean space helped my productivity so much. Now on to tackle the rest of my room. Oh boy.

Yay, for work space!

I had to add the new frame I got for graduation as well as my post-it obsession.

Without my laptop.

My retail job doesn't require a lot of work at home so while I wouldn't mind a different space like those below, I am lucky to have a designated work space now so here's to hoping for some interviews and job possibilities! I will have to lust over these offices spaces for now....

via

via

via

via

While I would love for a different space like those on Pinterest. I am content for now working in this clean space. Can you work in a dis-organized space? What is your essential desk supply?

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

What I'm Loving Wednesday.

Hey y'all,

I am linking up with Jaime for the first WILW of this blog! So here are a few things I am loving and you can read more about my weekly obsession here.

I'm loving....

...spending time with my parents. As much as I don't love being home since it means I am in limbo between college and the "real world" I am loving spending time with my parents and the wonderful home cooked meals I'm getting.

Mother/Daughter Brunch for PBX last Spring.

Parent's Weekend Football Game my First Year(Fall 2008)

....crushing on gorgeous bedrooms on Pinterest and lusting over the hope of moving out of my parent's house and decorating a bedroom all for myself.

via

via

via

via

...looking for gorgeous pieces of jewelry and hoping I have an office to go to so I can purchase and wear some of these pieces.

Swell Caroline Mischa Earrings

A Cut Above Boutique Anchor Stud Earrings

 ...reading for fun again. I am finishing up The Ivy Chronicles and then off on my other library books!

....strawberry lemonade. With strawberries in season my Mom has been making strawberry lemonade and it is sooo good and a great reminder that it is summer!

via

What are you loving this week?
jDl

5 Summer Goals.

Hey y'all,

I am an obsessive list maker so I figured why not post my current goals as a reminder/accountability for my summer goals.

1. Read more. Every summer I spend more and more time reading for fun since I am not worried about reading on a deadline like I had to for the past four years as an English major. I went to one of the local libraries yesterday to look for a book my Mom wanted. Well, I didn't find hers but I found eight books for me. YAY for summer reading time. My goal is at least 20 books by the end of August.

Look at my finds. To see what I am reading on GoodReads click here.

2. Save money. This one will be difficult for me since I am a shopaholic but I need to save up for a down payment on a car since the one I currently drive I share with my baby sister and since I have now graduated she needs the car up at NCState in the fall. I am excited to eventually get my very own car, not so much about the monthly payment but it is another step of being a post-grad.

3. Find a Full Time job. I am blessed that my parents allowed me back in their home and I go back to my summer retail job on Sunday but I know that I don't want to stay in my hometown for very long. I have a long list of deadlines for resumes and cover letters to finish up before Sunday. I will of course keep searching so any good thoughts/prayers/karma for the job hunt will be appreciated!

via

4. Learn to love running. I hate to run but I know I should add it to my exercise regime since it is a great way to get healthy. Now without any major papers or deadlines I am going to focus on my health and getting fit not only for the summer but for life. The stress of college had a toll on my health but I am committing to add lots of fruits and veggies and cutting out all that food I would eat at night while I was studying.

via

via

5. This is the most important to me but I want to work on my relationship with God. I am a Christian girl and my relationship with God is very important to me and it is something that takes effort and I am focusing on a devotional daily, a journal and some other sources. Pinterest is another great way to remind myself of God's promises in the amount of verses posted. My sorority sisters are also great inspiration with their journeys. If you have any great inspirational book selections post them below!

via

via

Do you have any goals for the summer? What is your ultimate goal for this summer?

Peace and Blessings,
jDl