My Adult Version of Red Light, Green Light

Did you ever play the game "Red Light, Green Light" when you were little?  If you aren't familiar, it's a really simple game.  The way we played it was a group would line up as if about to run a race, and someone would stand at the finish line and when they said, "Green Light", everyone would take off running towards the finish.  When "Red Light" was yelled by the announcer, everyone had to freeze in their spot and wait for "Green Light" to be said again and so on until someone made it to the finish line. 

 

I feel like this is how I live my life...mainly due to my job.  I'm a CPA and do financial reporting for a company in downtown Houston.  I actually really like what I do, and to top it off, I work for a great company, have a wonderful boss and like the people I work with.  The only downside are the cycles of reporting as we get busy after every year-end and every quarter-end and tend to work long hours during these times.  This is when I feel like my life gets put on hold a bit.  So there are about five months out of the year that I'm in "Red Light" mode.  We don't make plans much on the weekends as I need to be in town and available to work if I need to.   I am usually at work late and eat dinner in the office, so when I get home, I get ready for bed and sleep, and then wake up to the daily grind the next day.  After quarter and year-end reports are filed, I feel like someone yells "Green Light," and I take off running trying to fit in everything that I've put on hold.  I try to see all the friends and family I can, meeting for dinners, happy hours and other social events, and also I try to catch up on housework and a mile long to-do list of errands that will have inevitably built up during my busy time at work.  I then seem to exhaust myself by doing all of these things, although the social parts are fun and I feel better when I've scratched all of the items off my list.  However, by the time I get caught up on life and start to relax again, it's time for our busy time at work again.....and so the cycle continues.

 

Why am I telling you all this?  I felt like my little blog here was a good place to sort of dump these feelings.  Like I said, I like my career of choice, but I seem to struggle at times with keeping it all together and maintaining a balance... but I know most everyone understands this as it applies to everyone in different ways.  I just sometimes wish for a more stable routine with regular hours on an on-going basis.  I sometimes am envious of friends that are able to have their evenings free and never have to consider whether it's a quarter-end or not. I feel like I'm always telling people I can't make it to some event or dinner because "we'll be in quarter at work" or "it's our busy time."  I'm sure my friends get tired of hearing that from me as well.  It's the nature of my job, and I must accept it.  I know that.  It's what I've chosen, and I'm happy with my choice.  Also, now you all will know that when I've seemed to have disappeared from writing my blog that I'm either in my "Red Light" mode and don't have time to blog as when I have any free time, I'm probably sleeping.  OR that I'm in my "Green Light" mode and running around as fast as I can so that I'm not taking the time to blog.  I'd like to try to start blogging on a regular basis and make it more of a priority.  I really do enjoy blogging, and it's actually a form of stress relief when I make the time for it.  It's a way to share and connect with people and in a way, for me, it's a bit of an escape...like I can go off to BlogLand for a bit and get out any thoughts or feelings I want or dream and look at pretty pictures, and then step back into my reality. 

 

Thanks for reading...if you still are.  I'm usually not so personal or this chatty on here, but I thought a change for once was okay.  Hope all of you lovelies are having a wonderful week. 

Let's end on a fun note.  Here are some (somewhat blurry) pictures from my phone of outfits I've been wearing to work this summer.

 

 

XO,

Tara

 

Rodeo and What I Wore

Happy Friday! 

I'm going to keep it short and sweet for you today.

Last Sunday night we were able to see George Strait at the Houston Rodeo Finale!!!  Enough said right there if you are a country music fan, right?! 

It was such an amazing show!  We lucked out getting to go with some good friends of ours, and we were so happy they asked us to tag along. 

The crowd was amazing.  George came back out to do an encore.  He didn't disappoint that's for sure!

I wore this dress that I got from Piperlime with my boots.

Since it was St. Patty's Day, I paired it with this beautiful Stella and Dot statement necklace.

I also think this necklace would be perfect for summer with a simple white tee.  I think I'll be getting lots of wear out of it.

My husband's parents and my dad and step-mom are coming into town to be with us this weekend, and I know we'll be having a good time.  Hope all of you have a splendid weekend as well!

XO,

Tara

What I've Been Up To

Happy Friday!!  So glad it's the final countdown till the weekend begins.  I have all kinds of things I want to share with you all.

Here in Houston, it's rodeo time.  It's kind of a big deal.  However, I don't usually make it to the rodeo but once or twice at most.  If you aren't familiar, for a few weeks there is a daily rodeo with a concert directly after.  In addition, while you are there, you can shop, visit the livestock show with a petting zoo for the kiddos, go to the carnival, and the whole thing begins with a big cookoff weekend full of all kinds of BBQ.  My sister brought my niece and nephew this week, and I was able to join them.  We saw Gary Allen, and the kids were amazed at how much there was going on, which was so fun to see their reactions.  I threw this together after I got off of work to try to join in on the "cowgirl" attire.  :)

What I'm wearing:  Black HUE jeggings, denim shirt, CAbi fur vest, and Old Navy Camel boots.

I've been LOVING my Michael Kors watch, and I like pairing it with the Renegade Stella and Dot bracelet. 

Also, I recently picked this chalkboard up for the house from HomeGoods.  I thought it would be perfect for writing menus on or making lists for groceries and errands and all sorts of other fun things.  The husband asked if I was going to be teaching class.  shake my head.  They just don't get it, do they?

I thought it was the perfect place to put it in between the kitchen and the laundry room in the hallway going to the office.  See it will be easily used and functional in this space.

Also, one last thing is that I purchased this tote recently, and I was a little hesitant at first if I would like carrying it as my everyday bag, but it's working out perfectly.  I've gotten use to the size as it's a little wider, which was a concern when wearing it on the shoulders, but I don't even notice that so much now.  The color is gorgeous too!  So, if perhaps you are in the market for a tote, this is a good choice for sure! Or even if you weren't, but want one now, I understand.  You should get one.

Have a wonderful weekend.

XO,

Tara

What I Wore…with Stripes

 

 

So I usually don’t post these sorts of pictures, or I have only one time before this, but I thought with the new year I’d go for it.  I mean it’s time to take risks.  Big steps here. haha  Obviously, I’m still learning how to take the pictures.  I would say this one needs to be clearer and well maybe not so um crooked, and maybe closer up would help.  Enough with my rambling (can you tell I’m nervous?). 

 Here’s what I have on:
 

Striped Top from Loft

Black skirt from CAbi

Black Pointed Heels

Coral Bubble Necklace off of Ebay

Michael Kors Gold Runway Watch
(YES I finally got it for my last birthday after my husband received so many hints from me.  He listens well especially after I sent him the direct link!)
 

Hope you enjoyed seeing one of my recent outfits to work!

Have a fabulous rest of the weekend.  I’m off to get ready for date night.

XO,

Tara

DC Trip and White Cabinets With No Regrets!

We just got back from a trip to Washington, D.C. and what perfect timing!  The colors of the trees were gorgeous, and it actually felt like Fall!  Here in Texas, it's still warm and well it doesn't feel as quite as festive.  But in DC, it felt like the holidays, which really got us in the spirit for the upcoming Thanksgiving break.  We actually got to wear sweaters and coats, and we enjoyed walking around in the brisk coolness taking in all of the monuments and memorials.  Another reason that the trip was perfect timing is that it was a great time to remember and be thankful for all of the great men and women that have defended our country and led our country and have given us the freedom that I know I too often take for granted.  It's a great time to remember all that our country has been through and to be thankful for all the blessings that we do have.

I'll have to actually start posting pics from our trips, but for now here's a couple of snaps I took on my phone:

Shopping in Georgetown

My first attempt at showing what I wore! haha I'ts blurry, but you get the picture that I could actually wear boots and a fur vest.  Now back in Texas for Thanksgiving...have to change back to wardrobes more suiting for 80 degrees.

Now for a peek at the new house and what's been going on before we left for our trip....Oh yes, we did already have our kitchen cabinets painted white.  And I'm thrilled with the results!   I know, we just closed on the house a few weeks ago, and we didn't waste any time getting workers/painters in the house to make a few minor changes and also paint.  I admittedly was terrified that I was making the wrong decision or possibly picking the wrong paint colors.  I know also that my hubby was not 100% convinced that we should go white on the kitchen cabinets, especially since we have white countertops.  I know it was a risk, but we took it, and now I thank my lucky stars, we have no regrets about our (or my I should say) decision.  Without further adieu, here is our new kitchen in our new home.  Well, this is how it looked BEFORE:

And you are going to have to wait to see how it turned out AFTER.  When we return from our Thanksgiving break, I'll take some updated pics to post and see what you all think of the  kitchen makeover.

Hope you all have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving with your families!  We have so much to be thankful for.  What an amazing country we live in.

XO,

Tara