A New Chapter

Not only has a page turned in my book, but I've moved on (finally) to a completely new chapter -- and it's a good one!!!  There's no reason for me to apologize or feel bad for not blogging in quite a while, because I've been taking care of myself (physically and mentally).  I'm finally all moved in to my new place - with the exception of some wall hangings and a washer/dryer.

So what's been going on? LOTS.

Yes I got my nose pierced again and yes I'm flicking off the camera (but I honestly don't remember intentionally doing that)

My ugly den. I got tired of staring at a blank wall so I hung up a bunch of my art work/poems from over the years.

My wifey Sloane had her beautiful baby girl!! Tatum Maris Reed. I've GOT to make a trip to Memphis extremely soon to meet her.

Have you ever had a shot of this?? heh heh. We had to buy it. I mean, seriously, how can you not?

Another successful night at D&B with the usual Wednesday night crew...Sav, Lunchbox, Intern Adam and moi. Oh yeah, and MUFF!!

Me and Muff bonding

Muff's new home at my desk - everybody loves it!! 

Prom pic with Andy - we always do silly things like this. I actually got a lot of compliments on this picture lol

Sweetheart Roll @ Sonobana - my first date night this year...but with whom?? MYSTERY :)

I am excited to announce that I finally signed up for my first 5k!!!  I've been wanting to do this for almost a year now, and I knew I'd never do it unless I just forced myself to sign up for one a few months off. So I did....now I have 2 months to train. My goal is to run the whole thing - do I think I can do it? YES. Today I ran 2.2 miles in 29 minutes....I just have to get to 3.1. It takes a lot of determination and dedication, but you can do it if you really want it. Life's what you make of it - don't let anyone else define it for you. I've definitely learned this the hard way, but at least I've learned it. Here's more info below - we get to party after it's over!!

http://irunfortheparty.com/index.php?page=events_view&event_id=32

In sad news, we lost a coworker a week ago. I'll never forget finding out....we really are like a family at the radio stations and it's insane how much this affects everyone in that building, whether they worked for that station or not. Scooby was only 32 - passed away from heart problems...it was very sudden and nothing could be done. As much as I hate to admit it, it was his time, and all we can do is accept it and know everything happens for a reason.  He was buried yesterday in his hometown of Atlanta and we'll be having the Nashville memorial tomorrow night. I know it's gonna be tough, but I'm glad I'll have close friends with me who also knew him and we can celebrate his life together. My favorite memory of scooby: busting up in the beat studio one night while he was in there and we started talking about the puppies (remember the funky y-2-c?) and he knew who I was talking about and told me to bring my cassette tape up there and we could move it to a CD. No one had anything bad to say about this guy.  He will be missed.

RIP Scoob.

It just reminds me to always tell someone what they mean to you. Don't take them for granted. They can be taken away in a heartbeat.  There's just no point in holding grudges and having enemies.  People are going to come and go in your life, and people are going to hurt you extremely bad, but you will get past it and be proud of yourself for being the bigger person and letting go of that anger. 

My daddy is coming to visit me in a week I'm so excited!! He hasn't been since he moved me here.  I can't wait to show him around now that I actually know where the cool stuff is.  My birthday is the week after that!! I just want to get a ton of friends together, go out, and have the time of our lives.

What's on my list? Too much :(  washer/dryer, mattress, apple laptop. But here's something smaller that I can afford to get myself :)

I'm realllly into these bullet crystal quartz necklaces....there are tons of colors and I want to buy several and layer them. This one is off etsy but it already sold....but I'll find more :)

As far as music goes, I've been on an extremely girly kick lately. Aqua, Savage Garden, Alanis Morrisette, Toy-Box, B*Witched, A*Teens, September, Steps.  Yes I can blare Toy-Box's "Tarzan & Jane" and have a blast doing so :)

This post has gotten long enough, if you're actually still reading....thanks for your interest<3 Until next time....

I AM BACK TO REALITY!!! Having no internet where you live feels like having a lost wallet - just a tad less panic. But not much!!! I hope everyone's year is off to an amazing f-r-e-s-h start. Mine started off a tad rocky, but things are slowly but surely looking up!  I have a new interest:

Kinda old news by now since I've been without internet, but this was my weekend not too long ago. Eating a large pizza all by my lonesome and learning SEO.  I don't think you every really know what you want to do with your life, so I just follow where I feel I'm led. Life is too short to be miserable with what you do. Realize you were meant to do what you are doing (even if only temporary) and really think about what it's purpose is/was. I can honestly say every job I've had has been enjoyable and opened my eyes up more to what I really enjoy. It's basically impossible to know exactly what you want to do right out of college (unless you spent like ten years trying to be a doctor).  Anyways, I really love the "digital world" and recently discovered internet marketing and search engine optimization. You never know until you try, and since going back to school to learn graphic design is so damn expensive, I'm gonna see where this takes me :)

Special shout out to my awesome friends Andy and Destin for helping me move to my new crib - what a relief to be all moved in!!!  I swear I got like no sleep this past week. Lots of late nights but I'm having so much fun with so many awesome people that have come into my life. You never know who your gonna end up being friends with - life is too short for what if's. Don't miss out on an opportunity to connect with someone who could potentially be a great inspiration to your life (and you to theirs).

This is while I was chillin' in my car waiting on my friend Mike to come kick my door in because the stupid indoor hatch closed on itself!! Speaking of, he just got his first tattoo!! Check it out here. You gotta love ole Mo in the background taping it all lol. Hearing that sound in the tat shop makes me want another!!

Well I don't have much to say. Or I guess I could, but I just got cable TV back after almost a year without it, so I'm thinking it's time for some major catching up!!

Happy Sunday! The weekend has come and gone...fast as usual. Friday was pretty awesome - better than most days. I'm optimistic about my future, figuring out better what I want out of life, finally found marshmallow vodka, got more packing done and had an awesome last party night with my neighbors. I will miss a couple of them, they've been great to me through all my crap, but they know how badly I need this fresh start. I'm not going too far away though. In fact, I'm SUPER excited because in 66 days I will live only 5 minutes from one of my favorite stores ever, FOREVER 21!!! That's when the Orpyland Mills Mall will finally have its grand reopening after the big flood of 2010. So yeah, I'm living closer to Opryland which I'm excited about - closer to the big mall and cool places like Dave & Busters, closer to downtown and work, but yet only like 10 minutes away (with traffic) from my current home.

 samantha and me

andy and his gals

There's more pics but um, we're gonna leave those out lol!!! 

Sooo ready for this week - gonna be a big one!

I've been MIA....packing, working, partying, paying bills....the usual.  I cannot wait to get settled in my new place - the countdown is on!  And I came up with a super cool idea to do on the wall behind my bed that involves black lace....I'm picturing it in my head but we'll see if the outcome looks just as cool. Saturday I got a ton of cleaning done then rewarded myself by partying for literally 10 hours!!  Pubs to watch football (sad for the saints but I hate football and was just there to hang out), mixing firebomb whiskey with wood chuck beer (yes in the same glass it's soo good! tastes like spiced apple juice!), gay bars, strobe lights, dancing till my legs and feet hurt, freezing weather, lying in post offices, chocolate cake shots, slumber parties with good friends, drunken furniture rearranging.....what a night!

only the beginning for us

Here are some recent instagrams:

privileged heartbreaker spiked wedge booties (LUV spikes and gems together), maxwell house international latte vanilla caramel, staying warm with black/white striped arm warmers (amazon), awesome lego ring (best 5 bucks I ever spent) and cute cards from good friends<3

Currently on my mind: learning to meditate, listening to Hey Monday on repeat, homemade panini sandwiches (try sauteed mushrooms, mozzarella & asiago cheese!), working with my new art paper, putting all my tax refund money toward a washer/dryer (booo to growing up), remembering to make my bed every day (i've only missed a few days so far this year), curling the ends of my hair (it's nice to change things up), girl scout cookies, packing...

...and I found out today I get to see a good friend next month that I haven't seen in like 7 years!!!

My day is dragging....is it 5:00 yet??

Have you been JiLTED?  If not, now is the time!  Our mini issue is up and we are thrilled with the turn out.  Also, if you are interested in being a part of this awesome project, please email me [mandy@thelaumans.net] or Sloane [sloanewreed@gmail.com].  Our first official issue will debut April 7 - deadline is March 24.

Overall I'd say it's been a pretty good weekend.....

My new Sally pillow for my bed, lobsteritas and new art for my "heart freeing itself" series

OH!  And I'm pretty sure I found my new apartment - soo ready for new scenery!!!  Can't wait to show you my new pad (don't expect to see it though until February).  I'm super hungry and I'm out of chai latte mix (bummer).  Time to venture out into the cold....

Have a great week!!!

Today is one of my best friend's birthday!!!!!  Why is this one special? Because it's the big 3-0!!  She is sooo beautiful inside and out, and I'm sad I am 6 hours away from her on thIS special day, but I want her to know I am thinking of her (maybe she reads this from time to time? hehe) so HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARA!!!

Check out her inspiration page: http://karasmadworld.tumblr.com/

Wanna know why else it's a great day???



I picked up some of this chai latte mix and it is super yummy!  I was hesitant because normally when you mix a powder substance with water, it gets diluted easily and also stays chunky. But this stuff has great flavor!! Along with a Hello Kitty tea kettle (ebay treasure) what more would you want to wake up to??

It's a wonderful day - I got some errands ran at lunch, it's nice enough outside to ride around with my windows down, i'm eating a delicious tomato and mozzarella panini, I trafficked my first wallpaper (work related) and I ordered some new art paper I'm really excited about!!

Happy 2012!!!

weheartit

How did you bring in the New Year?? What changes/goals/resolutions did you make??

I couldn't remember the last time I spent a New Years actually out on the town, so this year I knew it was time.  I spent mine in downtown Nashville with neighbors, met girls with Australian accents, and met an awesome girl that does advertising like me :)  Notice I didn't focus on meeting guys....this was the most action I gave out that night to someone who has been there for me through A LOT of BS.

Let's just say new years here is like a mini New York.  It was a mob!! Nashville has the "ball" drop for the central time zone, and sadly, the music note got stuck once again this year while dropping. I didn't see it last year because Mike and I chose to stay in for an intimate new year...plus it was raining cats and dogs, but the drop last year got stuck.  Well, this year got stuck once again.  It was quite hilarious because we're all standing there and no one knows when to yell happy New Year and eventually the fireworks go off while the music note is still half way down.  I'm assuming I was trying to video the fireworks (which didn't turn out) but you can hear them and everyone in the background slowly realizing oh ok it's midnight lol!

I live in such a beautiful city...

My new year plans include apartment hunting (gotta be out in like 3 weeks and still don't know where I'm going!), amazon gift card shopping, contemplating getting my first mac computer, going to art shows, busting out my wake up frankie bedding and debuting JiLTED!!!  We are very excited about this - our first mini issue will come out January 7 so be checking!!  You can also like us on facebook here.  We have a long way to go but our ambitions are huge and I just know this is going to be great.

Ways To Start Your New Year off:

Changes!  Changes!  Change up your bedding (like me!), throw out/rearrange rugs around your place, buy a new shade of lipstick, rearrange wall decor, hit the gym and find a new favorite class (i recommend yoga, pilates or balletone), start planning a spring vacation, clean out your computer and back up all your 2011 stuff (get you a flash drive-I just did!), get some rosewater spray (who doesn't wanna smell like roses!?), start using natural products on your face if you don't already (burts bees, jojoba oil-I plan to research this more throughout the year), set dates if you're having trouble following through with things, get a cute unicorn and puppies wall calendar, start cooking in more (I'm about to make me some homemade fried rice), and most importantly find the good in everything!!