There's a List for That

Ok, so I feel like I've probably "fashioned" you guys to death for the past week or more, so I thought we'd do a little something different today to change things up. I mean, there's only a certain amount of poly-blend cardigans, ribbed tights and Chanel tweed one can take until it all starts to run together.

As they do in my yoga class, let's begin with a nice, deep, cleansing breath in through the nose....and out through the mouth.....(feel free to add an "ohmmmm" in there for good measure, if you feel so moved.)

See, don't you feel better?

Ok, first order of bid'ness to attend to...so I've decided I'm a compulsive list maker. First of all, yes - I do realize this is 2010 and we have these wonderful gadgets called "iPhones" and "Blackberries" that can keep track of everything but the kitchen sink. However, I'm old school and kinda partial to keeping my lists on good old fashioned Post-It notes.

I realized my list-making quirk might be a full blown red flag for some form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder when I opened my planner yesterday and reached inside for my "Monday Afternoon To-Do List", but it was nowhere to be found. However, my "Organic Cleaning Supplies I'd Like to Try" list, "Things I Need To Do Before Thursday's Work Conference" list and "Semi-Serious Fall Reading" lists were all there, neatly tucked away inside my zebra-striped Betsey Johnson day planner.

Then I started to ponder the extent of this list making mania...is this normal? Do any of you Blonde Ambitioners also suffer from list-making OCD? Just wondering...

Fortunately, I'm 25 and still relatively sharp when it comes to remembering things like, "Buy new mascara from the Jessica Biel commercial" "research local gyms" and "schedule dentist appointment", so you'll be glad to know I was still fully functional, despite losing my P.M. itinerary : )

In other news...I baked my mom a pretty fabulous birthday cake this past weekend and was quite proud of the final result. It's called a Chocolate Layer Cake with Cheesecake Filling and it comes from my girl, Mrs. Paula Deen. You can get the recipe here, if you think you might want to attempt this bad boy yourself.

I had to use my mom's super awesome beige Tupperware cake holder from like, 1980, so the presentation left something to be desired. Overall though, I was pleased. I would highly recommend it to any of you chocolate/cheesecake lovers out there.

Moving right along...

Max has started eating his bed.

Perhaps I am a bad mother and he is not getting an adequate amount of some crucial nutrient. Or maybe he's just having a wicked craving for wool cushion stuffing. Who am I to judge? To each his own, I suppose. Whatever the case, this is just bizarre doggy behavior.

Maybe he is simply unsatisfied with his current sleeping arrangements and would like something a bit more spacious or an option with a pillow top...He can be quite the diva, after all ; )

Have any of your pets ever done this? Should I have him checked? I digress.

Ok, let's see...what else should we talk about...?

Oh yes, how could I forget!? Today is this woman's 50th birthday!

"Who is she?", you ask.

She is my best friend, my primary fashion consultant, my mentor, my therapist, my partner in crime, my biggest cheerleader. She is the consummate voice of reason in the back of my head; the one who most encouraged me to aim higher, make my voice heard and never settle for just "ok".

She taught me how to bake cookies, fold fitted sheets, apply eyeliner, tease my hair just so, and many more important things we girls must learn how to do. I notice more and more each day just how similar we are and have recently come to the realization that, yes, I am indeed becoming my mother.

And I thank God for that every day.

Happy birthday, mom. I love you!

"...many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."- Proverbs 31:9-31

Be blessed, lovelies-