Viva la FIFA!

Big events always warrant the question- Where were you when...?

So where were you when Landon Donovan scored the winning goal to win Group C and advance in the World Cup? (ps- I love, love, love that Donovan plays for the Galaxy- yeah LA!)

Words can't even express the rollercoaster of emotions that game was to watch, especially at 7 in the morning. Followed by the adrenaline rush in the 91st minute, needless to say it was very hard focusing that morning at work. I was with a group of my favorite co-workers and side-by-side we sat, nervously watching every missed goal and bad call- and in unison jumping and cheering as we advanced to the next round.

It was one of those moments where goosebumps crawled all over my body and my heart swelled with pride. A rallying moment for Americans across the country, and a well-deserved spotlight for a sport that most Americans debunk as a "real" sport.

Today is the next USA match, the first in the knock-out round. You better believe I'm donned in my red-white-and blue, and rooting for the boys to bring it home.

Summer Sick Days

Last I wrote I had grandiose plans of a summer staycation-- then I preceded to get sick, and I'm still sick, and my weekends and weeks have definitely not gone as planned. But, then again, isn't that the way life goes?

That being said, I am taking a time-out from my go-go-go lifestyle to refocus on myself- my interests, my goals, but most importantly my health. No one should ever be sick three weeks straight in the dead of summer. Once again I'm reminding myself that it's okay to say no- and it's okay to do your own thing, even if it isn't considered to be fun or cool by the majority of people I hang out with (I admit, I need to find more people like me to be friends with. Takers?)

And heck- yesterday was technically only the first day of summer!

Summer Staycation

{she hit pause studios}

Happy weekend! Hope it's sunny and warm where you are. Southern California is fighting its annual June Gloom, but I managed to grab a few hours of rays this afternoon.

June is shaping up to be a pretty low-key month for me due to a very spend-happy May. I'm actually looking forward to taking a break- I have so much piling up on my to-do list that it's starting to get overwhelming. I don't know where to start, and once I even manage to, I get too stressed out!

I'm in the process of planning out my June weekends with low-key, budget friendly activities and I'm eager to start my summer stay-cation. I think it will be fun to play a tourist in all of Southern California, and hopefully I will meet some cool, new people along the way.

What are you summer plans?

If Dancing With the Stars Went Indie

I try to keep my reality television consumption to a bare minimum, but then Spencer starting wearing crystals and I couldn't not watch. Seriously, crystals? The guy is certifiably insane.

But I digress. I sporadically watched Dancing With the Stars this season since Chad "OchoCinco" and Erin Andrews were both on the cast. (For those who don't know, Chad plays football for the Bengals- my hometown team, and Erin is a sideline sportscaster for ESPN- a job that I once coveted).

I just happened to discover this amazing little video and imagined how awesome these two would be on the show. Don't you remember the dance number in (500) Days...? Hall and Oates! Can't they just be together in real life? They are too freaking adorable. Wait- scratch that- I want Joseph Gordon Levitt all to myself. But Zooey is a gem, I can't hate on the girl.

Flip Flop Tan Lines

One of my favorite (among many things) about summer is the first time you realize you have tan lines from your flip flops- which, ironically, happened to me this weekend. It's the smallest indication that summer is here- and with it warmer weather, longer days, BBQs, and my favorite, beach volleyball!

Memorial day is always the kick-start to the fun, summer months-and this year was no exception. I spent the last three days playing volleyball, lounging poolside, grilling out, day drinking beach-side, laughing with friends and making new ones.

So, even though I have my first tan lines of the year, I keep fantasizing about a summer spent in these Tony Burch flats. I love, love, love them!

An Education

Over the weekend I watched a charming little film called "An Education," which I immediately fell in love with. It was nominated for a few Oscars, and rightfully so as it was a great screenplay with a talented cast- I especially think Carey Mulligan is going to have a successful career.

Watching films like this one makes me fall more in love with the art of screenplay and cinematography. It's rare that films these days strike an emotional chord with the audience- theater is so littered with blockbusters and needless sequels (I'm talking to you SATC2 and Shrek 4), so when I come across a movie that I can actually relate to, I know I've found one that will have critical acclaim and little box office success.

Have you watched any good movies lately?

Thinking Outside the Box

One of my many new found passions is interior design. The way I see it, design goes beyond furniture placement and color schemes, it's more of a reflection of who we are. A boxed, room by room mirror of our individual personalities.

Sharing an apartment comes with its difficulties for many reasons, and I'm learning that I've grown past the need for roommates- but presently, my life dictates having two of them, whose personalities polarize that of my own. While I've conceded in the common areas, my bedroom is entirely my own canvas, and I can't wait to make it an amazing haven in a sometimes tense living situation.

I recently stumbled upon a show on Bravo called Nine By Design, which showcases the most adorable and eclectic NYC family. Robert and Cortney Novogratz are interior designers with seven children, who flip houses- not just any houses, but multi-million dollar homes that are absolutely phenomenal. I aspire to have their charming, confident personalities, their eyes for design and taste in truly charming pieces.

Lucky for me, they have a book that I have eagerly added to my library queue list that I will use as a tool to transform my currently blah bedroom to something awesome. Stay tuned for before and after photos, and a sneak peek into my humble abode!