In case you haven’t noticed (because you are a) blind, or b) don’t read my blog AT ALL), I’m kind of a mess. I like to think that I’m organized, but truth be told, I have more “junk drawers” in my house than is healthy. Open my kitchen cabinets and risk an avalanche of pots & pans. My eyebrows are dangerously close to holding hands in the middle, I’m in desperate need of a pedicure, and so many things in my pantry have crystalized or taken a different form that I should really have my own geology exhibit.
Take this blog, for example. I’m not organized with it. AT ALL. Oh, I want to be. I have the highest of hopes. I think, “As long as I blog every other day, I’m doing OK.” But that doesn’t work for a perfectionist. It works on the days when she has dazzling ideas, but on the days she doesn’t, she sits on the couch and bites her nails and watches DVR-ed Biggest Loser and tries not to think about that fact that she hasn’t blogged for THREE DAYS. Are people still looking at her blog? Will people still like her?! DO PEOPLE EVEN STILL USE BLOGS or has there been something else invented since the last time she blogged?!?! Also, she talks about herself in third person. It’s an illness. I’m a sloppy perfectionist. I want things to be done perfectly, but if I don’t have the time to perfect them, I just don’t bother. Which is probably why I’m in therapy.
Recently, I have been observing some of my more favorite blogs. I have noticed that, for the most part, the bloggers seem to have a pattern, a rhythm. A PLAN. Maybe Monday they blog a recipe. Tuesday they blog something fashion-oriented. Wednesday is about design. You get the idea. The weird, OCD part of me loves that idea. The unkempt, disheveled part of me NEEDS it. So, I am introducing myself to a “blog schedule.” It will be like a regimen – as Julie Powell said in Julie & Julia, “It’s like AA.” Anyway, I’ll be starting it next week. Because I am a procrastinator, and I can’t stand starting something new at the end of a week. Kind of like when people say “I’ll start my diet on Monday” so they can eat donuts at the office on Friday. This blog post is my donut. Hopefully this new structure will kick my butt into shape, figuratively speaking. I’ll let Jillian continue to work her magic on my literal butt.
Speaking of Jillian, I cannot allow this blog post to pass without talking about the season premiere of The Biggest Loser. Let me say this, before last night (I watched it a day late, because that’s how I roll), I had never seen an episode of The Biggest Loser. I met my blog friend Chelsea earlier this year, and thought, “Wow, this girl blogs a lot about that show where people lose weight. I wonder why.” Then she brought it up one day in an email, and I was all, “Never seen it.” Apparently, that is sacrilege, and before I knew it, I had committed to watching the first two episodes of the new season. The agreement was if, after those 2 episodes, I didn’t like the show, I could quit and we could still be friends (we’re very dramatic). Well, I DVR-ed that sucker and finally got around to watching it last night. I am not going to recap the whole show, because Chelsea did a good job of that in her blog post yesterday. I will, however, say that I was CRYING within the first 15 minutes of the show. It’s really touching to see people who love their families so much and are so determined to get healthy. Also, it’s pretty hilarious, because Jillian yells a lot and people puke. HOW CAN VOMIT NOT BE HILARIOUS? OK, maybe that’s just me. Also, if you do the 30-Day Shred, it makes you realize that Jillian could be much, much meaner to you. Like, if she were standing over you yelling f-bombs and telling you she doesn’t care about your pathetic excuses. While you cry and vomit at the same time. See? Things could be worse. Quit whining about the Shred. But seriously, try Loser. If you don’t like it, we can still be friends. (But I will think less of you as a person.)
Here are a couple of the text messages between Chelsea and I that transpired while I was watching the show:
Me: “Let’s get fat so we can go on the show together.”
Chelsea: “You’ll change your mind once you see how Jillian treats them.”
Me: “I don’t know how you watch this with Stephen. Michael is not here but he would be mocking me.”
Chelsea: “I enjoy it more when I watch it alone. I can cry and eat M&M’s.”
I also texted my mother, who gave me a confidence boost:
Me: “Do you watch The Biggest Loser?”
Mom: “Not lately.”
Me: “I am watching it because I am a loser.”
Mom: “Did you tape it?”
Me: “Yes.”
Mom: “OK you are a loser.”
Then I drowned my sorrows in leftover Chinese food. There’s nothing like watching a show about weight loss while stuffing your face.
Alright! Glad I got that off my chest. Here’s a sneak peek at Thursday posts on the new “schedule”:
Something Old | Something New
I’ll post my favorite outfit of the week, and maybe just random things (new & old) that are currently making me happy.
Example:
I bought this dress a couple of years ago and loved it. Then I washed it and it shrunk. It’s still long enough to wear alone, but it’s kind of flimsy. Flimsy + short isn’t always a good combination. The other day, I was at Forever 21 and picked up these black leggings:
Perfect! I am sad to say I wore this today with silver flip flops. A fashion travesty. But then I carried my Coach purse and it made everything alright. I need some plain ballet flats – all of my flats are either patterned/embellished or a non-neutral color. Because I’m flashy like that.
I am OBSESSED with vintage rings. I’ve been collecting them for a few years. This was one of the first ones I bought. I got it for a dollar at a booth in Canton – but sometimes I like to pretend that it used to belong to Doris Day. The stone is oval and the color of smoke. Probably one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.
I’m drawn to oval and teardrop shapes, and am a fan of simple and understated jewelry (although I do like a nice glitzy piece every now and then). These earrings are marcasite and I stole them from either my mom or my sister, but I’ve had them for so long the law of reclaiming has passed and they’re mine forever. That’s how it works, right? And yes, that’s my engagement ring/wedding band – my husband has good taste.
I have been trying to give my hair a break lately. Washing, drying, styling, and highlighting really takes its toll. So today I let it air dry and added a little John Frieda Frizz-Ease Take Charge Curl-Boosting Mousse. It left all the natural wave but took away some of the frizz. I like how it turned out, but my favorite part is the minimal damage to my hair.
So there you have it. I’ll try to do a post like this each Thursday. Let me know if you have any products you want me to review or looks you want me to try – I’m always game for trying something new or different!
Also, once a week I am going to try to answer a few questions that have been asked either in my blog comments, on Twitter, or sent by carrier pigeon (I’m really not picky). Please feel free to fire away! No question is too personal. Well, probably, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
xo
Kathleen says:
I really wish my hair would look that good air-dryed. I wish it would give me any sort of wave at all.
I’m looking forward to your new blog regimen! I don’t have a plan for my blog, but I do have some categories or types of things that I write about and I usually have some things tucked away that I can pull out when I need them.
Meghan says:
I never could get to the point where I could apply hair products AFTER I shower. For some reason, I just can’t do it without making my hair look terrible.
Good blog!
Cio says:
I’m really happy you loved the show. It’s one of my favs. I cried too. Well I cried cause I’m always like Damn. I need to apply to that show ASAP.
I l.o.v.e vintage rings. If my fingers were small enough I would buy them all the time. Kinda like I buy shoes. ha.
Thom says:
You crack me up. Hope all is well…especially with Señor Jon joining the team!
marli says:
i love the idea of a blog plan. i look forward to reading yours!
have you ever been told that you look a lot like catherine pierce (the blond sister of “the pierces”)?
Mary Ellen says:
I loved your blog and look forward to reading it every day. Good luck sticking to your plan! I know where you got some of your traits, sounds like me you are writing about, (sorry!) Love you!
Erin says:
Your hair does look fabulous. I love the leggings & the vintage ring! Kate has one like that… I’ve always contemplated stealing it :)
Chelsea Hurst says:
Wait a second. You got mad at me for saying “When it comes out on video.” but your mom is allowed to say “Did you tape it?” Can we say double standard???
Stef says:
Now now lauren, vomitting is NOT funny when you’re the one doing it over and over again after bad dairy queen (or whatever it is that you ate). Shame on you for enjoying other peoples vomitting pain when you know how they feel. ;)
Sarah says:
If it makes you feel any better, I have absolutely no blog plan. I just blog and the urgency with which I blog depends on if I have gotten any threatening e-mail asking me why I haven’t blogged yet. I know this makes it sound like I have thousands of adoring fans, but I don’t. I mean, I barely have broken 50 followers lately and i am sure they are disappointed. So there’s that. But maybe I will get a plan! And it will be amazing! And I can get up to 75 followers! That would be neat.
Also, I just watched The Biggest Loser (heretofore known as TBL) for the first time this week too. I cried throughout the episode and then called my fiancee and vowed that I was going to quit my job and become a personal trainer to help people with their goals like losing 300 pounds. But then I realized my car payment is due, so my personal training goal may have to wait. I will be watching this show (and crying) for the remainder of the season. I just don’t think I could ever watch it with boys around. I would, without a doubt, be mocked endlessly.
Meg says:
I keep thinking I should have a blog plan. And then I go and blog about absolutely nothing and REALLY think I need a blog plan. Still hasn’t happened. Oy.
I’ve never seen The Biggest Loser, but I did watch the entire season of Dance Your Ass Off and balled like a baby. Does that count?
mbowman7 says:
Ok so with you and Chelsea talking soo much about The Biggest Looser I really want to watch it now and see if I like it. BUT I’m not gonna lie I am cheap so I don’t pay for cable I watch all of my shows online @ hulu.com. I just looked and they don’t have it on there !!!! So I can either decide to stop being so cheap see if I can find it somewhere else online or go without….I’ll let you know what I decide.
As for the blog schedule I think it is a great idea. I know how you feel I haven’t posted since Monday and I feel like I am letting people down. But I haven’t had any idea what to write about. I’ve also been playing with the idea of some sort of “schedule” but haven’t decided what that will be yet.
Stephanie says:
My hubs and I LOVE The Biggest Loser! I cry…and have even seen him wipe away a tear or two! We have also subjected ourselves to the 30-day shred…MORE THAN ONCE! Let’s just say that after 4 kids I needed it! Plus, the summers are just plain HOT and I can’t partake in quite as many outdoor activities, and…well, before you know it a couple extra pounds sneaks up and plants itself right on your butt…or in this case…MY BUTT!
Good luck with your blog schedule! I wish that I could do that, but some days life just happens and I don’t think I could ever be that premeditated in my blogging patterns! And…my self diagnosed OCD is already bad enough that I really don’t need to add to it! ;-)
Sarah says:
hahaha I can promise you there is NO plan with my blog :)
love that ring!
mediumcrazy says:
Girl you are photogenic! You look “smoky” as my husband would say…that is his highest compliment.
Kyla Roma says:
Love this series- I like having a couple things a week to check in on, any more and it’s too much!
katyhelena says:
A blog schedule! What a great idea! I’m inspired…I may have to consider this with my own blog…
jenwhetham says:
Lauren, as usual, absolutely hysterical. My favorite part was Chelsea’s text about watching the Biggest Loser alone without her husband so she can cry and eat M and M’s.
Here’s my decadent little TV watching ritual/procrastination technique: Every weeknight at 10, there’s a rerun of Sex and the City on channel 10. At 9:50, I grate cheese (whatever I have in the fridge) that I dust with flour and then fry– seriously, they are like the most divinely cheesiest cheese crackers ever. I sit on the couch eating these lacy cheese bites and drink champagne while I watch skinny and glamorous Carrie type witty and insightful questions on her laptop.
During this time, I will think the following thoughts: I should be writing. I should have exercised today. I should definitely get that Kate Spade purse I saw at Nordstroms. I should turn this show off and turn on my own laptop.
Then I have another glass of champagne, put the empty bottle in my recycling, and then I go to bed promising myself I’ll get up in the AM and write.
Three guesses what happens in the morning, except replace champagne with coffee and the cheese crisp thingies with some sort of breakfast treat. And Sex and the City with running extremely late for work.
And there you go.
Love the new blog style! Thanks for all the laughs!
Joe says:
Blog plan, consistency, I love it.
Biggest Loser is addicting, too. Now that they threw the whole emotional-disaster-feeds-life-changing-event thing into it? They must be reeling people in like crazy.
steph anne says:
The Biggest Loser is my FAVORITE show! I’m in love with it and I’ll let you in on a secret… I added everyone on the show on my Facebook. Shay recently wrote on Facebook that she burned 6,000 calories in 1 day at home. Can we say WOAH!? I almost went to auditions a few months ago but I backed out since I can’t afford to miss work for the show and didn’t want to get high hopes.
Jill says:
I think I need to purchase some of that John Freida product ASAP.