100TH POST AND THANK YOU GIVEAWAY

Hi ya'll, remember me???

I've taken some time off from the bloggy world to lick my wounds, but I'm back and better than ever!

To say a huge thank you to everyone who commented and emailed about LOML, and to celebrate my 100th post, let's have a GIVEAWAY!!!

Because giving back is a fantastic thing!**

Erica from *jewelry without jewels* and I are teaming up to bring you THE accessory for the upcoming summer months - one of her fantastic necklaces!

These are the ones I've been blatantly telling hinting to Florida that I want for my birthday next month (get excited, ya'll!)

*toile*

*sadie*

So - without further ado, let the GIVEAWAY commence!

Here are the rules:

You have until May 31 at 11:59pm Eastern to enter the GIVEAWAY. Once we have a winner, Erica will pick out a *fabulous* summer necklace and it will be sent to the winner.

One Entry: Head over to *jewelry without jewels*, and pick out your favorite piece. Then, comment on this post about the ideal outfit to wear your favorite *jewelry without jewels* piece with (please include your email address!);

Two Entries: Comment as above and become a follower (or let me know if you are already a follower);

Three Entries: Comment as above, become a follower, and follow me on Twitter;

Four Entries: Comment as above, become a follower on both the blog and on Twitter, and Tweet this post;

Five Entries: Comment as above, become a follower on both the blog and Twitter, Tweet this post, and post about this giveaway on your blog;

and for all you truly dedicated friends out there

for a whopping TEN ENTRIES: do all the above AND head over to Erica's blog and send her some love on her recent engagement!! (but make sure you let me know!)

Thank you again for all the love and support this past 2 weeks - talking to you has really made this yucky time so much easier. You have made me feel so much better about myself - I've said it before and will say it again - I am truly blessed to have stumbled upon this fantastic community.

Cheers to the next 100 posts,

Sweet Bea


** Did you know that Erica donates 10% of all sales to VH1's Save the Music Foundation? How awesome is that?? As the product of music education in the schools, I know how important this critical learning is as part of a full, well-rounded education and experience.

Awards to get and give

Hello sweeties!

Florida is HOME and I am happy. He unfortunately had to go in to work today, on my day off(!), so I have some time to check in and say hi to all ya'll.

First - a HUGE thank you to each and every one of you who sent happy thoughts my way this weekend. They meant more to me than you probably realize. I know I'm not the first, nor will I be the last to say this - but I am so lucky to have wandered my way into this amazing network of folks back in November. I've made some WONDERFUL new real life and online friends, and caught back up with some of my nearest and dearest real life friends from days gone by.

Now, on to the awards!

As you know, yesterday was the NCAA Men's Championship Game. March and April are always bittersweet for me because as much as I LOVE tournament time and March Madness, it means the end of college basketball season is near and that makes me sad. It also means that baseball season is starting...which might make me even sadder (Sorry Daisy!)

But anyways, without any further ado, it is time to announce the winner of Blogs n' Brackets:

JACKIE from Always a Northerner!!!!!

Her bracket was pretty much awesome - in the West region, she was 100% until she had Memphis over Mizzou and UConn...not too shabby!!! :)

I, unfortunately, placed second to last. Sad, sad Bea indeed. Oh well.

I think next year, I will coordinate a giveaway with the bracket - wouldn't that be fun?

Now, onto a big THANK YOU for some bloggers who have recently given me awards! Katherine from just lovely gave me the Love Ya Award - yay! Her name will be added to my sidebar along with ASC's :)

And, Freck from It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere gave me the Kreativ Blogger Award!



Since this is a new award for me, here are the rules that accompany it:

List 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love! Be sure to tag them and let them know that they have won. You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard letting the whole world know . . . you are Kreativ!

Lulu from Dirty Martini Diaries - not only a real life friend but also an incredibly creative lady! She planned her entire wedding from across the country! And, since I know her and her impeccable style, I know it is going to be a WONDERFUL and creative affair.

Megan from Newly Wed, Newly Bred - also a longtime real life friend, her writings crack me up, no matter what they are about. Also check our her pics of her baby...if those ain't creative then I don't know what is!

Jackie from Always a Northerner - her and her hubby's apartment is so warm, inviting, and very creatively decorated (gotta love DC apartments!) My favorite is the sign by her front door - Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends. Tis so true!

Nina from According to Nina - Just check out Target Tuesdays for a sample of her creativity...not to mention her gift-giving ideas!

Erica from Sunshine Daydreamin' - Hooray for *jewelry without jewels*! What could be more creative that those??? LOVE THEM!

Kappa Prep at Monograms and Manicures - she is always crafting up cute ideas and sharing them with our bloggy world

Mojito Maven at Make Mine a Mojito - not only does she have some of the most creative and unique post topics, she also has the courage to stand behind her views and her posts.

Okie dokie sweet friends, your Bea needs to get out of her warm and comfy bed and into a warm and toasty shower and eat some leftover fajitas! Have a fantastic Tuesday afternoon!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

Old love, new potential love

Today is April 4th.

It is Mama and Daddy Bea's anniversary. They have been married for 45 years - can you believe it??

(Don't judge me, but I had to use the trusty laptop calculator to do the math...)

I'm so lucky to have them as a model and inspiration for how I want to live my life.

And speaking of new potential loves, FLORIDA GETS HOME TOMORROW! WHOO HOO!!!!

I am so incredibly excited to see him I can barely contain it!

Since he is a potential new love, and the relationship is blossoming, I decided to share some of my favorite blossoms with you - DC's famous cherry blossoms! (Lame segue, I know...) These pics are a few years old...I just haven't been able to get to the trees this year, and it has been so rainy and windy these past few days, I'm afraid they are almost gone already. The cherry blossoms are so fleeting...I suppose that adds to their beauty in a way - they are a brief reminder to live life as it comes, because it could all be gone tomorrow.

my personal favorite :)

the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument

closer shot of the Washington Monument.
(See all the people underneath the tree? It is PACKED!)

the White House through the trees, and more tourists
(I've always wanted to get a paddle boat during the festival!)

the Jefferson Memorial, or as Mama and Daddy Bea like to call it, the Standing Man.
(The Lincoln Memorial is, therefore, the Sitting Man.)

Side note: If you live in the DC area, go to Giffords Ice Cream NOW. They have Cherry Blossom ice cream and it is HEAVEN!

Hope ya'll are having a wonderful Saturday afternoon!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

PS I have to share a random memory with you. It was my first year in DC and the bestie and I were driving into the city from our apartment in Alexandria (about 20 minutes away.) I think we were going to look at the cherry blossoms maybe? I can remember what we were doing...but we ended up spending 3 hours in the car and couldn't get to where we were trying to park...and somehow just got dumped back on the highway headed towards home. BUT, the windows were rolled down, the weather was warm(ish) and we had Fleetwood Mac blasting in the car. It was a wonderful day.

It was, however, very similar to when we tried to have Ethiopian food around the same time - but that's another story for another day, sweet friends. Needless to say, Bea and Bestie are much better with directions after living here for over 5 years. :)

O Happy Day!

Sweetest friends, I haz a happy today!

Nope, nothing major happened, but I am happy.

I'm coming to you LIVE from Jacob's Coffee House on Capitol Hill.

The weather is warm and the doors to the coffee house have been thrown open. The breezes are AMAZING.

My bedroom is clean and organized. My APARTMENT is clean and organized.

I get to see Florida tomorrow.

I'm nom'ing (eating, for you non-lolspeakers) on a turkey panini and drinking a soy chai latte.

I'm wearing my favorite ASU fitted t-shirt and FLIP FLOPS!

And I'm getting to share my thoughts and feelings and life with all of you wonderful, wonderful people.

O Happy Day indeed!

I had to share this video with you - not only do I LOVE Sister Act (both of them!) but this song is awesome, AND my choir sang Joyful, Joyful AND we won the singing contest this movie is based on my senior year.

Cheers!

Sweet Bea

No More Grumpy Gus!

Thank you all for the kind words of support and for letting me rant and rave like a looney toon yesterday!

The situation WILL get better. I WILL find a better job! I know something great is in the cards for me!

Beyond all the sweetness that ya'll poured over me yesterday, I also found some fun cards tucked away in a box I was unpacking. I don't think I'll throw these away, just in case I need another dose of smiles :)

Here are some of the fun things my former coworkers wrote in my b-day card 2 years ago:

Bea, From the day I started with Team T, you have been a wonderful friend to me: showing me the ropes, buying me food, and always stopping to listen to my woes and whimsies or share a good story from your life. You're awesome, Bea, and I hope you enjoy your wonderful day. -LC

Bea, Since we share an office I want to write at least as much as LC wrote. But he is apparently quite verbose and I feel my time would be better spent working on an op-ed, so I'll leave it at that. Happy Birthday - CD *I was CD's press assistant. He's one of the funniest people I've ever met.*

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEA! In celebration of your b-day I intend to drink a Bud Light, speak in a southern accent, sing Son of a Preacher Man and date a NASCAR driver as an homage to you. Love and kisses, AB

Friend/Quasi/Roomie- What can I say, my cheap-beer drinking, NASCAR-watching, karaoke singing, green-loving girl? I owe almost everything good that has happened to me here in DC to you! I am looking forward to a crazy weekend and some damn fine karaoke singing ("Before He Cheats" stealers be damned!) - Friend *Friend is from my hometown and good friends with Brother Bea. I've written about him before*

Baseball, booze, and bad singing. You've hit the trifecta! Enjoy! - MS

Bea, They didn't leave me enough space inside, so...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You make surviving here work great. -PK

And then from my going away card from that office:

HOO-ray! Gonna miss you Bea. Don't forget your little LC when you're running the press shop for an illustrious member! Love, LC

You will be missed - you already are. - Chief of Staff

Bea, I miss the southern charm...oh wait...you're not southern. I just miss you then. - PK

Bea, As a press assistant you made one hell of a scheduler. - CD

Baby Brady Charles

Your darling Sweet Bea is a (kinda) Auntie!

Baby Brady Charles, little brother to Miss Hannah Mac (who actually does call me Auntie Bea), was born on Saturday at 2:41pm, weighing in at 7 lbs 5 ozs, and measuring 19 inches.

He's so cute (and we all know that I am NOT a baby person!) but no, Auntie Bea didn't hold him (I don't hold babies until, if dropped, they can more or less pick themselves back up again.)

Unfortunately, Baby Brady is having some breathing problems right now, so while Bea's high school bestie Schmoe and her hubby got to go home today (or at least, that was the plan last night and I just got off a plane and haven't heard an update yet), the little bugger didn't get to go home with Mommy and Daddy and Miss Hannah Mac.

So - please say a quick word to the folks upstairs that Brady gets all better and gets to come home where he belongs! :)

Cheers,

Sweet Bea!

PS - Brady needs a nickname! Please help!! :)

2008 White House Christmas Tree

National Christmas Tree and White House

I was very happy that I was able to get this picture...my camera's night settings were not cooperating much of the time...

The White House

We were taking our sweet time getting out of the house to go look at the tree, but thankfully I was able to snap this before they literally turned the lights out.

The California Tree

Each state had its own tree, spread out throughout the grounds...it took a bit to find the California tree, but we finally did :) The unlit National Menorah is in the background,

The Wisconsin Tree

Because I was with one of my favorite Sconnie friends and his girlfriend, and because Wisconsin is my home away from home. I suppose this then is my tree away from tree :)

Happy Birthday Brother Bea!

That's it...basically just happy birthday Brother Bea! :) He turns a whopping 26 today. He then reminded me that he is "a spring chicken in comparison" to me...to which I gently reminded him that I am a mere babe of 23...

:)

Cheers!

Sweet Bea

HOORAY! J. Crew Promo: up to 30% off

Well color me tickled! I know I'm being silly, but I am thankful for pretty things at J. Crew that make me feel happy when I am feeling blue :(

J. Crew's new promo, giving up to 30% off (!!) ends tomorrow, Saturday November 29th.



I know I should be saving my money until I have a job, BUT I also think I deserve a little present for all my hard work on the campaign (I mean, we were the #2 target in the entire country and CRUSHED our opponent by 11 points.)

Here are some of the things I am considering:

Onyx Sequin Dress in Black
Wool Cashmere Plaza Coat with Thinsulate in Ivory (its COLD here in DC!)
Double Serge Pencil Skirt in Bronzed Ochre (I have in deep persimmon and I LOVE it!)
Golden roses Cherie Cami
Isabella Paisley Halter Dress (not on sale but I'm quite drawn to it)

J. Crew shopping bag 11.28 by Sweet Bea

Thoughts?

RIP Cousin Jean

So I woke to some sad news this morning, my mom's cousin Jean passed away about 3 hours after requesting to be pulled off the machines.

Her problems started years ago when she had an ingrown toenail. She went to get her regular pedicure, and her pedicurist offered to remove the ingrown part, and it all went downhill from there. She developed a staph infection in her big toe, and for years the doctors couldn't get rid of it. They finally figured out that the reason they couldn't cure the infection was because they wouldn't get the antibiotics down to her big toe because of incredibly poor circulation. At this time, she was also diagnosed with emphysema and put on an oxygen tank.

About a week ago, she went into the hospital and I think most people knew that she wouldn't be coming out. Last night she grew tired of being hooked to all the machines and requested the machines be removed.

Cousin Jean was a staple at all our holiday gatherings (there are only about 4 or 5 of us) and never ceased to keep us in stitches the entire time. She was absolutely hilarious and she and my mom were really close (they are only a few months different in age.) Jean's favorite activity at our house was to tell embarrassing stories about Mom, which was awesome for us and drove my mom absolutely insane. But the holidays weren't complete without Jean and her constant teasing.

So today, though I am sad and wishing I was back in Cali with my family, I give thanks for my cousin Jean and her ability to always light up a room. Though she isn't with us anymore, her memories will always continue to bring a smile back to our faces.

Cousin Jean, you will be missed, but never forgotten.

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Well sweet friends I'm finally back in DC and starting to settle back in to real life...though being without a job and sleeping on a friend's couch I suppose hardly qualifies for "real" life. But, at least, in this week of counting blessings, I can be thankful that I have such wonderful real life friends with a couch for me to sleep on.

In these tough economic times, I am grateful that I was able to live at home while on the campaign trail and save money, so that if it takes me a while to find a new job I will still be okay.

I am thankful that I have a wonderful family who let me stay with them, not just so I could save money, but because, in their minds, where the heck else would I stay?

There will be more things that I am thankful for in the upcoming days (perhaps this becomes my very first "daily" post series??) but for now, let us turn our thoughts to other thanks-worthy things.

J. Crew.

I haven't mentioned it before, but I am *slightly* obsessed with J. Crew. Courtesy of my dear college friend Lulu (one of those women who is always so together and whose friendship I am also thankful for) and her blog, The Dirty Martini Diaries, (YAY! Now that campaign season is over I actually have time to read it!) I have recently stumbled onto this gem: J. Crew Aficionada.

Now I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone about how fantastic J. Crew is, but to find a blog where everyone shares my, um, passion(?) was a wonderful gift. Lots of fun chatting to be found, as well as insider information on sales, promo codes, and other information. It, along with checking in on Lulu, has become one of my daily addictions.

So, if you're off from work this week, or want to start reading some fanciful other sites instead of working, def hit up Lulu's site and J. Crew Aficionada. I promise you will enjoy every blissful moment.

OR - you could watch reruns of the Golden Girls, like I'm doing right now. On today's episode, Dorothy is tutoring a young student, Mario. Mario is played by Mario Lopez. It is pretty darned funny.

Cheers,

Sweet Bea