Renata, according to....

"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different."

Coco Chanel

Today will be different.  Today the truth comes out, sorta.  I find that the best way to get to know someone is to ask the people who know them best.  It is easy for me to come up with different adjectives to describe me.  However, those descriptions are one-sided, biased, so-to-speak.  Now, asking my friends to describe me, well, that is an entirely different story.  That is some serious truth-talking, ya dig?

This afternoon I had the ingenious idea to ask four of my closest friends, and my husband to describe me in five words.  Five words, no more, no less.  Here is what they said.

Let me start out with T.  My sweet T has been my friend for over ten years.  TEN YEARS!  These were the five words T chose to describe me.

/1./ Thoughtful /2./ Funny /3./ Beautiful /4./ Creative /5./ Fashionista

I know, I know, I am flattered.  Next we have my friend K.  What can I say about K, she is ahhhhhhmaaaazzziiinnngggg.  Yes, amazing.  One of the most generous human beings ever to walk the face of the planet.  Here are her five words.

/1./ Intelligent /2./ Bonzer /3./ Fanciful /4./ Writer /5./ Debonair

She's so fancy, isn't she?  Love it!  If you have no clue what bonzer means, don't feel bad (I had no idea either).  I did look it up and it means awesome.  She thinks I'm awesome.  I now present you F.  F has known me longer than my own husband, and I've known him since I was nine.  We fight, we cry, and we make-up.  She is like family.  F's five words are.

/1./ Beautiful /2./ Sweet /2./ Humble /3./ Outspoken /4./ Warmhearted

What a doll!  Up next we have V.  V, I don't even know, she just gets me.  When I asked her for five words she gave me nine.  She proceeded to say that nine was not enough.  Well, what she actually said was that I needed categories, not just words.  I can't decide whether or not that is a compliment or an insult.  We will go with compliment.  These are V's five, I mean nine, words.

/1./ Compassionate /2./ Emotional /3./ Beautiful /4./ Intuitive /5./ Intelligent /6./ Feisty /7./ Trustworthy /8./ Loyal /9./ Hilarious 

I agree, I am hilarious.   Last, but certainly not least, we have my husband.  Honestly, there are moments that I feel he knows me better than my own mother.  Actually, he does.  These are the five words out of hundreds of words my husband chose to describe me.  

/1./ Intelligent /2./ Stubborn /3./ Optimistic /4./ Tough /5./ Emotional

I think he may have meant 'difficult' instead of 'tough', however, we will just leave it at that (I am both).  There you have it folks, "Renata, according to T, K, F, V, and the husband".  It doesn't get better than that.  And, I have no idea where that emotional thing came from.  I am far from emotional.  Okay, I lied, I am a hurricane.  

I promise no bribery was involved.  My people, well, I guess they love me.

xoxo

A Little bit of this and a Little bit of that.

"The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants."

Johnny Depp

Hello, lovers!  If you are anything like me, well, you are secretly wishing Monday never happened.  Monday, Monday, Monday, as always you've won.  Monday-1, Renata-0.  This weekend flew by quicker than I can say Sasquatch.  Trust me, I am a fast talker.  We aren't complaining about the weekend in this house (well, maybe Ziggy is).   

Let us all take a moment to enjoy Ziggy Marley's hair-style.  Isn't he the cutest little chinky-eyed Maltese, ever?  I know, I know, I couldn't agree more.  He looks refreshed and renewed.  The Ziggles on-the-other-hand thinks otherwise.  If we are being honest here, well, Ziggy looks like an adorable Gremlin.  However, due to circumstances beyond our control, the fluff had to go.  I keep reminding him it will grow back.  I think he understands.  At least I hope he does.  In the meantime he is spending extra time in the sun where he is warm and cozy.  I don't blame him, do you?

Weekend, where are you?

xoxo  

Little Things I Love.

These are some of my favorite things...well, you know what I mean.  

/1./  Oh, my, nostrils.  This shampoo-shower gel-bubble bath has the most amazing scent I've ever encountered.  Cinnamon buns equates instant happiness.  I am currently using this as a body wash.  And, just as the bottle says, it is ultra-rich.  I feel as though I am lathering cream on my body.  Philosophy, you've done it again.  I am tempted to go back and buy the cinnamon buns lip gloss.  Win-win?  I think so.

/2./  Let me just put this out in the open.  I dislike shaving cream.  I think it is messy and it does not moisturize.  My mission has always been to find the best product to shave my legs.  Best product that is NOT shaving cream.  Therefore, the other day as I was walking down the several aisles at Target and came across this baby moisture wash it finally hit me.  How did I not think of this sooner?  This my friends is the absolute perfect substitute for shaving cream.  Shaving cream adios.  Johnson's baby moisture wash exceeded all my expectations.  It lathers, it moisturizes, and it smells like baby heaven.  

/3./  OPI's Russian Navy will most definitely be a monthly occurrence in the manicure department.  The photo truly does not do it justice.  It is a rich navy blue with a hint of purple.  In one word it is fabulous.  I am a lover of all colors dark.  The darker, the better.  This is the color currently adorning my pretty manicured hands.  I almost love it more than the color black, almost.  The next time you get a manicure ask for OPI Russian Navy.  Oh, come on, just do it!

/4./  My heart beats a little faster at the thought of wearing this black, floppy hat.  From the very first moment my eyes hit this hat I knew it had to be mine.  It flops in the just the most perfect way.  I am a hat kinda girl.  I'd were hats all the time were it socially acceptable.  I am crossing my fingers for cooler weather.  The minute the temperature drops I am taking this bad girl out.  Eh, who am I kidding, cool weather or not, this is going to be THE accessory in my wardrobe this season.  

/5./ I am love, love, love, loving this Initial R Charm bracelet by Alex and Ani.  My birthday is in November, in case you are wondering.  The obsession with the Initial R has taken over my life.  Initial R necklace, Initial R earring, Initial R errrthang.  This is definitely on my 'I want it now' list.  How can I convince the husband to buy me this?

If I have one suggestion for you this weekend, well, it would be to go out and buy yourself the Philosophy Cinnamon Buns body wash, kick back, and relax.  Happy Saturday!

xoxo

Good night, Friday.

"You had me at Friday"

Merry Friday!  After quite possibly the longest week of my life, the weekend is finally here.  Finally.  Even after eight hours of sleep I woke up exhausted.  Have you ever tried to open your front door with your car keys?  From the inside?  Yeah, I didn't think so.  This morning I did just that.  I walked up to the door, keys in hand, pressed the button and waited.  Dude, I waited.  I'm not exactly sure what I expected to happen.  What was I thinking?  Let me go back to sleep!

I took a step back, looked up at the door, said a quick thank you for the absence of witnesses, and walked out the door.  For the greater part of my day all I did was daydream of a big bed with a thousand pillows.  I cannot fathom the reason I am still awake.  Well, honestly, I just needed to share this video.  Have I mentioned how much I love Joseph Gordon Levitt?  I haven't?  Well, I do.  His 'Nicki Minaj' number was the absolute cutest thing ever.  I'd choose him over Brad Pitt any-day-of-the-week.  True story. 

Without further ado, I present to you, the best lip synch battle I've seen this week.  I may have to convince my friends to play this game.  Any takers?  

Whatever it is that you are doing on this Friday evening, do it happily and with love.    I for one prefer spending Friday night in my pajamas.

Good night!

xoxo

#throwbackthursdaysaywhat

"Kid, you'll move mountains."

Dr. Seuss

Things are too exhausting around these parts to think of anything creative to write.  Therefore, today you are privy to Little Renata.  Aren't you lucky?  Oh, yes you are.  Personally, I adore the idea of 'throwback Thursday'.  In my opinion I think it is important to know the person completely.  Past, present, and hope to be in their future.  Perhaps that is just me.  However, I enjoy the glimpse into a life I never knew.  I revel in the idea that once before, long ago, this is where you started.  

These photos are just a small part of the little person I was.  A little fashionista from early on.  And, look at those bangs. They almost make me want to try that bangin' style once again. I was a spit-fire.  I was a force to be reckoned with.  Trust me, don't let that cute face fool ya.  

I also swore I was a model.  For days on end I would hope and pray that I would one day be tall enough to be the next Cindy Crawford.  Obviously, that did not happen.  Clearly, I am not even close to Cindy Crawford status.  Eh, what can ya do?  You can't win them all.  

Have a happy Thursday!

I'm throwin' it back and I'm not ashamed, holla!

xoxo

I want it now.

"The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter." 

Paulo Coelho

When I want something, I want it now.  I do not want to wait five months, five weeks, five days, nor five hours.  I want it now.  Which is weird considering I am very patient in my professional life.  In my personal life?  Not so much.  At this very moment I want something badly.  I want it so much it pains me.  Yet, the more I want it, the further it is from my reach.  The further it is from my reach, the more I want it.  It is a crazy, vicious cycle.

The more sane part of me thinks, "Renata, be patient, it will happen, just give it time."  However, I am not sane, nor am I patient.  Being impatient?  Now that I am good at.  Actually, I am great at being impatient.  I want something and I want it now.  Is it really too much to ask for?

I sit and watch as others take for granted what I so badly want.  It just isn't fair.  Sure, it sounds immature.  Sure, it sounds like I am being a child.  Yes, I understand that the world isn't fair.  Yet, I can't help it.  I can't help it.  I have spent so much time being an adult, being mature, and I am over it.  

For once I am just going to allow myself the freedom to feel how I want.  And, right now I am angry.  I am mad.  I am irate.  I am pulling a Veruca Salt and I could care less what anyone has to say.

xoxo

I am feeling Fall'tastic!

"Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind." 

Henry James

Be kind.  Such a simple concept, isn't it?  Yet, so many of us go about our day without doing a single kind thing.  Trust me, I get it.  We have bad days, we are only human.  Now, a bad day is not an excuse to be unkind, is it?  No, it most certainly is not.  There are individuals fighting a much harder battles than ours.  There are individuals whose life are much more difficult and yet they still manage to smile, to be filled with hope, and cheer.

I work for an amazing organization with an even greater mission to help the world at large.  Every day I am shown how fortunate I am.  Every day I find that I could, I should , be a little more grateful.  Therefore, I have made a conscious decision to be a little more kind to everyone.  You see, it doesn't take much.  It hardly takes anything at all.  Today I decided to do something extra kind.  You know, go out of my way to make someone other than me happy.

Our department is gearing up for the fourth quarter at work.  This means that meetings, upon meetings, upon meetings, are upon us.  That is where the goody bag idea came from.  I wanted to do something a little extra, something to bring a smile to each one of my co-workers.  It was simple.  Just a bag with pumpkin caramel latte hand sanitizer, some chocolate, and a card.  Upon handing out a goody bag for each one of the women, I looked up to face a room full of smiles, mission accomplished.  Their happiness was contagious.  It warmed my heart. 

I'm cheesy, I know.  I am a big, big, big, ball of cheese and I love it.  Here is to a fall'tastic week!  Oh, and if you are wondering, yes, I used fall'tastic in those cute little cards, boom!

xoxo