Beauty Confessions

Time for a Top Ten Tuesday! I have missed these.

Today? It's time to confess. I am not the most organized or even (gasp) hygienic gal when it comes to beauty. I have my trade secrets (which I have been "planning" a vlog on for some time now) but honestly? I am a quick and dirty (ha) make-up and beauty product person.

Guys? Sorry. This one is kind of geared to the ladies. You understand, don't you? :) Come back later this week, when I will have a write-up of an awesome new Buckhead dinner+bar location that is sure to give you chills. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Beauty Confessions

I confess that ...

1) I have been using the same concealer for a likely unhealthy amount of time. We are talking years, y'all. I keep it in my desk makeup bag for emergencies. You know, the "it's 6PM on a Friday and I am going straight to the restaurant from work so I must cover up under-eye bags and look cute and awake" emergencies. Don't judge.

Honestly? She's still gorg makeup-free. Image Source

2) I have all sorts of lipsticks and glosses in my stock, but I really die if I don't have a Blistex on me. And I call it a Chapstick. Just to keep people on their toes. I am a 100% chapstick (Blistex) addict. Speaking of, where is mine?

3) You will rarely see me in public without eye makeup on, but I have been getting more and more brazen with this one recently. Maybe it's because I am rocking the whole casual baseball hat look more and more on the weekends. Under that cap and with my oversized sunglasses on, you'd never know that my eyelids are see-through. This must be how movie stars get caught in those horrible Star Magazine cover photos.

4) I buy 90% of my beauty products at the drug store. Stay tuned for that vlog so I can show you what's in my beauty bag and what are my tried-and-true must-haves!

5) I don't wash my hair every day. And as a result, I have better hair days on the days that I do the full wash-blowout-straighten routine. My hair has time to recover on the off days from the heat stress and shows less breakage over time. Witness my next-day hair styles and be inspired to skip that next hair wash yourself.

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6) I think I read somewhere that you should wash your makeup brushes regularly. I don't. Every few months, I think, oh, I should wash that eyeshadow brush. And then I do. Maybe :) 

7) I have never used bronzer or eye cream in my life. I am a fair Irish gal, so I don't kid myself. I am pale and have see-through eyelids. I got over it.

8) I may be going to h-e-double-hockeysticks for this one, but I have also been using the same eyebrow pencil for years. To my credit, I stopped using it for a few years in the middle there, but it's an old-school pencil with a long life. Plus, I figure it's a pencil, so just use a sharpener and any bad germs get shaved right off. Right? Right?? 

This? Don't do it! Trust me!

 9) I have dyed my hair twice, once on purpose and once to correct an at-home catastrophe (at-home highlighting? A no-no. Trust). Today's brown? 100% au-natural, and I don't think I will ever change it.

10) I scan the magazine "beauty buys" articles to see if they list the products I use. If they don't, I think "they are so silly to forget product X," and then don't pay attention to the other products they rave about.

What about the rest of you? What beauty confession do you have to share? Are any of these applicable to you? And knowing I have some men readers who may have braved this list even though I warned them, do you have any personal hygiene confessions to share (if I dare to ask?)?

Blissfully back ... for a few days

I swear I didn't mean to let all of last week slip by in between posts. Goodness gracious! But I also swear I have a good -- no, great -- excuse. I was off exercising my bloggy mind over at the Blissdom Blogging Conference in Nashville all weekend!

I had the great opportunity to hit up Blissdom on official business, and while I was busy meeting and greeting with bloggers both friendly and new, I also was able to attend some of the sessions and use my personal bloggy brain, too.

Never been to or heard of a blogging conference? Blissdom is one of the larger ones, so imagine hundreds and hundreds of bloggers (this year, over 700!), all convening in a huge conference center/hotel for 3-4 days, companies galore sponsoring booths and events, fun entertainment, social time and personal reflection all thrown into one big experience.

In the end, this conference was just what I needed to re-energize and get ready to share some truly inspired content with you.

To kick it all off, here are ten handy dandy lessons I learned from attending the conference. Both serious and fun :)

Where Passion Meets Purpose: 

My Blissdom 2012 Top Ten {Tuesday}List   

1. Paid passion = pressure. Pressure dilutes joy. When monetizing your hobbies, pressures arise. The hobby dissolves and the joy is (usually) diluted. Whether this means running an Etsy shop for your adorable handmade items, sewing placemats for all of your friends or simply monetizing your posts and ads on your blog, this is so, so true. Some hobbies are meant to be just that -- hobbies. "Just because you should monetize, doesn't mean you should." ~Blissdom speaker

2. Entrepreneurs need... a tolerance for risk, the ability to make decisions and yep, even the willingness to be wrong once in a while. Amen.

3. Mustaches (especially Lorax movie ones) make every happy hour that much more fun.

4. Iced chai is pretty much the best drink any breakfast buffet could serve. Why have I not seen this at events before?!

5. Rascal Flatts = amazingnesss. Seriously, this band brought me straight back to nights at Peachtree Tavern and Moondogs (Don't judge. They were/are GT bars), sipping beers and hanging out while country music blared. Speaking of which, I feel like a throwback night at the bars is in order. Who would be with me?!

6. Six-word memoirs are an amazing way to center yourself and grab on to the real meaning of whatever you are thinking about, feeling or wanting to say. Pick a question, and let yourself write for a few minutes, churning out six words at a time. One of mine from that workshop, a six-word description of how I was feeling in that moment: Energized, ready for a new adventure. Awesome :)

7. Joe Jonas? Pretty much Rob Kardashian's doppelganger. And not too bad of a singer, either, by the way. Even if he is like 11 years old.

8. Every blogger should meet with a lawyer and figure out what's needed to protect their assets, their name and their content. Haven't done so yet? Go. Do. This. Tomorrow. This is a great resource from one of the Blissdom speakers on the topic: Blog Law by Saving for Someday.

9. Jon Acuff, the opening keynote speaker, was one of the best speakers I have ever. heard. He was right up there with Jeff Immelt from GE (the fact that I remember the name of who spoke at my graduation proves he rocked), Barack (who visited GT while on his campaign trail in 2007) and a handful of homilies I have heard. Key things he focused on:

• We're becoming the "I'm, but" generation. "I'm a _____, but I want to be _____." Isn't this so true??
• Never compare your beginning to someone else's middle.
• Someday will never happen. Stop waiting.
• You will disappoint people - disappoint the right people. As in, disappoint that one random fan when you don't tweet out every single moment of your life but don't disappoint your spouse/S.O./kids by ignoring them/making them wait/taking advantage of their time...

His book Quitter (which we got a signed copy of!) is now at the top of my must-read list. Preach.

10. Working with people for months and years will never be as good as that ten minutes you get to spend with them face to face. Thanks, Blissdom, for helping me connect with all of my bloggy friends and colleagues!

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Why I Love My Town

Sometimes the weeks just fly by without me thinking about things in lists of ten for this Top Ten {Tuesday} feature, which is odd given that I am such an OCD list-functioning person!

To keep things simple, I am going to bring it back to the basics today for you, laying out exactly WHY I love my fair neighborhood of Buckhead. I celebrated my three-year anniversary of residency this summer, and I still wake up and go to bed happy with my choice of home :) 

For those of you wondering why this fab neighborhood of 100,000 people isn't actually a city of it's own, there is good reasoning. Beyond the usual political battles over voters and districts and demographics, there is actually already a town called Buckhead in Georgia. Word on the street is that it's 233 residents won't give up the name :) 

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Why I Love Buckhead

1. Name association. No one living in Buckhead will deny actually enjoying this part. It doesn't matter if you are living in a cheap one-bedroom apartment for rent, or own a mansion on West Paces Ferry. When you say you live in Buckhead, people familiar with the area know it means something. You are living right in the heart of the action.

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2. Walkability. We walk to five-star dining destinations, grocery stores and the hair salon. Midtown and other neighborhoods have some similar walking destinations, but only Buckhead boasts sidewalks leading right to Phipps and Lenox Malls. Oh how my wallet aches! This comes into major play around the holiday season when the crowds gridlock the roads.

3. Tavern at Phipps. For a Friday evening Happy Hour, it doesn't get much more old-school than visiting this "gentleman's tavern" complete with bar maids and paper napkin-throwing for ladies walking through the door. Bonus for the gals: they save the best bar seats especially for you. Dress cute and the staff might just buy your dinner, too. 

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4. Hotels. A huge draw for tourists, the highrise hotels in Buckhead also boast some fantastic bars and restaurants. Whiskey Blue at the W and The St. Regis Bar are some of the top-attended by celebrities and locals alike. The local hotels also frequently run great promotional rates, making it easy for family and friends to stay nearby.

5. Oh right, Celebrities. I haven't had the chance to see them, sadly, but Katherine Heigel, LeBron James, Jermaine Dupri, Ashton and Demi, and Josh Duhamel all have been Buckhead regulars at one point or another while in town filming or for an event.

6. The Peachtree Road Race. One of my very favorite Atlanta traditions, over 4 of this race's 6.2 miles go through the heart of Buckhead, all the way from the malls to the neighborhood districts. It's a great way to see the neighborhood in all it's glory, with streets lined with people cheering you on. If you didn't get a bib number this year, try again next year until you do -- it's seriously worth the early morning wake-up on the Fourth, I promise!

The Peachtree Road Race starts in the heart of the Buckhead shopping and hotel district. Image Source

7. Lazy Weekend Mornings. You can't drive through Buckhead on a weekend morning without seeing people out running, biking or enjoying a coffee at the neighborhood coffee joints. My favorite spots are the Flying Biscuit's bar seating (always goes faster than waiting for a table!), the Peachtree Road Farmer's Market during the summer and the neighborhood roads nearby while out on a jog. Ultimately, what stands out for us is the quiet that occurs at this time -- other neighborhoods get this a lot, but we treasure it that much more since the din of traffic usually fills the air on other mornings.

8. The skyline. When the sun rises and sets in Buckhead, it glints over all of the buildings and is absolutely beautiful. LOVE. We like trying to pick out which highrise is which.

Oh hi, modest home on West Paces. Are you mine?

9. West Paces Ferry Road. Our own little Millionaire's Row, West Paces is a multi-mile corridor across historic Buckhead full of the. most. gorgeous. homes. EVER. I pretend to drive through there as if I was driving to my own home. I can dream, right?

10. City Living. Our Publix is a condensed version of the sprawling suburb stores, making grocery shopping extra speedy. A cab fare down the road is just a few dollars. MARTA is right across the street in case we are headed to another part of town or the airport. Concierge services and doormen abound. Love, love and more love.

There you have it! A glimpse into MY town. I hope you enjoyed the mini tour. If you are ever visiting the area, hit me up for my suggestions on what to do and where to go - or of course, just keep following along here on Buckhead Betty and I will keep you updated :)

I want to know more about your area, too! What do you love most about your town or neighborhood?

Ten Truths: Or Nine Truths and a Lie

You know those little things about your best friends and family members that you just know about them, and that not many other people do? I want to let you all in on some of my own little truths today, my own little Katherineisms.

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Ten Truths. 
Or is it, Nine Truths and a Lie? Can You Guess?

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1. I could pretty much sit and work on a laptop in a Starbucks for the rest of my days and would be quite happy and content.

2. I get a shopper's high on the sale racks. The little sale stickers get my pulse racing. When I find a true bargain, I have trouble not telling all the strangers around me about how awesome the purchase was. Good thing I live in the South where talking to the people in the store around you isn't totally unusual :)

The nail salon on the TV reality show The Nail Files. Aka can I live here?

3. A manicure and a pedicure can seriously make. my. day.

4. I had a haircut this weekend and cut most of it off. And I laughed as the hair hit the floor.

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5. I have a naturally pleasant/happy "resting face," and have a hard time understanding those that do not.

6. Anything less than eight hours of sleep and you better watch out, because that will be the one day that I do not have a pleasant "resting face."

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7. My go-to drink is a vodka martini, straight up with an olive (yes, one. That leaves more room for V, after all). But my favorite go-to drink is one I never order out, because they make it too red - the perfect Cosmopolitan should be pink, with more vodka than cranberry or (egads) mixer.

8. My hair is partly wavy, partly straight, but nothing that looks very good when it happens naturally. Going straight or wavy requires both products and appliances.

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9. I like cloudy days more than sunny days. Bonus points if it's going to snow, or even look like snow while it might be 70 degrees outside. 

10. Red and black is a great color combination that I hate. It looks great on most people, but I can not bring myself to wear it. Do not underestimate the power of a college rivalry.

So, what do you think? Is there a lie? :)

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Leaving on a Jet Plane

Although I have only been back in the condo and the fine city limits of A-town for not even three days, today I fly right back out again for business.

Some people really dislike traveling. Some despise that they have to travel to and from their homes each week for a commuting job. Others just can't stand planes. Then there are the rowdy kids, the shared lifespace of the arm rests and the delays and cancellations that sometimes you just can't avoid.

Me? I LOVE IT. There is just something about the thrill of getting on a big jet engine-powered beast and flying somewhere that gives me joy.

Since it's a Tuesday, and I haven't done a Top Ten {Tuesday} in quite a while, I think it might be appropriate to talk about why I love traveling so much. For those of you that despise it, maybe some of these little "yay" moments can help you through your next trip :)

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Why I Love Leaving on a Jet Plane

1. Starbucks at the airport. The one at Hartsfield's Gate E is clutch if you have time to kill and don't want to deal with the busier ones at other gates.

2. The airport is people-watching central. I watch people all day long on MARTA, on the city streets and out windows (except not in a creepy neighbor way, I swear). You can't beat the oddities, fashion (or lack thereof...) and entertainment of the people in the airport.

3. You may dislike them or could care less about them, but I get a nostalgic kick every time they bust out the Biscoff cookies at snack time.

4. The thrill of going somewhere new, even if it's somewhere I have been 40 times. It's different than home, and that's a jolt of fresh air for me!

5. Early morning or late afternoon flights give you amazing views of the sun as it rises and sets. Grab your camera phone and take a shot if you have a window seat.



6. In-flight WiFi. On shorter flights, I love that it allows me just enough time to punch out a quick Bhead Betty post or catch up on blog reading.

7. For you vacation-goers: grab a quick bite to eat and a beer at a hometown establishment while you wait to board. Here in Atlanta, it's a Sweetwater outpost, but in Boston they have a Sam Adams pub!

8. In-flight adult beverages make for a lovely way to kick off your personal/vacay flight, but also make for a great way to end the week if you are away on-site for your job. Plus, that $5 drink might buy you some sanity from the toddler kicking your seat behind you.

9. "I'd like the can please." You Diet Coke addicts know what I am talking about :)

10. Skymiles can add up. Even though as fairly infrequent traveler, mine aren't adding up as fast as they could be. I guess that just means I need to fly more? Who wants a late-summer visitor in their town?!

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Northern Pride

Earlier this month I noticed a fun list over on another blog for Top Ten {Tuesday} -- "Top Ten Reasons I Want to Be Southern." As a daughter of Northern parents and one of only a few cousins in the whole family raised in the South, this post made me giggle. My relatives laugh when I say "y'all" (it's more rare than common, I promise) and at my silly high heels that I wear off the plane at Christmas when it has blizzarded overnight in New Jersey. They have no idea what kudzu or brunswick stew are, and have never tasted the goodness of a Chick-fil-a or Waffle House. 

But even yet, this Southern-raised gal (or a G.R.I.T., Girl Raised in the South, ugh) knows what it means to be a Northerner, and there are countless things of which to be proud. I may be a G.R.I.T., but I also claim Northern blood whenever possible. For this, I will contribute my own version of the list :)

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Reasons I'm Proud to be Northern-Born and Bred

1.The pizza. Oh my goodness. The pizza.

2. No-prisoners-taken approach to life. You lost your spot in line? Too bad. You got cut off? Cut someone else off. Stop whining and do something about it. Speak your mind. You are in charge of your own destiny.

3. Snow over the winter holidays happens more than once every few hundred years.

4. Helloooo New York City, Boston and Chicago. Haven't been? You should be ashamed. Get thee there ASAP. You haven't been to a real U.S. metropolis until you explore each one.

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5. Forget the GTL. Think instead about the Tea Partays out at the Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard and the Cape. This is prep city 101. Including the nicer places on the Jersey Shore than Seaside with those hooligans from Long Island above :P

6. Leave the gun and take the cannoli. Were there ever more true words spoken? The North is home to landmark movies like The Godfather, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and The Departed.

7. Most of your neighbors can find their names on the history-rich walls of Ellis Island. Third-generation Irish-American pride right here :) :)

8. Lobster rolls. New England Clam Chowder. Taylor ham, egg and cheese. Italian food made by someone's actual Italian grandmother. I am Southern-raised, so I do love me some pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes ... but I would easily be 20 pounds heavier up there because I'd be feasting left and right on their local amazing foods.

9. City streets that are designed in the grid system. Where this protocol got lost down here while city planning, I have no clue. Our Southern cities have been plagued with horrid traffic ever since.

10. Speaking of getting around, Northern cities also know how to do it with mass transportation options. Whether you are on the L or the LIRR, you can get from point A to B without spending a lot of dough or time. I won't even get into the issues with MARTA here in A-town, it's not worth our time!

Northern friends -- what would you add to this list?

And my Southern friends -- what about you? Any to add to Michelle's original list at This Little Light?

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Lounge Time 101

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It's not often you will find me relaxing with a movie and a box of bon-bons on the couch.

Except for maybe tonight. It is Fat Tuesday, after all...

In fact, I really struggle with allowing myself 100% complete relaxation time. I will plan in "down time" to my day's list of To-Do's. No joke. It's that sad.

This past weekend, I had some much-needed down time on Sunday, and I spent it shopping with leftover gift cards. Because, of course, that was something on my To-Do list -- use up gift cards.

But it got me thinking. What other things could I "schedule" in that were actually fun activities in disguise? What To-Do's are usually haunting the back of my mind that are surprisingly relaxing and chill?

It's Top Ten {Tuesday}, so I think it's perfect timing for my Top Ten List of Me-Time To-Do's! Find your planner, jot some of these down, and enjoy the fact that you are being both productive and totally selfish with your time :)

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Me-Time To-Do's

1. Manicure/Pedicure. While I'd love for this one to be at the actual salon, sometimes my budget doesn't allow the extra splurge. So instead, enjoy a lazy afternoon doing your nails in front of your favorite movie. You need the drying-time anyways, so why not kill two birds with one stone and check that recent Netflix movie off your queue too?

Men: Play video games here instead. Unless you are manly enough (yes, I think you are) to give your own hands and toes a little lovin'. The women in your lives will thank you :)

2. Sit in the sun. It's springtime, and even 10-15 minutes a day will give you the Vitamin D boost your mind and body needs. Consider this official advice from your "doctor."

3. Call a friend. You might have been putting it off because you "haven't had time." But you also know that as soon as you do talk to that friend, you are going to feel really happy and will say something like "I wish I talked to that friend more." So just go ahead and call them!

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4. Read some of that book or magazine on your side table. I have a stack of 3-4 books and recent subscriptions that I just haven't looked at. Why? Who knows. I now know what one evening of mine this week will entail.

5. Cook. Some people actually really dislike this idea, because they really don't like to cook on a daily basis anyways. But this idea is both practical (stock up your fridge for the week when you have free time) and also a big stress-reliever. Try out a new recipe, or open the box of brownies and mix them up; it doesn't have to be earth-shattering. 

6. Window shop, literally or virtually. You don't have to necessarily buy anything. Just looking and thinking about buying things is fun, too! Or at least that's what I tell my shopaholic self ...

7. Write a note or a card to someone. Handwritten notes are so trendy, didn't you know? Pick up a cute card or stationery at the store, and write one to anyone -- your Grandma. Your Aunt. Your Mom. A best friend. They will LOVE getting it. Bonus points if it's their birthday coming up; that's two to-do's taken care of right there.

Throwback image of SATC - Love!

8. Browse the bookstore. Walk around and get inspired by the How-To guides, the novels and the design books. Grab a coffee and jam out in the music section. Just be idle and read the spines of the books in a new section -- you never know what might grab your interest!

9. Watch TV. Be strategic on this one. Either watch something that you haven't seen on your TiVo, or a new show on live TV, or turn it off. Why waste an afternoon with stuff that doesn't interest you, or something so-so that you've already seen? Go on to another item on the list, if that's the case :)

10. Research your next vacation. It might not be until next year, but why put it off, since you have some time to kill and need to plan anyways? Double dip and do #8 along with this one, picking up some travel guides while you are there. Don't have anything in mind? Figure out your Dream Destinations instead.

What else is on your Me-Time To-Do List?

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Volunteering Makes My Day

At GT FASET Orientation with balloons, Summer '05.

I have always loved contributing my time towards programs and causes that fit with my own interests. In college, I spent years working with our orientation program, helping incoming freshmen feel right at home from the moment they stepped on campus. And if I wasn't busy with schoolwork, I was meeting with a group of gray-haired alumni for a bus tour around campus. Weekend mornings were filled with planning functions, or meeting up with younger students hoping for a mentorship. I loved it.

Since graduating from college, I have been struggling with finding the right balance of volunteerism in my life, however. Some months are so busy with my job and with my own personal life, that I wonder when I might have time to sit down and think creatively for how to draw attendance to that upcoming fundraiser or how to jazz up plans for a networking event. I will admit to openly ignoring emails about groups needing volunteers to help with one thing or another, even for things that in the past I might have gladly jumped at. Once I commit to a project, putting it at the top of my own priorities has been difficult, too, when all I want to do at the end of a long work day is watch TV and maybe, maybe, write a new blog post here and there.

Today, in honor of Top Ten {Tuesday}, I am recapping for myself and you why I LOVE giving time back. Take it as part self-motivation (I have some things to be done in the short term that I keep putting off haha...) and part-motivation for you, too, since I know many of my friends long to feel the satisfaction of helping others.


Top Ten {Tuesday}: Why Volunteering Makes My Day

1. Share your skills. The group needing your help needs it for a reason -- they have a void, and you have a skill set that fits that void. If you commit to helping, you can help them and their causes succeed.

2.  Help makes the world go 'round. I love thinking about the younger people that I have worked with, whether it was a mentoring relationship, answering questions, or even just looking over their resumes and sharing my feedback. Why shouldn't I share some of my learnings with them? I am where I am now thanks to a lot of older people helping me, too. It's a win-win to pass it along!

3. I am in charge of my commitment levels. The great thing about giving your time to an organization is that you set your own boundaries and are often in charge of your own tasks. For example, I love doing event planning, but don't always have the time to execute every last detail. When I can, I try and take on roles that let me participate at levels that work for me.

4. Being creative is fun! Some of my favorite roles have challenged me beyond my usual day-to-day tasks, and help me think about the world around me in a new way. This bleeds back into my professional and personal life, giving me new skills or new ideas to tackle.

5. Explore a new interest and build talent. After working for years with the Events Department at the GT Alumni Association, I took the opportunity to find volunteer spots to inject that experience and build on it, all the while helping out a group that needed it. Now here I am today, wouldn't you know it, Miss I Love Planning Events-Central.

6. Networking 101. Volunteerism is at the very heart of networking. You never know who you are going to meet when you join in with that church group or show up for a day of yard work at the local park. You might walk away without any new friends, but it is much more likely that you will walk away knowing at least one or two people that share common career goals or other interests. Keep in touch with those people -- they could become your next job link!

7. It's good to have a change of scenery. Whether literally (volunteer in a different part of town than you usually hang out in) or emotionally (new group of people, new challenges, etc.), those flips from your normal life are rejuvenating.

8. You are helping people who need your support. Duh. :)

9. The feeling of accomplishment at the end can't be beat. Regardless of whether you are thanked publicly or if you go unnoticed for your efforts, volunteering gives you a wonderful boost of spirit and YAY.

10. This list is no where near complete. Why do YOU give your time to others? What ways have you found to balance those priorities with your other daily duties?

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Blogging Haz Taught Me Things

Sometimes in my Blogger Dashboard, I am so on top of my game that I have draft posts lined up and waiting to go live.

Note the word "sometimes." I really should say "rarely." You'd think that with my extended holiday break, the snowstorm insanity, and all sorts of open weekends over the last few weeks, I would have had a lot of time to think, draft and save goodies for this blog for busy weeks ahead.

Nope.

Instead, I recharged. I rested. I mentally and physically logged off. Because you know what? If bloggers don't do that sometimes, they go wacko. They start losing steam, or repeating themselves with old content. I know this because today I was thinking, oh wow, I really should talk about OysterFest, which is right around the corner!

Oh right, I did that last year :P

Side note: Who is going to Fest this year? We are thinking brunch and Bloodies at the condo that Saturday, followed by pre-party time at our friend's apartment next door to the main event. Yes? Yes?

Being a blogger can be tough. But oh my goodness, it has been so fun. Which brings me to my point for today. It's Tuesday, after all, so time for a tribute...

Top Ten {Tuesday}: 10 Things Blogging Has Taught Me
The Good and the Bad :P

1. Keep an eye/ear out for the latest all the time. I mean, this one is obvious, but it's gotten to where I have caught myself making mental notes after seeing interesting commercials, and tearing out magazine pages to use later. My mind is all over the place!

2. Make lists. I am already super OCD, so this one plays naturally into it. If I am on a roll blogging, I have a list of topics already drafted up, even if just in title-form.

3. I am not anonymous. This is obviously true in the days of Facebook. But now random friends of friends of friends are telling me, hey I read your blog! This always amazes and humbles me.Thank you to everyone who has helped spread this little blog around.

4. How to be positive. I wrote about this last year and it really hit home with people. I hate reading posts and updates that always complain. Wouldn't we all do better with more upbeat, positive thoughts?

5. Pacing myself is crucial. There are nights and weekends when the last thing I want to do is sit back down at a computer. So I don't. And you know what? You all are still here. Thanks :)

6. The world is bigger than Atlanta. Well, the blog didn't teach me this one. I have always had an interest in sharing things from elsewhere around the globe, but it's just come to life when I write a blog that is titled after our fair city. I have readers in lots of states (hello, CA and TX regulars!) and so I try to balance topics accordingly.

7. Variety is key. Key to this blog's success -- my male readers wouldn't stick around long, after all, if all I did was post about fashion! Key to my own sanity. Key to my inspiration. Just like our workouts, keeping things new and different pays off in the long run.

8. Not everything needs to be used for a blog post. I go out to a lot of restaurants, see movies and do things around town that never turn into a post. Besides keeping my life somewhat private (ha), not everything is blog-worthy anyways. I try to remember what other people will really want to hear about in the end.

9. Keep a sense of humor. I like to laugh at myself. It's ok when you laugh at me, too :)

10. Be ME. You like me. You all read this thing I call a blog. Thank you. And thanks for not judging when I am random, or odd, or when my sense of humor might just not strike you right. You rock!

Fellow bloggers, add to this list. What have YOU learned from blogging? 

Top Ten {Tuesday}: 10 (Plus 2!) Favorite First Words

While blog-reading, I came across a great idea for a way to sum up my last year’s worth of blog posts. Don’t worry, this one isn’t all heavy and resolution-related. This list, with both silly and random quotes, can give old and new readers alike a sense of what things I have written about on a super high level. I have included the links back to the full posts so you can go reminisce at your own leisure.

Note: This was kind of hard, as apparently I start a lot of blog posts with “I am so excited!” as in “I am so excited. I just heard about X event!" I just wrote down a reminder to myself to write better opening lines from now on :)

So in honor of Top Ten {Tuesday}, here we go -- my Favorite “First Lines” From the Past 10 (make that 12!) Months on Buckhead Betty!

January: "This week I have been feeling in a bit of a funk, for no real reason at all."

February: "One of my favorite questions to ponder and ask others is, if you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?"

March: "It doesn't matter if you are a WASP, a Betty, or a Junior Leaguer; if you are a girl in the South, you were raised with a certain level of manners, or have picked them up as you grew up."

April: "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness!!"
[Note from K: This line is so silly, but it's an honest look into my internal dialogue with myself haha.]

May: "Even if you are the best hostess in the neighborhood, sometimes you just can't do it all. To be the ultimate hostess, sometimes you have to admit to yourself that you need help."

June: "Some days, when you are caught in a rain shower without an umbrella, stuck in never-ending traffic, loaded down with work or errands, or just generally stressed out and tired, it pays to think about life's little things that make you happy."

July: "Have you noticed how much negativity is out there in digital land?"

August: "A girl just wants to shop sometimes."

September: "Last night I said something I have always wanted to at a restaurant: 'We are going to be your favorite customers tonight, because we are having one of every course on the menu.'"

October: "Of all that is unholy in prep-for-vacation planning, I somehow went away on the cruise without getting a manicure and pedicure."

November: "My name is Katherine and I am a sale-aholic."

December: "One of the things that I love about Atlanta are the little neighborhood spots that beg to be discovered."

What do you think? Is this an accurate wrap-up? :)

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Happy Thoughts

Our world is way too negative. Remember when I posted about turning off the negativity, and focusing on the positive instead? I think we are in need of a reminder, myself included. While as much as this silly cup of Starbucks in front of me cheers me up in the short-term, happiness itself can be free. Whether you are feeling sad or stressed or lonely or just blah, thinking happy thoughts can help bring some sunshine back into your step without having to splurge on those new shoes or that getaway vacation.

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Ten Happy Thoughts! 
This also goes along with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop -- she is genius with the ideas. I love checking out her list when I need a boost, or when my other posts aren't ready for publishing just yet. Today, it's a little bit of both :)

When I am unhappy or feeling blue, I think about ...

1. Holding hands with or hugging the people that I love. You can't beat a good bear hug :)

2. Silly nights with my girlfriends spent laughing over games, memories, and random things.

3. The way the sun looks when it first bursts over the horizon in the mornings. Even better, when I am already up and done with a workout when I catch those first rays on the skyscrapers around me.

4. And of course, those last rays of daylight that linger in pink and orange and purple streaks in the sky. I wish I had a camera to truly capture those fleeting minutes on film.

5. Getting something done on my To-Do list way ahead of when it needed to be complete.

6. My baby cousin's laughter -- she is always so happy, it's almost contagious!

7. String lights. Can I still put these up year-round still as a late 20-something? Or is that restricted to college-aged kids only? Because really, they are just so gosh darn cheery, even if it's summertime. Maybe they'd look good in my office ....

8. Sending e-invitations. I am thinking about sending some soon just for a random weeknight get-together at the condo with friends. Why not?

9. Grabbing an ice-cold Diet Coke (or Coke, or cup of coffee, or whatever your vice). Those first few sips = JOY.

10. Kicking back with warm soup on a chilly day. In fact, I may do this one right now too, since it's about time for lunch! Bonus points for all of us that turn away from the computers for 10 minutes to really enjoy it, too :)

What do you think about when you want to give yourself a little boost? I don't know about you, but even just listing those things out definitely made me feel a little more "up," hooray! Spread the love, friends!

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Lots of Thoughts

Sometimes I struggle with my lists to include for Top Ten {Tuesday}. I never try and force a post, because honestly, that usually means they are lame and who is going to want to read a lame post anyways? The Top Ten {Tuesday} lists usually give me a theme to work off of ... if I am creative enough to think up one.

This week, I had that theme. I thought about it yesterday in the shower and while I was drying my hair. But then I forgot to actually build out on the theme. So I am left with nothing for today. Except my thoughts. And well, wouldn't you know it, my thoughts are all over the place these days. Here's ten of them (oh how convenient, a list of ten! :P )

1. Halloween. It's here! We are all set with our costumes, and if we don't win at least some kudos from the contest people at our various events, well then, I don't want to know who actually wins, because these are going to be AWESOME.



2. Spring-Cleaning ... in the Fall. Sunday involved spring-cleaning the condo, and putting everything in its place. It feels so nice to relax, not having to worry about the clutter that was slowly building up around me. And yes, I am aware that makes me slightly OCD.

3. Eww. Speaking of clutter and OCD, last night we watched Hoarders for the first time, and OMG these people are RIDICULOUS. They are seriously ill in the head, living in homes where you can't see the carpet or walls because it's covered in 7-feet piles of STUFF. The one last night also involved a woman with 36 cats in there with her. 23 of them were living. And she saw nothing wrong in her actions. GROSS.



4. Feeling Blah and Working Out. I really need to amp up my weekly workouts. I tell this to myself all the time, but I still don't get in the 3-4 workouts a week that I know make me feel my personal best. Today I am feeling the changing weather patterns more than normal, and while I really would love to crash on the couch later, I know a spin on the elliptical will do this body and mind good.

5. New Year's. We booked our flights (no driving, hooray!) to NJ/NYC for the holidays. Except that the way the holidays fall this year, we are coming home on NYE instead of January 2 or 3. I have only spent one NYE in Atlanta in my adult life. What is going on in town that would be fun/affordable/easy to do? Side note: As Grandma Joan used to say, "New Year's is for amateurs." I do not need a $200 shindig to make my night/year complete. 

6. I love my new boots. I wore both pair over the weekend and am continuously planning outfits to go with them so that I can wear them as much as possible :)



7. I have a Starbucks addiction. Mostly grande nonfat chai, but sometimes grande nonfat pumpkin spice with no whip. Can someone help?

8. Rules of the Road. People that block the box (aka block the intersection after the light turns, for you non-NYC friends) really, really REALLY irritate me. As do people who try to cut in at the last second to the turn lane, like they own it. (This is why I try and take MARTA. The rage comes out otherwise!)


Image credit here.

9. New 'Dos. I have a haircut on Saturday and am doing away with the straight bangs after 10 good months. I have enjoyed them but am feeling the itch to trade them out. Perhaps no bangs at all? TBD.

10. Food Fights. Shopping at Publix makes me happy. Shopping at Disco Kroger makes me stressed out. Publix wins. Plus I feel more yuppie shopping there, pretending like I have all sorts of money. Ugh, I have a problem.

What's something that's been on your mind this week? As you can see from my list, seriousness of thought does not count :P 

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Date Nights on the Cheap

Charlotte: What did you do last night?
Carrie: Went to a movie.
Charlotte: With who?
Carrie: Myself.
Charlotte: On Date Night?!
Carrie: Are we still gonna have to call it "Date Night" in our 50's??

I am pretty sure I could find a somewhat-relevant Sex and the City quote for every single post I do on this blog :)

Like that great scene from Season 5 "Anchors Away" depicts, today I am going to talk about Date Night, budget-style. And as you might also guess, this one isn't just for you lovers. While those of you in relationships probably love finding new ideas for keeping it fresh with your significant other, this is also for you single gals and boys, or those of you with families. All that is required is A) an open mind, B) a desire to cut costs on your social lives and C) someone to join you in crime -- be it a husband or wife, a roommate, a BFF or a sibling. Pets are perfect too unless otherwise noted :P

Remember: "Date Night" doesn't have to be a bad two-letter word associated with $100+ outings to dinners and movies. Keep it low-key, fun, and rediscover the simpler side of life!

Ten Ideas for Date Night, Buckhead Betty Style

1. A Day in the Park -- Bust out the frisbee or football and get out and enjoy the crisp air. Local parks to hit up: Chastain, Piedmont, Frankie Allen, Chattahoochee River. Bring a cooler with some sodas and beers, and a blanket to lounge on. For a real date "night," bring a picnic for dusk!

2. Board Games -- Never underestimate what a board or card game can do to enrich an otherwise regular evening. Think: Monopoly, Apples to Apples, Jenga. Add for additional fun: friendly wagers (someone has to clean up the dishes afterward, or give a back massage, oo-la-la!), adult beverages (duh?), fun snacks (Chex Mix, Muddie Buddies).

3. Arts and Crafts -- Recently, I have been in the mood to scrapbook again. I made a great one after college, and there's nothing stopping me other than sheer laziness (and picking/printing off the actual photos) in putting together a post-college collage of sorts. This is perfect for a rainy afternoon with wine and music! For the brawnier men out there -- build something together, like cornhole boards.

4. Exercise -- Yes, you can go for a run or walk. But get more creative, and go rock-climbing, hike in the woods, or hit up the tennis courts. Same (friendly) wagers apply as #2.

5. Dinner and a Movie ... At Home -- Whip up a nice meal, sharing the responsibilities in the kitchen. Put on some great music and enjoy an appetizer and cocktails (do you see a pattern here? Haha!) Even if the meal doesn't turn out perfectly, you have (hopefully) enjoyed each others company as you relax to watch a movie. After all, there's always Chinese delivery if the food catches fire :)


Image Credit here

6. Local sports -- Beyond the obvious choice of the big teams (here in town: Thrashers season has started, and there are always the Hawks too), the smaller venues offer a more intimate experience at usually half the price. Ideas: Gwinnett Gladiators, the lesser-known Atlanta Dream.

7. Seasonal activities -- Right now, go pumpkin-picking. When the snow falls, go ice-skating at a local rink. You get the idea. Work with what the seasons give you.

8. Coupons for Creativity -- Some of the best Date Night ideas can come from the local coupon deal sites online. Recently, I have seen a few that would be datable excursions: Trapeze Classes, Polo Lessons (yes, like on the horse), North GA Canopy Tours.

9. Explore with a "Staycation" -- Pick two or three of the above and make it into a full-weekend thing. Turn the ringers off your phones, ditch other plans, and "escape" from your reality. Bonus points if you can find a sitter for your kids for the day, if applicable :)

10. What would you add to complete this list of ideas?