{Day 20}

write a letter to someone

Dear Oliver,

Once again. Thank you for chewing my feet this morning while I was trying to appreciate my last few minutes of snoozing. One would think that for someone who sleeps 18 hours a day you would appreciate the fact I only get 7 precious hours. But no. You're hungry. Fine. I'll get up. However, maybe you should try to catch a mouse or two and eat them... I'm just saying. Mice are not toys to play with and I don't appreciate you rubbing your face all over them only to release them back into the wilds of our living room. Not cool sir. Not cool. However, please don't resort to eating plastic bags (I know they're your favorite) or string. String is for playing with, not for eating. As you well know, string may cause some discomfort towards the end of the digestive process-- and may yield an oh so awkward dingle-berry moment. I know you hate that. So put down the string already.  

On that note. Thank you for being a constant source of entertainment. I don't know what I would do with out your clumsy antics and your snuggles. 

Don't eat too much while I'm gone for Christmas, I'll try to do the same. 

xoxo, 

Emily (aka the one who found the decapitated mouse)

{Day 9}

something you’re proud of in the past few days

hmm... this is a tough one. I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so productivity is low. 

I've been working hard on my law school applications over the last week or so.

I've done an inordinate amount of laundry today. 

I knocked out all of my office christmas presents! Woohoo. 

I've been working on some exciting things for the blog... which y'all will find out about soon enough. 

I guess I need to be a little more productive over the coming days... hmm.

{Day 7} Impacts and Friday's Fancies #11

 a picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on you

My Parents.

Obviously they've been there since day 1, but they constantly provide guidance and motivation, without which I don't know where I would be. I am eternally grateful for their love and support.

Now for some

shirt  |  pants  |  boots  |  leather satchel |   watch 

Have a great weekend y'all!

{Day 6} Favorite Super Hero

First of all this happened yesterday! And I can hardly believe it!

Seriously. Thank y'all so much. We may have to do a giveaway soon to celebrate! 

Now I have a favor to ask of all of y'all. I am curious to see what keeps you coming back day after day, what you like, and more importantly what you don't like. If you have a quick second could you please fill out this quick survey just to let me know what you're thinking. I will love you forever and ever.

*If you're in google reader please click over to the page to actually fill out the survey*

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Okay y'all. Now that all that is over on to the real show. I'm excited for this one. 

 Favorite Super Hero and Why

Captain Planet!!!

Who is shocked by this choice? Haha. A democrat who loves protecting the environment? "Why I've never heard such a thing" *(you have to say it in a southern accent)

But seriously. This show was awesome. I really need to start watching it again. It was a life goal of mine to become a Planeteer. While I had a crush on on Wheeler (whose power was Fire), I wanted to be Gi (Water) because she always got to hang out with dolphins. And who didn't want to ride around in a solar powered geo-cruiser? I still do.  Really... whoever came up with that show was brilliant. They created all these little environmentalists running around. And while it may be a stretch... I bet there is some relation to our generation (I think I'm a Millennial)  being more concerned with the environment than say generation x, and certainly the baby boomers. Come on, I don't think superman did that...

I can still hear that song in my head when the planeteers get together to call Captain Planet. "Earth! Wind! Fire! Water! Heart! Go.... PLANET! Captain Planet, He's our hero, Gonna take pollution down to zero..."

I mean come on. Who wrote that? Beyond awesome.

Who is your favorite super hero?

Day 5: Spain

Happy Wednesday! I hope y'all are enjoying the

It has definitely been a challenge so far, but one that I'm loving, so I hope y'all are too. Today's topic is 

 a picture of somewhere you've been

Well this was actually a hard one for me... because I've been a lot of places. But the one place that captured my heart is...

SPAIN

in 2004 I spent 5 weeks one summer in a home-stay in a small town called Almunecar on the beach in Andalucia. Well to say I fell in love with the country and traveling in general was quite the understatement. 

I went back for a full semester in 2008, and those four months changed my life completely. I met so many wonderful people, including KC who I still talk to every single day (except when she's in her law school exams). I lived in Valencia (on the east coast) and I definitely left a piece of my heart there. 

If you ever find yourself planning a trip to Spain, please go to Valencia. It's absolutely gorgeous. It's got fabulous beaches. Amazing architecture. Great Restaurants. They invented Paella! and it's not your "typical" tourist city--- which I love. I could seriously gush about Valencia for hours, but I'm sure y'all don't want to read it, so I'll keep it brief. 

I was lucky enough to have about 5 weeks afterwards to travel around Spain and Europe, which I haven't talked about much. But I was bit hard by the travel bug, and I still get the itch to just get up and go.

Where is your favorite place to travel? 

Day 4 and ASOS

Today's topic of the 

a habit that you wish you didn’t have

I am addicted to the snooze button. Seriously. I think I always have been since probably about age 4. I love to sleep, but I do not appreciate being woken up (even if it is by my iphone). I usually set the alarm for 15 minutes before I need to get up, but my "body clock" wakes me up 10 minutes before that. But why get up like a normal person? No. I need those extra 10 minutes. Duh. Unfortunately I have an insane ability to fall deep into sleep in 10 minutes making it ridiculously hard to wake up on time. Then I'm running late. Dry shampoo and a sock bun happens way too often. Maybe that'll be a new years resolution... I don't know if 20+ years of a habit can be broken... But it sure is a habit I wish I didn't have. 

Now... I pulled this post together, but apparently I'm behind in my blog reading, because one of my usual Tuesday Linkups (Loving Lately as seen here, here, and here) is no more. Well. No matter. This is my latest obsession. I've been doing some online hunting lately, and I am seriously obsessed with all things ASOS. Unfortunately their stuff doesn't fit me very well. For some reason it's cut for girls much taller than me... so I can't ever get the fit just right. No matter. A girl can still shop right? 

Day 2

Okay, it's day two of the

the meaning behind your blog name

I'm so excited to finally talk about this, because I think there are a lot of people out there who don't "get" my blog's name. If you're not a political nerd you may not know what a blue dog is. According to their website...

"The Blue Dog Coalition was created in 1995 to represent the commonsense middle of the Democratic Party. Blue Dogs advocate for mainstream American values, a commitment to fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense. 

The name “Blue Dog” originates from the long-time tradition of referring to a strong Democratic Party supporter as being a “Yellow Dog Democrat,” who would, “vote for a yellow dog if it was listed on the ballot as a Democrat.” Leading up to the 1994 election the founding members of the Blue Dogs felt that they had been “choked blue” by the extremes of both political parties." 

So essentially a "Blue Dog" is a moderate Democrat. Fiscally conservative, socially liberal is what I like to think.

The Belle portion comes from my desire to be a southern belle. Haha. Well, really I just wanted a name that would represent multiple aspects of my personality. You guys know this, but I'm a political junkie with an addiction to glitter and sparkles.

A month of blogging challenge and Friday Fancies #10

Okay ladies... this one has been on the 25 before 25 for a while now and I think December is as good a month as any to attempt blogging every single day for a whole month. I know. It's going to be tough, but I was re-evaluating my list the other day and was painfully shocked when I could only truly cross 2 things off the list. #fail. So I'm posting my agenda for y'all to see. If anyone wants to join me I'd love to have company, if not that's okay too. 

Some days these may be the whole blog post... some days it may be more of an after thought. Either way I think it will be fun, and is a good way to find my voice again.

So here's the plan 

day 1 – recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
day 2- the meaning behind your blog name
day 3- a picture of you as a child
day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have
day 5- a picture of somewhere you’ve been
day 6- favorite super hero and why
day 7-  a picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on you

day 8- short term goals for this month and why
day 9- something you’re proud of in the past few days
day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad
day 11- write a bucket list of things you want to do before you die
day 12- what I would find in your bag
day 13- your 5 favorite books and why
day 14- a picture of you and your family
day 15- put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play
day 16- a picture of yourself
day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have
day 19- write about a sweet memory from your past
day 20- write a letter to someone
day 21-a picture of something that makes you happy
day 22- what makes you different from everyone else
day 23- something you crave a lot
day 24- post your favorite quote or verse of scripture and why
day 25- favorite holiday tradition and why
day 26- list 10 things that you are thankful for
day 27- my day job verses my passion
day 28- cruise a thesaurus and pick out 10 words you like the sound of
day 29 – favorite tv shows and why you like them
day 30 – movies you can watch again and again.
day 31 – what is your wish for the new year?

What do you think? Want to join me? Now for the main event...

This week's theme is "My Style" aka what do you actually wear? Well, even though my other Friday Fancies posts suggest otherwise, I do not always glitter and leopard. Shocking. I know. Lately I've been rocking a lot of black and a lot of pencil skirts. I also wear solid cardigans like it's my job. I hate blazers--- and only break them out when I really have a reason. ugh. Anyways. If I want to switch it up I normally throw in a fun scarf or a bright sweater. 

Cardigan | Skirt | Camisole | Flats | Bag | Watch | Earrings | Necklace | Scarf

I am also not a heels girl. Flats all the way. I also strongly believe in investing in gorgeous accessories that you'll love. I'm obsessed with my kate spade bag and my michel kors watch. I know how that makes me sound, but I really do love them... and wear them all the time. If you find something you love that much, invest in it. You'll get your money's worth plus some added joy every time you look at your watch :)