oh, there will be dancing

It's that time of the year again: the annual girls' getaway weekend in Put-In-Bay! I can't even put my excitement into words. Seriously, I'm speechless with excitement. While all nine of us have agreed that last year will be tough to beat, we are bringing our A-games (KRuff's one stipulation) to that crazy island in Lake Erie.

{there will be bonding}

{there will be eiffel towers because we think it's funny.}

{there will be random awesomeness}

{there will be magic.}

{there will be sexiness}

{and there will be dancing.}

{oh, yes, there will be dancing.}

p.s. I apologize for my hiatus. I was in sunny Fort Lauderdale with my mom and sisters for the week. It was a last-minute trip and it was great. I have a killer tan. Mission accomplished.

what-to-wear wednesday: baby bump

Because so many of my friends are expecting or have recently given birth, I thought it was appropriate to dedicate a What-to-Wear Wednesday to pregnant chicks. One thing all those baby books don't tell you is that with all the changes going on inside and outside your body, one thing doesn't have to change - your style. So keep rockin' it, ladies, because who doesn't want to be a hot mama?


1. halter swimsuit, Old Navy $19.50 (sale)
2. cuffed denim shorts, Old Navy $15 (sale)
3. ruffle tank dress, Gap $74.50
4. knotted-front jersey dress, Old Navy $26.50 (sale)
5. belted tab-sleeve cardigan, Old Navy $20 (sale)
6. knit leggings, Forever 21 $12.80
7. ruffle-trim jersey top, Old Navy $14 (sale)
8. drop waist jersey knit tunic, Forever 21 $17.80
9. crochet-lace trim top, Old Navy $18.50 (sale)
10. faux-gem slub-knit tank, Old Navy $12.99 (sale)
11. bootcut maternity jeans, Forever 21 $13.50

P.S. When I'm preggers I'm hittin' up Old Navy. Why spend a bunch of money on clothes that you will only wear a few months? Old Navy is cute and cheap, so you won't feel guilty splurging on maternity clothes to keep your baby bump looking chic.

a note to a friend

{look at those cheeks!}

I wanted to give a shout out to my dear friend, Brittiny. Her sassy little girl, Addilyn Sophia was born after 20 hours of labor and a C-section on July 19 at 4:03 p.m. She weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces and was 20 inches long.

{hot mama}

Brittiny and I met when we worked for a Columbus community newspaper in 2006. She is such a strong, loving woman. I adore her for her compassion for others, her carefree and positive attitude, her girly style and her commitment to her friends and family. She is going to be an amazing mother, and will most likely have one of the best dressed baby girls in the universe. I love you, B! Congratulations on your beautiful daughter. I hope she is every bit of the woman you are and more.

{the proud, new parents. what an adorable family.}

find your zen

Hello, Monday. You are most likely no one's favorite day of the week. Lucky for me, Women's Health sent me this article today with tips to relieve stress. Ironically, I just finished my Human Stress class last week and was educated on the negative effects of stress, which can be pretty nasty. There are many illnesses and diseases linked to stress (heart disease, depression, digestive issues, cancer, etc.), as well as your general outlook on life. Pessimists might get it right, but optimists live longer.

Here is the 4-1-1 on stress relief per Women's Health:

1. Unplug from the office: With Blackberries, PDAs and iPhones these days, we are "on call" 24/7. I know, it's hard to escape the pressures of work, but keeping your life and work separate is a must. This has not been difficult for me to master. As soon as I step foot out of my office, I'm done working for the day. I don't check email at home (I didn't even set up my work email on my Blackberry) and only the necessary people in my office have my cell number. If you absolutely must check email or take phone calls regarding work at home, set out a block of time for it and only work at home during that time. You can tell colleagues when that designated time is and ask that they respect your evening work hours.

2. Create a chill-out routine: Just like many of us have a pre-bed routine, you need to prepare yourself to relax. When you get home from work, change your clothes to get out of the office mentality. Then change your pace - if you sit at a computer all day, go for a walk or run; if you're on your feet, take a bubble bath.

3. Take it outside: Boost your happy hormone, serotonin, with some natural light. Get your butt outside for some exercise or even have lunch outside for a mid-day pick-me-up.

4. Find a balance between rest and activity: Sometimes we're so pumped for the weekend that we cram 127 things into a couple days. This just makes us more stressed. So schedule a little down time amongst the fun - head to the pool with a good book for 30-60 minutes (don't forget the sunscreen!) or sit on your porch with your morning coffee. And don't turn on the TV unless there is a show you really want to watch. You don't want to waste the whole weekend!

5. Plan long weekends: This has been my sanity solution this summer (I've been off every Friday in July but one). If you can't afford an entire week away, plan some mini vacays. They are just long enough to recharge your batteries with a change of pace and scenery, but not too long that you'll dread your work email inbox.

6. Become an escape artist: Get your mind out of the work gutter using what psychologists call escapism, which transports the mind through different experiences - think movies, sporting events or an art exhibit. If thoughts of the office start to invade while you're at the game, refocus by directing your attention on the cheering crowd or the refreshing taste of your adult beverage.

7. Get a hobby: Focusing on a task you enjoy will lower your heart rate and blood pressure. It works just like meditation. For optimal effect, keep your sessions brief (20-30 minutes).

8. Stop tension in its tracks: Sometimes the stress can be too much, so the next time you feel overwhelmed try one of these tension buster activities: 1. Tear it up. Tearing paper into small bits provides serious relief; 2. Laugh it up. Even if it's corny, share a joke with a coworker. Laughing boosts good endorphins and reduces stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine (and cortisol is bad stuff); and 3. Just breathe. Try heart focused breathing. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, focus your breath on the center of your chest and imagine your tension leaving your body with each exhalation. A couple minutes of this will help reduce stress hormones in the body and slow your heart rate.

Everyone is stressed, I get that. But realizing what your stressors are and developing ways to combat them can help you live healthier, happier and longer. I'll share more info on stress from my class in upcoming posts. Stay tuned.

peel-and-stick project

Last Friday night Mr. Ritter and I decided it was finally time to get serious about putting in a new kitchen floor. Our standard white/gray vinyl wasn't doing it for us. So we made a visit to our favorite home improvement store and fell in love with peel-and-stick tile. You may question the credibility of peel-and-stick tile, but let me tell ya, it was one of the easiest things to lay and that stuff isn't budging. You can also grout this tile, but that would have included much more work and money that we didn't want to invest. So we laid our new floor right on top of the existing vinyl. We started laying the tile around 10 p.m. and exhausted our supply by 1 a.m. and nearly finished the kitchen.

{This photo shows a good side-by-side comparison of old and new. And my hardworking husband.}

Here are the steps to lay peel-and-stick tile (over existing vinyl):

1. Clean existing floor well before sticking tiles to it.
2. Find the center of your floor by measuring the length and width.
3. Lay down for tiles around the center of the floor and build from there.
4. Use an exacto knife to cut tile on edges and corners.
5. Clean up and admire.

Last Sunday, we made a second run to Home Depot to buy more tile to finish the kitchen and do the entryway. Mr. Ritter finished both floors in about 2.5 hours. He's the man. We completed the project for about $200, and we were extremely happy with the finished product.

{finished kitchen floor}

{finished entryway}

What DIY home projects have you done to upgrade your home?

what-not-to-wear-wednesday: men's fashion crimes

I found this article via Shine from Yahoo and had to share. Do you know any guys who commit these fashion crimes? Sadly, I know a few.

1. Ed Hardy and other blaring labels. If this is true, then Jon Gosselin and "The Situation" are the worst dressed men on the planet. It's probably true.

2. Mandals. I'm not offended by men wearing sandals. But, gentlemen, if you insist on sporting said footwear, please, please, please (I'm begging you!) cut your toenails and invest in foot cream. There is no bigger turn off or nausea-inducing sight that disgusting man feet. Am I right, ladies?

{photos from various Internet sources. I mean no copyright infringement. Please don't sue me.}

3. Speedos. Just don't do it. Ever.

{of course, I would find the biggest douche bag photo}

4. Hawaiian shirts. Not the best style choice, but certainly not the worst. However, men can only get away with wearing this tropical top during the summer.

5. Too much jewelry. Some jewelry on guys is totally OK. But if he's wearing more bling than Jay Z's pimped out Caddy (I'm pretty sure driving a Cadillac is a requirement for rappers. No?), I think he's crossed the line.

6. Jorts. Guys, khaki cargo shorts goes with every tee or polo you'll don during the summer. Invest. And if you insist on jorts, please keep them at or below the knee. Just like ugly feet are a turn off, so are man thighs (my sister hates man thighs).

7. Novelty ties and boxers. Not a big deal in my book. More of a conversation piece really.

8. Square-toed shoes. As long as a guy wears dress shoes with dress pants, I don't care if their rounded or square.

9. Baggy/saggy pants. A New York senator funded a billboard campaign saying, "raise your pants, raise your image." Well said, Senator. The world does not need a sneak peek at your undies and droopy, diaper butt is not attractive. Just like some men, some women are ass women. Please show us what you've got.

{photo via blog.ctnews.com. Fedoras are a classic thanks to people like Frank Sinatra.}

10. Fedoras. I'm personally cutting this from the Shine list. Fedoras are classic and, if the guy doesn't try too hard, can be sexy.

11. Pleated-front pants. I don't prefer them, but pleated-front pants aren't that bad.


12. Electronics clipped to your belt. This is a pet peeve of mine. What's wrong with putting your phone in your pocket? Everyone knows you're not that important because if you were, you wouldn't have to wear your phone on your belt. Your personal assistant would carry your phone for you. If you can't fit your phone in your pocket, then your pants are probably too tight and you should do everyone a favor and get bigger pants, but heed the warning of #9. Unless you're a construction worker, cop, and I'll even through in farmer and cowboy (because they get too dirty to make good fashion choices), put the phone in your pocket or I'll make fun of you. I digress.


13. Socks with sandals. Though you are saving me the grief of looking at your nasty feet, this is another one of those things you just don't do. Ever. If you're going to wear sandals, just wear sandals. If you insist on always wearing socks, just wear shoes.

14. Bad socks with dress shoes. Don't be tacky; stick to solid colors. Just don't do navy socks with black pants. They are NOT the same color.

15. Sweatpants. I'm taking this one off the list too. Though the majority of sweatpants wearing should be at home or the gym. But I won't be mad if you make the occasional grocery store run in them.

16. Sports jersey/uniform out of sports setting. I think it's great that you're a dedicated fan. But don't you have a t-shirt you can wear to support your team when it's not game day? The jersey does seem a bit much, especially if that sport isn't even in season.

a piece of advice

{photo via www.eyefetch.com}

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." -Will Rogers

happy long 4th of July weekend

{God bless the USA}

The 4th of July weekend is always a great mid-summer break with a much anticipated 3-day weekend (4 days for me as I have taken today off as well!). It's also a time to reflect on ourselves as Americans and honor those who have fought and are still fighting for our freedom. God bless you all.

This weekend I am embracing my inner 13-year-old and going to see Eclipse with A.Fry and J.Morgan tonight. Tommorrow morning Mr. Ritter and I are going to look at houses (more on this later). Then the rest of the weekend is fair game. I hope to see a fireworks display, hang out with friends, catch a few rays, grill up some good food and relax on a patio with a refreshing adult beverage. Oh, and buy a new pair of shoes (had to throw that in there because it is a goal for today).

Enjoy your holiday weekend, lovies.

keep the windows open

{walking around campus at work}

Picture this: Temperatures in the upper 70s, very low humidity, a light summer breeze and sunny skies dotted with thin white clouds. That is what the weather in Columbus is like today (and for most of the week). It's a windows-open kind of day. Perfection.

{my attempt at an artistic photo}

I want to bottle it up and open it like a can of Whoop Ass on rainy days. Keep up the good work, Mother Nature.

diy

{photos courtesy of domino magazine}

I've heard (well, read) Carrie rave about Domino Magazine, which published its last issue in February 2009. Now, I know why. If you missed out on the magazine during its short tenure like I did, you can find articles here. Needless to say, my list of diy projects is growing (shhh, don't tell Mr. Ritter).