SEVEN!

I posted this picture on IG last night and was pretty tickled with my caption.  If you need a refresher, watch this clip here.  And if you still don't get it, where were you during those 10 glorious years?

I'm pretty sure my face has looked like this all evening.  #sorrynotsorry

But seriously, SEVEN? The most I had run previously was 5 miles.  And the last time I ran was over a week ago.  So to say I'm on cloud nine or a runner's high or just damned pleased with myself is an understatement.  Because honestly, I was getting a little scurred about the upcoming half marathon as my training has been grossly offtrack derailed. Get it? Trains, track, rails? I crack myself up! I really think I could have gone 8 miles, but I had to shower and get to babysitting.  My goal is to run 8-9 sometime midweek and then 10 next weekend. If I can go those runs done, then I don't think I'll embarrass myself too poorly at the Shiner Beer Run.  And if I do, at least Meg and Kristen will be there to drink some celebratory beers with! Anyone else planning on running? Shoot me an email so we can meet up!

***************************************************************************************************************

1. What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory?

My birthday always falls near (or on) Thanksgiving, so I have loved this holiday for as long as I can remember.  As a child, I loved it for the obvious birthday reasons - cake, presents, a party.  But as an adult, I love it because the holiday is about taking time out of our busy lives to be grateful, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy delicious food.  No other pretenses, no gifts, just quality time with friends and family.

2. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Pumpkin pie, hands down. With Cool Whip, none of that ReadiWhip bs. I also request it for my birthday cake.  See #1.

 

3. What is a Thanksgiving tradition you and your family have?

Is it considered a tradition to shuffle between your mom's and dad's houses because they're divorced? If so, that's my tradition. 

I went back and reread this.  It comes across as jaded, but that's not how I meant it. I love having a large family and cherish being able to spend time with both sides.  My family is much happier being divorced and having since remarried. But we really just don't have any traditions other than celebrating Thanksgiving meal twice.

4. Show us a favorite Thanksgiving picture (or 5) from years past.

Turns out, we don't take pictures at Thanksgiving.  But we do snap pictures of huge wine bottles in Costco while shopping for Thanksgiving dinner.  Looking good, Mom!

5. What are you most looking forward to about this Thanksgiving?

The obvious - spending quality time with my family in Austin while on break from nursing school.  This also may be the first year that B spends the holiday with my family!

Hope y'all have enjoyed your weekend. Tell me about what you did!

xoxo,

Cait

project procrastination

I have a final tomorrow and am burnt out but nowhere near done studying, so what's a blogger to do? Make some coffee and blog until her focus returns!  Thankfully, Ashley and Neely put out some great questions for this week's Sunday Social and it doesn't require too much of my precious and limited brainpower.

1. What is currently on your wishlist?

What perfect timing! My birthday is later this month and then Christmas is around the corner.  I sent my mom my annual Wish List today so I'll just give you the highlights here.

Frenchie sweater // cookbook // leopard flats // socks // giftcards // vest // watch

Please note: no one I know can afford those actual shoes. But a girl can dream!

 

2. Share a new app you've recently discovered that we all need.

TimerCam and Men's Wearhouse Group Manager are pretty sweet little apps. And free!  Granted, you only need that second one if you're planning an event with suit rentals required. But I love that I can check in on which groomsmen have yet to get fitted and then email them reminders straight from my phone. Helps keep this bride's sanity in check. 

3. What is a new fall TV show that you've added to your DVR?

Well, B has taken over the DVR (despite resisting it in the first place) so I mostly watch shows on my iPad.  Speaking of apps, if you don't have the ABC, NBC and CBS apps then I'm pretty sure you're not iPadding right. I am loving Trophy Wife.  I have loved Malin Ackermann since 27 Dresses and I want to be Diane when I grow up.

4. Share your social media links so we can follow you!

instagram: @cregan85 (my fav)

twitter: @yfgblog

Bloglovin'

Pinterest

5. What is a TV show, movie or song that you could watch or listen to over and over and never get tired?

Could this be anymore obvious?*  Didn't we all spend our formative years (and hungover college days) watching Friends and SATC reruns nonstop?

*If you didn't get that Chandler reference then how are we friends??

Alright, back to studying.  This girls needs to learn a whole lot about the liver before 9am.

xoxo,

Cait

overnights & sunday social

In addition to nursing school, I also babysit for a local family.  I found them after I'd been in Houston and teaching for about a year. I needed some extra income (student loans are not cheap!) and had always babysat during high school and college so I posted my profile on SitterCity.com. From that, I ended up getting a couple of babysitting and dogsitting gigs that are still going strong nearly 4 years later!

Fire Chief Cait. Because the internet isn't embarrassing enough and no post is complete without photos, right? Middle pics by E (5 years old).

It's not a huge commitment to sit for them once a week and the extra money comes in handy.  It doesn't take care of my bills or anything, but it's cash (!!!) and I can spent money on the little extras without guilt - Starbucks, a mani/pedi occasionally, random Target trips. You get the idea.  Well, this weekend I did an overnight babysit job. A few times a year the parents like to get out of town for a night to themselves. Hey, if I had a 3 year old and a 5 year old, you bet your ass I'd want some nights off too!  But between the 24 hours straight of kids and studying, my brain is mush!

Which is why I love the Sunday Social!

1. What is the name of your blog?

Your Favorite Girlfriend. My friend Roxy (grrfeisty) helped me come up with it. I had decided I wanted to blog and the hardest part for me was deciding on a name. I just wanted my blog to be a place that covered topics you might discuss with your girlfriends - fashion, relationships, pop culture, exercise, food, pets. Basically anything 20-to-30-something girls chat about!

2. What do you love most about blogging?

It's been a great creative outlet and I didn't expect to get that feeling from it. I guess I wasn't aware of how much I had ignored my creative side over the last few years just focusing on work and prerequisite classes for school. And of course meeting people!

3. Why did you start blogging?

Not unlike many others, I had read a handful of blogs for about a year and wanted to be part of that community. It sounded like so much fun, so why miss out on that?

4. What is something you'd want to tell someone just starting out in the blog world?

Just write! Don't get hung up too much on the layout or design of your blog at first. Who cares if your blog looks great but has no content? You can always edit your design and add to it, but you have to find your voice first and that will only happen if you write.

5. Biggest blogging learning experience you've had?

Some people haven't left high school. Listen, I made some great memories in high school but I have no desire to be back there. I don't have any interest in "playing the game" and trying to be the most popular blogger on the block. I just want to share my life, learn from others, and meet some great people along the way!

6. What are three blogs you love?

I just nominated some blogs I love for the Sunshine Award, so I'll avoid those (but go check them out - they're awesome!). These are blogs I read and learn a lot from, but don't really ever comment on. Maybe I should push myself out of my comfort zone and start commenting!

Little Baby Garvin

i heart organizing

The Small Things Blog

Be sure to check in tomorrow for my half marathon training update!

xoxo,

Cait

sunday social

It's been a pretty big weekend around here so I'm keeping it simple today.  A few announcements and Sunday Social before I'm off to BBQ with the fam for Labor Day! Hope you're doing some of the same today with your friends and family.

Updates:

1. I signed up for the Shiner Half Marathon on Nov. 23rd.  [CUE FREAK OUT!!!] Read about it here.

2. I completed the #AUGx22 challenge on SocialWorkout.com on the last day!

3. The #SEPTx22 challenge on SocialWorkout.com starts today. I signed up and you should too! Workout at least 22 times in September and log your workouts. Social, fun and healthy - what's better?

1. What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?
I started nursing school before my teaching job ended so no trips for this girl! The week off in August between summer semester and fall semester was glorious though!
 
2. What was your favorite outfit look/clothing item of the summer?
It has to be a tie between a black strapless maxi and a chambray shirt with olive green shorts.  The maxi was so easy to change the look of with accessories so it really could go anywhere. 

And who doesn't love a chambray shirt??

[I joined Polyvore yesterday and apparently these "sets" posted as their own blog posts yesterday... looks like I need to figure this thing out.  Ooops! #bloggerFAIL]

3. What is one thing you wish you'd gotten to do this summer? 
I wish I had gotten an A in pharmacology and I wish I had stuck to my clean eating habits. Now I'm trying to work off the 5 lbs I gained this summer from stress eating and study snacks.
 
4. What was your favorite song of the summer?
Pancake ass and foam finger aside, it has got to be Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop".

[via]

5. What was your favorite movie/tv show of the summer?
During my week off, I signed for a free month of Netflix and compulsively watched the first season of Orange is the New Black. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and get on it.  That show is SO. DAMN. GOOD. 

How was your summer? Where did you go and what did you do?

xoxo,
Cait 

sunday social and the bathroom

Since returning to Houston, I've been super busy trying to update our downstairs bathroom.  Expect a full post on it later this week (along with my Cara Box reveal AND an easy wedding DIY) but for now here is a peak at the before:

Yup, that's shiny forest green paint.  It's gotta go!

And on to the Sunday Social for this week from Ashley and Neely!

1. What do you miss most about being a kid?

 

Appropriately enough, being carefree - no bills, very few responsibilities, no pressure.  

 

If you haven't checked it out, I recently wrote about the struggles of being on a budget when you have no income.  As some of you may know, I started nursing school in May while wrapping up my fifth (and final) year of teaching.  My last paycheck came in 10 days ago. Yikes.

 
2. Dd you have a nickname growing up? What was it?

 

Kookookarabajackal. (Hint: sounding it out makes it easier to say. Koo-koo-ka-rab-a-jackal.) My stepdad gave it to me when I was about 10. It stuck and I love it.  I think it's from some old song lyric but I couldn't tell you for sure.

 

And also Kay-Kay. I couldn't say "Caitlin" when I first learned to talk so I was Kay-Kay and my brothers were Pat-Pat (Patrick) and Day-Day (David). Clearly, I was a wordsmith from a young age.

3. What was your favorite thing to do at recess?
 

Given that I grew up in Texas and my recesses were about 100000000 degrees, we tended to hang out anywhere there was shade. Under a tree, under the fort part of a playscape, under the roof's overhang. You get the idea.

 

via

4. What did you want to be when you grew up?
 

I always wanted to be a doctor and I never wanted to get married or have kids.  Then life took me on a different path and now I'm here - in nursing school (which I love) and engaged but still not wanting kids. Yet. 

 

What's they they say about planning and then God laughing? Pretty sure he's enjoying this one!

 

5. Did you participate in any school activities?

 

I loved school activities. My passion was playing volleyball but I was also on student council, in volunteer groups, NJHS, blah blah blah. I went to a private high school and there was a large focus on being the smartest, the most involved, the best athlete, etc. So, you know, typical overachiever right here. Guilty as charged.

 

6. What is the funniest thing you did as a kid that your parents still remind you about?

When I was about 3 years old and my brothers were about 18 months old and I used to torture them. If they were in the little pack-n-play I would throw everything imaginable at them. If they were out, I'd put doll clothes on them. My grandmother used to say, "Get your licks in now.  Pretty soon they'll be bigger than you and don't forget - there are 2 of them and just 1 of you!"
She didn't actually encourage hitting. It was just a joke. Calm down, peeps.


Do you have any funny childhood stories? Any crazy nicknames? Join the link up!

xoxo,
Cait

sunday social

Checking in from Austin, my lovelies!  Taking care of lots of wedding things and spending much needed time with my family so this will be short and sweet.  Hope you're all enjoying your weekends.  Come back next week to hear all about my Austin mini-vacay!

1. What is something you've always wanted to do but are afraid of?

I'm a pretty big scaredy cat so things like skydiving are totally out of the question.  I would like to learn to scuba dive and maybe swim with sharks one day... in one of those steel cages, of course. I am also dying to get a tattoo but I can't for the life of me figure out what I'd like on me for the rest of my life and my mom would kill me.  Nevermind that my fiance is covered in tats, my brother has a full sleeve, and my other brother has a handful.  Can we say double standard??

via

2. Where you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years I will be 32, almost 33.  That sounds old.  Hopefully I'm a lot like my sister-in-law.  She waited until she and her husband were in a (very) comfortable place in their lives to have a child at 32 years old, despite the constant nagging from her (and my future) mother-in-law.  

So I would like to be maybe thinking about kids (that sentence just made me freak out a bit) and have already completed my MSN to be working as a nurse practitioner.  I'd also like to be driving a nicer car and living in a nicer house.  And have added a new dog to the mix.... I've got a serious sweet spot for French Bulldogs!

3. What are you looking forward to before the end of 2013?

There really isn't anything that I'm anticipating before the end of the year.  Spring of 2014 is going be very busy (wedding, graduation, nursing boards) so I want the rest of this year to be calm.  I'll be in my second semester of nursing school so I'd like to make all A's and stay on budget (look for that post later this week!).

4. What are your hopes for your blog?

 I love having this blog as place to connect to people! In just a few months I have met so many great girls (and a few guys) and love hearing what is going on in everyone's lives.  In the (near) future, I'd like to have a blate, participate in a conference, start up some sponsorship, and host a giveaway!

5. Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city? 

If it was up to me, NO.  Don't get me wrong, I like Houston.  There is so much to offer in the city and many people I love are here. Like my fiance, and his fam.  Plus his job, my school, and the Med Center - hello, I will need a nursing job in 9 months!!  But my people are in Austin, a city I deeply love.  For now, I'm satisfied with visiting Austin on a regular basis.

6. What is your morning routine?

I HAVE to shower in the morning because I my hair gets super greasy so easily.  The only exception to this is when I have a copious amounts of hairspray in my hair the night before and the grease is magically soaked up!

After I shower, I deal with the pups and make my morning Spark.  Then I head back upstairs with my Spark and get ready - lotion, makeup, hair, brush teeth, get dressed.  Then I'm out the door.  The whole shebang (with shower) usually takes about 45 minutes.  I can get out the door in under 30 minutes if I skip the blow drying but it isn't that pretty of a sight!

I would LOVE to hear what your morning routine is! Or really the answers to any of these questions!

xoxo,

Cait