If I could have anyone's hand-me-downs

Their outfits and accessories kind of make my heart skip a beat. Just a little.

in order to succeed...

"To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

This has always been one of my favorite quotations. I think we all have at one point questioned the meaning of success in an effort to define ourselves and how we may or may not fit into that category. As we venture on through each chapter of life, we wonder how success can be applicable to our own lives, no matter how old we are. We wonder just how good of a job we have done at living. Whenever I have uncertainties about this roller coaster we call life, I reflect back on this little spoonful of inspiration and remember that it's not about what or how much I can take with me along the way, but instead what I can leave behind when I'm gone.

Something else I obsess over

Anything old, vintage, french country, shabby chic.







Aren't these fabulous?

For my fellow tarheels... and to everyone else

It is quite clear that there comes a time in every national championship holding title that God up and decides that sometimes it's only fair to give the other schools a chance to rush the court. (Why it had to be my last year of college and first year to see UNC vs. Dook in person, I wish I knew.) The same thing happened to us after we won the title in 2005. But no, it does not happen often people, and it certainly will never negate the fact that six victorious banners halo UNC's Dean Dome, that Michael Jordan-the greatest basketball player who has ever lived simply learned from the best, and men like Dean Smith and Roy Williams will always make us feel at home and have our backs until the end. So what, the Tar Heels have stepped off the pedestal to tie their shoes, as Brandon Staton nicely put it. Those of you who despise our carolina-blue painted bodies, hate the fact that number 5o now prominantly hangs in the rafters of UNC's sanctuary, and who face the actuality that no matter where you go to school you will never experience the mere equivelent of Franklin Street after a victory in all of your college years, please... embrace your mascot to the fullest this time around and update those facebook statuses in capital letters with all the hatred your mind can conceive... and don't you worry, because we'll be back.

Happy 100 Years of Carolina Basketball... and to 100 More.


Sincerely,
Jolene

We may not have it all together...

But when we're together, we have it all.

Happy Valentine's Day

Rise and shine...

It's Friday morning, no class today; just me and a hot cup of coffee sitting in my big fabulous bed with the covers pulled up to my chest and the sun shining brightly through my blinds. It's a little chilly in my room seeing as to how our apartment is five million years old (but don't worry, newly renovated) and my room is farthest away from the heating/air conditioning unit. It's very quiet in my apartment, which is nice. I like to just lay in bed some mornings and look around my room and think. I don't get to do that much anymore, but this morning got to be one of those mornings. In general, like many people, I have ten thousand competing factors in my life each day that take up ALL of my time. So, as I sit here in my bedroom just pondering life--no big deal--I am thinking about a few things:

I miss my family. I miss waking up to breakfast and the sounds (yes even my dad's big mouth) of our household in the morning. When I go home over break, these sounds usually consist of both my parents trying to wake up my little brother for school for approximately 45 minutes; which eventually are not the most pleasant forms of communication from both ends, our yappy little dog Lilly getting excited even when someone just takes a look at her leash, Matt Lauer rambling from the living room TV on the Today Show, and of course coffee brewing and my favorite, mom's professional egg scrambling abilities steady at work. Oh, and how could I forget my dad's loud mouth going on about God only knows what. Usually all of this takes place at around 7 a.m. which, when you are home from school on break with one sole objective in mind- that being to sleep in, you don't find ANY of this to be delightlful. Instead, I usually stomp to the living room, dirty look on face, where all of my jolly family members remain (minus my brother who still lays in bed angry that his light is now on in an effort to wake him up), and plop down on the couch with my arms crossed. My dad, who, unlike myself, is quite the morning person, will usually cheerfully ask me a question or try to engage in some kind of conversation with me. The usual response he gets from me is "I don't knowww" no matter what the question is in the grumpiest voice you have ever heard. And then he replies "Wow. Go back to bed." After 21 years, you would think he would know by now I hate to talk when I first wake up. Of course, before going back to bed I wait for breakfast. I wake up starving no matter what time it is, and literally cannot fall back asleep because my stomach hurts so badly. So, at least I get some food out of all this.

While away at school, I find myself missing those mornings the most. I miss my dad purposely bumping into me in the hallway as I bitterly make my way to the kitchen. I miss the smell of perfume and freshness in the bathroom after my mom gets ready for work. I miss Lilly barking and being so excited to go out for a walk. I miss all of our pets, including our two cats, surrounding me while I eat because they know I am such a good sharer. I find myself waking up some mornings, cooking breakfast, and putting on the Today show in my living room at my apartment. I do enjoy this show a lot, but I think more than anything it just makes me feel more at home. No matter where I end up in life, I will always remember those mornings at home. They are not something I appreciate when I am at home, in fact, i'm sure even next time I go home my feelings on all of the commotion in the LoFrese household at the butt-crack of dawn will remain loyal to what they always have been. Nonetheless, I will always remember and miss those mornings for the rest of my life. And I will chuckle to myself when I have children who are home from college and complain about being woken up by their annoying family, and tell them that one day-just maybe- they might miss this.

No One Likes a...

1. Swagger Jacker: 1. A person who steals another persons swag/sense of style/ or being 2. A copy cat. 3. Someone who steals or copies someone elses style, slang, ideas, way of dress etc.

"Like say i buy something first or do something first and you see me wearing what i bought or do what i did and you like it, then you turn right around and buy what i bought or do what i did thats what a swagger jacker is ya digz."

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=swagger+jacker

just sayin.

Dear Carrie Bradshaw...

I am this woman's biggest fan. A few things I would say to Carrie Bradshaw if we were ever friends:
1. I love you.
2. I love everything you wear, even the ugly stuff. Any by ugly, I mean you did it so fabulously it could have been a paper bag and I would have adored it.
3. Michelle and I often criticize one another on your behalf. For instance, she may have doubts about a certain obnoxious garment or dressing in opposition to what the weather has permitted even though the outfit looks fabulous, and I would snobbishly reply "Carrie Bradshaw would do it" or vice versa. Just thought you should know, I really believe in you.
4. I would rather starve and have good shoes and the newest vogue.

I am obsessed with peacocks. The end.

"When I loved myself enough, I quit settling for too little"-Kim McMillen

First off, let me just say I LOVE quotes. I am enticed with the idea of putting one's personal philosophy on life and its various components into one sentence or two that leaves plenty of room for subjectivity in a way forcing the reader to alter or enhance her perspective on various topics, even just for a minute. One day at work while designing jewelry and sipping coffee, I stumbled across this book. Immediately, I fell in love. Well, seeing as to how the woman for whom I work is not only fabulous from head to toe on the outside as well as one of the most inspiring persons on the inside that I have ever been so lucky to call my dearest friend, it was no surprise that this book was one of her little treasures that I was fortunate enough to stumble upon in her office. "It brings to life simple, profound, and undeniable truths: our time on earth is limited, we are never alone, and loving others always begins with loving ourselves." Each quote begins with "When I loved myself enough..." and is completed with inspirational tid-bits that you will find are neatly applicable to every day life and how we view ourselves and reality. This book now sits on my desk in my bedroom as a reminder that above all, the key to happiness is to love myself no matter what.