A ship in a harbor is safe...

... but that's not what ships are for.

Alert. This post is neither fashion nor decor related. No overt light-heartedness today, folks. Today (or next week, rather) is decision making time.  I was extended an offer to join the 2011 Teach for America Corps in the Mississippi Delta.  "Wait, wait," you say, "didn't she go to law school, take the TEXAS bar exam, and start doing Oil and Gas law recently?"  Yes Missy, I did.  And now I must make a BIG decision.  Do I stay with the firm at which I'm currently working doing the kind of work I went to law school for?  OR do I take a gigantic risk, move to Mississippi/Arkansas, and teach Mathematics?  Do I stick with comfort and status quo or do I take a leap of faith and follow a dream?  I'm sure by that comparison you can already tell which way I'm leaning.  But I'm scared.  If I choose the risk, I'm going to take a pay cut. I'm going to move somewhere I never thought I'd live.  It'll be hard.  Like, really hard.

And, as I ponder which next steps I'll take, I'm reminded of the President's words:

“Over the next ten years… we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math."  Wasn't I just offered the chance to be one of those teachers?

But what about my law degree?  And what about the fact that I'm good at being a lawyer?  Am I, as some in the law profession told me, throwing my law career away?

I mean, I didn't go to law school with some warm, feel-good, fuzzy feeling to change the world.  In fact, as the debt started growing, I thought that I better had get a good, high-paying job to pay off my "house" of loans.  But I found happiness in helping out the accused, the victims, and those no one else helped out.  I worked my tail off, for free, throughout law school at various government offices and a free legal clinic.  And I LOVED it.  Because I have a passion for people and I want a career that makes my soul feel good. 

So, folks.  I'm 50/50 now. Not leaning one way or the other, but more like leaning both ways. I'm like 80/80. And I'm praying for wisdom...

This nation was built by men who took risks - pioneers who were not afraid of the wilderness, business men who were not afraid of failure, scientists who were not afraid of the truth, thinkers who were not afraid of progress, dreamers who were not afraid of action. ~Brooks Atkinson

Thanks for the Image, BBC

It's OVER!

Hooray, Cheers, Woo-Hoo!!!
The bar exam is over.  The Wicked Witch is dead!

It was definitely not as bad as I thought it was going to be (somewhat).  I had studied extremely hard all summer.  No seriously.  All summer.  On May 16th, I graduated.  On May 17th, I drove from Cleveland to Dallas.  And on May 18th I started studying.  There was so much information in my head by the last two weeks, I had daily headaches.  But, by the time the exam rolled around, I was confident.  In fact, on the Monday I drove to Arlington before I began my test, I got a call about an internship with the Texas Attorney General.  It was absolutely the confidence boost I needed to get through the week.  And then on Wednesday afternoon, I got a call about an internship at the Dallas County DA's office.  It was such amazing and welcome timing that two job opportunities would come during the most stressful week ever.  It definitely helped me keep focus on why I was putting myself through this stressful test!
So, as of last Thursday around 4 o'clock I began my climb back to normalcy.  It's probably going to be a long one.  The past few days I have still woken up wondering what I am supposed to be doing (i.e. instead of studying).  Fortunately, in my joy of celebration on Thursday, a little champagne got spilled on Maggie's computer, so the next few days were spent schlepping to and fro the Northpark Apple Store (no worries- everything is fine, all her stuff is now backed up and she has a new top-case (which she wanted anyways)).
All this to say, I'm back... I will be back blogging regularly about news, fashion, food, design, and moreso than ever about thinking and acting "green" (slightly ironic typing this now as I am inside a lovely and slightly chilly 78 degree house while it feels something akin to the foyer of hell outside... oh Texas).  I hope you all are staying cool!

Why Morning People Rule the World

A friend posted this article on his facebook page today and I enjoyed it to bits.
It's a May article from the London Evening Standard that examines the differences and (dis)advantages to being either a morning person or an evening person:

"We are all morning or evening people. Scientists have established that our genes dictate around half of what they call our “chronotypes” — our natural preference for certain times of the day."

I am most certainly a morning person... hooray?

Missing.

I miss this view from my London walks to school:

But, I love being able to re-create the walk via Google Maps :)

Glee Has Heart.

Wow.  I just finished watching this week's episode of Glee on Hulu.  It is entitled 'Laryngitis' and all about finding your voice.
Watch it here:


This is one of the best episodes I have EVER seen of this show.  Usually, I enjoy Glee for its over-the-top musical numbers, adorable high school social mini-dramas, the voices, and lately, for the media and political jabs.  The first half of this episode absolutely lived up to my usual love of Glee.  The second half, however, reminded me that Glee has heart... and a Big one at that.
First, I'm SO SO happy that some of the "minor" characters are getting the chance to shine.  Puck and Mercedes duet was phenomenal and also an exciting and refreshing break from the pop numbers Glee has been cashing in on lately.  Kurt's solo was amazing (not to mention the Alexander McQueen scarf he was so ferociously rocking).  And Kurt's relationship with his father is so sweet and what I can only imagine is pretty true to life.  Rachel's duet with Fin's hurt friend towards the end, and the entire cast's rendition, of U2's One was epic.  I may have shed a little tear... Just like Rachel.
Best part of the entire episode?  Kurt's solo and the talk with his dad afterwards.
Best line of the entire episode?  Kurt's father telling him, "your job is to be yourself."
Perfect words to live by.  Almost perfect episode.

Thank Goodness for Great Girlfriends!

"Never forget the days I spent with you. 

Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
---Ludwig Van Beethoven

It's doesn't happen everyday that someone full of passion and love and life enters yours.  I met Heather during her first week of law school.  I was a 2L and she was a baby 1L.  Throughout that first year, we did a bunch of political stuff and travelled to many fundraisers together.  This past semester, we have become bonkers close.  I'm pretty sure that we are a rare breed of women.  We are fiercely independent, have huge hearts, and live with reckless abandon.  We live and love passionately.  Heather, you make me know that's it's okay to be exactly like we are.  I have loved our dinners and never-ending chats!  I hope the conversations never end!

I have a draft blog post that I wrote a few weeks ago entitled, 'Why Heather is the Strongest Woman I know.'  Heather's fiance is currently deployed to Afghanistan.  I have absolutely no idea how she is able to live and do law school everyday.  Her strength is phenomenal and enviable.  I'm pretty sure there is no way I could do what she does- heck, i broke down in front of her just thinking about it.

Heather, I am extremely sad that I'm not going to see your face everyday anymore.  But, I cannot wait to celebrate your marriage with you in the spring, and hopefully I will see you in Europe before then! :)  I love you so much and feel that my life is fuller because you are in it!

My Name is Alix and I am an Addict...

I am ADDICTED to kitchen wares, linens, and other home decorating things.  I am a nester.  There, I said it.  My addiction has become scarily apparent as I pack up the apartment.  I can dedicate a whole, U-haul medium size box to silver frames.  Just silver frames.  Nothing else.  In fact, I have to go get more boxes so that I can have a place for 'brown frames' and 'gold frames.'  I don't even want to talk about the kitchen.
The linen closet- it's gonna need a few boxes in and of itself.
That being said, I stumbled across the textile designer, John Robshaw this morning.  Thank goodness I'm moving, or I would drop hundreds of dollars on his designs.  Like these quilts;

or these sheets:

or these pillows:

So absolutely beautiful.  Subdued colors, but such bold design.  Shop John Robshaw Textiles here.  

Updates on my home goods addiction and packing to come.  Enjoy this Lovely Cinco De Mayo!

Love.

Let love explode and bring the dead to life

A love so bold

To bring a revolution somehow

Live. Love. Laugh.

I had a conversation today with someone.  And it stuck with me.  Perhaps it was because my throat was a bit sore from yelling.  Perhaps it was because of the words he used.  But, perhaps it was because the subject matter we spoke about got just a little too deep for comfort.

He told me that in the world of this law school, in the midst of our post-grad reality, two of my friends managed to become the epitome of "frat boys" and that somehow I had become their sorority girl follower.  He called our behavior and "immaturity" a feat for law school and scoffed that in my last months of "university-living," I would choose to spend my time even conversing with these two.  He said that he lost respect for me after I told him that I was having fun.

After we finished the "conversation" and after the letters, "G.K.Y." finally stopped flashing in my head, I calmed down and write the following now:

Yes. To most everyone in this world I am superficial.  Not in a bad way, but in the way where not many to see the real me.  Most only see the surface.  I am perfectly okay with that.  I am okay with my surface personality and I am VERY OKAY with who I am.

As I type this post, I am not baring my soul.  I am not telling you what I really feel about this situation.  I'm not taking down the wall.  I don't use this blog as an outlet for emotion, and I never will.  I will use it to show you shoes I like, things I love, things I hate, and to tell you about my hilarious friends.  I take pleasure in making people happy. I like to look pretty.  I like to make people laugh.  I like to hang out with all sorts of people for a few weeks/months/years and make memories to cherish.  I like living.  I never want to have to conform.  I never want to apologize for my choices.  I'm never going to.  I am who I am, and I'm not perfect, but I'm PERFECTLY HAPPY with me.

The point of this blog post is to just say this: If you're doing something that makes you incredibly happy, no matter how small or how big it may be, keep doing it.  Our lives are measured in moments and memories, and how dull our existence would be if we tried to fit them into some pre-supposed outline?  I almost let someone get me down today because he tried to convince me that his way of thinking, and his self-proclaimed "right" way of life, was the only way.  The superior way.  But it's not.  And this isn't to say that my way is the only way to live, either.

But I know this: living and loving and laughing has never led me astray.  

"Rate My Professor"

Last week, I stopped into the Law Clinic to say hello, check my mailbox, and update my advisors on certain aspects of my cases.  While in Andrew's office, he asked if I ever went onto Rate My Professor (dot com).  I told him not that often, but I did know of the site.

[insert back story: Andrew had just gone on to rate my professor and had seen the comments about the one and only, Jonathan H. Adler, and asked if I had commented on him on there [insert further back story: I have MUCH admiration for this professor: both as a professor, and as a Libertarian]]
After I left Andrew's office, this conversation, and the topic of rating professors, stuck in my mind.  As I sat down to continue my studies in the Library, I reflected back on my law professors I've had at Case.

Without sounding too sentimental and over-dramatic, I can honestly say that EVERY law professor I've had over the past three years has been great.  A few have been phenomenal.  As I sit, only 3 weeks from graduation, I extend my greatest thanks to the following professors for making my Law School Career absolutely fabulous: Cassandra Robertson (Civil Procedure); Jonathan H. Adler (Constitutional Law, International Environmental Law, Administrative Law); George Dent (Business Associations); Mike Benza (Death Penalty Issues).

Additionally, this list would not be complete without the following two professors, who not only taught me the fundamentals of civil litigation during my Law School Career, but taught me how to be a great attorney.  SO many thanks to Yuri and Andrew!!!  I'm going to miss you greatly!

mornings.

mornings are not usually a place of abounding luxe. they are frantic, hectic, and filled with sounds of alarms, cnn, water running, and the pitter-patter of heels. however, even in the most rushed of mornings, luxe can abound:

Despite knowing I'd be 25 minutes late to Sales with THIS GUY,  I took time to grab a Venti Non-fat, Misto (more coffee than milk).

As I'm sitting in class right now, that 5 minute stop into Starbucks was perfect and necessary.