Not-So-Foolish 40: Elite 8

Here we go, friends. We're down to the home stretch -- the last 12 out of my Not-So-Foolish 40. Thanks for sticking with me this week as I bombard your news feed with information that I'm just sure you were dying to know. And now, the Elite 8:

12. Post-It Notes -- Have you seen those pictures of people who use Post-Its to create a work of art? Yeah, that's pretty much my desk at work. I'll get a crazy idea or remember a must-do task and jot it down and stick it on whatever open space there is so that I won't forget it. Sticky-Note Organization, I like to call it. Except that there's no real organization to it.

OK, so my desk doesn't look like this. But I totally appreciate the time it took to create it. (Image courtesy of http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/post-it-note/)

11. Family & Friends -- I consider myself ridiculously blessed to have friends that I consider family, and family that I consider friends. For years when I moved to Atlanta, my closest family members were a 9 hour drive away. I valued the independence, but I also relied on my close friendships to fill the gaps. I think this also strengthened my family ties, because when I was spending time with my family I soaked in every second. It may sound cliche, but now that I'm a mother I realize that it really does take a village to raise a child. And our village? Full of family and friends. Wouldn't have it any other way.

10. Consignment stores -- I have a confession -- I'm a shopaholic. Shocked? Yeah, didn't think so. But I'm a bargain shopaholic. I love a good thrift shop (including the "Thift Shop" song by Macklemore) or consignment store. In fact, tonight a bunch of my friends and I swapped a ton of clothes and accessories. It was the perfect combination of friends, food, clothes, conversation and wine. (Of course there was wine. Duh.)

9. Contacts -- Remember when it was cool in middle school to wear fake glasses? Never had that problem. I've been a card-carrying member of the Four-Eyes Society since I was 8 years old. But one of the things I am certainly thankful for are my contacts. Game changer for me, for sure. That's not to say that I don't dig the geek-chic trend. I have been eyeing a pair of Warby Parker specs for a few months now ...

Ironically, these are the Sloan glasses. That just means I HAVE to get them, right?

8. Magazines -- My first big girl job was working for a small magazine publishing company. That first job fed my passion for information (and interior design and DIY) and taught me a whole lot about the real world, including how the demands of a changing econonmy can flip your world upside down in just.two.minutes. But even though I was laid off from what I would consider was a dream job, I now covet the time that I have to dig into one of my favorite magazines.

7. Drive-thrus -- I have absolutely no idea whose invented the first drive-thru, but THANK YOU.

6. My Dad --  This May will mark 6 years since my dad passed away. As I type this, it sounds surreal to say that. Six years. So much has happened in my life in the past six years -- and even though my dad may not have been there to physically share in those moments, I could feel his presense. I try hard not to get upset when I think about my dad (which is all.the.time.), because I know that's not what he would want. He would want me to be happy and to live my life to the fullest the way that he did. At the same time, I know there are others who have a much shorter time to create memories with a parent or loved one, so I'm grateful for the time that I did have with him. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see, hear or think of something that reminds me that my dad is there -- and for me, there is amazing comfort in that.

Outside our house in Charlotte, spring 1984. Man I really wish I could see what's on Eric's shirt! Can anyone tell?

5. Work-Life Balance -- Remember yesterday when I said that this has been a rewarding week, both professionally and personally? Are you ready for the scoop? I'm transitioning from working full-time to working part-time! And the only way I can really explain my excitement about this transition? You guessed it -- through hashtags! #pinchme #luckylady #bestcompanyever #pinchmeagain #ouch #okstop #thathurts #bruised #buthappy

Come back tomorrow ... it's the FINAL countdown!