13 Going on 30

On the eve of my 29th birthday, I've been very reflective about what I've done with my life (and what I want to do) before I turn 30. When I compare the list to what I thought I would have done before I turned 30, I have accomplished a lot of those things:

I got married

I drove cross country (to move to Massachusetts)



I started law school!



I got to sit in the lap of luxury and see what it's like to be a baller in the sports world (via the owner's box at Fenway)




Yet, there are other things I want to do before I turn 30. Since I can't make a list of 30 things I can realistically do this year, I decided to focus on the appropriately titled Jennifer Garner movie of which I just can't seem to get enough.

My list of the 13 things I plan to do in the next year before I hit, *gulp*, 30! You'll note that some are related and some should go together.

13 Going on 30

1. Get a passport
2. Complete the Couch to 5K program
3. Swim in the Atlantic Ocean
4. Drive a super luxury car (think Bentley, Rolls Royce, etc.)
5. Go camping where I'm responsible for everything (like setting up a tent...yikes!)
6. Do at least one performance-related thing
7. Visit a beer brewery
8. Lose 30 pounds
9. Improve my Spanish skills
10. Visit at least 2 countries outside North America
11. Read the Top 10 great books
12. Run an official 5K (last chance is likely to be the St. Patrick's 5K in South Boston which was, at least this year, held the weekend before St. Patrick's Day)
13. Try at least one food that I'd normally resist

Shopping HELP!!!

I have already started to think ahead to interview season that will be occurring in August of this year (yes, I do love to plan ahead). As sort of a joint "Congrats on finishing your first summer at a big law firm!"/anniversary present, I would like to buy a nice handbag. In making sure I select something that is reasonably practical, I have restricted myself to something that I can use during interview season with big firms. This means that it cannot be:

1. Juicy Couture (oh, how my heart aches to say that!)
2. Logo items (Coach, Louis Vuitton...you're auf'd)
3. Be too spangly, sparkly, or otherwise draw a disdainful look from older folks.
4. In a bright color. It should be black.

I am TERRIBLE at this kind of stuff. I have expensive tastes since I routinely drool over the following:


Chloe Paddington




Salvatore Ferragamo Icona Vitello Tamponato Leather Bowler Bag





The forever unhaveable Hermes Kelly



This should give you an idea of my style, I think. My price point is under $1000 (after all, I am still technically a poor student)! But I mean, if I have to be poor and a student, why not look fabulous doing it?

I know I have some awesomely fabulous, stylish friends so what say y'all?

Summertime and the Living's Easy

Long time, no talk. I know, I've been extremely busy with school and interviewing and what not. Law schools are strange in that first year students (1Ls) interview roughly 5-6 months in advance for summer internships. 1Ls are allowed to start applying on December 1 and many positions have rolling deadlines. I didn't sent out resumes until late-December because I couldn't handle putting applications on top of finals, which meant that I didn't start interviewing until mid-January. That was incredibly stressful given that I heard about other law school classmates who already had offers.

Luckily once the interviews started, they didn't really stop. And then when grades came out, it was even better. I decided to stop interviewing when I got a couple of great offers and today I got the offer I was hoping for. Of course, this one offer pre-empted the three offers from New York firms and organizations so in the legal battle for Violet, it's Boston: 2; New York: 0. I'll be working for a firm here in town which means that I get to stay living with The Outdoorsman AND the benefit of getting big firm experience!

Guys, I'm almost like a grown up now!!!

Braggadocious, Y'all

Since I can't talk to my school friends about this, I'll tell y'all here. Grades came out today. I was fully anticipating a low pass in Civil Procedure -- in fact, after that exam, I went home and cried. Then there was a matter of Property, a class that was horrrrrrrrrrrrible to attend. I think I took maybe 10 pages of notes for the entire semester, altogether. I spent each class period in group GChats. I was completely out to lunch in Criminal Law because my professor was a disaster. I actually tuned in during Contracts because of my love for Liz Warren and also because I enjoyed the class. The final, however, was semi-disastrous and I was seriously concerned about my grade.

This worrying was for naught.

I passed three of my classes (Legal Writing, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure). It's a miracle of God that I got a P in Civ Pro.

I got Honors in Property and Contracts.

I further got the Dean's Scholar award for Contracts which is for the top one or two grades in the entire section. Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!?! I must have logged in to the grade system a good three separate times and from different computers just to make sure that was *my* transcript I saw.

I guess I really *am* here for a reason! And, um, so much for the (often unspoken) theory that people of color are at law school without "merit".

Resolutions Revisited

Well, I didn't make a New Year's resolution because I don't think they work for me. Instead I decided to just continue in being successful in the goals I've set for myself. Much like 2 years ago when I was happy that I was ending the year smaller than I started, I was happy that I ended this past year smaller than I started. I didn't make the progress I wanted, but it made me smile when a dear friend noticed my progress at a happy hour event pre-leaving LA. But I needed to get back to the gym. I don't even want to talk about the amazing dinners I made during the holidays, but let's just say that between the gourmet dinners and decadent desserts, combined with the snow on the ground, I was not as active as I'd hoped.

I found out there's a school gym about a block from my apartment so now it's going to be my fall back if I don't use the one on campus. Now there are no excuses because instead of a 20 minute walk from home, this place is a block away. Added bonus: the gym was fairly empty because the undergrads aren't back yet, so instead of trying to package my workout into a stupid half hour time slot, I was able to take my time. That I actually manage to hang on for 45 minutes was a miracle of the iPod. Praise be to Pat Benetar, Britney Spears (Circus album), and Soulja Boy...and to fab people who have previously gifted me iTunes giftcards :)

Ooh, and I bought myself another Christmas present!



I'm trying to make sure I am maximizing my progress, so what better way to help me keep track of calories in and calories out. If it works for the Biggest Loser folks, then it could work for me (notwithstanding the whole, ya know, 8 hours of working out per day).


PS: For the gym rats, don't be assholes to the people who did make resolutions and are in the gym. Yeah, I know it sucks when you have to wait to use a machine, but if they want to make a change, you should be happy for them.

Ten Years

OK, so technically the end of the decade is what, next year? Who knows? I'm never really good at that stuff. However, since everyone had the Y2K hysteria and did the decade lists 10 years ago (and this year), I think it's fair game to talk about it now.

1999: I graduated from high school and had finished my first quarter at UCLA. I was really enjoying myself a lot...well, at least my extracurriculars. I disliked my roommates a LOT and was looking forward to living off-campus. I wanted to go to law school, but knew my grades weren't going to be up to par. My mom and stepdad had just split up and my family had just moved to Vegas (my mom, the twins at 8 months, and my sister). My sister had just finished high school and was pregnant with my nephew Isaac. I had just negotiated with the judge to complete an alcohol diversion class instead of having a suspended license for my MIP (minor in possession). I had finally broken up with my high school boyfriend a couple of months before and was not-so-secretly pining after a guy I hooked up with during the summer. I had no idea if I'd ever meet someone that I could even date long term, much less marry.







2009: Shockingly, I managed to not only finish undergrad, but also a master's degree. I just finished my first semester at Harvard Law School. I really like it a lot, even though I don't get nearly enough sleep. My grades are probably still not up to par, but I try very hard. My roommate now irritates me sometimes but I probably won't move out any time soon because he's my husband :). I've been married for almost two and a half years. I now live on an entirely different coast. My nephew will be 10 in a couple of months and the twins will be 11. But the biggest change? I am happy.







True, it's not all wonderful. I've gained weight in the last 10 years which annoys me (to put it mildly). I don't look as young as I once did. But the last 10 years have been such a roller coaster ride and they've seemingly passed so quickly. The next 10 are going to be filled with so many other wonderful milestones: graduating from law school, beginning my professional career, having children, buying a home. The twins will be on the brink of turning 21 (!!!!!!). I will be officially middle aged (Boo!). But I can't wait for all that life will bring.

Happy New Year, all!

Merry Christmas to Me!

I decided to buy myself a pre-finals pick-me-up. I mean, it makes The Outdoorsman's life easier because he doesn't have to shop for me or try to keep a secret (at which he is quite terrible). I win because I get exactly what I want at a good price and I get it immediately! Of course, this was a rationalization made after I saw the email from Gilt Group saying that there was a sale on Juicy Couture that day and The Outdoorsman was still sleeping so he couldn't talk me down from the ledge.



Little Juicy Couture crown earrings. I bought another pair for my little sister for Christmas too. She's in 5th grade now and preparing to go to middle school next year. Between the Juicy tote I bought her last Christmas and the earrings this Christmas, she's going to be the coolest little 6th grader ever.




The only difference between this one and mine is that mine is in a dark beige/taupe-ish color.