Summery Goals.

I stalked Kelly.

I have a very busy summer ahead of me. I can just feel it. If the past few weeks are any indication, then I know that I'm going to need a lot of planned additional activities to keep my head on straight. Because right now! Let me tell ya! It's twist-turned-upside-down. I woke up today and almost cried because we're 10 days into June and I didn't realize. OK, calm down Patty, you didn't almost cry.

I also want to do other things. Last night I was talking to my director's wife {who's not from Boston} and she asked me about the cape and Martha's Vineyard and I was like, "Uh...". I've been to the cape. But only to Trevor's hometown as an adult." I feel STUPID for not going to places in my own state. My family always went to New Hampshire or Disney World. Basically the same things. Although, technically, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are islands. But there are things I want to do, and god damnit, Imma get them done.

1. Visit Savage in D.C. and not watch Kardashian marathons {i.e. stay out past 10pm.}

2. Take Kelly {see above} on a Codzilla ride.

3. Go to an outdoor party {some people call them barbeques, I call them "I live in the city and don't know anyone with a grill aside from a George Foreman"}

4. Trip to somewhere warm with water to swim in and no work to do and relaxing to relax and margaritas made in my mouth.

5. Or... a trip to NYC.

6. Visit a Boston Harbor Island.

7. Eat 1 Blue Vanilla Richie's slush.

OK. THAT'S ENOUGH.

I'm getting my hair done today. And I really love this outfit. I'm sorry... did I say love? I am obsessed. It was created by Fancy Fine. OK. Bye. Happy Friday. I get out of work at 12:30.

St. Patty's Day

Today is St. Patrick’s Day! But I like to call it St. Patty’s Day. Because... guess what? My name’s Patty! I’m from Everett and I like to have fun with my friends. I guess it’s not too crazy of an idea for there to be a day dedicated to me. I am a great person. I often think about giving to charities. How would it be celebrated, though? Here’s how:

You would wake up with a cat clawing at your face.

You would watch episodes of iCarly while you get ready for work. Or at the very least listen to some Michael Jackson. {I like “PYT” or “The Way You Make Me Feel” for the morning.}

Your breakfast would involve peanut butter.

You would make your co-workers laugh and laugh and laugh until they want you to go away.

You would tweet something snarky.

You would text Casey mean thoughts about other people that you couldn’t write on Twitter.

You would have at least 40 negative thoughts but only speak the positive ones. Except, of course, those ones you’ve already texted Casey and/or wrote on Twitter.

You would want a Venti coffee, but you’d only get a tall.

You would wear tights and a skirt/dress with tall boots.

You would have your nails painted red or pink shades, and they’d probably be a little scraped off because that is a bad habit of yours.

You would dance awkwardly when you’re bored or uncomfortable.

You would drink and then hate the way you act.

You would have relationships with your local bartenders and delivery guys.

You would probably fall because your ankle or knee gave out.

You would have a lot of fun!!!!!!!! With your friends. Obviously.

Staycation Ideas.

I spent the past week and a half on "staycation". I'll tell you the truth. I loved every single minute of it. I thought I'd get bored or antsy, but I didn't think of the office once. Except, I thought of "The Office" a lot because I spent my staycation catching up on episodes.

Which brings me to my post subject! Here are some ideas for a staycation you may be taking in your future - or ways to enjoy your days off when you don't have the money to go anywhere.

- Go shopping during the day when only the elderly are at the mall. And don't buy anything full-retail. Save yourself some money and search the sale racks when there's nobody there to elbow you out of the way.

- Watch an entire season (or 2 or 3) of a TV show you like, or a TV show someone has said you'd really like.

- Rent a Zipcar and go to Kelly's Roast Beef at 1:30am right before a snow storm is about to hit. Hint: Don't let your friend smash into a pole and make you think you're going to die. Thanks, Marty.

- Shut off your phone and get a manicure and pedicure. {in this gorgeous color.}

- Bring bagels and coffee to your friends' apartment and sit on the couch and watch TV with them in your pajamas all day long.

- Play trivia. Win trivia.

- Talk about boys with your roommate. 

- Outlet shopping. {Y'know, after you've already been to the mall.} I mean, you can't beat the J.Crew Factory. Even if you have to drive to Maine for it.

- Stay up late every night. Sleep until noon.

- Go to a bar that you have to stand in line and pay a cover for even though you promised yourself years ago that you would never be the kind've girl that did that - and then surprise yourself with the amount of fun you had inside. {See above photo.}

- Take a party bus home from a bar instead of a cab.

- Get a box of hair dye from the Christmas Tree Shop and dye your hair. Then cut your own bangs. Updated hair: $8.

- Go to a museum and use your old student ID to save TWO WHOLE DOLLARS. I went to the Museum of Fine Arts new Art of America wing. I learned some things I didn't know before because I really never studied that period of time while getting my Art History degree.

- Buy an iCarly calendar for $1.

Well, back to work.

THIS IS GONNA BE MY YEAR!

*falls into canyon and dies.*

Ah, the resolutions debate. Probably the most controversial debate in modern society – pro-resolutions vs. anti-resolutions? I, for one, am pro. I’m the type of lady who likes to be organized. I make to-do lists every morning at work. I like goals – something to work towards. I also like tall boots.

However, I understand the whole “setting yourself up for failure” aspect. But better to try at something than not try at all, right? Isn’t not doing things you want to do sorta-kinda failing? No, it’s not. It really isn’t. But I believe everyone should do what they want to do. And if you try it, and you fail, well at least you tried.

Here are just some things I’m working towards but I won’t beat myself up over if I don’t succeed. {Maybe. I often punch myself in the face just to show myself who’s boss – Tony Danza.}

- Grocery shopping. I don’t do that. I live in the North End and there are no {inexpensive} grocery stores close by and I don’t have a car and I refuse to go to the store with a giant back pack like my sister. But, I often have access to a car and I can go to a cheaper store in the suburbs and buy the groceries I need. Otherwise, I spend a ton of money getting food elsewhere, or I eat saltines for dinner like 3 times a week. That part probably won’t change.

- Yoga. I want to do it more. It relaxes me, makes me feel strong and good about myself and makes my 95-year-old body ache less.

- Cook. Maybe this goes with grocery shopping. But, I never cook. I should cook. I’m turning 25 this year and I want to be able to do adult things like make myself dinner or have a pasta sauce recipe to swap amongst friends at book club meetings or playgroups with our kids. OMG, I’m way behind.

- Hold grudges less. I’m a huge grudge holder. I guess I don’t understand when people do shitty things to me because I’m like soo nice and soo awesome and I always do the right thing. {Wrong!} It’s a waste of time and energy to hold grudges and if people aren’t in my life anymore {or if they are, but are just shitty people} there’s a reason for that. I’ve got better people who still like me enough or that I haven’t pushed away yet. Score!

- Personal style. I like the way I dress and I think it has evolved and changed over the past few years and I'm very happy with that. I just want to take more chances. And clean my closet out... to fill it with new things!

- Get headshots taken. Hi Richie!

- Travel. I'd like to do some more traveling! I'm going to Chicago in February {but I've already been there 3 times}. I'm sure I'll go to Vegas or New York or Washington, D.C. again. But I want to go somewhere new. Like California. Or Paris. Same thing. Which means I should...

- Get a passport. Even if I don’t travel overseas {which I’d love to!} at the very least, I could prepare myself for having to leave the country with a passport.

- Write a book. That’s a big one… and it’s on my list every year. But this is “my year” or whatever.

Those are just a few out of the huge list I made on a piece of Moleskin paper.

Did I just say Moleskin paper? I should add one more thing to my list: be less pretentious.

Keep Ya Head Up

Hi. I'm in a bad mood. You know what helps bad moods?

Well, not a raisinette getting stuck to your seat... because it makes you look like you shit your chair. Although, typing that out loud (that's not a thing) did make me laugh out loud. But earlier, when I had to clean the raisinette from my seat, I cried. Because that's the appropriate thing to do and you definitely don't look crazy.

Here's a link list. Who doesn't love a good link list? I swear some of these will boost your mood. They all boost mine. But you're all not me. Which is probably good for you, because that means A. You haven't cried over raisinettes today and B. You don't have a run in your cute new tights. (You guys, I'm really making it happen today.)

I Want To Be Her! - an illustrated style blog... with some photos.

A Cup of Jo has some sweet gift guides. And it's a very cute blog.

Polyvore - if you want to play dress up like I did over the weekend.

Modcloth's shoe selection. and Fred Flare's accessory shop.

Free holiday gift tags.

Peeking into other people's beautiful designer homes.

Catalog Living seriously cracks me up. And since the fake couple's names are "Gary and Elaine", I pretend it's Gary and Elaine from my work. Not that I wish they were married. It's just funnier when I imagine the two of them.

This 2Pac song and this 2Pac song. Thanks to Vince for getting me on a 2Pac kick today.

I feel better already!

Tattoo, not t.A.t.u.

Since the dawn of time – or at least the dawn of Patty Barrett – I have been one of those people who talk, talk, talk… but I don't do, do, do. Of course, there are some exceptions – I said I’d take improv classes, and I did! But, it did take me a few years to bite the bullet and do it. I’m tired of that behavior.

So, on Saturday, I decided to get a tattoo. I’ve wanted one since I turned 18, and the only reason I never got one was fear. I was afraid of the pain more than anything. But, it was time! Kelly wanted to get one, so the two of us made the trek out to Allston to get INKED.

We brought Marty and Trevor along. They hated every minute of it. The place, Stingray, was only taking walk-ins that day, so we had to wait for over two hours to get them. I was so nervous! I had butterflies in my stomach, I kept breathing heavily and the words “Oh my god” were repeating over and over in my head, but I did it.

I squeezed Kelly’s hand, and as soon as the needle made impact, I let go and said, “Oh.” The artist laughed and told me it’s never as bad as people think. It barely hurt. It was uncomfortable and weird, but I wouldn’t say it was horrendously painful. I’ve felt worse pain just walking down the street! {I’m very clumsy.}

{up close! it's still a little red, if you couldn't tell.}

{on my forearm.}

It says, "Non, je ne regrette rien" which is my favorite Edith Piaf song {if you saw "La Vie En Rose", it's the song she sings at the end. it was also in "Inception".} It means, "No, I regret nothing". I'm so happy with it! And I've got mixed reviews. Well, mainly positive ones! Only Evan freaked out. But... I love it. A lot. And that's all that really matters.

It's the first thing I crossed off my "list" of things to do, so I'm proud of myself for DOING and not just TALKING. Now... on to the rest of them.

P.s. Look at Trevor and Marty's sick tats. I'm a tattoo artist now!