May 26, 2011

This I believe…

For one of my classes in this, my last quarter of business school, my professor asked us to write a This I Believe essay. I wrote two because my first one was about poop (but I turned both in and got a good grade on both, proving my hypothesis that everyone loves poop and poop is hilarious). Anyway. The second one took some serious introspection and, well, here you go. Apologies for the nerdiness; I attend the business school where fun (and geeks) goes to die. Maybe the essay explains my absence? Maybe not? I don’t know. Also, if you’re getting married and can get Smilebooth, do it. I am the photo booth queen.

Regression to the Mean

Nearly two years ago, I was sitting at my best friend’s dining table, my brain fuzzy with joy. It had been the best week of my life. I was two months away from marrying my soul mate. He and I were living with our two best friends for the summer. I had found twenty dollars on the ground. I was skinny. The day before, I had learned I would be going to the #1 business school in the country. And that morning, another unexpected call, this one from New York: I was being given a book deal. A big one.

I sat at the dining table, wondering what to do with myself. Nobody was home to squeal and jump around with me. I remember looking down at my hands and feeling oddly detached from them and the rest of my body.

Suddenly, I was gripped with overwhelming panic. This was too good. Way too good. Irrationally, I began to fear I’d used up all of my good luck in life. Regression toward the mean – this week’s fortunes would have to be offset by something else, later.

How could I show my gratitude to the Dude in the sky? Maybe he would take pity on me, and give me only sort-of-bad luck to even things out. A stubbed toe, a broken wine glass, that sort of thing.

Later that evening, when I shared the news with my friends and fiancé, we clapped and cheered and jumped around the room like wild monkeys. Another stroke of luck for me: I was surrounded by people who loved me, who were genuinely happy for my serendipity.

The next few months passed in a whirlwind of happiness. I got married, I began business school, I finished the first draft of my book. I somehow managed to stay skinny. We brought home a new puppy, Baxter, and I discovered the unbridled joy and hilarity that come with owning a dog. I got a job.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, though, I kept thinking about regression toward the mean. How could I stay grateful for this unprecedented happiness?

It has been a really bad year. My parents have gone through an ugly divorce. My husband’s family – now my beloved family - experienced frightening health scares. Both of my grandfathers have been in and out of the hospital. I got a bad grade in Investments. Every time I give my dog a bath, he takes a revenge dump on the floor. I got into a wreck in an uninsured car. I gained twenty pounds. Some days I’m so overwhelmed by egocentric self-pity that I can’t force myself to get out of bed.

Now I’m counting on that regression toward the mean. I don’t actually believe some guy is sitting up there in the sky making sure nobody exceeds their allotted amount of bliss. But here’s what I do believe: life regresses to the mean. And that’s wonderful. In times of great joy, the mean anchors me to earth and keeps me humble. In times of great sorrow, the mean is my life vest, keeping me afloat. And when life just feels average, well, that’s because it is. This I believe. 

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March 2, 2011

Gettin’ my pose on

amy adams oscars 2011 red carpet

Okay, so normally I don’t like to post a ton of photos of me and what I wear because usually the answer to any question you might have about my outfit is “My workout clothes” or “Anthropologie.” But. You guys. Apparently I’m late to the ball here, but there’s this new-fangled thing called Rent the Runway and it has changed my life. Bachelorette parties, formals, appearances for my book tour, any other occasion where I need to wear a dress…it’s amazing.

read more »

March 2, 2011

Miss me?

ALERT!: I’ll be interviewed tomorrow morning on WGN Midday News between 11:35 and 11:40am, Central Time. For 3-4 minutes! It will be amazing. I will probably be peeing myself off camera. If you get WGN where you live, tune in!

From Lovely Package

Yes, yes, I fell off the face of the earth again. My schedule is cray-cray right now, mostly in a good way, but it means that if I need to spend an hour and a half doing battle with a roach in my bathroom, other stuff gets pushed aside. (As the resident Texan in our condo, I am responsible for roach warfare when they crawl up the drains – Dave grew up in Canada where there are no creepy crawlies and everyone poops rainbows and sunshine.) So! All of this is a long-winded introduction to my idea for you: follow my shared Google reader items! I read about a bazillion blogs and share the CRAP out of my favorite posts (which, I’m sorry to say, blow mine out of the water). This way, even if you can’t read my ramblings, you’ll at least get to see what I’m loving (and get your much-needed procrastination done for the day).

From Tom & Lorenzo, nee Project Rungay

The blogs I read pretty much mirror my interests: design, hilarity, makeup, weddings, interior decorating, cute things, cooking, and Mormons. About that last one: yes, I, a decidedly non-LDS person, have a deep love for all things Mormon (seriously, Dave and I honeymooned in St. George, Utah, and you bet your ASS I went to all of the LDS landmarks). Trust me, you will too when you see these blogs.

From House of Turquoise

From Marta Writes

Here’s the link. Click it. Own it. Love it.

February 18, 2011

Interview tiiiiiime!

You guys can listen to my lisp some more if you want.

*note: I LOVED Michael Bogar, the guy who married us – I said something about “missing out” on having Paul Sladkis at our wedding but it wasn’t a criticism of our officiant!

Here’s the email conversation between my mother and me during our morning of radio interviews last week. So, you know, consider this your “behind the scenes” look at being a writer on satellite radio tour.

 

From: Susan Wiggs
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 4:11 AM
To: Elizabeth Wiggs Maas
Subject: no plopping sounds

or piddling sounds

 

On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 4:12 AM, Elizabeth Wiggs Maas wrote:

it’s prime plopping time here

 

On Fri, Feb 11, 2011 at 4:13 AM, Susan Wiggs wrote:

do it silently
February 14, 2011

VD lips in action!

I almost forgot to show you guys the picture of my VD lips in action. Yeesh. I don’t like makeup posts when I can’t show you what it looks like in the real world. Here’s me and Baxter at a VD party over the weekend. Unfortunately, it’s the only photo of me from that night, so you’ll have to trust that my lips were poppin’. Gross. I won’t use that term again in the future.

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February 14, 2011

I have VD lips

 

Ohhhh, VD jokes are never not funny to me. Anyway, just in time for your hot date tonight (with Brad Womack, if you know what’s good for you), here’s my new favorite way to get all tarted up. See, when you’re on t.v. they tell you to wear lipstick because the lights wash you out. So obviously I had to whip out every lip stain and stick I own to find the perfect shade. Hot pink. For VD. {Also, speaking of being on t.v., you can watch me and my mom here. And keep your eyes peeled for a bridesmaid Molly cameo or two, AND look for my awkward facial expressions because I had no idea where to look when I wasn’t talking.}

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February 7, 2011

This is what I wore

Actually, the title of this post should be “This is what my friends told me to wear.” The day before my book launch party, Aubrey, Lindsey, and Molly took me shopping so we could accessorize the blush-colored dress I got from Anthro last year. A pair of boots, necklace, belt, and navy blazer later, here I was:

Look at that determination, people! That’s an outfit right there. And you guys noticed! I got lots of compliments and I figured I’d share the outfit recipe with you so you could dress up as me for H-ween this year. Ha. Um. Right.

Annyhooo, since we all know I’m completely and totally addicted to Polyvore, I figured the best way to share my outfit with you would be to make a new set!!! And for everything except the belt, I tried to find inexpensive versions that wouldn’t put a dent in the ol’ wallet.

How I Planned Your Wedding
February 4, 2011

MAKEUP!!!!!!!!

How about a break from the OMG-MY-BOOK-IS-FOR-SALE-DON’T-YOU-LOVE-MEEEE posts? Because for serious, blotchy skin and zits don’t give a crap about whether or not I have a book out. Right. So. PEOPLE. My life, it has been changed. I’ve talked before about how I don’t have the best skin in the world…and that fact has never been so apparent as it is right now, while I’m continually drying it the hell out with sub-zero winter air, then slathering it with goopy moisturizer. Recipe for disaster. Luckily, a little lady known as Julia came to the rescue a couple of weeks ago.

Okay, enough talk. Here’s the magic potion: read more »

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February 4, 2011

Oh, YOU PEOPLE

{here’s me reading}


Seriously, guys? You’re amazing. Thanks so much for all of your emails and nice comments about the book. I was a little nervy that people wouldn’t understand the point of HOW I PLANNED YOUR WEDDING but it seems like my fears were unfounded. A couple of things: for those of you in Seattle, I’ll be doing a signing at Third Place Books on Monday night at 7. We’re giving away some amazing stuff…last week we gave away a KitchenAid; Monday it’s something equally cool and useful, along with a bunch of other lovely gifts like sugaring (which my high school French teacher won at the last signing…hmm…)

 

{here’s me throwing the bouquet for the KitchenAid Stand Mixer}

ALSO…if you really do love the book as much as it sounds like you do, puh-leeeaze feel free to go to Amazon.com and write your review there. You’d be surprised at the impact those reviews have. Just look at Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Reviews made that book famous before it was even published.

February 1, 2011

Watching this might make you a little bit pregnant

 

…found at my new favorite blog sent to me by an old high school friend. I think the guy in the video should keep his eye out for me because I may have to steal that little munchkin.

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