Preparing Myself for New Adventures

 

 

  Sooo...I have finally taken the leap and will be moving to Nashville on Friday. This is an exciting/crazy/bold decision for me considering how close I am with my family and friends and so on, but it is a decision that I feel in my heart is the right one. Some of you may know details, others may not, so let me catch everyone up...

    As I had mentioned in a previous post, I have toyed with the idea of moving. This decision was given a slight push to go for it by a previous situation that I put myself in. This was something that I knew better than doing, (or even trying) so after I finally snapped out of it, I sent the rest of my paperwork in for my license. Less than a week later, I started applying for jobs online on a Sunday night. The next  morning I received a call from a nurse recruiter, had an interview scheduled for that upcoming Friday, and was offered the job 2 hours after the interview was over. I took the weekend to weigh my options, but decided that everything fell into place so easily and the offer was such a great one, in the end, I just couldn't turn it down. I will be working in a cancer hospital in downtown Nashville on an oncology/hematology unit on the BMT (bone marrow transplant) floor. This job will definitely have its challenges, but I am very excited for the opportunity and the experience to advance in my career. 

      I have an apartment in Nashville, in a gated community, (makes me feel much more safe!) in a brand new building. Finally got my water in my name today actually, because I have been waiting for the building to pass inspection. Move-in day will be my first day seeing my home for the next year in person. Crazy, I know. I snagged the very last studio apartment left in that little community, which I was pumped about! (And also took as another sign that this is where I'm supposed to be.) 

    Moving all alone is going to come with it's challenges and be lonely at times, I'm sure. But, I feel that it will also help me to grow as a person and realize that there is so much more to life outside of my hometown. I also have family in Clarksville, TN that I can call if I ever need them (for emergencies or if I'm just feeling homesick) which provides a lot of comfort in this decision also. 

     Tomorrow is my last day at my current job, Thursday I will be spending all day packing, Friday is moving day - so I will be taking lots of pictures, posting on social media, and wrapping up my thoughts here on this new adventure...small town transitioning to Music City. This should be fun :) 

Bullet Your Day

   While browsing pinterest and the world wide web, I found multiple sites with blog post idea. freckleditalian.com posted a 30 day blog challenge where I saw the idea to bullet your entire day. Instantly, I of course thought that it was genius. So, I decided to do it…realize that 97.6% of this is complete and total sarcasm. Carry on.

August 13th, 2014

0600-Jake Owen "Beachin'"blaring in my ear. Hit snooze. 

0608-8 minutes is just enough time to doze off again...

0616-Jake Owen is now my worst enemy. 

0624-How many more times can I hit snooze and still look presentable? I do the math. 

0656-Outta bed before 7? That'll do. 

0704-Turn on shower, turn on music.

0708-Next, next, next...this song is my jam. 

0712-Get in shower, adjust temp. Rehash last night's conversations. 

0720-"...and I ain't even drinkinnn"...Tyler Farr was slightly more attractive in person. 

0728-Shower getting cold. That's my cue. Why is it so hot in here?!?! Can't breathe. 

0733-Time for makeup. Blend, blend, blend. 

0740-Nice try on the eyeliner, Krista. A 5 year old can draw straighter lines than you. 

0745-Turn on blow dryer. So. Much. Hair. 

0754-Plug in curling iron.  

0805-Dry enough. Laugh about thinking I have enough time to curl my hair. 

0810-Get dressed. Ponytail it is. 

0818-Pull out of the drive. Yep. Late again...

0826-Guy rides my bumper. I slow down. Jerk. 

0840-Pull in at work. Fashionably late. Sorry, Erin. 

0844-Clock in. Get questioned about my life decisions. 

0847-Warn Ada of my blog post and bulleting my entire day. Sabrina asks if I washed my hair this morning...Looks that bad, eh? 

0854-Explain my blog post to Sabrina. Hear Janet thinking it's a bad idea from the other room.

0907-Ada breaks coffee pot. Coffee everywhere. Sabrina hurts herself trying to help. 

0909-"Ain't nothing worse than when your Bunn is leaking..." Kevin makes a funny. 

0913-Still kicking myself for not knowing that GAD=generalized anxiety disorder. I blame it on no coffee. 

0919-Scroll through Facebook as I am on hold...what the heck is "pregnancy brain"? Sounds like something I'd rather not deal with. 

0923-Gail is wayyy too excited to see the mail man. 

0937-90's country music on Pandora. 

1009-Finally make coffee. Cricket in office. PJ asked who invited Jiminy. Lame. 

1112-Finally get a chance to sit down at my desk. Question other people's life decisions. 

1116-Sabrina asks if I can eat today. Weigh myself. Salad it is. 

1127-Booty talk. 

1139-Reba duet. On point! 

1210-Fred's for lunch. Salad and fried mushrooms. I'm all about canceling things out. 

1218-Comment made about "ONLY $46/hr". Puh-lease. Don't get me started on what other people ONLY make. *eye roll*

1243-Dish out a quarter for a sweet gum ball thanks to my kickin' breath. Cherry. Score. 

1303-Pee break and back to work. 

1348-Contemplate the people that I don't care for. Wonder if they feel the same about me...probably. 

1400-Discuss workflow. Are you clinical? I didn't think so. Shut it. 

1525-Pity party was over at 0900. 

1543-Making grocery list in my head. Soy milk or skim milk? 

1635-Receive call from sister wanting to know if I want to go with the family to Chili's for watermelon lemonade - it's an hour and a half drive. Need to stop on my way home and get groceries. Deal is made. I'm in. 

1645-Last patient gone. Watching the clock tick away. 

1648-Listening to my least favorite person in the office yak on the cell phone. So productive. 

1653-Wonder how greasy my skin would be if I put this super rich hand cream on my dry, peeling body?

1658-Clock out. Blowing this Popsicle stand. 

1701-Forgot cell phone charger in office. Go back into office. Wasting precious time. 

1719-Christina makes suggestions on dinner options at Chili’s. Officially starving.
1728-Finally home. Can't decide what to wear. 

1748-3 shirts. Check. Makeup touch-up. Check. Switch bags. Check. 

1753-H-town bound.  

1814-Business talk. I like what I hear...

1822-it's national Left-Handers Day?! Gotta Instagram this information...

1832-Started the F-bomb count upon entering the car. We are currently sitting at 12...all Keith. 

1835-Just realized that I don't like that guy's voice who sings in Rascal Flatts. 

1838-Carrie Underwood's voice...Carrie Underwood's hair...Carrie Underwood's legs...how is anyone that perfect?! #wcw

1842-Ello dahling? I wish I had an British accent...I really want to learn Spanish...

1917-Arrived at Chili's. Buzzer in hand. 

1930-Take ours seats. Helloooo buddy waiter. *wink wink*

1932-Order pretty much the entire appetizer menu. Goodbye diet. 

1937-Waiter spills water and lemonade on my foot. 

2018-Monterey chicken demolished. Can't. Breathe. 

2034-On the road again. 

2041-Discussing healthy foods via text. Healthy chocolate chip cookies? I'd like to know what those taste like...couldn't eat anything else right now if I wanted to. 

2055-Learned the definition of "peter-dippin'"

2111-Apparently a 50-something TV producer thinks Korina's "ass would look good in motion". Interesting...

2116-F-bomb count currently 29

2118-Scroll Facebook...who's Steely Dan?

2119-Kreig wonders why Tracey Lawrence is still alive and thinks his music is from the 60's...wow. 

2120-Mom plays Tracey Lawrence. Kreig: "this is why everyone used to hate country music."

2125-Kreig: "what is this?!" Mom: "your song!" Kreig: "this isn't my song! It sounds like the speakers are crying!" And time marches onnn...

2138-Mom thinks Garth is going to have an epic comeback. He's a legend. Need. Tickets. 

2151-Random van about took us out. Our driver just watched and didn't try to avoid the situation. Get me home now, please. 

2159-Made it home alive. Time to change, blog, and sleep. Fin.

     Well that was fun! Didn’t realize how many random thoughts cross my brain throughout the day until I started trying to keep track of them. I really am still wondering who Steely Dan is! Have a fantastic Thursday! xo

Follow-up Friday

  As most of you know, I had held a giveaway when my blog hit 1,000 views. (Which isn’t like a million, but I was excited lol) I thought about doing something a little more interactive than just giving someone something and that be the end of it. Where’s the fun in that? I’m too “out there” to be okay with that. So I am going to use this post to follow-up and let everyone know what went down and here is what I came up with…

   I decided to do a random drawing from everyone who commented on any of my blog posts with their e-mail address. The person that was picked would be given $100 of my hard-earned cash. Now here was the catch…$50 was theirs to keep and do with it whatever they wanted. The other $50 they had to donate to a charity of their choice and then e-mail me and let me know which charity they chose and why. The winner was Chaise Hall, and the charity he chose was one of my absolute favorites. I remember raising quite a bit of money for this foundation when I was younger and had multiple t-shirts from all of the different times that I donated. I think that this organization is absolutely amazing and now being a nurse, I have an even bigger place in my heart for this one. Here is the response I received…

 I think picking St. Jude was an amazing choice for multiple reasons. I agree that it is hard to see such a disease affect someone so young and so vulnerable and who has not had the chance to experience so many of the things that we have been able to that we take for granted. Any little bit helps with organizations like these and the little bit that we can spare here and there adds up. So if nothing else, I hope this inspires someone else to donate or volunteer their time to help out someone in need. What are some of the organizations that you feel strongly about, or that you have donated to? Some that I can think of off the top of my head that I’ve donated to personally is St. Jude, Susan G. Komen, Inspiredgifts.org, ROWW.org, etc. and multiple local charities. I in no way think that the world and all of it’s problems can be solved overnight - but I do believe, that with as many people as there are in the world, if everyone just did something small - it would make all the difference in the world. No matter how bad you think that you have it, someone always has it worse and those people could always use a hand..whether you know them or not. That is just part of being humane. I love to hear other people’s takes on different organizations or whether they have ever donated and why or why not, so please feel free to comment or e-mail me or text me or whatever works for you!

I will also throw out there that I have noticed that I’m creeping up on 2,000 views and will be doing another giveaway when I hit let’s say…2005. Because that’s how I roll. What I am going to do this time, I am not sure. Maybe I will just give away a product of some sort, or maybe I will just do another somewhat interactive one like this one again…I would like to know everyone’s thoughts on this! I will keep you posted.

Hope everyone has a safe, relaxing and fun-filled weekend! xo

Moving Monday

   Ok, so I kinda ditched the “Movie Monday” theme for this week…Sorry if that disappointed anyone (insert sarcasm here). But I kinda needed a place to go over some pros and cons, along with some possible input from whoever has some wisdom that they would like to pass my way. (Thanks in advance) This topic is one that is not hot off the press, it has been a major discussion amongst my family and I’ve struggled with this idea for a solid year now. At least. It started brewing when I was studying up on nursing at Rio Grande last year and hasn’t really went away. The topic is: taking the plunge solo and moving south. How far south has also been up for debate. There are many factors to how far away I go…Let’s review those, shall we?

• Nashville,TN - family and friends already there, only 6 hours away. Weekend trips home are completely do-able. Country. Music. 100 points right there. 
• Jacksonville, FL - sweet set-up with a Doctor who is a family friend, but 10 hours away. There is however an airport close and 10 hours isn’t killer, but still sucks to drive that far alone very often. Anddd BEACHES - Always a huge plus.
• Beverly Hills, FL - Parents just bought a house here, 14 hours away from home. No rent so it’ll get me on my feet with toes in the sand quick. Airports, Orlando, and Clearwater all about 90 minutes away. Did I mention no rent? 

   All of those options sound great, right? So what’s missing? Mi familia, all of my amazing friends that I absolutely love, and this one stupid boy that just doesn’t get it…

To move away, I would be giving up my awesome M-F office job, weekends off, ect. to hop to the bottom of the totem pole and work midnights at a hospital (most likely-gag). I’ve been there and I wouldn’t say that I particularly loved it. LOVED all of my co-workers and that was what kept me sane most nights. I would be giving up spending so much time with my family. I would be giving up time with my friends (old and new). I would be giving up things I’ve kinda waited to happen for about 4 years-give or take - slightly depressing. But on the other hand, to move away would mean gaining new experiences. I would make new friends and meet new people (which I love doing). I would find my own way and be truly independent and COMPLETELY on my own...No safety nets. 

   If I were to move, it’s not like I can’t ever come back. But who’s to say that I would ever want to? There’s so much more to experience out there outside of southern Ohio, but this is my home. This is where I grew up, and this is what I know. This is where I’m comfortable. I’m in no way saying that I would hate myself forever if I never moved away, I could stay here forever and be content. I could be very happy depending on the circumstances…And when you can truly picture your life 10 years from now, 20 years from now, and you can see 2 different paths and not sure which one to choose-it makes it hard. Hard to be 100% sure that you are making the right decision for yourself AND know for a fact that you are going to be happy with that decision. 

   I am, and never EVER will be, the type of girl to allow any guy to be the reason that I don’t pursue something that I want to do - such as this situation. NEVER. My decisions have always been my own and solely based on myself and what is best for me. Truthfully, that’s slightly selfish of me. For me to take no one else’s feelings into consideration regarding my actions (my family, friends, and otherwise) would make me a slight jackass. I do, truthfully, want to know others views on this...I want to know whether you believe that I would be making a huge mistake, or if you think I should jump head first. If someone I cared A LOT about was talking about moving away, my first response would be “No, you’re not.” Because I’m slightly selfish…but if that’s how someone felt I would want to know. 

   As of right now, my decision is to stay put. I have however applied for my nursing license in TN recently. The idea of moving is never completely out of the question but there are some things that I want to see how they play out before making any life-changing decisions. The original plan was to move late summer, which may or may not end up happening. My life has been so all over the place that it’s hard to tell what will happen in a couple months, let alone tomorrow. So if any of you have been like my friend Jodi, and recently up and moved to Georgia (so proud of her by the way) I would like to hear about the pros and cons that you have. Or if you are considering it like I am, what your struggles are with the situation. And if you just plain think I’m crazy, I’ll accept that too ;) 

 

   Hope everyone survived yet another Monday and has now realized that they’ve conquered that BEAST and it’s only up from here the rest of the week! Is it Friday yet? xo

Tacky Tuesday (again)

   This past week or so has been a whirlwind of events that I truthfully cannot process at this point in time and it has honestly been pretty friggin’ exhausting. With that being said, I am going to try to quit with my slacking business and get back to keeping up with this blog…I will admit that it is sometimes tough work to come up with a blog post some days because I tend to draw blanks, and most days I just feel like sleeping instead. Naps are AWESOME. Sorry not sorry.

     I feel like with this past week being the way it has been, I have learned (yet again) some pretty important lessons. And since this is Tacky Tuesday, and it doesn’t necessarily have to make perfect sense, I’m gonna share with you some very important (and not so important) life lessons.

• “First Thought Wrong” - give yourself some time to think things through before you react. Trust me on this one…
• Renting is a waste of money. However, sometimes the money is worth the freedom.
• You don’t have to have everything figured out by the time you graduate high school.
• If you’re going to drink, try to drink equal amounts water. Horrible hangovers are no fun.
• If you want to dress up, do it. You don’t need an excuse to get out of the t-shirt and sweatpants funk. 
• You can never outgrow Disney movies. Or at least I know I never will…I’m still a very small child at heart.
• Once a cheater, always a cheater. 
• Set your cruise and go the speed limit. It’s not worth the hassle of the tickets and insurance.
• A long nap can can make any situation better 99.9% of the time.
• Your family will always be your family. You can’t get rid of them, sorry…Don’t put strain on the people you love regardless of the situation.
• While we’re taking about family…tell them you love them as often as you can.
• Authentic mexican restaurants make the best margaritas - even if you don’t like mexican food.
• Everyone you meet is not going to want to be your friend, or even like you. And that’s okay. You don’t particularly like everyone you meet do you?
• Take time to spend with little kids, especially if you have none of your own. It’s good practice and makes you learn to not be so awkward around these little munchkins.
• An ex is an ex for a reason. There is always a reason why it didn’t work, and it’s hard to see the bad after time apart and all you want to remember is the good. Those things didn’t magically fix themselves without working on them. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that they will either.
• Maxi dresses are possibly even better than yoga pants. Comfy and you’re not even wearing pants. #winning
• Never change your beliefs or opinions or even morals for someone else. They’re important too, stick to them.
• Learn about what’s going on around you. And no, I don’t mean the latest gossip and who’s getting married or who's cheating on who. Watch the news, read the paper. Don’t be so oblivious.
• Sometimes a good cry will make you feel sooo much better. Especially if you're not a big crier to begin with. Let it out. You won’t regret it. Promise. 
• Use sunscreen and moisturize your skin. This is the only skin that you get. Take good care of it
• Don’t develop feelings for one of your friends. Just don’t. 99.9% of the time it doesn’t end well. It’s just not worth it.
• After a break-up: if he truly cares about you he will call. There is however, no timeline on this rule...And no guarantee of making amends, but closure is always good for both parties involved.
• Don’t be judgmental. Just don’t. It’s not your place. You wouldn’t want someone judging you for the choices you make in life, now would you?
• Nice guys finish last is BS. I could go on about this for days…Nice guys do not finish last, nice guys end up with the girls that they have things in common with. Nice guys do not have much in common with the blonde with big boobs who only loves herself and is mean, right? Right. I rest my case. 
• If there is something in life that you REALLY want to do. Do it. Who cares how long it will take. The time is going to pass anyway, and then 10 years from now you are going to regret not doing it 10 years ago. 
• Give back. Volunteer. Help out someone who is truly in need. No one is going to think LESS of you for doing something nice for someone else. 
• If you like someone, tell them. If you think someone is pretty, tell them. If you like the shade of lipstick someone is wearing, or you absolutely love their shirt, tell them. What’s wrong with a compliment? It’s become such a rare thing now-a-days that people are becoming unsure of how to respond…ridiculous. 
• Treat others the way that you want to be treated. Just don’t forget that not everyone thinks this way, so don’t expect the same in return. Just do what’s right. 
• Learn to forgive. 
• You will fail more than once in your life. It will not be the end of the world. 
• Everything really does happen for a reason. Even if you don’t know what that reason may be (or if you hate that saying like I do)
• Classy never goes out of style.
• Capture as many moments on camera as you possibly can. You will regret not taking as many pictures later on.
• Love yourself first. Figure out who you are and know your self-worth. Until you can do this whole heartedly, it’s going to be hard for anyone else to know how to love you. 
• Don’t try to pinch pennies and buy cheap trash bags or toilet paper. You WILL regret this.
• Don’t be so hard on yourself. No one is perfect, so stop comparing yourself and your situation to everyone else. If everyone was exactly the same and on the same timeline, the world would be an extremely boring place. 
• You can’t always trust the people you want to. Sucks, I know. 
• If you rent, get renters insurance. 
• Choose to be optimistic and cut back on the complaining and nagging. It feels better. 
• Never say something is “ok” if it’s not. If you have a problem with something, speak up. Don’t hold it in because eventually all of that is going to come out and when it does, it’s never pretty.
• Be yourself. Not a watered-down version of someone else. 

   So, there you have it. A few lessons that I have learned recently and not so recently. I’m sure most can relate with or have already learned these lessons themselves. What are some lessons that you felt like that you had to learn the hard way? Or lessons that you have had preached to you by your parents that later on you realized was very, very true? I swapped some settings around so ANYONE can comment on these blogs, and you can even remain anonymous if that’s how you roll. I’m interested in hearing any lessons that I may have not listed and maybe I can learn something from someone else :) 

Random Thought Thursday

   With my sister’s 21st birthday creeping up on me in less than a week (and I still have no clue what to buy her) the topic of conversation has been milestones that you hit with age.

• 16 - you get your driver’s license 
• 18 - you’re finally “legal” and considered an adult, although no one is really an “adult” at this age
• 21 - legal drinking age
• 25 - made it to a quarter of a century (this may not be a milestone for most, but it was for me)
• 30 - every woman freaks out when it comes time to turn the big 3-0, I guess it’s because you’re no longer in your 20’s and you’re slowly losing your youth? haha I still haven’t quite figured this one out. 
• 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and so on…

  Sooo since I have already graced some of these milestones with my presence, (some with grace, some without) I figured that I would do some research since I’m creeping up on 30 and see if there was some kind of list of where I am “supposed” to be by that time. On huffpost.com there is a list reprinted from Glamour magazine titled: 

30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She's 30

Here it is…

By 30, you should have:

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come. 1/2 - only because I don’t believe in going backward in relationships. For the most part...
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family. Check
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour. Check 
4. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying. 2/3
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond. Check
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age. Check, check, and check. 
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it. Negative. Still learning how to budget my money...
8. An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you. Check
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded. Check
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry. Check - so thankful for these people!! 
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra. Hmmm…of course, just the bra. 
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it. Check
13. The belief that you deserve it. ???...
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30. 2/3
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better. Check and check. 

By 30, you should know:

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself. Check - took quite a while to learn how to do this
2. How you feel about having kids. Check
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship. Nope. Needs major work. I SUCK at confrontation...
4. When to try harder and when to walk away. Nope. Usually just cut my losses and walk away. 
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next. Check
6. The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town. Definitely know the name of my great-grandmothers, but not into politics, and pretty sure there’s not even a “real” tailor around here...
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to. Check - learned it. Loved it. 
8. How to take control of your own birthday. Check. 
9. That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents. Check - recently accepted the last on this list. 
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over. Check - mine was pretty awesome.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love. Check - no matter how much money he has.
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long. Check.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally. Check
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault. Negative. Don’t think I’ll ever learn this. 
15. Why they say life begins at 30. Learning…..

   I guess like 19/30 isn’t too bad? And yes, I understand that this list is completely aimed at the female population…It did come from Glamour magazine, so that’s a given right there. But, some of the things on this list I feel like I’ll never reach regardless of my age. And I really don’t feel like it’s going to make me a more “rounded” person if I have and know these particular things by the time I’m 30. So, my thought process right now is: Why do we create these lists and “guidelines” to what we are supposed to have or know or be able to do by a certain age? Everyone is different and is on their own path going at their own speed. Just like the one “Why they say life begins at 30”…What if you decide to get married and have children after graduating college at 22 and you feel that is when your life “begins”. Would you be wrong? Maybe, maybe not. I just feel like everyone should do things at their own pace, in their own time. Do what makes them happy and don’t try to live by so many standards or lists.

***Update on the giveaway*** Winner has been notified, and instructions delivered. Once everything is wrapped up with that, I will post more info about what exactly is happening :) 

Oh, and tomorrow is FRIDAY! This week has been insane sooo (insert happy dance here) 

Sooo…Mexico was fun

    I’m just going to start this post off by saying whoaaaa…I haven’t blogged in almost a month. Sorryyyy! This past month has been pretty crazy, pretty busy, and I’ve been pretty lazy. Whoops!!

     First thing I want to cover is the giveaway mentioned in the past couple posts. It was an Urban Decay Naked 3 palette that went to a random winner for the blog surpassing 2,000 page views. The winner was Krissy, who is also a fellow blogger and one of my dearest friends since we were 5! You can read her inspirational weight-loss/craft blog at Sneakers and Sequins :) I can’t wait to see what all different looks she comes up with while using this eyeshadow palette. It’s definitely one of my favorites! :)

     I also would like to share with you some pictures from our amazing family vacation to Mexico. We actually just got back last Sunday, and I was going to post a couple blog posts from the resort but the wi-fi there was not the best so I opted to wait until I was back home. The entire experience was sooo much fun, and Mexico was just as beautiful as I remembered. Authentic Mexican food, Tulum Beach and the Mayan ruins, snorkeling, and or course - endless tequila! This vacation definitely gave me the travel bug (again) so I’ve been thinking about the next place I would like to cross off my bucket list :)

Beach at the resort

Pool at the resort

Mayan Ruins

Tulum Beach

Tulum Beach

     On a completely different note, (but kinda not) vacation is a killer on diets and will make you gain weight in a hurry! Because of this mishap, and the fact that it’s just time for me to stop eating crap 24/7, I decided to join the meal replacement shake world and try out Visalus. I’m sure this will also provide for some interesting stories as I try to whip my butt back into shape! Any thoughts on Visalus in particular? Tried it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know! 

   I have tried to become a little more organized with my thoughts/blog/life in general, so I have most of my blog posts planned out this month. They are of course - subject to change, but at least they will keep me on some sort of track. I will be adding more make-up tricks/tips/ect, music, and fashion to this blog because these are things that I love. If I can’t talk about things that I love, then what’s the point?! :) 

Soooo…since I have been watching my bank account slowly dwindle away from my current iTunes binge, I just wanted to let you all in on a little secret that you might have not heard of before….. Sam Hunt. If you have not heard his music, listen here for free. He is slowly but surely becoming one of my favorites, and it’s not because of his good looks. Okay, that could be a factor haha His brand new EP-X2c was released today and is on iTunes for like 4 bucks and some change. That’s less than a baconator meal at Wendy’s! You know what to do people… 

    Hope everyone had a great Tuesday and see ya’ll back here tomorrow for a somewhat late post. I’m going to attempt to bullet my entire day. Wish me luck! :) 

Comfort Zones

   As you all know, I have commitment issues sooo I have not been as committed to this blog as I have wanted to be the past 3 weeks. I suck. I have had A LOT of different things going on keeping me pre-occupied and I have allowed myself to get in somewhat of a “slump” and I just have not wanted to take the time and write like I did in the beginning. I have however been working on getting things ready to start filming for vlog posts, so I haven’t been completely worthless! I will work on this issue along with my laundry list of others and try to do better. Promise. ;)

   With the many different opportunities that have been presented to me lately, (personal and professional) I have decided to re-evaluate the way I do things and the decisions I make.  It is always easier to stay in your comfort zone, is it not? I know I am not the only one that will go to a restaurant and order the same thing EVER SINGLE TIME…just because I know that I like it, and I’m comfortable with that. What if I try something different and I don’t like it? Then I would have wasted time waiting for my food while I was sitting there STARVING and wasted hard earned money on something that will end up in the trash…But what if I like it? Ohhh, the struggle. This is just a simplified form of some of the issues I have been dealing with…

   I will be the first to admit that I am a PICKY person. I am also the queen of self-sabotage. I will create every situation that can possibly happen in my head, when it comes to a decision, until I just pick the safest route because well…it’s safe. Safe, and familiar. This thought process (in the end) however, does not necessarily get me where I want to be in the long run. Then who ends up frustrated and pissed off with no one to blame but numero uno? Yep, that’d be me. I know I can’t be the only one who creates these types of situations…These actions can’t possibly move me from A to B to C when I keep going from A to B, then back to A. Or in most occasions, I just freak out so much about what could happen, that I just say screw it and stay at point A. How’s that been working out for me so far, you ask? I wouldn’t be writing this blog post right now if it has been the perfect life formula.

    On the subject of dating, I was in a discussion about everyone having a “type” of person that they are attracted to a couple days ago. EVERYONE does this, and everyone has a type. If you say that you don’t, you are a liar. But if you keep making the same choices over and over again, and it keeps failing, why would you keep going for the same “type” of person? Seems simple, right? Well apparently it took me 27 years to begin to figure this out, and I still have a slight panic attack at the thought of doing something different than the usual and what I am used to doing. Going outside of that comfort zone and choosing to go out on dates with someone that you wouldn’t normally say yes to, can be a big deal. Maybe you don’t want to say yes because they don’t look like Brad Pitt and they look more like Rupert Grint…(AKA Ron Weasley) Or you refuse to date someone with red hair… Or they work at the lumber yard like Noah Calhoun and aren’t loaded like Lon Hammond… Or they like to play acoustic guitar and write music instead of spending hours in the gym getting “swole”… Or you don’t want to date someone who has kids… Or you don’t want to date anyone outside of a 30 mile radius because it would be too "inconvenient"… When you limit yourself to these shallow standards, you are setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. You are limiting yourself to the point that no one will ever live up to all of these standards, so you have to decide what is truly important to you. Is it seriously looks and money? Go outside of your comfort zone. I am one who is literally going to practice what I preach…As of today, I no longer have a "type". Sure there has to be physical attraction otherwise it is pointless, but I am going to throw all of these standards out the window and see how many other opportunities open up when I try something new, say yes to things I wouldn’t have before, and go outside of my comfort zone. Date the red-head. Go for the quiet musician. Warm up to the guy with kids (kids are awesome!). Try something new and different. Get out of your comfort zone, you won’t regret it. It very well could end up teaching you exactly why you never made that decision before, but at least you will be learning and experiencing something new. If nothing else, you’ll get an “epic fail” story out of it and those never get old. Trust me! haha But on the flip-side, what if something amazing and completely unexpected comes out of it? Then, the openness will be worth it :)

***BTW***I have not forgotten about the make-up giveaway, gals! I will be leaving it open for comments to enter until August 1st. So if you haven’t entered yet, hop on over to this post and comment at the bottom of the page. I will announce the winner on the 1st from Mexico (yay!) so keep your eyes open for that! Get all of your make-up lovin’ buddies involved by sharing the link to the Make-up Run-down blog post! Who doesn’t love free make-up?! :) 

Oh, and if you caught my Notebook reference...50 points for you! =D haha Hope everyone has a fantastic Friday! xo

Make-up Run-down

  Workout in and blogging before 10 o’clock?! The world must be coming to an end…I am slowly but surely getting my sleep schedule somewhat back on track, and with that comes early blog posts. Yay! Now if I can just get this daily commitment thing down…it seriously shouldn’t be this hard! 

   I have recently been discussing blog topics with some of my fellow bloggers and friends and have decided to do a quick little make-up/skin care routine deal. Sooo if you’re a guy, this probably isn’t your cup of tea. Turn back while you can. Or if you want to enter a land uncharted, you’re more than welcome. This will be like learning a new language for you and you can understand our obsession and our pain haha

   I have came to the conclusion over the years that I am one of those people that have been cursed with oily skin. With this, comes a whole lot of “shine” and straight greasiness. Fun, right? I have tried pretty much everything under the sun to control breakouts and to keep my skin clean from Proactive, to Clinque, Avon/Mary Kay products and so many drug store products I couldn’t even count them on my fingers and toes. The one brand of cleansing product that I have found that works the best on my skin is Neutrogena. Hands down. I use the Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub in the mornings to exfoliate my skin, and the Power Cream Wash at night to wash off all of the makeup, ect. This may be backward in the “skin-care” bible, but it’s what works for me…So, I don’t care. I also only use Neutrogena moisturizer at night and not in the mornings because it makes my oily skin even oilier…if that’s even a word. I also use it if I’m not doing my make-up and just sitting out by the pool in the sun because I know my skin will be ridiculously dried out. Moving on…

   Along with my preach about Neutrogena products, I will also throw out there that on a daily basis, this is the only foundation I will use. Right now I bounce back and forth between the Skin-Clearing liquid foundation (it has salicylic acid in it, so it keeps my break-outs in check) and the Nourishing Long Wear liquid foundation. Everyone has their preferences though on what works for their skin, (obviously) or else there wouldn’t be hundreds of different brands and types to choose from. 

   My favorite part of my face to do (as with most girls I’m sure) is my eyes. I have a daily routine just like anyone else where I’m in a rush, know I have exactly 5 minutes, throw on a basic neutral-light brown color, quick eyeliner and mascara and I’m out the door. When I have the time though, I like to blend 3+ colors together to do some version of a "smoky-eye” look. Always lighter on the inside corners and fade it out to dark on the outer lid. My absolute favorite eye-shadow palette I am using every day (mostly because every single color goes with my almost-black eyes) is the Naked 2 palette from Urban Decay. It is somewhat pricey-if you’re used to just picking up a quick $5-$10 eyeshadow from the drugstore or Walmart, but the quality is worth every penny. and every single color can be mixed and matched with each other. Trust me, I’ve tried. I could make an entire post on eyeshadows alone, but will spare you the time…for now haha

    There are a few things that I recommend when it comes to make-up, ect...

-On a daily basis, less is more. You don’t have to have 3 inches of make-up on your face to go to work. By the end of the day, it will be smeared and smudged and look like a hot mess. 

-Pluck your eyebrows right after a hot shower! It’s wayyy less painful.

-If you have to use concealer for under-eye darkness, never smear it, always dab. Smearing it forces it into the creases and gives the under eye a weird effect of looking too light. 

-Never pump your mascara wand. It dries out your mascara causing it to clump, and always toss it in the trash after you’ve had it around 3 months. 

You can never have too much blending when it comes to foundation, eyeshadow, bronzer, what have you. 

Filling your eyebrows completely in with pencil will make them appear very harsh. Using a powder instead  (that is a shade or two lighter than your brows) will fill them in and give them shape without making it so obvious. Especially with those blonde and lighter eyebrows.

-If you want to play up a feature, go for it! But one at a time. If you are going to do a bold lip, down-play the eyes and go for a more natural look. And the same goes for the eyes - if you are going to do a smoky or shimmery eye, show it off! But go with a more neutral lip so that the eyes is where the focus will be. Now, if you’re going to be walking down the red carpet then go all out! Eyes, lips, the whole shebang! That’s a different story :) 

-Find a good mascara. This will make all the difference in your eyes. I’ve tried a million different mascaras and buy every new one that comes out, pretty much. I will have to do an entire blog just on mascaras alone, but right now my favorite everyday drug store mascara is Loreal Voluminous mascara. No clumps and amazing volume - heat your eyelash curler up slightly before curling them and your eyelashes will look amazing and natural but not like falsies. I ordered a new mascara that I will review for that effect and let you know what I think when it is delivered :) 

  To be able to review most of these products, it would be so much easier to do a video…I think I just realized what I should do for my first vlog. Tutorials can be done this way too, but I’m not a make-up expert, I can just show you my way and the products I use. 

   I also have 3 favorite beauty gurus on YouTube that you should check out and watch a couple of their videos if you have time. Their tutorials are easy to follow, and their videos are addicting! You can learn sooo much about the make-up world from these girls! This should get you started...

Jacklyn Hill http://youtu.be/Khwwml8xY_M - bought the eyeshadow in this video and it is AMAZING!!

Carli Bybel http://youtu.be/966fMTcjgVU

Taylor Bee http://youtu.be/Xm9p_a07KiQ

Questions? Comments? This was definitely a quick run-down, and feel like it was all over the place, but kinda gives you a little bit of info on a few of the products I use since I get comments on my make-up frequently. I will work on a product soon, or at least a blog with more pictures when I have time to compile all of my favorites! Is there anything that you would like to know about in particular? What is your beauty routine? What are some products that you love or would recommend? I’m always up for trying out new things, especially when it comes to make-up!! 

***When this blog finally hits over 2,000 views, to go along with this beauty theme, I am going to give away the newest Urban Decay Naked 3 palette! Who doesn’t love free stuff and free make-up to play with! To enter, comment below on this post ONLY with some of your favorite beauty products that you use or tricks that you’ve learned, along with contact information if you are the one randomly selected! I’m doing a 25 entry minimum this time (we came close last time) so you guys have to hit that mark for someone to win! So, invite all the ladies you know to enter, and good luck! xo

Random Thought Thursday

 Since I’ve taken a hiatus from blogging the past couple days, I figured it was time to get back at it. Recent events in my life have caused me to be in the worst mood possible and then suddenly the best mood I’ve been in for quite sometime. No one wants to hear about the negatives, so I’m not going to write about them and do my best to erase them from my mind. However, positive is always a good great thing. Things are looking really great for my future right now and I’m pretty excited and looking forward to making big plans. There will be more to follow when I feel like the time is right to fill everyone in. For now, you can’t wipe the smile off of my face or put me in a bad mood no matter how hard you tried :)

   I spent the day, feeling as if I have made a slight impact on a few people in my life and spent the evening with one of my favorite people that I have ever met. I’m so thankful that he is in my life and we always can pick right up where we left off no matter how much time has passed. Our conversations are never dull and part of the evening was spent talking about things on our bucket list. Apparently his bucket list is not technically a list but more like something will hit his brain and he’ll decide he wants to cross it off his “list”. That’s not how I roll. I have an honest-to-goodness complete bucket list (that I am constantly adding too) that I have been writing down on just plain notebook paper for years now. I’m creeping up on 200 different things on my list, some related, but mostly just random. Crossing things off my list feels like a major accomplishment to me, because after all - you only live once. I want to be able to say years from now that I lived a full life and had many amazing experiences with great stories to tell.

   I’ll share some of the things on my list that I have crossed off along with things I have yet to (but will) cross off:

Accomplished

• Meet someone famous
• Own my own car
• Fall in love
• Finish an entire tube of chapstick (this one might be the hardest one to accomplish! No joke)
• Ride an elephant
• Climb steps of the Mayan ruins
• Go zip-lining - cannot wait to do this again! 
• Convince someone to start their own bucket list
• Name a star
• Go snorkeling
• Play golf
• Be on the radio
• Live past December 21st, 2012 - when everyone’s heads were exploding because they were sure it was the end of the world. Puh-lease. 
• Own every version of the iPhone - so far, so good
• Become a nurse
• Get accepted into RN school…and graduate
• Move out on my own
• See LA
• Get a passport
• Make 5 recipes from Pinterest
• Figure out who I am - this one took me a minute…
• Travel out of the country
• Donate to a charity and sign up to volunteer if possible - ROWW (Reach Out World Wide)
• Start a blog

Those are just a few that I have been excited to cross off :) 

Will Accomplish

• See the 7 wonders of the world
• Attend Mardi Gras
• Whale watching in Alaska
• NYE in Time’s Square
• Run a marathon (full or half)
• Ride in a hot air balloon
• Experience zero gravity
• White water rafting
• Learn a new language
• Swim with dolphins
• Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (and drink a butter beer!) 
• Eat a pizza in Italy
• See a lantern festival
• Order a dessert first at a restaurant (this should be easy)
• Write a letter to a serial killer
• Ride a mechanical bull
• Write on the before I die wall in New Orleans
• Spend time volunteering in Africa
• New York fashion week
• Drink coffee in Seattle and put a piece of gum on the gum wall
• Shop in Paris
• Witness a miracle
• Try everything on the menu at a restaurant (obviously not all at once haha)

   Obviously this list will be never-ending, but it’s awesome to see some of the random things that I get to cross of of this list of randomness and I can’t wait to continue crossing things off. Some of those things I will get to cross off during this summer and I will definitely share those with everyone. Do you have your own real-life bucket list? Is there certain things that you want to accomplish in your life or things that you want to see? Make the time to do those things no matter how big or small. You only live once and having regrets is hard…make the most of the time you have :)

I will be updating everyone on the giveaway soon, so stay tuned for that as well. xo

Food (but mostly just drinks) Friday

   With another work week down, I'm thankful that it is finally Friday. I have waited all week for the weekend to get here so I can relax by the pool and do absolutely nothing :) Summer is definitely my favorite season and I love nothing more than throwing some food on the grill and having a drink in my hand on a hot day. Tonight I'm gonna share some recipes that I found online, (along with some links so you can make them yourself) but they're not food recipes...just mostly drinks. So you know what I'll be doing on my lovely Saturday! Eeeek! Can't wait to try some of these out! 

I found this one on Pinterest and just took a screen shot because it had the recipie under the picture. You can find the full recipe on twokidscooking.com

I'm pretty sure all of these are screenshots from Pinterest...I need to go to rehab for as many hours as I waste on there. This one called "Hippie Juice" sounded super yummy and the recipie is listed right under the picture, but I couldn't find where this originally came from to give anyone credit...

And for those of you that are looking for some tasty non-alcoholic drinks -

Highheelsandgrills.com and there is a list and link to every one of these drinks in the picture. There's some pretty amazing stuff in this list, including a recipe for butter beer! That's definitely one I'll have to try, but probably during one of my Harry Potter marathons and not while lounging by the pool haha

  Hope these drinks listed help to spice up a cookout, or make your relaxing day by the pool even more amazing! Have a great go-to drink that you love? I'd love to hear about it! 

  Have an amazing, safe, and fabulous weekend!  xo 

First Milestone!!!

  Just wanted to write a blog to say THANK YOU to everyone who has been taking the time to read my posts! You guys rock!! I have now reached my first milestone/goal for this blog by hitting 1,000 views :) Amazeballs. I am going to extend the giveaway entries until midnight tonight because it was brought to my attention that you need a gmail/AIM/Wordpress ect. account to even be able to comment, which is stupid and I apologize. So if you don't want to mess with creating an account and still want to enter, just e-mail me directly - k.crabtree321@gmail.com or if we're Facebook friends, send me a message!! Again thanks sooo much, and I will post the winner tomorrow morning so keep an eye out for that. And thanks to those who have commented so far...keep them coming! You all are awesome :) xo

Tacky Tuesday

  For today, I am going to use this as a raw “gotta get some stuff off my chest and vent” post. What could be more tacky than talking about relationships and putting yourself on blast? I feel like I need to put all of this in writing to get it out of my head. So, if you don’t want to hear about my thoughts or failed relationships, I’d advise you to stop reading now - I will not use anyone’s name in this blog either. We’re not gonna be that tacky today…. And I don’t foresee much humor in this post, unless you find it funny how completely dysfunctional my life has been at times.

   I am just going to start out by saying, I love my family. I have no other choice. They are my family, will always be my family, and I will choose them over anyone any day because through every single bit of the ups and downs I have had in my life, they have been my support system - my backbone. They are absolutely amazing. But they can also be the biggest pain and headache imaginable. My relationship with my parents has always been very strong but has never come without it’s problems, differences, and endless bickering. I think this is where I have come to learn that if you love someone and truly care about someone, you don’t just give up on them because you have a disagreement, or argument, or a knock-down drag-out fight. You forgive them, learn to admit when you're wrong (which sometimes I have a very hard time doing) and realize that not everyone is perfect.

  Personal “boyfriend-girlfriend” relationships have not always been my strong suit. To put it bluntly, I completely suck at them. I did have a relationship that lasted 4 years, (with multiple break-ups) but after looking back on it, I’m about 95% sure that it lasted as long as it did because I was not being myself. I was content in being a “water-downed” version of myself to make something last because I was in “love”. Did I care about him, absolutely. Will I always care about him? Of course I will. That was my first long-term relationship but it was NEVER meant to work - too many differences in opinions and it definitely is true that people “grow apart”. And it is also true that people “grow” in general. I am definitely not even CLOSE to the same person I was 10 years ago, or even 2 years ago…I met some people during the “break-up” periods and even before and after this particular relationship that have became really good friends or potential “love interests”. The timing for these situations just wasn’t right, and if I would have pursued them at that time I would have ended up hurting them and not having them still in my life today - and I am so thankful for that. Again, I am not the same person today that I was then…

  I have went through my “single life” phase. Did I “whore around”? No, because that’s not my style. But, I did go out on A LOT of dates. I had this idea in my head that there was nothing in particular that I was looking for, and maybe if I even gave someone a shot that I maybe wouldn’t have ever before, I would find something that was “missing”. Truth is, there was nothing “missing” from my life. I don't need a guy to make me happy. I just didn’t know what it was that made me happy at the time. That happens when you get out of a relationship - you develop a lot of the same interests and spend so much time together that you forget what YOUR interests are (girls in particular). I hurt a lot of people during this time. I know I did. I was cold and refused to let anyone get to close, deleted numbers, and completely cut off communication when I thought that they had crossed that "invisible line". I also did some things I never imagined I would do during this time. I hung-out with a married man off and on for a year, road tripping to Nashville every chance I had. My moral compass was definitely not pointing due north at this time...I was a mess. Even though I still can’t believe that I acted so utterly insane, I still feel like that I needed it. All of it. It made me realize that everyone is human and make mistakes, but also that they have feelings too. Especially when I had people hurt me…

      It took a long while before I decided to be in a relationship again. This one taught me so much more than any other relationship ever could have. It taught me how to open up to someone and allow myself to be vulnerable. It taught me how to let my guard down and allow someone else to take on the role of being my boyfriend and doing things for me and with me, when I was used to being so independent. It taught me how to be committed, and make sacrifices for people that you care about. But it also taught me about the importance of communication, it taught me about myself and how far I was willing to push people away and allow them to push me away, it taught me about the importance of family, and it taught me that no matter what someone says to you - actions speak so much louder than words. I can’t sit here and say that I regret any one situation in particular, because I have learned so much from each one of them individually that I feel like I have learned more about myself in the mean time, and I might not have otherwise.

  So, this evening I felt like I needed closure. I have allowed so many people to walk out of my life without ever speaking to them again. I can’t do the “let’s be friends” thing. It is too hard for me to go on having contact with someone that I have had feelings for….most of the time. I just felt like that this last one, I needed to apologize. It just ended - and that was that. I feel bad for the way things ended up, and I needed the closure to completely move on. It’s only fair to myself and other people involved. Does it make me feel better about the situation? No, not really. But it does at least allow me to put that piece of my past away, and make room for the future.

  After all of this heaviness, I leave you with this…Regardless of the situation you’re in, or the relationship you’re in at the time - if there is someone in your life that you can completely be yourself around, has been there for you for years regardless of what’s going on, has been your friend at your best and worst, and has never left…there’s a reason for that. I do truly believe that life is all about timing, and you can’t truly appreciate someone until there are other lessons that you have learned first - but if they’re still around after all that, don’t screw it up. Don’t let them go. If you do, there will always be that regret…is it worth it? Definitely not worth the regret…but might definitely be worth it in the end.

Movie Monday

   The start of a new month, and the start of a new week of blogging is finally here! Yay for June and yay for a brand new week! :) June is always a fun-filled month for our family because it’s birthdays galore. I think we’re now up to 7 or 8 birthdays this month and with Father’s Day thrown in there in the middle of June, our family has A LOT to celebrate. Anddd as much as we love to eat, we are always looking for a reason to have a cook-out or go out to dinner. Along with this new month and new week of blogging, I have decided to try to organize my madness. I’m going to try to narrow my posts down to some sort of daily theme so they aren’t so all over the place (like my brain). Here’s what I’ve come up with….

• Monday = "Movie Monday” - This day will be used to discuss anything movie related. My favorite movies, favorite movie scenes, favorite movie quotes, movies I want to see, movies that I think suck, movies that I don’t understand why they have won so many awards…you get the idea. 
• Tuesday = “Tacky Tuesday” - This day will be used for the sole purpose of whatever I want to use it for. It doesn’t have to go with anything else, or match anything else, or even make sense for that matter (hence the word “tacky”). I’ll just take a topic or a story and run with it. No rules. 
• Wednesday = “What I Want Wednesday” - This day will be used to discuss what I want, obviously. That list is forever long. Trust me. I could write a post based from this topic alone on the daily, and still not run out of things to talk about. This post will be used until I get a vlog up and running. Stay tuned.
• Thursday = “Random Thought Thursday” - pretty self explanatory. Should be interesting…
• Friday = "Fitness/Food/Fashion/Photo Friday” or any of my other favorite “F” words. Could change weekly, or I could pick one and stick with it. But, probably not. Change is good. 
• Saturday and Sunday = No Blog posts. Sad Face. Have no “S” words that I like well enough to take time to write about it. 

   So, there you have it. “Themes” are subject to change. If you hate movies or random thoughts, you’ll know what days to skip out reading my blog. You’re welcome. 

   To fulfill the theme for today, I’m going to list my Top 10 Favorite Movies. These movies are in no particular order because I’m the most indecisive human being alive, and I don’t want to hurt any particular movie’s feelings. Plus, my mood changes and this list could be something completely different tomorrow and be a list full of “slasher” movies. 

1. The Notebook - I know what you all are thinking…very typical. So what. It’s the greatest friggin’ love story in movie form EVER. And I’ve watched it so many times that I can quote it word for word. http://youtu.be/E1I0hAxGFXw
2. Just Friends  - I could watch this movie over and over and laugh at the same things just as hard every single time. Anna Faris is hilarious along with Ryan Reynolds in this one. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend this one if you have any sort of sense of humor. http://youtu.be/sU90ZsKlp_0
3. Horrible Bosses - Being the biggest “Friends” fanatic of all time, of course I had to watch this because of the gorgeous Jennifer Aniston. The fact that she plays this huge “perv” makes this even more funny because it’s not what you would expect from her, and that dude from It’s Always Sunny is just hilarious. He could just read the phone book and I would laugh. http://youtu.be/TCXFKo1UDjQ
4. Love and Basketball - Being the huge basketball fanatic that I am, of course this had to be on the list. http://youtu.be/vaxnNPii2TU
5. Breakfast at Tiffany’s - Classic Audrey Hepburn. Never gets old. She is my idol. http://youtu.be/4jsUIgchHXU
6. Harry Potter - Read every single book. Watched every single movie. Probably know more about Harry Potter than anything that is, or ever will happen in the U.S.. Yes, I am a “Potterhead”. No shame. http://youtu.be/16kFvNk1rXo
7. Wedding Crashers - Hilarious. No other words are necessary. http://youtu.be/3kaShGPva2Q
8. Mean Girls - Every girl in the history of girls loves this movie and is able to quote it on command. “You can’t sit with us!"http://youtu.be/W8_POt2KlfQ
9. Varsity Blues - After Pleasantville, this movie confirmed my obsession with Paul Walker. Paul Walker + Football = 2 things that I love to watch. I still have not fully recovered from my depression over his death….http://youtu.be/baaEei8WgDA
10. Titanic - Everyone loved this movie, as do I. http://youtu.be/1kqMI0gy4eU

There you have it. My top 10 from the top of my head tonight along with clips from the movies. Are any of these in your top 10? Have an opinion on my top 10? 

***Just wanted to remind you that we are creeping up on 1,000 views! YAY! with that comes the giveaway, so to participate and enter just enter your e-mail address in the comments under any of my blog posts so far :) 

  And on a more serious note, I would like to take a minute and ask for prayers for Sarah Davis. She is a fellow high school classmate of mine who is currently in ICU and prayers for my friend, Mallory (Sarah’s twin sister) who is dealing with something that I couldn’t imagine right now…Thanks so much in advance. 

Hope everyone made it through the dreaded Monday in one piece! One day down, four more to go :)

Baller/Giveaway info

   As I’m sitting here watching the Heat beat up on the Pacers, I decided to write about something I miss…basketball. I miss playing, I miss coaching, I miss watching my brother play, I miss playing in the old Otway gym, just miss being in the gym period. Basketball took up so much of my time over the years, it has been hard not having it be part of my life.

    I started playing biddy basketball when I was in the third grade, along with cheerleading. That’s the age you hit when you start trying out a little bit of everything to find what you’re interested in. I was definitely not much of an athlete at that time. I was clumsy and uncoordinated and hated going to practice with all of the “5th and 6th graders” because they threw the ball too hard. Every practice we would “warm-up” by doing some laps around Otway gym. I remember they had a table set up beside the stage in that gym, right on the sidelines, and I ran right into it. Yep, that’s right. I ran right into a big table sitting out on the gym floor. I had multiple balls bounce off of my head when we would shoot around. I tried to set picks like I was trying to run someone over. I was pretty much the worst player ever. Then, it happened. Dad sat me down one evening after practice and gave me this speech…”So, I think after this year you should think about just sticking with cheering. You’re cute, but I just don’t think you’re going to be much of a ball player. Cheerleading is more your speed.” And that was it. My feelings were hurt and I was determined to prove him wrong.

    I was a decent player throughout school from then on. Started Varsity ball as a freshman on my high school team, and lived for basketball. There was never a break for me. I played basketball year round. I also loved the summer camps that we would hold for the younger groups of girls, so my dad and I decided to get into coaching a biddyball team while I was in high school. That was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. We stuck with it for 6 years, and was able to see the girls we coached go on and play varsity ball. (And I have watched them graduate, and some already getting married and starting families of their own which makes me feel super old.) After coaching biddyball, I coached 1 year of junior high ball and afterward was accepted into a nursing program and had to give up coaching and focus all of my energy on school.

    Now that I’m finished with classes that I have to attend, (finishing my BSN can be done online) I’ve started thinking about trying to get back into it. It is very time consuming to coach, but being able to teach kids all about teamwork and seeing them continually improve and know that part of it is because of all of the hard work you are putting into it—it’s worth every minute of your time that you are sacrificing. I try to not have many regrets in life, but giving up coaching is definitely one of them. So, as you read this, are there things in your life right now that you regret? Something that you have been thinking about doing, but haven't? You know what…you should just go do it. Life is too short to wish it away and have regrets. Make time for it and make it happen if it is something that you love and that will make you happy. :)

***On a side note, I said that I would update you all on doing a giveaway after my blog hit over 500 views, which happened today!! :))) I came home from work and was floored that it happened so fast! Again, completely amazeballs. Thank you to every single person who is taking time out of your day to read these posts. It is an amazing feeling to see so many people interested :) Sooo here’s the update:
If you want to participate in the giveaway, the only thing you will need to do is comment below ANY of my blog posts so far with your e-mail address. That’s it. Winner will be chosen at random, and posting your e-mail address 100 times will not get you 100 entries. Nice try. haha
After the winner is selected, I will e-mail you with how to claim your prize with directions regarding the giveaway. Again, this is going to be interactive, and I can’t wait to see how creative we can get with the participation :)

Thanks for reading, hope you all have an amazing weekend, and I’ll have some new stuff for ya Monday! TGIF!