New Year Approaching

2011 has been an amazing year for me. I've learned so many lessons, learned who my true friends are and finally found MY happiness. I found a little survey...let's see how this goes.

A Little About Me 2011 edition:

1. Name: Devin
2. Age: 25
3. Favorite Color: Purple
4. Favorite Food: Avocado (new favorite food this year)
5. Favorite Activity: Pinterest and Zumba
6. Favorite Book: Still Harry Potter

Highlights from 2011:

1. Greatest Lesson Learned: Learn who your true friends are and if people are bringing you down, you have to let them go, even if it's the hardest thing you've ever done. You have to be happy first and foremost.
2. Hardest Thing of the Year: Moving on and letting go.
3. Favorite Memory: Finishing the 10K Bridge Run in Charleston in under 2 hours
4. What I loved Most about 2011: how much I changed in a matter of months for the better

Looking Forward to 2012:

1. Want to Learn: More Patience
2. Want to Get Better At: Running. I want to full out run a 5k this year.
3. Biggest Goal: To get fit and healthy.

I'm going to put it out there so that I am held accountable, but it's official, the doctor and I discussed that I have to lose some weight. I'm going to be starting Weight Watchers in the New Year and my friend Lauren and I are going to get back in the gym. I've already told Emily, that I will finish the Bridge Run faster than I did last year. I want to be fit and healthy. I already found my happiness, why not add more happiness to it by being healthy? By the end of 2012, I want to be down to my goal weight. I want to lose 45 lbs this year. That's 3.75 lbs a month. That's my goal. 3.75 lbs a month.

2011 proved to be a great year for me, and 2012 is going to be even better. I hope that all of you have a Happy New Year!

Crafty Christmas

So as I've mentioned before, pinterest has become my new obsession. With pinterest, I feel more creative and start to work on projects. I never have a lot of extra money at Christmas time, so for my roommates this year, I painted Dara a canvas and modge podged/painted Becca a canvas. There were a few mistakes that I made that I figured out how to fix for next time, but I'm pretty excited about how they turned out.

Also, Kylie got me some Crayola Color Explosion books for Christmas. She really understands my inner child. LOVE them!!



On a side note, went to the doctor today and got tested for allergies. After suffering through about 4 sinus infections a year, I decided it was time to do something. Apparently I'm allergic to everything except for trees and household dust. What am I most allergic to? DOGS!!! Are you kidding me? That didn't stop me from coming home and hanging out with Jackson today though. I figure I'll start the allergy shots and take my allergy pill and be A ok.

Love this boy!

Christmas Blessings

WOW!! It's been a while since I have blogged. I guess I haven't really had much to say...shocking, I know! Well, with it being the day after Christmas, maybe I should start with how the holiday season went for me.

It did not feel like Christmas at all this year. Maybe because I had all of my shopping done way before Christmas, and I wasn't forced to get out in the crowds with the crazies. Or maybe it's because it was 77 degrees outside 3 days before Christmas. Whatever the reason, it just did not feel like Christmas this year. It was here before you knew it and gone just as fast. However, this Christmas, I reflected back on the past year and realized how much my life has changed for the better and I could not be more thankful for the friends and family that have gotten me to where I am today.

I really don't have much else to say. I do have a lot going on this week, that I'll be glad to blog about though, so stay tuned. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!

Pinning!

So I have a confession. I've neglected my blog so much because I've been so busy with something else. Pinterest (dropping my head in shame). But the upside to this is that I've done a few creative projects because of it! And I thought I'd get back to the blog and share them with you.

I've been wanting to decorate my room for a while now, but living in an apartment can sometimes make things a little difficult especially when i love to paint as much as I do. But now, thanks to pinterest, my room is coming together quite nicely.

So I saw this and I was like, hey! I think I can do that. So I started getting ideas and my ideas turned into one long night of decorating. After a trip to Wal-Mart, Target and back to Wal-Mart late Tuesday night, I ended up with this...

I'm pretty proud of it...there are more pictures that I have to upload, but I want to complete the room before I show them to you. I know it doesn't look like much, but I had to rearrange my entire room to get this done.

Also on Pinterest, I saw this idea for a baby's nursery and since my BFF Anna just had her baby Hunter a week ago, I decided to do my own twist on the idea.

This is what is what I saw and wanted to do:

And this is what I did...yes, I painted it all by myself. I'm quite the crafty person. I like to paint and stuff so if you ever need anything, let me know!

Now that I'm back in the blogging world, I'll try to keep up better. No promises though.

Long time, no blog

Ok so oops. I slacked on the blogging. We're all still alive and well right? Nobody got hurt right? Good. So I've been out of commission for a while. After the wedding, got kinda sick. Didn't feel like doing much. Got REALLY super busy at work and preoccupied with some Gamecock football. My bad, so I haven't blogged in 2 weeks.

This Saturday is supposed to be the day I run my 5k in Columbia. However, everybody I signed up with can't go now, so now I'm going to do the Camp Rae 5k here in Florence instead. Still doing a 5k...still doing pretty good. And it's for a really good cause. Camp Rae is an amazing organization here in Florence that is near and dear to a lot of people's hearts, especially my sister. She worked there this summer and her life was forever changed by working with these amazing children. Please check out their website and help anyway you can. These kids are so awesome and deserve the very best.

I was worried about the Gamecocks for a bit, but now they seem to be back in their groove and now that Stephen Garcia has been dismissed from the team, I can't wait to see what happens.

Don't really have too much else to say at this point. We should get to meet Hunter in a few weeks and I'm very excited about that. Other than that, that's all I have today, so hopefully I'll blog tomorrow, but I make no promises.

Weekend Recap

This weekend was so much fun. Here's the recap:

On Friday, Becca and I left for Columbia after work. We were going to see her brother's game, but it got cancelled because of the rain. Instead, we just hung out with her boyfriend Will and his roommate Spence. Went to dinner and some drinks and went home.

Woke up Saturday morning and went to the store. And I would just like to say how happy it made me to walk into the Publix and everyone in there was dressed in their best Garnet and Black. I could live in Columbia just for days like that. Anyway, we got our food and went back home and got ready and headed off to Charleston for Ginny and Justin's wedding. It poured down rain all the way to Charleston...kind of scary and crazy.

The Wedding.
Let me just start by saying: Best. Wedding. Ever. The ceremony was short and sweet and beautiful. The reception was at the Charleston Aquarium and the most fun I've ever had at a reception. The food was amazing. The fish were pretty cool. I caught the bouquet. Saw some friends I haven't seen in a while. And watched the happy couple ride off in a boat as we waved our sparklers around outside the aquarium.

Congratulations Ginny and Justin!

Also on Saturday, I killed my phone battery by keeping up with the Carolina game. I swear...those Gamecocks give me a heart attack everytime they play. They better get it together for this weekend. GO COCKS!

After all the fun at the wedding, we went out for a while downtown, and then came back to Emily's to continue the party. Apparently Emily and I are the only troopers these days. For some reason we were up until 4 AM. Haha. Go us!

our awkward 8th grade dance...love you soonish Emily!

Yesterday I was exhausted. I was in bed by 8:30 last night. This weekend was by far one of the best in a while and I'm so glad that I got to see so many people and be a part of Ginny and Justin's special day.

Finally Friday!

Finally! It's here! The day I wait for all week. FRIDAY!! I have even more reason to be excited this Friday though. I'm getting out of this town and getting lots of things off of my mind this weekend.

Starting tonight, I'm off to Becca's little brother's football game in Columbia. It's his senior year and she is one proud sister, so I want to go and cheer him on too. And then it's off to Charleston tomorrow for Ginny's wedding! I'm so excited about this wedding. It's going to be a blast and I'm going to get to see people I haven't seen in a while and well, I'm just plain excited. I have this awesome dress that makes me feel really pretty when I put it on, and I can't wait to take pictures and dance. Becca and I even practiced our dance moves last night...I feel sorry for the people that live under us. We wobbled and even practiced our version of Don't Stop Believing. There is no stopping us this weekend.

So I need to apologize for yesterday. I was so wrapped up in my little rant (btw, that felt really good to get off of my chest) that I forgot that it was Thursday and that I didn't do a Throwback Thursday. So I guess I'll have to do a Flashback Friday today.

So in our dance practice last night, we also pulled out some old school karaoke. I think it's so funny how you can remember the words to old songs just by hearing the song again. And yes, it's true, we did sing this one last night.

SWF

So the last few days have really brought one aspect of my life into the spotlight. I AM SINGLE. Gosh it feels good to say that. Wait...Hang on...That's right...I have been... for a while. That's right, no need to keep reminding myself everyday. I know I am. 25 year old single white female. That's me.

I know that there is a plan for me and I know that I'm going to find the perfect guy for me one day. Maybe I've found him already and just haven't given him the chance. Maybe I've found him and the timing just is not right. Who knows? Whatever the case may be, I know that there is somebody out there for me. I don't need everyone reminding me that there's someone out there for everyone and God is going to lead you to the perfect man and blah blah blah blah blah. I get it. And to all my married friends and friends in relationships, I love yall, but yall have no idea what you're doing to the pressures of people my age that are single.

There is this pressure all of a sudden that we should be with someone. I hate this pressure. I'm fine with my life, I wish I had someone to share it with, but I'm ok right now. I'm just now finding out who I am in life. I'm growing as an independent woman. I'm setting goals for myself that I probably wouldn't do if I were in a serious relationship or married. Why add to all of that with a relationship? I mean, don't get me wrong, like I said, I would love to be able to share all of these accomplishments with someone, but getting married at 22 was just not in my plans. I'm hoping before I'm 30, but maybe that's not in God's plans for me.

I doubt the people that I want to read this are reading this, but if they are, these next few lines are for them. I like to think of myself as a pretty great person. I've got a lot going for me and I'm going places in life. I deserve the best. I deserve to be treated like a queen. There is a MAN, not a boy, not a guy, but a MAN that deserves me and the love that I will have for him. I will find him one day. All of the other guys have just been life lessons in one way or another.

So...

Thank you to all the ones that let me get away, all the jerks and all the ones that I still hold a special place in my heart for, you have paved the path for me to find the one for me.

Brain Fart

I can't seem to come up with a good title for today. Sorry, I didn't blog yesterday. I was out of commission. Home all day. Sick. That sucks. Oh well. Feeling better today.

So when I first heard this song, it had one meaning...now I hear this song and it has a completely different meaning. I love my friends and wouldn't trade them for the world. They were put in my life for a reason.

So Sorry

It's September 19. Last time I blogged was August 25. Almost a whole month. Goal this week: Blog every day. I've been so caught up in work, applying for grad school, back to being involved with the ADPis again and living life, that I have completely ignored the fact that I have a blog. So it is here that I say...I'm sorry fellow bloggers for my blog neglect. Hope you can forgive me.

Things that have been consuming my life:

Work: I LOVE MY JOB. Everybody always asks me how do you like your "new" job? For the first time in my life, besides when I taught dance, I can honestly say that I love my job. I'm so happy in this position. For a long time, all of my friends were getting great jobs that they loved and I hated mine so much. Nothing was what I really wanted to be doing. Well I waited for what seemed like FOREVER and now I couldn't be happier. "Good things come to those who wait."

Applying for graduate school: I'm going to graduate school. I'm going to get my M.B.A with a concentration in Health Management. After all of my jobs, most of which have been in the healthcare industry, I feel that this is a great move for me. I am taking the GMAT in late October. I've got the study guide and I've already started studying. I'm very excited about this new adventure and can't wait to keep you updated on my journey.

Alpha Delta Pi: They are back in school and very busy. I am so proud to be an advisor for such a great group of young women. They keep me very busy. Let's just say I see things VERY differently as an advisor than I EVER did as a chapter member. <>

Living Life: I've got so many friends getting married and having babies, that I've been trying to keep up with all of that. I've been working on the running thing, it's getting there and yes I know that I have a race to run on October 15. I have started taking some yoga classes. AND I've been pulling for the gamecocks every weekend. *GO COCKS* I'm sure there is more, but that's just the good stuff.

My life has been one heck of a rollercoaster these last few weeks. Just when I thought things were slowing down, they started really picking up. That's no excuse for not writing at least a simple blog once in a while. So every day this week, even if it's just a funny picture, I will post something.

Memories

A lot has happened in the last week. I'm sorry I haven't been around much to talk about it. Things are starting to slow down around here, so I will definately get back to blogging more often. It's my goal.

I have sad news to report. Over the weekend, my fish from the fair passed away. Carnie was with me for 10 months!! Who would have thought that my fair fish would have lived so long? He was a good fish, he kept to himself and stayed pretty quiet, but he would get so excited when he saw me coming to feed him.


RIP Carnie :(



So on Tuesday, I felt the earthquake! I can honestly say that I have survived an earthquake haha. Ok, so I felt like I was back on the cruise during a storm for like 30 secs, but still, I felt it and my water was sloshing on my desk. Nothing big, but still an earthquake.

I am very excited about this weekend. My friend Martha is getting married! So excited for her. She's getting married in one of the most beautiful cities ever, Charleston! Hurricane Irene is headed for the east coast, so I hope that it doesn't ruin her plans. At the beginning of the week, it was headed straight for Charleston, but now it seems to be headed more north towards the Outer Banks in NC. There is still going to be some storms around, but nothing like what I originally thought. So YAY for a wedding this weekend.

In other news: my shoulder is in so much pain right now, I can't even turn my head to reverse my car, or move my arm to straighten the back of my hair (thank goodness, I can throw it up in a ponytail now). This is ridiculous. I'm going to the doctor on Monday though, so I'll let you know what she says.


Today is Thursday, so I guess that means it's time for Throwback Thursday!!

On this day in 1993, The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 3,652.09, an all-time high. **And look at our economy now! We're hitting all time lows these days...**

Something about watching Saved By The Bell in the mornings while getting ready, makes the day so much better.

These were the good days

Throwback Thursday (and other stuff too)

Whoa, this week has flown by. Work has kept me so busy this week that I didn't even realize that it was Thursdsay. I did get back into the gym this week, and I feel much better about things when I go to the gym. I started back on my training for the 5k. I'm not really sure what I was thinking when I signed up for this, but whatever, I'm going to do this. I've set a goal and I can't let myself down now. Besides, I've met a lot of people that really like running, maybe I'll really start liking it too.

In other news: I'm considering taking a dance class again. So dance class, plus the gym, I should really start shedding the pounds right?? haha yea right...a lot easier said than done. But yea, I'll keep you updated and let you know what I decide.

Throwback Thursday time!! So tomorrow is my best friend's birthday. She is the bestest (I know it's not a word, but I love to use this word) friend I have ever had, and NO ONE will ever come close to the friendship we have.



Happy Birthday Kylie!

It's not an old picture, but it's one of my favorites. So in order to do Throwback Thursday the right way, I hope you enjoy these songs from 1992. I couldn't decide which one I liked better, so I posted both because it's my blog and I can do that.

Throwback Thursday

Working on a college campus this time of year brings back a lot of memories. I go back to the days I was in college. Life was kind of still easy then. I met my best friends and had the time of my life. I figure why not share a few pics from college today...

Emily and me at Teeter Totter

We got flowers for each other for formal

One of my favorite pics of Mairead and Me

We were ALWAYS together




“You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You’ll never remember class time, but you’ll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don’t have. Drink ’til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does…” ~Tom Petty

Need. Energy. Now.

Wow, I haven't blogged in a long time. Have I turned into that person that only blogs once a week? No!! I won't be that person!!

This weekend was a whole bunch of laziness on my part. I had absolutely nothing to do all weekend, so that's what I did. Absolutely nothing. It felt soooo good.

By the way...I'm running on 2 hours of sleep right now. But I know some people that had no sleep, so I guess I'm not complaining too much, but yeah I kind of am complaining. I'm tired and I need more energy...

Sorry I'm Slack

So it's been a few days. Sorry. I've had a lot going on. I finally got to spend some time with my sister the other night. Haven't done that in a long time, and I'm very grateful for the time we get to spend together since she's at school most of the time. She moves back soon. Maybe I should hang out with her more often before she goes...hmm.

So last week I did some pet sitting for some wonderful friends of mine. Their animals crack me up. They kept me entertained all week long. I love going over there. I've known Marti since I was 3, and she taught me dance, I taught classes with her and she has watched me grow up over the years. I love that family.

I don't have too much else to say while I wait on my laundry to finish, so that I can put it in the dryer, so I'm off to bed. After today, I need a lot of sleep. Goodnight!

On My Way to a 5k

It's official. I'm going to be running a 5k in October. I'm pretty excited about my newest goal in life. Here's to me being a fit and healthy individual.

Nap Needed

This weekend was a blur of sorts. Maybe I can sort it out here. So here's a look into what my weekend looked like:

Friday:
Woke up late, 10ish. Ran some errands, got some lunch, came home and took a nap. Woke up, ran some more errands for the showers that I would be attending/hosting this weekend. Around 8, I started making chicken salad sandwiches and cutting fruit. Around 10, I went over to my friend Jennifer's, who also happens to be my most favorite hairdresser ever and she put some feathers in my hair. Came home, finished the fruit and chicken salad sandwiches, and then sat up all night with my roommates. Around 3 am, I realized what time it was, and finally went to bed around 3:30.

notice the feathers

Saturday:
Woke up at 7:45 am to put the chicken salad on the sandwiches. Took a shower, got ready and was at the shower venue by 9:45. Anna had a lot of people show up for her baby shower and it just showed that she has a lot of people that love her and can't wait to meet Baby Hunter. Finished up around 1:30, went home laid down for a little while, then proceeded to my Coldstone date with Anna around 3, did some shopping that she needed to do and we went home. I was home by 4:30, and laid down to take a nap at 5. This nap turned into my night's sleep, because I did not wake up until 11. Realized what time it was, went back to sleep.

Sunday:
Woke up around 3 am, went back to sleep around 5, and then woke back up around 10 am. I got about 15 hours of sleep. Got up, got showered and dressed and headed off to Michelle's wedding shower. She had a decent turnout as well and has a lot of people that are supporting her and Bryan in their new lives together. That shower was over somewhere around 3, I was gone by 4. Headed back to my place to pack my stuff and then off to housesit for some of the coolest animals around. Watched some tv and was in the bed at a decent hour last night.

Basically I didn't stop all weekend. I need another nap, and this time, I just want a simple nap, not another 15 hour sleep session. I'm glad I got to see everyone this weekend, that was nice. I can't wait for the upcoming months, babies and weddings galore!! First wedding, is Martha's. Then Ginny's, then Michelle's, then Anna is gonna have a baby!! YAY!!

I AM...

So as I was reading Whitney's blog like I normally do, I was inspired by today's post. So inspired in fact, that I have already written one post today, but I felt the urge to write another one. She encouraged her readers to write about who they are and focus on the postives, instead of all the negative stuff that we usually focus on. So if you are reading this and you blog too, feel free to do this as well.

• I am a Christian.
• I am blessed.
• I am happy.
• I am a daughter.
• I am a sister.
• I am a best friend.
• I am a hard worker.
• I am a Gamecock fan.
• I am a blogger.
• I am a dreamer (I have a huge imagination).
• I am a dancer.
• I am a college graduate.
• I am always on time (most of the time, when I don't turn my alarm clocks off).
• I'm smart.
• I make people laugh.
• I am getting healthier and more fit by the day.
• I am compassionate.
• I am a dog lover.
• I am an Alpha Delta Pi.
• I am straightforward. You get what you see with me.
• I am the go-to-girl.
• I am single and loving it.
• I am learning to be patient.
• I am a listener.
• I am an advisor of sorts.
• I am pretty crafty and creative.
• I can keep a goldfish that I won from the fair back in October alive for months...he's still going strong.
• And you can't spell "awesome" without ME. I am pretty awesome.

We all have those days when we wonder who we are and where we fit into this world. God knows exactly where we should be at this point in our lives and He's got us right where He wants us. And I'm going to borrow Anna's word for this, but let's celebrate who we are today and remember that we all have a purpose, so we should use our talents and traits, to fulfill that purpose.

Throwback Thursday

I just got really excited that somebody finally commented on my blogs. Granted it was Emily being excited that her picture made it on my blog, but still...it's the little things in life that make me happy. Thanks Em!

I have added some new touches to the blog, and I keep tweaking it every now and then, so I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am.

I am looking forward to the weekend. I have a lot going on and can't wait for it to all take place. Saturday we will be celebrating Anna and Baby Hunter at her baby shower and then Sunday, we get to celebrate Michelle at her wedding shower as she gets ready to get hitched in October. AND I get to housesit for some of my most favorite people this coming week too. So look forward to lots of stories next week regarding this weekend.

Throwback Thursday:



Full House was my absolute favorite show growing up. And yes, I still watch re-runs. It's a classic for sure.

And since Full House ended in 1995, I figured I'd throw in a song from around that same time. Oh boy, I remember my friends and I made up a dance to this song and did it in her living room like we were superstars. Enjoy!



Today is Your Day

This song is one of the alarms that I have set for myself in the mornings. Thought I would share it with you.

And on another note: I really didn't want to go to the gym yesterday. After I got off work, all I wanted to do was go home and go to bed, but I forced myself to go to the gym. I mean, I already had my bag packed why not? I'm so glad I went though. I felt much better when I got done.

It's gonna be another hot one today. Thank you Jesus for the air conditioning. Maybe send a little rain our way too? Just no scary storms please?

This one is for Margaret

So apparently, more people read this thing than I thought. Margaret seemed kind of upset that I haven't blogged in a few days, so this one is for her.

This past weekend, I was way more productive than I have been in a very long time. I woke up Saturday at 7 and was at the gym by 7:45, did the early morning spin class and hated it while I was doing it, but LOVED it when I was done. I felt very accomplished, especially knowing that I had just burned off over 700 calories. I was done by 9:00 and I really wanted a smoothie at this point and nobody in Florence has good ones. Well, Coldstone does, but they don't open until noon. I mean, at least they should open by 10, I feel like, it's summer time. People want their smoothies (and ice cream too). I really miss Smoothie King.

Anyway, I ended up going to wal-mart, picked up some necessary items, and had to wait on my bank to open. I was really upset more people and businesses were not as awake as I was at this point. Then I went back home and did some stuff around the house I was staying at, had everything packed up, cleaned and ready to go by lunch time. Then I spent the rest of my day with my family. I hadn't been over to see them in a while, and that is very unusual for me.

Sunday was my lazy day (Sunday night=not so lazy). I slept late, went to a work party for the faculty and staff of the nursing department because we had 100% passing rate for our nursing students who took their boards this summer. That night I went home, cleaned the apartment, cleaned my room, hung pictures and curtains in my room that have been sitting on my floor for the 6 months that I have been living there and then I decided I didn't like the way my room looked anymore. That's right ladies and gents, at 12:01 am Monday morning, I was rearranging my room. I would stop and stare and wonder where I wanted stuff and how I wanted it, so I did not finish this project of mine until about 1:30 am, which in turn means, I did not go to bed until 2 am. Crazy, I know. But, I'm one of those people, that once I start something, I have to finish it before I go to bed. It will drive me crazy if I don't. So while one roommate was fast asleep on the couch, and the other one watching movies, I was doing hard labor moving my bed and desk and tv all around my room.

Since I had been up so late the night before, I wanted to go to bed early last night. Well, that didn't happen. See, there is this stupid game on my phone and when I say stupid, I mean, you make this bird fly and try to miss the sticks in the air. But I have started this competition with one of my friends and she had this really high score that I have been trying to beat. Well, I did it. I passed her by a lot, but then when I told her, I got scared she was going to pass me, so what did I do? Yep, I played that stupid game last night trying to beat my high score. By this time I was wide awake and couldn't go to sleep until about 1:30. Line Birds. You should try it. It's addicting. Just sayin...

Anyway, my goal is to go to the gym tonight, do some Zumba, wear myself out and be in the bed by 9:00 tonight. I sure hope this plan of mine works, because if not, my grouchiness is going to start catching up with me sooner or later.

Bringin It Back

It's Throwback Thursday!! YAY! I'll get to that in just a minute, but I just wanted you to know that I have not forgotten about it, although it may seem that way.

And for my ramble session of the day:
Whoa, these last few days have been a complete whirlwind. I've taken on some extra responsiblities at work and things are really starting to pick up around that place, but I love it because I'm staying busy. I've been house sitting this week for a dear friend of mine, so things have been a little off course for me, but I'm making it work haha. It has been ridiculously HOT these last few days and I'm so thankful that I work in an air conditioned office. Those people that have to work outside all day in this heat are way better people than I ever will be. More power to 'em.

Ok, so Throwback Thursday...the day you've been deprived of for weeks now. Today calls for a picture and a song....

This is me when I was super duper skinny. Senior year of high school (2004). I was one of the fairies in the ballet Sleeping Beauty. This tutu was my absolute favorite of any tutu Mrs. Lynn ever designed. I LOVED it. Wish I could have bought it, but I don't know what I would have done with it. Dance was my passion for 18 years of my life. I lived in the dance studio. I grew up at the School of Dance Arts and I made some great friends and memories that will last a lifetime. I might not be involved anymore, but I still have a love and appreciation for dance, that only a dancer can understand and that is worth so much to me.

I'm sure you are wondering how I went from sweet ballerina to this...Goodies. Goodies was listed as #50 on the billboard charts my senior year of high school. I used to love this song. Now, I may have been a ballerina, but ballerinas can break it down too. I used to ride around listening to this song all the time and you better believe I knew all the words. And yes, ballerinas know how to shake their booty too....just sayin!

That's about all for today. I really can't think of much else. But I hope everyone stays cool out there and drink plenty of water. You're gonna need it!!

P.S. So excited for the midnight showing of Harry Potter tonight!!

Stupid Monday

You ever have those times where you toss and turn all night long, and then when the alarm goes off in the morning, you turn off all 3 alarms you have set and then everything from that point on just goes wrong? Welcome to my Monday. I've just learned to stay quiet and keep to myself when I get like this.

Anywho, I saw the movie Horrible Bosses the other night. It was funny, but it took it a while to get there and that movie will definately win the award for the number of times the F word was used. It really was unnecessary how many times they used it. But it was a pretty good movie. Sad thing is, people really do have crappy bosses like that in today's world.

I don't have too much else to say today, but a friend shared a quote today that I want to share with you before I finish up:

"I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles." -Audrey Hepburn (Thanks Ashley!!)

So Much to Do

Things have been so crazy lately. It's like I can't seem to get settled. I keep forgetting to do a Throwback Thursday, even more, I sometimes find it hard to blog. OMG, this cannot happen. At least my design is back the way I want it. I did go to the gym the other day and reached a goal of mine. It wasn't anything too big, but it was enough to mean something to me. I really like going to the gym and I do feel better about myself. Now that I'm started on a workout routine, I need to work on my eating habits. I'm considering consulting with a nutritionist. I've got to get things under control and I need to stop saying I'll do something and just do it.

I got my ticket to the Harry Potter movie, so I'll be sure and write a review after I see it. That's all I have for now. I'm boring these days...sorry guys. Is this what happens when you get old?

Oh and on a side note: As I was reading Whitney's blog, I ran across her new obsession, which in turn has become my new obsession: Princess Catherine's Wardrobe Watch-What Kate Wore. Whitney, if you're reading this, you were right. You warned me. I am now obsessed. Thanks! :)

Just a Recap

So my blog is still a mess and I was slack and did not do a Throwback Thursday last week. I'm so sorry to let you guys down. I will fix it all this week. And that's a promise.

So a few things to talk about today! I haven't been back to the gym since I got back from my cruise. Well, that changes today. I'm going back today and looking forward to Zumba. I've seen a big decrease in my energy level since I haven't been, so I need to get back at it today.  And speaking of being back in the gym, one of the people that I look to for inspiration and motivation to get fit and healthy is Bree Boyce and well, yeah she won Miss South Carolina this weekend!! She is a great role model and inspiration to others, check out her platform and see how she's changing the world.

This weekend, I snuck off to Charleston to just get away and lay on the beach all weekend. It worked out pretty well for me. Emily and I were pretty lazy all weekend, but we made the best of our laziness, it's what we do best. Here's a few pictures:

I really don't have much else to talk about today. Weird. At least it's a 3 day work week! Have a great one!!

Sorry for the mess

Sorry it's kind of messy and not very pretty. I started messing around with the design and now I can't get it back to how I had it, but now I want to change the whole design. So just bare with me. I will continue to blog, so that you can keep up with my madness. I didn't forget about Throwback Thursday. I'll just have to come back later tonight and do it! Thanks for the understanding

Man It Feels Good...

...To be a Gamecock that is! Congratulations to the Gamecock baseball team on winning the National Championship AGAIN!! Whoop Whoop! This is a major accomplishment, and for once South Carolina is making the headlines for something postive. YAY! Governor Haley has ordered that Gamecock flag be flown over the statehouse today in honor of this great accomplishment and senators are rallying for the baseball field at the University of South Carolina be renamed in honor of Coach Ray Tanner.

These boys made me a nervous wreck, they almost gave me a heart attack in Game 1 and then made me slightly nervous last night. But I love the Gamecocks and am so glad they won. I was tired of hearing people say "they're just lucky." Well doing what they did, winning 2 years in a row, breaking winning streak records and several other records, that's not luck, that's pure talent and determination. These boys knew the meaning of the word Battle and they fought til the end! Congrats!

And yes, I have a crush. A really really big crush. And serious question: Scott Wingo will you marry me? I love the Gamecocks, I love baseball, and you wear #8 (that's my sister's number, so you have to be pretty amazing). We would be perfect together...just saying :)

On His Clock

I am a quarter of a century old now! WHOA!! 25! Well at least my car insurance dropped (sometimes getting older has its perks)

I learn new things every day and even at 25 I love learning new stuff. A few things I have learned along the way have taught me life lessons and made me who I am today and I could not be more appreciative of those lessons. Not too long ago, I tried to reconnect with an old friend on facebook and apparently she is too grown up for me now. And this is where I had to remember a lesson I was already taught:

There are those people that look down on me and put me down because I'm not married and I don't have kids yet, and when I try to reconnect with them as an old friend, they tell me to grow up because I'm still stuck in the past and they have grown up and started their new life with their new family. Well, let me tell them something. First of all, if that's how you feel, you're not worth my time anymore anyway. Second of all, just because you're married with kids, doesn't mean you're grown up. Telling me to grow up and move on just because I'm not married with a family is pretty childish if you ask me.

1 Corinthians 13:
¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

My life may not be perfect (who's life is really?) but it's perfect for me. I'm pretty sure out of me and the people I am talking about, I'm the one that is grown up because I have chosen to make a life for myself, learn to be independent and make myself stable before I bring someone else into this organized chaos of a life I have. I do want to get married and have my own family one day, but I'm putting that in God's hands and I don't see the need in rushing things. When I have kids, I want to be able to provide for them myself, not depend on my mom and dad to do that for me and keep them all the time. I'm 25 and still young, there is plenty of time for me to get married and start my own family. Just because I'm not married like 98.99% of all of my friends, does not give people the right to judge me. I'm happy in life and only He can judge me and it matter.

Philippians 4:11:
¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Hebrews 10:35-36:

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

And to my friends that are in relationships, married and have kids or have kids on the way...well, I aspire to be like yall one day. I want to have the loving relationship and the beautiful happy family too, and my time will come. I know it will. And to all my friends, well thank you for loving me and supporting me through this journey of life! Yall are the best!!

Floating on a Dream (Carnival Dream that is)

So I'm ready to tell you about the trip. Hope you've got some time, because this is going to take a while. There is so much to talk about. And let me just throw this out there...I wore ADPi shirts around the ship and it's just so cool when other adpi's come up to you and introduce themselves. I love that! Ok so on with the week :)

Friday June 17:
What a LONG day! We left Florence around lunch time and drove to Florida. I hate that drive. It's soooo long. But we stayed in a hotel a few minutes from Port Canaveral so at least we didn't have to be up soooo early Saturday.

Saturday June 18:
We took a shuttle bus to the port and our bus driver Dewayne, was very funny. He dropped our bags off for us and I didn't see them again until later that afternoon. We went through security (very quickly) and then sat and waited. Finally we were called to board. Had several pictures made, one for security and one in front of a green screen so that if pictures were taken on the ship they could do facial recognition and you could easily find all the pictures you were in. That was cool.  We ate lunch on the Lido Deck and quickly became friends with the bar staff. Around 1:30 we were finally allowed in our rooms, so we dropped our carry on luggage off there and then began touring this massive vessel that we were about to set sail on. Around 4:00, Kylie and I stood on mom and dad's balcony and watched us leave port.

Shortly after that we met our AMAZING steward for the week, Sarjana. He was great. Everytime he saw us in the hall, he always smiled and said hello and wanted to know how we were doing. Ok...then after that we got ready for dinner and began a week of FABULOUS food served by our AMAZING waiter Edmund. Then we went to several shows and went to bed to rest up for Nassau in the morning.

Sunday June 19:

Good Morning Nassau! It was a dreary day, kind of rainy, but just a few drops here and there. Very muggy. We walked around a little bit, took a water taxi over to Atlantis, walked around a little bit over there and then went back to the ship. As the comedian said the other night, Nassau is the ghetto with pretty water. He's right. We still had some time to kill before leaving port, so we just went ahead and went to the pool to get some sun. We laid out for a while, got to know some more of the bar staff and then went in to get ready for the 1st formal night of dinner. This night, lobster was on the menu, and yes ladies and gentlemen, I ordered 2. And I did this for the simple reason, that it was already paid for, so I didn't have to pay for 2 lobsters. After dinner, we watched some more shows around the ship. And I need to add here that the Punchliner Comedy Club on the ship was so much fun. Jeff the Fun Dude manages that club and he had some great acts come in. I laughed the entire time and saw all 4 comedians that were brought on the ship.

Monday June 20:

First day at sea. No where to be really, so we took our time getting up and ready, and then that backfired on us, because there were no chairs left by the pool. Luckily we found some, but they were all spread out, so we just spent the day all spread out from one another. This was the day of the Hairy Chest competition and it was hilarious! These guys are nuts. To do the stuff they did in front of 3500 people, they had to be drunk. Anyway, to wrap this up, it was a lazy day and after being lazy all day, we got dressed for dinner and headed off. At dinner this night was the first night the wait staff did some song and dance for us. Edmund loved doing this and always got excited because out of the 2 tables he had, I was the only person to get up and dance with him. He had his favorite parts and he let me know!

The night was finished off with some more shows and then it was off to bed for an exciting day in St. Thomas!

Tuesday June 21:
I woke up to a beautiful view of St. Thomas. This island is absolutely gorgeous!! We were some of the first people in the gangway ready to get off the ship, because we had a sailboat to catch. We got to the first cab driver we saw and asked if he could take us to where we needed to go. He wasn't supposed to, but he knew we were on a time crunch. He broke the rules and took us anyway. Then Denise, the other cab driver, took us the rest of the way. That was a scary ride. They drive on the left hand side of the road down there and you can't see cars coming around the side of the mountain...man, that was crazy. Anyway, we got to the marina and had to wait a few minutes for Captain Bobby and Lori to arrive, so I took a few pictures of what I thought was Kenny Chesney's boat, and then had it confirmed that in deed that is his boat. Capt. Bobby and Lori took us out sailing around St. Thomas and St. John and they let us off to snorkel. This was so much fun. I LOVED it! They even cooked us lunch and made some amazing drinks. If you're ever in St. Thomas and want a way to learn the history and see things you wouldn't normally see, contact Capt. Bobby and Lori. They were great! They even gave us the recipes to the food and drinks.

We finished up and got back on the cruise ship right before dinner, so we took some quick showers and hurried off to dinner and then off to catch some shows before bed.

Wednesday June 22:
St. Maarten/St. Martin. Two different spellings, because it's an island divided in half. Half Dutch, Half French. We took a bus ride around the island and saw some of the most beautiful beaches and landscape I've EVER seen. Orient beach...well, it was a nude beach and the only thing that seperated the nude beach from the regular beach (that you could still go topless on) was a few rocks. So yes, I saw more old naked people than I ever wanted to see, but other than that, this was the most beautful beach I've ever seen. We did some shopping on the island and even had a taste of some of the French pastries that they have to offer. That night at dinner, we had a huge conga line in the dining room. Now that was fun! After dinner, there wasn't too much to do, because they were switching comedians, so we didn't have any comedy that night. Well...I guess we kind of did. We took dad to his first kareoke experience on the ship. None of us sang, but the people that did get up and sing were AWFUL! And well, Dad is used to American Idol and the Voice on TV and he can talk bad and out loud. This kareoke show was probably more entertaining than anything we had seen all week because Dad was trying to hold in his laughter all night. I also spent a little time in the casino this night, but that didn't work out so well for me.

Thursday June 23:
Another day at sea. We were a little bit more lazy this day because we didn't have to do anything or be anywhere, so we laid out by the pool and enjoyed some inside entertainment as well when we got too hot. The best game show they did all week had to have been this day. The Game of Loooovvveee. Haha to hear Gary (the English cruise Director) and Buttercup (the entertainment guy from California) say it was pretty funny. These couples were soo funny. My favorite was the oldest couple that had been married 48 years. He may have been an old guy, but he was pretty quick with his answers. At dinner that night, Edmund and I danced again with the rest of the dining room to Low. Yes, we got down low with our apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur!

Friday June 24:

Last day on the ship. I did some more laying out. Started reading Steven Tyler's book that Lisa let me borrow and just stayed lazy. That night we enjoyed our last dinner with Edmund and when we asked him for a picture, he got very excited and told us that this was a first for him and Kylie and I made him feel like a celebrity! He was great. There were a few more shows that night that we watched and in between shows, I was in the casino bar with about 20 other Carolina fans waiting for the CWS score to go across the bottom line of ESPN. They didn't have the game showing, so you can imagine how antsy we all were through 13 innings of waiting on the score on the bottom line that took FOREVER! Needless to say, we were some pretty excited fans that night! GO COCKS!! That night Kylie and I also made the day of Sarjana our steward that took such great care of us as well by asking him to take a picture with us too.

Saturday June 25:

EARLY morning. We had to eat and get off the ship when they called us. Going through customs and baggage claim took longer than security getting on the ship. It was a long, quiet ride home. I was not ready to come back.

We haven't taken a family vacation in a long time, but this was the most FABULOUS trip we as a family have ever taken. I did more things and experienced more things than I ever thought I would. Dad's the best for taking us and I can't thank him enough. The staff was great, the food was excellent and the whole trip was just amazing. Now it's back to the real world tomorrow (and on my birthday).



Still On Island Time

So I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I haven't blogged ANY since Thursday June 16. Well, the truth is, I went on vacation with the family and some friends. I don't like telling people all over the internet that I'm going on vacation. In fact, I hate when people do that, because all you are doing when you post when and where you are going on vacation is letting people know when you're not going to be home, so that they can come invade your home and take your belongings (and it's always the people you think you can trust). So that is why I never mentioned that I wouldn't be around for a week.

We took a cruise to The Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. Absolutely wonderful!! The Carnival Dream was amazing, the staff was great (especially Edmund and Sarjana) and I would love to go back. I plan on uploading pics and giving more details about the trip, but we just got back today and there's a lot of unpacking to do, and I'm still on "island time." Yes, it's true, I went to open my beer tonight and I just couldn't do it, because Giovani, Pedro or one of the other guys did it for me all week long on the cruise. I still believe that when I go to bed tonight, that there will be a cute little towel animal at the foot of my bed and that my bed will be turned down for me, all ready for me to get into it. After I actually had to wait on my food today at lunch and watched Dad actually pay for a meal, you would think that I would have been smacked into reality, but I think it's going to hit me harder tonight. I was no where near ready for this vacation to be over. But I came back tanner and not burnt like everyone else, so I've got something going for me. At least I don't have to take the time to put on makeup now in the mornings. I love having a tan and being able to just get away with some mascara.

Oh well, stay tuned, because as soon as I get the snorkeling pics developed, I will be blogging about the trip. And don't forget, 1 day, 1 hour and 40 minutes until my 25th birthday!!

Throwback Thursday!

It's finally THURSDAY!! I love Thursdays because I don't work on Fridays. Woop woop! Oh and that means today is Throwback Thursday!!

Ok so 2 pictures today:

Who knew that those chubby legs would come back to haunt me 20 something years down the road? Yep, that's me. The more I look at this picture, the more I realize how much I really look like my daddy. I love my daddy and speaking of that, I hope all the dads out there have a great Father's Day weekend!

Ok, so next picture. Girls, please...don't deny this. You know you probably wore this and thought you were so cool. I did, except I didn't think I was cool, I knew I was cool. I used to wear these things all the time. Stylin and Profilin!

Oh yeah, you know what I'm talking about. The t-shirt clip. I might need to find one of these for Halloween. I just gave myself an idea. hmmm....

So yesterday I mentioned that my bestest friend in the whole wide world was going to find out if she's having a baby boy or girl. I'm sure you all are so antsy to find out. Anna and Noah will be welcoming a...wait for it...wait for it...BABY BOY in October! Hunter Rey is going to have some of the greatest parents ever and he will be loved and cared for by so many people. This is going to be one lucky little boy. I'm so excited for them and cannot wait to meet Hunter.

And just a reminder: 11 days until my 25th Birthday

It's Finally Back!

I used to have long hair. Long hair that I could put in ponytails or pretty updos. I had to have long hair for dance because of course my hair had to be in a bun or a ponytail. Well, I got tired of this long hair of mine and shortly after high school graduation, I chopped it off and I've had it short ever since. There's not even any point in trying to pull it halfway up it's so short. But not anymore!

I got tired of not being able to do anything with the short hair except for changing the color of it every now and then so I decided to grow it back out. I made this decision in November and decided that I would have a ponytail by June. Everybody was kind of skeptical and told me if I had one that it would be short. Even Jennifer that cuts my hair told me she wouldn't cut it at all for me except to thin it out, and she hasn't even thought about trimming it. Well, I'm ready to show the world what I've got...



Yep! That's right. I have a ponytail ladies and gentlemen!! Now there are a few clips here and there, but who cares? It's up and off my neck!! YAY!!!!

Any who! Today is going to be a great day. It's my friend Megan's birthday. Happy Birthday Megan! AND...wait for it...we find out what one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world is going to be having. Is Baby Bennett going to be a boy or a girl?? Let's hope the baby is in the right position to tell today. I'll let yall know the results tomorrow.

Before I go, I want to leave you with some thoughts. I saw this on my friend's Facebook page yesterday and thought it was great advice. But before I start copying and pasting it, I feel like I should remind you that my birthday is in 12 days. June 27. I love birthdays! Especially mine :) ok so now on to the advice I saw on Facebook:

Advice From Somewhere (she found this on stumbleupon.com)

ONE.

Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE.

Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR.

When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE.

When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX.

Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN.

Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT.

Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE.

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.

In disagreements, fight fairly. Please No name calling.

ELEVEN.

Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE.

Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN.

When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN.

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN.

Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN.

Remember the three R's:
      Respect for self;
      Respect for others;
      Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY.

Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE.

Spend some time alone.