I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise...

Last night I went with my Dad to the Zac Brown Band concert.  It was so good.  Then I went out with my best friend from high school....It was a fun night to say the least.

 

Quote of the Day 12.29

"Apparently rules are there to be broken. We CAN have it all." -Chuck Bass, Gossip Girl

Quote of the Day 12.28

"I'm like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don't even belong to each other. " -Holly Golightly Breakfast at Tiffany's

Quote of the Day 12.27

"No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how. " -Rhett Butler Gone with the Wind

Love List

Sometimes I find things that I love and want to remember.  Here are a few of these things.

This picture reminds me of my sister and I.  I always love to find pictures of little girls with blond and brown hair...Just like we had when we were little.

I got the movie Casablanca for Christmas this year.  I forgot how much I absolutely love it.  I love this frame from the movie.  It is at the end when Ilsa has to decide whether to stay or go.  I always get a little teary eyed.  So good, it is a classic.

I must, must, must throw a party like this once in my life.  A garden party with chandeliers hanging from trees...Umm, hello. Can anything be more perfect and whimsical than this?

And finally, I love these vintage ornaments.  I know Christmas is over but you can still enjoy some fabulous decorations.  I am a nut for anything vintage and these quickly caught my eye.

Peanut Butter Balls

1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
2 cups Powdered Sugar
6 Tbs Melted Butter
1 pkg Candiquick

In a bowl, blend peanut butter, powdered sugar, and melted butter together.  Blend until all ingredients are combined.  Form mixture into balls.  Let cool in fridge.  Melt Candiquick chocolate according to package.  Dip balls into chocolate and let cool on wax paper.

Yields: 24 Balls

Dear Sister

Little Sister,
I am sorry for how I treated you when we were growing up.  It is no excuse, but I did it out of fits of rage and jealousy.  To say I was jealous was an understatement.  You had beauty like no child did.  I was jealous.  You had the affections of our mother wrapped around your finger.  I was jealous.  To me, it seemed like you had everything.  I was jealous.  The only thing I could control were my actions towards you.  Perhaps this is why we fought so often.  Or maybe this is why I would not let you get get close to my friends.  I would make your days miserable because it was how I felt on the inside.  Jealousy caused me misery.  I am so sorry for this.  Looking back now, I see how mean and cruel I was.  But I was in my own way.  When you were mean, it was obvious.  When I was mean, I would do it in a way that was sneaky and even more hurtful.  In all reality, you were a beautiful child with spunk and charisma, not a monster.  You were so funny.  You still are these things.  But you are stronger now.  Wiser than your years.  The pain and heartache you have endured starting as a small child has made you who you are.  You can get through anything.  I am so thankful God gave me you as my sister.  We couldn't be more different, but maybe that's the way it is supposed to be.  That way I can learn from you and hopefully you from me.  Like I said, I am sorry for all of the shit I put you through as we grew up.  I feel like we are finally getting on the right path.  There are still a few bumps in the road in our relationship but I think it is a whole lot better than it was in the past.  Sorry LB.  Please know I am here for you for whatever life throws your way.  I admire you so, so much. 
Love, Big Sister

A Social Network Christmas

Times may change, but feelings remain the same. A little reminder of what Christmas is all about.

Total Frat Move

"If I were on The Office I would dress like Andy, slam like Jim, and rule like Michael." TFM

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

My favorite scene :)

If It's Not Nailed Down...Monogram It!

So I almost had a heart attack when I found these two MUST HAVE items for a monogramming junkie like myself.  I will be (without a doubt) ordering these after I get some Christmas cash!

First thing are these fabulous monogrammed scarves.  They are only $18.99 plus S&H.  You can have them even pick the best font for your initials.  My heart is seriously racing.  I can't wait to get one (or more than one, most likely).  Find them here at Marley Lilly.

And my last must have before I go back to school is this acrylic personalized pencil holder.  This would make a wonderful teacher gift as well.  I obviously have to have one for the desk in my future classroom.  This is a steal for only $12.  The insert is also reversible so you will get two different looks for the price of one.  This and much more presh stuff can be found at Nico and Lala.

Wild Berry Smoothie Recipe

My mom always would make my sister and I smoothies.  Here is the recipe to my favorite.

In a blender, combine:
Hand full of strawberries, sliced
Hand full of blueberries
*Fresh fruit is best, but frozen works too.
Cranberry juice (not juice cocktail)
Natural honey or sweetner like Agave Nectar (1-2 teaspoons to taste)
Organic soy yogurt plain (2 tablespoons)
Ice

Blend and Enjoy!

Quote of the Day 12.14

"Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." Judy Garland

Carbs: The Truth

Skinny Bitch Chapter Two: Carbs: The Truth

Kim and Rory give a simple and to the point review of carbs and what they do when we eat them.  Unlike we all have heard, it is okay to eat carbs...As long as it not the bad carbs aka simple carbohydrates.  "Simple Carbohydrates suck and are as nutritionally beneficial as toilet paper."  

Simple Carbohydrates:

• Mostly made of sugar.  This causes sugar highs and then crashes.  This leaves us feeling hungry...so we eat more.
• White flower, white pasta, white rice, white sugar
• When manufactures refine these carbs, they strip all nutritional value from them.
• Think again when you see something that is enriched or fortified...Our bodies cannot take in these minerals very easily.
• Most cereals, pastas, breads, rice, cookies, etc have been "bastardized" in this manner...Sad day :(

Do not fret!  There are carbs we can eat and enjoy.  These are the complex carbs.  These friends make us full and give us energy.  Bless those complex carbs' hearts!

Complex Carbohydrates:

• Complex carbs are easily broken down to release their energy.
• Potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, corn, brown rice, beans, hummus, lentils, whole wheat, vegetables, fruit
• Whole grains that have not been refined (stripped of their nutrients) are good carbs.
• Fruit is a good carb!
• Fruit is high in enzymes and requires almost no work to digest.
• Fruit is made up of mostly water...So it helps the body in cleansing and detoxifying.
• Eat fruits alone so it can digest quickly...If you eat it with other foods it rots and ferments in our stomachs (YUCK) causing burping, bloating, and heartburn.

"So shout it from the rooftops until everyone of your dumb-ass, misinformed friends hear: YOU CAN EAT BREAD AND FRUIT!"

Give It Up

Skinny Bitch Chapter One: Give It Up

This chapter is about giving up your bad vices and turning that fat ass into a fine ass.  As Rory and Kim said, "You cannot keep eating the same shit and expect to get skinny."  Here is what they say about all of the things we all love to hate:

Cokes

• "Soda is liquid Satan."
• Cokes cause bone loss.
• Diet Coke contains aspartame that has components that turns into formaldehyde...Yeah, the stuff that they pump into dead people to preserve their bodies.  YUMMY!  It also slows down the production of serotonin (the stuff in your brain that makes you happy).  So it makes you fat and unhappy.

Coffee

• It is bad.  
• It is highly acidic.  You body produces fat cells to keep acid away from your organs.  So coffee = fat cells.
• Drink organic herbal tea instead.
• Use fresh squeezed juice to jump start yourself in the morning.

Junk Food

•  Junk foods have enough chemicals and preservatives to "put hair on you chest."
• If you think the food is chemical and preservative free, think again...It is even in some packaging and the FDA does not require manufactures to notify the consumer about this.  So your healthy pretzels could be contaminated by the bag they are in.  So your junk food with a shelf life of 22 years could outlive any fat ass.  Woohoo!
• "Fat free" or "Low fat" really means chemical shit storm.

Skinny Bitch

I have read Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin a couple years ago.  It was awesome when I read it then.  I have decided to read it again thanks to my roommate becoming a vegetarian.  I thought it would be nice to join her.  Although, I am not so sure that going vegetarian during the holidays is such a good idea. . . Baby steps is what I am telling myself.  I will post my thoughts after I read parts of the book.  I really wished I had highlighted the key points last time I read it so I'm going to this time.  For anyone who is interested in reading it, it is an easy read and quite amusing (after you get past the pure mortification of what the food you are eating is doing to your body).  I highly recommend it! It is only $10.38 on Amazon.

Sarah Palin's Alaska..Latest Episode

Okay, I have a whole new appreciation for Sarah Palin.  I saw her show for the first time tonight and loved it.  It reminded me a lot of my family.  Well, in this episode Sarah and her kids invited Kate Gosselin to go camping in Alaska.  Long story short, Kate bitched the entire time.  Her kids were loving it and she was there being a growly bear the whole time.  Here she is surrounded by breathtaking Alaska and she couldn't even appreciate it.  After being given a moose hot dog for dinner she even started CRYING.  Are you serious lady, get real.  Here you are able to be out with your kids in beautiful Alaska and you won't even make an effort to enjoy it.  I would give ANYTHING (almost) to go camping in Alaska especially with Sarah Palin! Stop being such a spoiled brat and at least try to act like you are having a good time.  I know I am diva, but I still love stuff like spending time with my family camping.  So seriously Kate, suck it up and stop whining. 

I love....Old Movies

Roman Holiday is on and it inspired me to write about all of the old movies I love.  Just another example of why I was born in the wrong time period...but lets not get into that. 

I get REALLY excited when I find a movie on tv that just started.  I know it is weird.  But I do.  I just can't help myself.  Anytime I see a movie that just started, I get sucked in to watch.  And that is what happened just now.  Roman Holiday just started!  Ahh, this movie is perfection to me.  Lets think about this: 1-Audrey Hepburn 2-Gregory Peck.  Enough said.  It is the classic love story of a European princess falling for an American....all taking place in Rome.  I am without a doubt, a sucker for anything with Audrey Hepburn.  She is gorgeous, classy, timeless.  If I could be anyone in the past, it would be Audrey Hepburn.  I am somewhat obsessed with her.  Lets move on to Gregory Peck.  All I have to say about him is enough- tall, dark, handsome.  The end.  And finally, it takes place in Europe.  There is so much rich history in Europe.  Especially Italy.  If I could travel back to Europe, I would go to Italy without a doubt. 

Best Pranks on Dwight

We all know I love The Office. Here is one reason why: Jim's pranks on Dwight. Enjoy!

Waiting

For any of yall who do not know me, I am not a patient person at all.  When I want something I want it now or not at all.  I always have to tell myself- patience is a virtue.  Well, I need reminding of that more then ever now.  It seems like everyone is taking big steps in their lives and I am still no where near that.  I am jealous of these people! Ugh! But still, I think that I want to get more accomplished, be more of my own person before anything too big happens in my life.  But it would be nice to at least be heading in that direction.  I know that God has a plan for me but I am just impatient.

Quote of the Day 12.12

“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.”

Sorority Girl Problem

I can't wear my Nike shorts, leggings, and oversized t-shirts all next semester.  I will be student teaching.  I will be dressing like I'm going to chapter meeting every day of the week.  I need to go shopping.

Christmas in Dixie

Speak Now by Taylor Swift

I must say, I am a sucker for Tay Swift's new album Speak Now.  Below is a song off the album that I'm sort of obsessed with at the moment.  Dear John is directed towards John Mayer.  As we all know, they had some sort of relationship/fling....Yep, she was 19 and he was what? In his 30's.  If I were to write Taylor a song I would name it Dear Taylor.  And it basically would say date someone your own age.  Stop scooping up men who seem to be having a mid-life crisis (ahem Jake Gyllenhaal).
Anyways, I really do like her new album.  It is more mature than her other albums...There is no telling your friends your gay and burning pictures in this one.  I guess that is why I like it so much more than the other ones. 
This album has that song that she wrote for Kanye West after he stole her spotlight at the video music awards.  There are a lot of underhanded cuts at Kanye in this song.  You would not catch them if you did not know the whole story.  But I like this song too. 
Good job on the album Tay Tay.  Lets just remember to date boys our own age.

Dear John

Quote of the Day 12.10

"I never repeat gossip, so listen carefully" -Lilly Pulitzer

Total Frat Move

My favorite TFM of the day:

Southern Proper, a Panty Dropper. TFM.

Quote of the Day 12.7

"I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses." -Taylor Caldwell

My Little Sister

My little sister posted this quote on my facebook wall.  I think it describes our relationship perfectly.

"Sisters annoy, interfere, criticize. Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks. Borrow. Break. Monopolize the bathroom. Are always underfoot. But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there. Defending you against all comers."

My little sister is the strongest person I know.  She has been through at the age of 19 more than most people go through in their whole life.  I truly admire all that she has overcome and the grace that she did it with.  We may fight like the best of them, but like this quote says, if something happens, we always have each others back.  I would go to war for her and I know she would do the same for me.  Gosh, how did my mom get so lucky to have daughters like us?

All Better

Okay, sorry for bitching in my last post.  It was just one of those days.  I am about halfway done with one of my study guides and getting stuff done makes me feel better.  And I don't have to wake up until 11 tomorrow! That ALWAYS makes me happy :)  Tomorrow I have a student teacher meeting.  I really hope that I find out who my cooperating teacher will be and where my placement will be at.  I am excited to find out what grade I will be placed in too.  I am so excited to finish this semester and get on with LAST semester in college.

My goal for Christmas break will be to get on a good sleep schedule.  I will have to be up at 6 am Monday through Friday next semester.  This whole falling asleep at 2 am is not going to work.  I am trying to go to bed early tonight...Hopefully I will fall asleep quicker than last night.

Mary Did You Know- Reba

My favorite Christmas song. This always puts me in a better mood and reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas.

Growly Bear

Today was my very last day of classes ever as an undergraduate student.  I am so thrilled about this.  I only have 3 more exams until I am done for the semester and can go home for Christmas break.  Even though I am so incredibly excited about this, I think I am a little burnt out resulting in my not so good mood.  People may say "Why are you burnt out? I clearly did way more then you this semester." But I feel like it has been a very emotional semester.  I don't think I have ever been more stressed about my family than I was this semester.  And I had stupid Praxis II exams to take to become a licensed teacher.  To top it all off, I took 20 hours this semester.  I really don't feel like complaining anymore I just had to get that out.  Sorry world for my bad mood.  I think everyone is entitled to one every now and then.

What I Keep Telling Myself....

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:34

Christmases Past vs. Present

Earlier, I was talking about how I have so much trouble sleeping.  Well, after being asleep for 2 hours, I woke up.  Why am I awake at 4 am?  I am not studying, I do not have a final tomorrow.  I think I am worried about lots of things.

Sometimes it makes me feel bad to worry.  I have a great life and I am so incredibly blessed.  I guess I think it is selfish for myself to worry about things.  But I do anyway.  I am worried about Christmas with my family.  I love Christmas with my whole heart because it is a time to be with family.  But, ever since my parents got a divorce, it has been kind of hard on me.  My sister and I would either have to go to my dad's on Christmas Eve, leaving my mom all alone that night OR go to his place on Christmas Day, leaving her all alone on Christmas.  I have told my mom that I hate leaving her but she says she knew what she was getting herself into.  After 19 years of waking up on Christmas morning having both my Mom and Dad open presents with my little sister, it is still so hard to have him not there.  This will be my 2nd year of missing him on Christmas morning.  Now after writing this, I feel selfish.  There are so many people who don't even have a parent alive anymore and I am complaining about not getting to see my dad on Christmas morning.  I guess each person has their own set of difficulties they must face in life and this is currently mine.  So however much the holidays are a joyful time, they still are just a little painful for me.  I was helping my mom put up ornaments on the Christmas tree and it made me so sad to see the only ones left in the bottom of the box the ones that had all of my family's names on it.  You know, the ones you can get at a kiosk at the mall and have the person write all of your families names on it.  There were three of those at the bottom of the box.  And, there was a new ornament hanging on the tree.  A set of golf clubs with the initials "JJ" on it- my mom's boyfriend.  It's funny how little things like broken ornaments in the bottom of a box can trigger emotions like that...But they can.  I just hope this holiday time can be a joyful and happy experience with both my mom and dad.

Quote of the Day 12.5

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.  To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." -Calvin Coolidge

Insomnia

I can never fall asleep early.  I think I am getting my days and nights mixed up.  So, while laying in bed staring at the ceiling, I decided to make this blog! A few of my friends have them and they are cute so I thought I would make one too.  I really don't care if anyone even reads it...Just though it would be a good place to express myself!

I am trying to think about ways to fall asleep.  I have had many suggestions through the years.  Once somebody told me to focus on one body part, starting at my feet, and make it fall asleep.  I do this sometimes.  Usually, I get bored and will eventually fall asleep.  My go to method is praying the rosary.  I know-praying makes me fall asleep...Sounds kind of bad.  But it does.  If you have never prayed the rosary, it is very repetitive.  I think the repetitions put me to sleep.  Lately, I have been watching episodes of The Office that I have seen probably 10 times.  I think having something on in the background that I don't have to watch because I have seen it so many times helps me fall asleep.  I think that is what I am going to do tonight.