It all started with chocolate covered strawberries

I know that title would leave one to assume 

that an extremely romantical post is going to follow.

However, all those chocolate covered strawberries did for me 

was make my already racing mind,

a little more racey.

And by racey I don't mean oo la la racey

I mean....

Thoughts Running Through My Sugar Filled Brain Last Night

- Chocolate covered strawberries are the best after school snack ever. Eff those apple cinnamon rice cakes.

- JK. Those rice cakes also speak right to my heart.

- Crap. I forgot to link up today's blog post. The number of times I do that is a tad bit embarrassing.

- Willow, stop jumping up and down like a crazy person. You're cute and all but I need some personal space.

- JK again. I love you're jumping bean ways.

- I also love Robbie's "laundry-doing/yard-working" ways. God bless that man.

- Oh yea, epals. I need to get that ball rolling. School's almost over.

- Crap. School's almost over. There's only about 139834587 things I still need to teach my kids.

- Who am I kidding - school's almost over. Hells ya summatime.

- Okay...epals. "Robbie, would having pen pals in Canada be cool or lame?" No response. Probably cause it would be lame. What about South Africa? That's a cool place. I'll email them.

- What do you say to someone in South Africa?

- Enough of that, I'll probably just end up writing letters to my best friend in Little Washington (40 miles away). That counts as pen pals, right?

- Willow, seriously? Why are you still jumping around?

- Better question, why am I still wearing real pants? Yoga pants here I come.

- I wonder if Robbie's noticed that I put on yoga pants after school now instead of real pajama pants? He hates all my jammies. But men are specially programmed to love yoga pants, right? 

- Speaking of yoga pants - Sarah's post about workout clothes is ha-larious. It almost inspired me to actually go to the gym. Almost.

- Oh, yea! Robbie's grilling burgers tonight. Which means I don't have to think about dinner. I love the little housewife he's been today.

- I hope he doesn't think that's demasculating. 

- Wait, E-masculating!? Not DE-masculating!? Who knew?!?! Apparently that genius spell check knew, that's who.

 - Either way, I probably should go snuggle that little bear.

- Yes, and you too, Willow. Although it wouldn't hurt you to take a cue from your sister and calm down just a smidge. Like Whitney said - Crack is whack. But don't worry, I-i-i-i-i will always love you.

Both the loves of my life. Forreals. 

Peace out brussels sprouts,

P.S. Shout out to Miss Erin for this post inspiration.

Oh and Happy freakin' Friday!!! It's about time. 

When I grow up I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies...

(Anyone else sing that Pussycat Dolls song whenever you think about growing up?
No, just me? Cool.)

Two of my most favorite ladies are hosting this link up today
and obviously I had to participate
one, because I love them duh
and two, because I love when someone else tells me what to blog about.

Plus also, I love dreaming about what I want to be and do when I grow up.
Seriously, I've been dreaming about being a grown up my whole life.
I was that girl for sure.

And now that I've reached my first round of grown up dreams,
you know be a teacher, find a husband, own a house, blah blah blah,
I love dreaming about my second round of grown up dreams.
You know, what I'm going to do when I'm an actual grown up
because despite what my birth certificate says,
there's no way I'm even close to being a real grown up right now. Psh. 

1. I'll be a morning person. I'm convinced one day it'll happen.

2. I'll be a stay at home mom. Real Housewives of Craven County holla at ya girl.

3. I'll eat real vegetables. Not just corn, cucumbers, and zucchini.

4. I won't be scared to go to the doctor by myself.

5. I'll know how to do my own taxes.
Except probably not really because my mom's a baller CPA and she loves me.

6. I'll make a budget and actually sort of kind of stick to it.

7. I'll actually have enough money worth budgeting.

8. I'll still throw back one too many margs with my besties.

9. I'll remember deadlines without having to leave myself 345982 sticky note reminders.

10. I'll love my honey as much as Shay's cutie patootie grandparents do.
(I imagine if my grandpas were still alive, they'd be the same way.)

~

What will you do or be when you grow up?
Go see Erin or Whitney and link up, ya hear?

Oh, and while you're there. Pass a long a friendly, jealous-filled "hate you" for all the fireball, tutu, NYC fun they're about to have over the next few days. 



Hugs,

I Can't Believe...

I can't believe....it's only Wednesday. Hello longest week ever.

I can't won't believe...my sunrise mimosa hibiscus plant is dead.

I mean with a name like that it has to be a fighter.

Maybe it's just a little hungover.

I can't believe...people think that harsher gun control laws are going to stop violence.

Don't get me wrong, I hate guns. They scare me.

But I just don't think the guns are necessarily the ones to blame.

Sure keeping guns away from certain people would help

but I think it's just a teeny bandaid and a much bigger, gaping wound.

I can't believe....how hot and bothered Obama is getting right now 

about that whole gun control thing.

(Sidenote - this is what happens when I watch the news while blogging.)

I can't believe....how much my dogs sleep.

Forreal, I want their life.

I can't believe....how much I want to get married again.

To the same guy of course. 

With wedding season gearing up, I just want to be a bride again.

I can't believe....I had two diet cokes and three cupcakes at work today.

In my defense, the cupcakes were mini.

I can't believe....how desperately I am in need of a hair cut. Woof.

I can't believe....it's supposed to rain this weekend

after being ABSOLUTELY gorgeous this entire week.

I can't believe.....you haven't linked up with Robin yet.

Unless of course you have. ;)

Hugs,

Disgusted.

I wrote this post after the Sandy Hook shooting

and here we are, a mere 4 months later

looking at another heartless disgusting attack.

And all those emotions that ran through my head

and laid heavy on my heart in December

are back...again.

This isn't how it's supposed to be.

This is not the world we should be living in.

This is not the world our children should be raised in.

Heck, this is not the world I should be raised in.

It was a marathon. A freaking running race.

Why? Why does that seem like a good target?

Not that I'm even sure what a better target would have been.

Because there isn't one.

I saw something on Facebook (I know, such a reliable source of information)

where someone said we should focus on the people helping

because in situations like this, there are always heroic stories

and that's what we will focus on in the days to come.

The regular citizens, policeman, and other bystanders who didn't think twice

but put their life at risk to help others. 

"We shouldn't give up on mankind just yet."

And I know, in all reality that's true.

There are bad people in the world but that doesn't mean the world is bad.

However, I'm not quite there yet. 

I'm not quite ready to believe that today. 

Today I want to be angry.

Did you know, that there's still a tiny part of me that gets paranoid every time I go to the movie theater?

Going to the movies is me and Robbie's "thing". We love it.

But ever since the "Batman shooting" it makes me anxious.

I haven't stopped going because I refuse to let bad things like that keep me from living

and doing what I want to do.

But it changed it for me. Going to the movies isn't the same.

Today in fact, we had a Code 300 Lockdown drill at school

In the past, these were always secretly annoying, even as a student.

We had to scrunch into teeny, uncomfortable places

and be quiet for what seemed like hours. 

Now, my heart literally pounds out of my chest, even when I know it's just a drill.

And I've had to explain, again, to 23 six year olds 

about why we have to practice this drill 

and how they have to pretend like they are playing the most important game of hide and seek ever

because there are bad people in the world who could come into our school

and do bad things. 

There's an old country song that says 

"the devil's been so busy lately, even God must get the blues"

And honestly, could you blame Him?

I know God has a plan, one bigger than you or I could even begin to fathom.

But I can't help but feel like this is not quite it.

"God created mankind in His own image."

- Genisus 1:27

And honestly....this is not the image of God. 

The thing about it is, it's not just the fact that people are bombing marathons 

and shooting up public places. 

It's all of it.

Our whole attitude towards one another. 

We're all so ready to fight and point fingers.

We no longer can just be and let be. 

We no longer can go to something as simple and innocent

as a marathon, or a movie theater, or a flipping elementary school

and just be. 

~

I know this has probably been a long post of rambling nothings.

But I needed to just get it out, as scattered and off track as it sounds.

I know we will prevail, because we always do.

And I know at the root of things, the world is not a terrible place.

But it is hard. And it is often unfair.

And it does sometime just make me disgusted. 

For now, we can pray. 

For physical healing to those injured,

emotional healing to all those involved, directly or indirectly.

For the bastards, whoever they may be, who did this.

For forgiveness and strength to move on.

For comfort to the family and friends of loved ones lost.

And for our future, as individuals and as a country. 

Love one another and you've got a hug to spare, pass it along.

Hugs,

23 in 23 Update....dun dun dun

A while ago the lovely Mrs. Erin at Living in Yellow
hosted this pretty fabulous/slightly terrible link up.
I saw pretty fabulous because it was a really fun idea!
But slightly terrible because I didn't do a very good job at completing my list. Whomp.

Since my birthday was last week I figured it was a good idea
to revisit this list and update all the things I've accomplished....
or uh, things I still want to accomplish. There's always next year.

In my defense - I started this list in July. So it hasn't been a full year.
So technically, I've still got 3 months to squeeze some of these in. 

Here we go.

My mini bucket list of 23 things I wanted to accomplish in my 23rd year of life. 

1. Pay for the meal for the person behind me in the drive-thru line. I am so ashamed to admit that I didn't do this. Seriously this was one of the easiest things on my list. However, as soon as I made this list, we also went on a "no eating out spending budget" and then I started gluten-free so really I hardly ever find myself in a drive through line. I promise to do it one day soon though!

2. Run in the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis again. Boo. I didn't make this happen either. But I tried, so that kind of counts, right? The timing didn't work out. 

3. Learn how to paddle board. Nope. The majority of my time to work on this list ended up being when it was chilly. Although Robbie and I do have plans to go this summer. 

4. Create this. (With a picture of my own family, of course.)  Okay, this game is not fun anymore. I didn't get this done either.

5. Try (at least) 3 new recipes each month - including some Gluten-free meals.  Finally, something I can check off. I didn't try 3 new recipes each month. BUT I have tried a LOT of new recipes lately.  And I now plan out our weekly meals every Sunday and only buy what we need for those meals from the grocery store, cutting our grocery bill down by like $40. I'd say that's an accomplishment.

6. Keep blogging. And maybe reach 200 followers?  Y'all rock....forreal! 

7. Spend a rainy Sunday with my husband, Keith Urban style. ;) No surprise that this was able to happen, more than once.

8. Attend a professional football game. Didn't happen this season.

9. Host a real dinner party, using my fancy china and crystal. This was really only good in theory because I don't have a dining room table, yet. But, we have entertained lots of our friends in our new house, just sans fine china.

10. Get a puzzle piece tattoo. Oh yes I did! What can I say, I'm a rebel without a cause. Yes it hurt like a biotch. Yes I love it. No I don't want another.

11. Finish 90 days of Insanity. *crickets chirping* One of the girls at school started doing it at school in the afternoons, which was fun. And I managed to get through Day 1 with her. But that's about it. 

12. Wrap my puppies up in Christmas lights for a super cute Christmas card picture.  And it was perfect!!

13. Attend church regularly. Robbie and I still haven't found a permanent church home but we have found a local church in town that we really enjoy.

14. Go to Wine & Design with my girlfriends. (And then kick myself for living in Raleigh for four years and never going to a class.) Done here with my number one girlfriend. And so much fun btw. 

15. Refinish a piece of furniture. Done here. :) Except now that piece of furniture isn't even in our house anymore. Whoops. That's what happens when your middle name is indecisive. 

16. Leave an anonymous secret in a public library book for someone else to find. (Post Secret style.) I am kicking myself right now for not doing this. I went to our public library for the first time in years, renewed my library card, and checked out The Great Gatsby for Bonnie's Blogging Book Club. But I didn't even think to leave a note. Don't worry, when I return The Great Gatsby it WILL have a secret in it!

17. Babysit this sweet (soon-to-be) little nugget so his mommy and daddy can have a date night (on me). This didn't happen (yet) either. He has too many grandparents hogging all his sugar. ;) But I did make them dinner right after they got home from the hospital. I feel like that was a pretty noteworthy, grownup thing to do. 

This is what that sweet little nugget looks like now. Melt my heart.

18. Surprise someone with something sweet. (Preferably our new fourth grade teacher I met tonight - she is the sweetest! but shh...don't tell.) This has kind of sort of happened. At the time of this original post, we had one new teacher at school. Since that time we have gotten seven more. Yea, it's crazy! And while I haven't necessarily done one particular thing, our school is really great about sneaking warm fuzzies whenever we can. (Hopefully if any of the "newbies" are reading this, they would agree.)

19. Vote. Done.

21. Surprise my husband for real with The. Perfect. Gift. Again, this kind of sort of happened. I don't think I've found The. Perfect. Gift. yet but my gift giving skills have been a lot better this year. (Hopefully Robbie agrees.)

22. Travel somewhere new. Unfortunately this didn't happen. 

23. Do all of these things and make a 24 in 24 list! :) A 24 in 24 list is still being determined. I didn't really do very well with this one so.....we'll see.

Hugs,

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

My favorite little Yankee blogger Erin 

did a post like this a few days ago

and I'm giving her credit so no one can accuse me of bloggery (aka blogging robbery)

Her post was inspired by some recent blogging/twitter drama

and I'll admit, while the teenage girl inside me still gets a little thrill

over innocently watching drama unfold, 

I really just kind of think it's ridiculous.

BUT - it did contribute to this post idea which I like so there's that.

Basically Erin made the point that there's Good, Bad, and Ugly to everything

and everyone.

This blogging community is no exception. 

So in the spirit of just throwing it all out there,

here's my own personal Good Bad and Ugly.

The Good

1. I was kind of sort of a "goody two shoes" in high school. I never got in any real significant trouble.

2. I have really good time management skills (when I want to) and impeccable self control. 

3. My brother and I have been best friends since the day he was born. We never fought.

4. I'm crafty.

5. I've always been really good at setting goals and finding a way to reach them, hell or high water.

Bonus Number 6. (because I'm just that good) I apparently am pretty darn good at picking a bracket. Remember that sparkly, sports gu-ru Sarah over at Venus Trapped in Mars? I came in second place in her bracket challenge!! And you know what they say - first is the worst, second is the best (even though the first place winner is pretty cool too.)

The Bad

1. I am horrible at remembering important dates.

2. I have a hard time saying no and constantly bite off more than I can chew because of this.

3. I am not, no way, no how a morning person and have a really hard time functioning before 9:30am.

4. I can't sit still without falling asleep. If I'm not doing at least two things at once, I get drowsy.

5. I can go weeks without putting away clean laundry. In fact, there's a pile (neatly folded) currently occupying my living room couch.

The Ugly

1. I am very opinionated, and while I like to think I'm good at listening to other people's opinions, I really just think everyone else is wrong 95% of the time.

2. I don't always use a filter. Especially after a couple drinks.

3. I'm judgy. Always just in my head (or to Robbie) but judgy none the less.

4. I don't like to "clean" but I like to "organize". If everything is neatly in it's place, I won't be bothered by the inch of dust residing on the furniture.

5. I don't have a ton of patience and sometimes this makes me get snappy. Even when I don't mean to be snappy.

Whew. That is freeing. 

Have a happy Thursday loves! 

And remember despite the bad and the ugly things that can be found anywhere

there is always, always, always some good in there too. 

Hugs,

Wordless Wednesday

And yes, I will be rocking out to this song all day.

Thanks for asking. 

Here's to 24 being the Best. Year. Yet.

Hugs,