Love

At this time of year we tend to forget what Christmas is really all about. It's not about the presents, it's not about the parties, it's not about the food. It's about love. No matter what you believe in, love is the reason for it all. Love for your religion, love for your family & friends, love for strangers. Be compassionate, be kind, be loving.

-Best Holiday Recipe-

A few weeks ago, I spent the weekend with some of my distant family in Houston and literally had some of the best meals of my life. This part of the family is full of great cooks-most of which I am hoping to learn something from. But out of everything that I tasted, this was by far the best thing... (or I like wine more than food...don't judge). This recipe is for mulled wine, which is served warm, kind of like a cider. It is absolutely amazing but a word of advice- don't drink this like it's cider. And don't ask how I know.

4 cups of apple cider

1 bottle of red wine (ex: Cabernet Sauvignon)

1/4 cup honey

2 cinnamon sticks

1 orange, zested and juiced

4 whole cloves

3 star anise

4 oranges peeled for garnish

Combine the wine, cider, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, cloves and star anise in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs, add an orange peel to each, and serve.

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did!

Fill in the blank friday

Join here



TGIF. Seriously though, thank God it's Friday.


1.) I wish it would snow. I know this would inconvenience a lot of people, but it is so pretty and would give me a good reason to miss work for a day or two. Maybe it would give me enough time to unpack and actually organize my new home,

2.) Yesterday I finally began wrapping Christmas presents, with the cutest gold polka dot wrapping paper that I bought at hoblob. Love that place!

3.) Today I will attend my boyfriends parents annual Christmas party! I've known their family for 10 years now and this is the first time I've been invited to the party so I'm pumped! (A little nervous too, as this is our first time around a lot of our mutual family friends as a couple.)

4.) Tomorrow I will relax, and spend the day being a homebody....possibly go look at Christmas lights!

5.) Maybe I'll get all of my shopping finished this weekend (online of course, seeing as how tomorrow is homebody day).

6.) Someday I would like to have my own annual Christmas party, with all of my friends and their husbands while we leave the kiddos with sitters. Doesn't that sound like fun?

7.) I love this time of year. And I love that I get to see all of my best friends on New Years.



Don't forget.... 15 days until Christmas!!!!

wee bit wednesday

Wee bit Wednesday

1.) If you were granted three wishes, what would they be
-to win the lottery, for both selfish and unselfish reasons. i would like to have enough money that i could choose whether or not i want to work and also to be able to donate loads of money to charities for starving kids
-to wear a smaller shoe size so i could share with my bff haley, who has the best shoe collection evaaa
-to find the perfect man... for my mom. she has been single for years and i really wish that she would meet someone as great as her.


2.) Who is your favorite author?
-jen lancaster. she is so freaking funny. and sarcastic. and kind of an asshole, but in a good way. LOVE HER.


3.) What crowd were you involved in during high school?
-ohhh that's a toughie, i don't think i was technically in a crowd... i just really hung out with my best friends and whoever else was around.


4.) What is your favorite thing to do when you have time to yourself?
-catch up on all of my fav tv shows (so pretty much everything on the cw, abc and then glee). i also love to take a hot bath, drink some red wine and read a book. how i miss having time to myself.


5.) Do you have any hidden talents?
-i can burp on command, but im not sure if that's considered a talent or not. i'm also really good at catch phrase, but again- probably not considered a talent.


6.) Can you fake any accents?
-i like to speak british in the mornings, but it doesn't last very long. i usually forget that im british by 11 am.


7.) Have you ever been mentioned in the paper?
-when i joined my sorority they put it in the college paper... does that count?


8.) Have you ever been arrested?
-negative. nor will i be. (knocking on wood as we speak.)


9.) What is your favorite job you've had?
-my favorite job i had was working for this lady who had a few booths in larger stores that were full of jewelry and purses and basically all i had to do was move around the displays so it looked different every time people came in. fun+easy+money=fav job.


10.) Do you have any scars?
-have you met me? well, if you haven't this is something you should know. i am terribly accident prone. i hurt myself all of the time, i bruise like a peach and i scar easily.


I hope all of you had a much better Wednesday than I did... it felt like a Monday, you know what I mean??

My First Home: Before Pictures

Some of you might know already- but I just recently purchased my first house. The moment I saw it I fell absolutely in love with it. The whole buying process wasn't near as difficult as I expected, but the moving process was much more difficult. I'm about 97% moved in, thank you Jesus.

Here are some before pictures of the house, when the previous owner still lived in it. So if you hate the decor, don't judge... that wasn't me!

One side of the kitchen

Living Room

Master Bath

fill in the blank friday

fill in the blank friday

1. Holiday Spirit: is topping the charts. I just moved and I would rather decorate than unpack my stuff. It's a problem. This is one of the many Christmas trees at my work. : )

2. The holidays are incomplete without: hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. mmmm.

3. My favorite thing to do around the holidays is: sit by the fireplace with a good book. I'm in need of a new one, any suggestions??? 






4. A holiday tradition my family and I have: we go to church on Christmas Eve, go out to dinner so no one has to cook and then go home and open ONE present. The rest are opened Christmas morning! It's something I hope to carry on when I have kids.






5. Holiday music is: the. best. thing. ever. Nsync's Christmas cd is the light of my life. I've been on the Christmas pandora station since November.

6. This year I'll be spending the holidays: with my wonderful family and friends, making up new traditions as we go.






7. Holiday wish list: I would really love a kindle. Other than that, I'm asking for very practical/boring home items.

Happy Thanksgiving

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."


-Oprah Winfrey

13 reasons

I have thirteen reasons to be thankful today.... (in no specific order)




Bushy, LeeeeLeeee, Mals21, Care, Kathar, Lys, Courta, Stace, Fen and Rach.






Hales, Kitty, Smelissa




I have been blessed with beyond amazing friends. Each and every one of you has brought something to my life that I don't think I could live without but most importantly... humor. Let's be honest, if you weren't funny, I wouldn't be friends with you. Love you all.

Thankful

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I have been spending a little more time than usual thanking the good Lord for all that he has given me- although this is probably something I should do on a more regular basis. What I'm thankful for today is my mother. She has spent the last 22 1/2 years of her life doing absolutely everything that she possibly can to make my life better. She has been my protector, encourager, believer and best friend. She always puts me first in every decision that she makes. I can't even imagine what my life would be like without her. Not only is she the best mom that I could have ever asked for, she also has been a dad to me for the last 10 years, and a great one at that. So this is for you mom. Thank you for everything that you do. Every good thing about me, I got from you. Every good decision that I have made, was because of you. The person I am today, is due to you... and I love you for that.

If you're reading this...

what are you waiting for?

A huge difference between guys and girls are the timelines that they have for their lives. Most girls seem to think that things always have to be sooner rather than later, for example: wanting to get married by 27 where most guys want to be married by, oh.... maybe 30. It seems to be this way with all different types of things... dating, jobs, houses, marriage, babies... More girls are in a rush and more guys are incredibly passive about it. Some people think that everything happens for a reason and it's all about timing. Although a part of me does agree with that, there's another part of me that says, "what are you waiting for?!?"

If you see a chance take it. Don't force something if it doesn't feel right, just because it fits on your timeline. Follow your heart. Listen to your gut. Sometimes fate doesn't care if you are ready or not, nor does it care if you have been waiting for years. So don't give up. Keep your eyes open for the opportunities around you, and don't let anything pass you by just because you aren't sure about the timing. You never know how much time you have left.

Falling in love...

With the idea of fall actually. I cannot wait for the season to get here (and in my opinion, it should start today, the first of September) for so many reasons:


-OSU football games/tailgating with my favorite people




-this outfit



-this beautiful Tory Burch Carson Satchel



-riding bikes and having a picnic in the park with a boy who looks and acts just like john krasinski (hey, a girl can dream)



-The Great State Fair of Oklahoma!
September 16-26, 2010. I will eat everything in sight. Ride a few too many rides. And hopefully win (or buy) a stuffed animal.

Anddd she's back

If you didn't see the MTV movie awards last night, you must youtube Sandra Bullock's acceptance speech for the Generation Award. She was not only classy and graceful, but she was funny. She was the Sandra that we all know and love, Sandra- pre-cheatingwhoreofahusband. And doesn't she look just beautiful? Good for you Sandy.

"No matter what you might have seen or heard or read lately, I love what I do, and I'm not going anywhere" -Sandra Bullock

"It's Vegas"

7 friends and I went to Las Vegas for Memorial Day weekend and it was the first time for most of us... and let me tell you, it was crazy! So unbelievably crazy that we put The Hangover to shame.

Okay, that's a lie.

The craziest thing we did may or may not have been paying $100 for this breakfast, but let me tell you, it was worth it.

We went for 3 days, and we needed much much more time. There was only time for shopping one day, and that is not near enough for someone like me. We did have time however, to eat and drink our money away... don't worry, we danced the majority of those calories off!

see ya Vegas, until next time.

Absolutely Charming

My newest obsession is a store called Charming Charlie. My friend Katy introduced me to the one in Flowermound, Texas where I first began my love affair. Then, this past weekend Elizabeth, Carey and I found another Charming Charlie location in Southlake, and now my initial infatuation has become full blown love. Apparently the store began in Houston but now they have locations in many areas, check their website to see if they may have one near you, and if they do... jump in your car.

Seriously, how did I not know about this place?!?! They have clothes, purses, shoes, jewelry and gifts all arranged by color. It was like someone finally had an AH-HA moment and realized how much easier this would make my life (and every other girls I suppose) I don't think you can shop online but they do have the cutest little blog of the newest trends and helpful hints, you must look: http://www.charmingcharlie.com/blog

living vicariously through...

It's sad how much tv shows consume my life. My friends and I will have an entire conversation about a show, using the characters names as if they were real and were one of our friends. Really. Sad. They are just so darn interesting/ dramatic/ unrealistic, which is why I love them. For an hour or so, I can forget just how uninteresting/ boring my life is. My current obsession is Vampire Diaries. I know some people aren't into the whole Twilight-vampire phenomenon but, if you look at the two main characters on Vampire Diaries, I don't understand how you could not watch.

They are H-O-T.

See what I mean?

thank you.

This is for my friends. You know who you are.

Thank you for the last four years. Thank you for accepting that Bid Card that came to you on August 12, 2006. Thank you for going to the pledge and all house retreats, firesides, Formals, chapters, date parties, etc... Thank you for making every recruitment fun. Thank you for being there for each other through every new boyfriend and every break-up. Thank you for car parties. Thank you for keeping secrets. Thank you for being funny. Thank for you Mexico Joe's. Thank you for for the fights, because they have made each of us better friends. Thank you for the game days. Thank you for the movie nights. Thank you for the wine nights. Thank you for being there for each other through everything that was so tough we couldn't handle it ourselves, every terrible family problem, loss of a family member, broken heart. Thank you for making sure that we all know that we have someone who wants us to get out of bed in the morning when we weren't sure that we could. Thank you for keeping Brown's in business. Thank you for senior night last fall and this spring. Thank you for hating whoever your friends hate. Thank you for accepting who your friends love. Thank you for making a sorority house a home. Thank you for being so damn silly. Thank you for limey races at the Penny, flip cup... anywhere really, karaoke at Willy's, the ledge at Murphy's, and every single night at Dirty's. Thank you for standing up for each other no matter what. Thank you for calling each other out. Thank you for the advice, whether it was taken or not. Thank you for dancing in public. Thank you for Bagel Cafe. Thank you for being huge creepers. Thank you for being supportive. Thank you for not killing each other. Thank you for Miley Cyrus. Thank you for all being so different. Thank you for the one thing that brought us together. Thank you for the group. Thank you for Senior year. Thank you for being there.

They say your friends make your world, and in the last four years, you all have made my entire life. Thank you for the memories, and for all the ones to come. I love you.

age is just a number

A few days ago I turned 22. And that probably doesn't sound old to any of you. I'm sure it sounds young actually, but I was dreading turning 22. It's just that, your whole life you look forward to turning 15 and getting your driving permit, then 16 and getting your license, turning 18 and going away to college, turning 21 and being able to drink (legally at least), and then what? What actual birthday after 21 is some exciting age that you just can't wait to get to? NADA. So no, I wasn't looking forward to this birthday, especially since my 21st year as a whole hadn't been too great to me. But then I realized that as un-exciting as it may seem, 22 could be a very very good thing. It's a whole new year with no expectations (which in my opinion, almost always lead to let downs). Last year I had all of these preconceived notions about the year... being able to drink, my internship in Dallas, planning my wedding, graduating, moving, getting a big girl job, etc... and not one of those things turned out the way that I expected them to. Obviously, seeing as how I am still living in the same place, job-less and single. From the day I turned 21 to the day I turned 22, my life has done a complete 180. I don't even know what to expect to happen tomorrow, much less a year from now. So, here's to being 22, may I start this year with only one wish... to make the most of it!

i miss you.

After someone dies, people always seem to tell you that it will get better with time. That's a lie. It doesn't get better, the pain doesn't go away... you learn to live with it. It's like a piece of you is gone and your body continues to function but you won't ever be whole again. It will be 10 years in November since my dad passed away. But in just 5 days, it is his birthday. He would have been 63. It's weird how much you can take for granted when someone is alive. It's sad actually. You may not tell your friends and your family how much they mean to you on a daily basis, who does? But what if that was the last day you could ever tell them how important they were to you? All of those little things... the fights with your friends, the bickering with your parents, rolling your eyes at your crazy family... are all of those little things really the memories that you want to be left with? I don't think so. When someone who means the entire world to you dies, your life changes, and it will never be the same. I still think about him every single day. Literally. Ten years has not changed how much I miss him or how often I think of him. Time doesn't make it easier... it almost makes it harder. It makes it harder to remember how his laugh sounded or how he smelled. I can remember the little things... watching Monday Night Football and riding in the car singing "bye bye miss american pie." Those things that meant nothing at the time are all that I have left to hold onto, and I hold on for dear life. So if the memories are all that you will be left with, I urge you to make the very most of them. Every chance that you have to spend time with the people that you love, do it. And treasure it.

no rules, just right

My friends and I have been having the talk about having "the talk" quite often lately. You know, the DTR, determine the relationship conversation.... the one thing besides facebook that seems to actually validate a relationship that you already knew you had. So what's the point really? And why is it such a tough thing to nail down your relationship status with someone? Are you friends, friends with benefits (that just sounds bad), hanging out, talking, dating, together, boyfriend/girlfriend. Why does it have to be so complicated? Why are there so many different terms and ideas of what two people are to each other. And why does it matter? I'd like to say that it doesn't, that you can just be happy with having a certain person in your life and not have to put a title on it. The problem with that is, if there is no title then there are no rules. People say that they put titles on relationships just so they know where they stand but in all reality, it is because they don't want to get hurt. No one wants to be the person standing outside in the rain alone. So what happens if you don't have that title, and with it, those rules? Then what? What happens if you are the one person who is ready to be in all the way and the other person isn't? Isn't it just easier to have the boundaries, the title, the rules? I would usually say yes. But even that won't stop you from getting hurt. So I guess sometimes, we don't need to define everything. Maybe we can just enjoy it for the moment and when the moment passes, then we move forward. Maybe the best we can do is be around the people who make us laugh, who make us smile, who make us happy... maybe having no rules is just what we need sometimes.

a perfect day for....

Everyone seems to be complaining about the weather if they live in the Southern region right now, especially Oklahoma. It was a beautiful 70 degrees yesterday and when I woke up this morning it was snowing. Now, I love the sun, warm weather and shorts as much as the next person but I can't help but to enjoy a snow day every now and again. Mostly because I sincerely enjoy a reason to stay inside all day to watch movies and eat chili. That is the perfect snow day to me... as long as it only lasts a day or two, then please bring the sun back to Oklahoma.

Here's the super-easy/quick recipe in case you are lacking on your perfect snow day:

2 cans of ranch style beans

1 lb ground beef

1 packet chili seasoning

1 tablespoon cumin

1 can stewed tomatoes

*My best friend's dad makes the absolute best chili of anyone that I know and his secret ingredient is rice. If you'd like to try that, just add 1 cup of cooked white rice to the crock pot. It's delicious, totally adds to it.

-cook and season the ground beef with 1/2 packet of chili seasoning, salt and pepper

-combine the rest of the ingredients in a crock pot and let cook on low for 8 hours

-enjoy : )

enjoy it.

I just recently went on a vacation with my mom to Costa Rica for a few days. It was absolute bliss. We got to sleep in, lay out on the beach, swim in the pool, enjoy the 90 degree weather, eat and drink the week away. I literally don't know if I have ever been so relaxed in my life. It was wonderful. We decided to go away because it is my mom's 60th (gasp!) birthday on Tuesday. Her cousin owns a condo in Costa Rica and he was sweet enough to let us borrow it for the week. We stayed in an area called Tamarindo, right on the beach. I posted a few pictures of the area, where we stayed, and one of the best meals I have ever had. If you ever decide to go, I have many places to tell you to go visit, especially the amazing restaurants and spas! The one thing that I really brought back from the trip was the idea that the Costa Ricans have about their way of life... work is just something that you do so you can enjoy your free time, it isn't your life. I hope you all enjoy yours.

love

If you ask any person to describe love, they will probably describe it in a much different way that you would have. Kids, teens, young adults, middle-aged and the elderly all have their own version of love. But why? Why do we all have different ideas of this one illusive word? Even the Big Guy can't describe it in just one word. Yet, when I read His version, I actually believe that it fits all those different types of love. What is love to you?

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.

It is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:4-8

valentines day?

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, most of the people that I know are pretty much constantly complaining about being single. Although I do understand that there are a lot of things about this that suck... there are so many positives about it. Let me remind you.

-you can watch whatever you want on tv

-there's more time to better yourself and figure yourself out

-you only have to put up with your family... no one else's

-you don't have to pick up after anyone but yourself

-you have no one to answer to

-no snoring (reason enough)

-the toilet seat stays where it is at

-freedom

-trips are more fun....vegas for example

-you can sleep in your ugly mismatched pj's

-friends, friends, friends.... this is the very best perk in my expert opinion.

-no one can give you crap about what you buy (ex: another new purse)

-you can watch a chick flick in peace

-your schedule is your schedule. can you do something with the girls next friday? yes, yes you can.

Basically, you can do whatever you want. You don't have that annoying/ whiney/ rude/ jealous/ argumentative (fill in the blank) boyfriend or girlfriend to deal with. All you have to worry about is making yourself happy. So until you do find that person that is worth being in a relationship for, have fun. Enjoy every single moment of it. And be your own Valentine... you already know what you want anyway.

Bucket List

The other day some friends and I were having pie- for two hours might I add- in Guthrie and while we were there, we began to make a bucket list for the rest of our time here in Stillwater. The list included a few things that may get us arrested, but hopefully not. As I thought about it, I wondered what I really want to do in my life time. So here's what I've come up with:

1. See the Mona Lisa

2. Go skydiving

3. Run a marathon

4. Re-learn French

5. Learn to play the piano (more than just Mary had a little lamb, because I've got that covered)

6. Fly a plane

7. Kiss a stranger

8. Spend New Years in NYC

9. Take a trip by myself

10. Go to the top of the Empire State Building

11. Visit all 50 states

12. Go on a mission trip

13. Read the entire bible

14. Make a difference in someone's life

15. Donate blood (sounds like an easy one, but I hate needles!)

16. Go to the Super Bowl (the year the the Cowboys make it, I swear it will happen again)

17. See the 7 wonders of the world

18. Go to a baseball game at Fenway Park

19. See the Northern Lights

20. Fly in a helicopter

21. Dance in the rain

I plan to keep adding to this... what's on your list? Now's the time.

she's never learned how to live for today

I am the kind of person who literally plans everything. I don't like to have to figure things out at the last minute, no matter how trivial it is. I'm not really sure why this is, but I think I just like to know what's going to happen next. I hate being surprised. Literally, hate it. There is nothing wrong with knowing what to expect... right? Until recently, I have never even considered that I would be at this place in my life that I am in now. As difficult as it is to admit, I have no idea what is going to come next. Which is so weird because two weeks ago I had it all planned out. But that's what happens isn't it? Life comes and laughs at all of our best laid plans. You know what I think though? I think it could be a good thing. No, scratch that. I think it could be absolutely amazing. Now, I can do whatever I want... something stupid, reckless, foolish, even selfish. I can figure out everything that I don't want and all of the things that I do. For the first time in my entire life, all I have to think about is today, and how I want to live it. It's an oddly freeing sensation. E.M. Forster once said, "We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us," and I would have to agree. Try it.

sorority life

When you hear the word sorority, most people generally think of a group of dumb blonde girls who party too much and laugh too loud. Being that I am in a sorority you might think that I would be dispelling this rumor but I have to admit that every once in awhile my friends and I are that typical sorority girl. But the rest of the time we aren't. My "sisters" are beautiful, intelligent, driven, and kind. It is the strangest thing to think that 3 1/2 years ago, I didn't know these people at all (minus a few) and now I truly cannot imagine living without them. The bond that is created there is something that I can't even believe myself, as corny as that sounds. Although some of the girls are very different from you, you do all have something that ties you together. I have been going through a lot this past week, and I got a card in the mail today from one of my sorority sisters. One who isn't in my group of close friends, she isn't even in my pledge class. But this card was the nicest thing that almost anyone has said to me and it made me cry...the fact that this person really cares about me, just like a sister and would take the time out of her day to tell me that I mean something to her... well let's just say that it completely made my day. So if you hear someone say that sororities are more than just the parties and the good times, you may just think about believing them.

change

I changed my entire life in the last week. And although I can't seem to find the right words to explain, I did hear a quote that does a decent job:

"When people show you who they are-believe them." -Maya Angelou