Snot Happens

I'm not a photographer, at all... but when I saw that
I heart faces  was doing a photo contest for "hilarious outtakes", I had to enter this one, because I think it's pretty hilarious!   It's an under-water picture that went all wrong.  Sorry buddy...I hope you don't read my blog, I just had to do it!

Snot happens

In other news.... Tonight we celebrated my grandparent's 52nd wedding anniversary!  And my other set of grandparents will celebrate their 52nd anniversary tomorrow.   I'm so blessed with such wonderful examples of love and commitment!
One of my grandmother's, my Nanny, is a published writer.  She wrote a book of poetry called "Kentucky Heartstings."
In an attempt to get her writing again, I've set up a blog for her.  I showed her tonight and I'm hoping that she'll start using it soon.  I think I need to spend a "training session" with her, but I'm sure she'll catch on quickly!  I've posted one of her poems there already, and I'd love for you to check it out and show her some love!   
Her new blog is: Kentucky Heartstrings
Nanny, if you are reading this, I am expecting a post ASAP!!!!!

A Sweet and Sour Sunday

Sweet: 

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal.  And if I have the gift of prophesying and am acquainted with all the sacred secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, 

I am nothing."

- 1 Corinthians 13:1-2

Sour: 

(The pic, not the task...)

Kelley over at Confessions of a Law School Dropout has tagged me in a photo meme!  Here are the rules:

Open your 1st Photo Folder

Scroll to the 10th photo

Post the photo (no cheating) and the story behind it

Tag some people

So okay...I followed the rules and here's the pic:

This is Jake and Will, 6 years ago, acting like fools, getting in a "bar" fight. 

Get it? Hardy har har!   

Cause.... well, I really don't know.   I'm at a loss for words.   

I tag:  

Musings of Amber Murphy

Kentucky Blonde

Magically Ordinary  

Cry Baby Cry

This is a post I did about a month ago when I had 3 followers...haha.  

So since it's late and I'm lazy, I'm reposting!

So it's not news to anyone who knows me that I was a proud member of the drama club in high school. Okay...that's saying it lightly.... I was an obsessed, full blown, drama queen.

From freshman year on, my high school existence revolved around drama class and after school plays. I took my parts very seriously, even my small projects for class. I could write a book about my love and obsession for theater and acting...but don't worry, I won't. This story is short, and it started a few weeks ago while I was cleaning off a shelf in my basement. I came across my high school yearbooks, which of course turned into hours of reminiscing, instead of cleaning. And there it was, an inscription in the back of my junior yearbook, by a fellow drama nerd:

"Goodbye....to the girl who can't cry."

It was true, I never cried. I never cried in real life, and I especially never could cry while acting. Not that I didn't try! As only a true drama queen would, I spent hours in my room listening to sad songs, reading monologues, and trying to connect with my emotions. And sure, I could cry alone in my room...but when faced with an audience....nothing. I faked it well enough, but there were no real tears. I even took a walkman (yes, I said walkman...I'm old) to school so that I could listen to Sarah Mclachlan's "I Will Remember You" before going on stage. At the time, I could think of no sadder song! And I even welled up a few times...but no real, dramatic, streaming tears!

Now years have passed and life has moved on from after school plays, lip syncs, monologues, and duets. But of course... I'm still a drama queen. So, the other night while home alone, I pulled out my old monologue books, and read aloud some of the scenes I had performed in high school. ....My dog thought I was amazing. Oscar worthy.

In the midst of my riveting performances, I came across a monologue that I had dog-eared back in high school as one I always wanted to do. It was from the movie "The Days of Wine and Roses." The monologue was by Kristie, an alcoholic, returning one last time to her husband, begging him to take her back, and seeking his forgiveness. The description read "She tearfully admits that she can never stop drinking completely." Well crap. That was out of the question! There would be no "tearfully" for me.

So 9 years later, sitting on my couch in my pj's, I read the monologue out loud. And without even a Sarah Mclachlan song playing in the background... tears began to flow. Easily, like clockwork! So, of course, testing my theory, I brushed away the tears, shook myself out of it, and started reading it again for a second time. Tears! Easy. Emotion. Easy!

Darn it, I thought. 9 years too late.

I guess at 17 I didn't quite understand what in life there was to cry about. I guess I had to live a little more, see a little more, understand a little more. I guess now I know that it's okay to cry sometimes.

Bold Words and Why I love my Husband

I got tagged in a fun blog meme by Amber at Musings of Amber Murphy.  I've known Amber since high school and her blog is amazing, hilarious, and...well, you just have to read it!  


So, I'm supposed to post a list of things I like/love/hate and then link it to 3 bloggers who I admire.  All you have to do is fill in after the bold words!  


I like Karaoke!


I like nachos. Too much.


I like listening to acoustic music.  

I like when I have crazy dreams and actually remember them in the morning.


I like looking at pictures over and over again.


I like reading the lyrics of songs before I decide whether I like them or not. 


I like movies that make me cry.

I like wearing heels!


I like singing in the shower.


I like to dance every chance that I get.


I like staying up late.


I like sleeping in after staying up late!


I love the truth.


Today was very eventful!  Got to watch my boss chase a thief through the parking lot and my husband sing karaoke... in that order.


I hate when people are fake.


I hate when I wake up late and don't have time to take a shower!


I hate the smell of seafood.


I hate cleaning!


I hate when people don't return phone calls/texts/emails.


I hate that stupid song "I love college."  Cause it's stupid.


I hate when I get into bed and my PJ pants ride up... in fact for years I would tuck my pants into my socks at night in order to keep this from happening, until my husband insisted that it really was not sexy.  (I thought it was super hot!)


I (secretly) like to sing in front of the mirror when I'm home alone.


I love trying to figure people out.


TAG YOU'RE IT:
Generally Speaking
Handprints of the Heart
Single Infertile Female


Oh...and just so you know,


THIS is why I love my husband:

Man's Best Friend

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.  

~Roger Caras

Isn't it remarkable how much we love our pets?   Dogs, cats, birds... they all know how to steal little pieces of our hearts.  They love unconditionally, and there's something so wonderful about knowing that you're their whole world.  They give love, friendship, comfort, and a listening ear.   

I love my two little animal babies.   They are my shadows.... and when they're not following me around, it usually means they are up to no good!

Yoda loves to blog with me.

And Molly is always right here, in on the action.

This is a beautiful poem written by Jimmy Stewart about his dog Beau.  

It never fails to make me cry! 

If you've ever had a beloved pet, this one's for you.
Thanks to my friend Audrey at Generally Speaking for sharing!

I'm also participating in Friday Follow!

I love making new friends!  

(Wow!!!  I have 100 followers now!??  That's crazy!!!!  I can't believe that 100 people are interested in what I have to say... thanks so much for reading!)

So I Think I Can Dance

I'm so excited to report that tonight I finally did an actual leap!

I started taking modern and jazz dance lessons in January, and being the least experienced dancer in both  classes (as in...I have no real experience, and they've been dancing for years), I usually leave feeling a bit foolish.   My instructors are kind at least, and after it's my turn across the floor, I usually get a "not bad" comment, followed by lots of constructive criticism.   They continually tell me "don't worry about it, it's just for fun."  Um...did no one tell them that I'm going to be a professional dancer?  This is serious.  I mean, lots of dancers start off when they are 26, right!?   Right?  Hmm.  Anyway....

But today... oh joy of joys... magic happened.   As usual, Josh, my modern instructor had us line up for our "run, run, leaps" across the studio....and of course, I was up first.  So I ran, I ran...and I actually leaped!   I think I surprised him even more than myself because he stopped everything, ran over to me and shouted "that was perfect, you brushed through it, your legs were straight, you pointed your toes and everything!"

So...yeah... it may not sound like much of an accomplishment, and really it's not, but darn it...I'm proud of my little leap!!!!   

"So You Think You Can Dance," here I come!!!

Maybe I should try for two leaps in a row first and see how that goes?  

We have a winner!

And the winner is......

#22: Bridgette Groschen 

(using random.com)

Congratulations!!!!!   Thanks to all who entered! 

Bridgette will be getting Arbonne International's Lash Enhancer.

This baby is great for improving those wimpy lashes!  Plus, it's Arbonne, so it's vegan, never tested on animals, and botanically based!  

  

You can find out more about Arbonne here. 

Have a happy Wednesday!

The heart is desperate, who can know it?

One thousand days have passed me by

and I haven't moved an inch

With so much left unsaid

I have so much more to say

I'll try to hide the fear with hate

I'll try to overcome it

It all means something, every breath

Every awkward silence

Don't listen to your heart, it's desperate

The things you said, you swear you meant

But it does us all no good to just hang on

To the memories we try to repeat

that piece of us we long to keep

Cause in the end it doesn't change a thing

Can someone find the pieces

And put me back together?

I wish I could forget this

But I always will remember

And if you could, just twist the knife

Hurt me until I hate you

For every time I take a step

You walk by again

(Just a little something I wrote a while back.....)

It's a charmed life.

I'm sitting here in my PJ's at 4PM, reading blogs while my husband is fluttering around me cleaning the house.
I should probably feel guilty.... 

(But I just don't.)  

Sigh...this is the life! 

My Arbonne Lash Enhancer giveaway ends tomorrow!  Enter here.  

Someone's in the bitter barn!

Confession:

Tonight I took part in a karaoke contest.  

This is me coming in 4th place...

Which means I lost.  Boo!

Yes, the people that won were really good. Blah, Blah, Blah!   I'm aware that I am not a gracious loser.  Haha!!   (They really were awesome and deserved to win.)

Honestly, I was fine with it until one of the judges came up afterwards to tell me "you have a really beautiful voice, this just wasn't the contest for you.  You need to enter a contest that is based more on singing and less on performance.  Plus, that song was too low for you."

Well....poop on you mr. judge!    You're not Simon, you're not british, and your glasses are not nearly as cool as Randy's!   Yes.... I'm that bitter over a little karaoke contest.  It's not really the fact that I lost that has me all bitter, I just don't like being criticized!    

Why in the world do I let the dumbest things in life bother me so much!?   Truth be told, I have never been so good at taking criticism.   I just hate not being the best at everything that I do.  Does that mean I have low self esteem?   I've always thought of myself as a confident person, but the fact that I care so much about what other people think about me sometimes must say something about my insecurities.   I need to learn to be okay with not always being the best.  Sigh... better go listen to all my self talk CD's and read some Dr. Phil.   

Really?!  It's just a stupid karaoke contest!   Am I the only one who lets such insignificant things really get to me?  

Okay...(deep breath), I'm over it!   Tomorrow I'll feel really stupid that I let this get to me. 

In spite of my bitterness, I came home to two sweet little babies who always cheer me up!   My dog Yoda is so wonderful because he is always SO happy to see me when I come home.  It really does brighten my day.  Who could be upset with these two piled up on your lap?

   

When in Rome

So tonight the hubby (Jake) and I went on a little date.  We went to dinner and then to see "When in Rome."  It was a cute movie!  Kristen Bell is Jake's dream woman!  But that's just fine cause I didn't mind at all staring at Josh Duhamel for 2 hours.  

(He's so cute!)

But now I'm super confused!!!  As I mentioned before, Jake and I are planning a trip to Europe in May.  We are so excited, but we can't decide where we want to go!  Watching this movie made me want to go to Rome.   But I want to go to Paris too...and London....and Ireland!  Sigh....I must choose.

Jake says he thinks I'll regret it if we don't go to Paris....I think he's right.   Ugh!  I wish I had unlimited time and money so I could do it all.  I mean really...is that too much to ask!?  

Oh, and by the way, he scolded me at dinner tonight for posting a picture of him at the geek party a few days ago.  He's worried you will all think he's ugly, and has insisted that I post a good pic of him.  

So here you go:

Haha!!!  He is soooo gonna kill me.

(But it's soo worth it!) 

P.S. check out my celebrity look-alike at Juliana's Blog!  Haha!

Exotic Maids

So, there I sat, listening to the guys as they quoted stupid movies, and enjoying my chicken fajita rollup.  (Pre-vegetarian days.)   It was the summer of 2002, and we were in Indianapolis to play a concert.   Since it was tradition, the rest of the band and I went to Applebee's for dinner before the show.   Everything was normal, the roll up was delicious (poor little chicken), the jokes were stupid, and my bladder was small.   I excused myself to the ladies room.   Once inside the restroom, I heard someone else come in behind me.  And though there was an empty stall next to me, she didn't go in.  Instead she stood quietly right outside my stall door.   Weird... I thought... maybe the other stall is dirty or something?   But when I went out to wash my hands, I saw that she was looking straight at me.   

"Excuse me," she says "I wanted to talk to you."

"ooookkaay," I smile, but I'm really thinking she's crazy.

"I don't know if you'd be interested or not, but the owner of 'Exotic Maids' is sitting at the bar, and he said that you are exactly what he's been looking for.   We have a great opportunity for you to make lots of money."  

I say nothing.  Is this really happening?

She hands me a business card "think about it, and give us a call...  See ya sweetie."   She winks at me and walks out, leaving me there alone with my shock.   

I look down at the business card, which has a picture of a woman in a french maid costume, bending over with a feather duster in her hand.  It reads 

Exotic Maids Cleaning Service: 

Cheerleaders, Librarians, School Teachers, French Maids, and More!  

24 hour service, call anytime!  

Oh yeah... that sounds legitimate.  I mean, it's perfectly normal to need a 24 hour cleaning service.  It's perfectly normal (and not at all pervy) to want your maid to be dressed as a naughty cheerleader while she vacuums your floor at 3 AM.   

I went back to the table feeling like I had just been punked.  I told the guys, and of course, they thought it was hilarious... which, it was!   And even though it was funny, I was also kind of creeped out and ready to go, especially because I was now acutely aware of the skeezy looking guy at the bar, staring at me.  

That weekend, we went to dinner with my parents.  I told them I had a funny story, and I related my bathroom run in.  

 "Why in the world would I look like someone who would be interested in something like that!?" I exclaimed.

"Well," my dad said, "what were you wearing?"  

Thanks Dad.   OBVIOUSLY I was wearing something that shouted "Hey!  I'm someone who would love to join your prostitution ring,  dirty cleaning service.   

True story.   Gotta watch them shady characters at Applebees!  

Honest Scrap, Link Love, and Ninjas!

Happy Friday everyone!   I got to have lunch with my mom today at a yummy mediterranean place, now I'm stuffed and I really want to take a nap before I have to head to work!   If I fall asleep tonight while bartending, hopefully someone will throw a drink on me or something to wake me up.  

 (On second thought.... please don't.... throw money instead!!!)

Thanks so much to Amy over at Handprints of the Heart for giving me this award!!!  Be sure to check out her super cute blog!   

I LOVE awards!!!!  Just ask my husband.... I still have every award I've ever gotten!  And I'll show them to you too if you come over.  Heck yes... I'm proud that I was awarded "Best Actress" from my high school drama club.  Haha.... you'd think they were oscars....  "I'd like thank the academy..."

Ok...so I'm supposed to tell you 

10 things about myself you might not know:

1.  I love to dance!  I am currently taking "modern" and "jazz" lessons.  They're very humbling... and I wish I hadn't waited until I was 26 to do it..but I love it so much!

2.  I spent all the money I got when I graduated from high school on a karaoke machine, which I still have. On any random night you might find me in my basement singing karaoke by myself.

3.  While in the shower I like to act like I'm auditioning for American Idol, and I often think about which song I would sing for Simon.  

4.  I'm a vegetarian.

5.  I'm late everywhere I go, and most of the time it's because I'm on here, reading your blogs.   So, really...it's all your fault.  haha

6.  I can quote every line from "Grease" and "The Wizard of Oz."   I love musicals!

7.  I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses.  And guess what?  I'm normal!  I actually get a kick out of all of the crazy rumors there are out there about us.   In all seriousness, my faith is the most important thing in my life.

8.  I'm always cold.   My husband and I always fight about the temperature in our house.   I like to keep it at 75.   (I win.)

9.  I went to 9 different schools growing up because we moved around so much.   I never minded it though, in fact, I think it actually helped me to be more social because it forced me to meet new people.

10.  I've never in my life mowed grass, and I never intend to.

 Now I pass it to 10 people.

I'm passing it to some great "tell it like it is" bloggers!:

1. Insomniac Lolita.  She has a great blog, love her latest post!  She "tells it like it is!"
2. A Blonde Walks into a Blog.  If you haven't read Juliana's blog yet, she's fabulous!!!  Always honest, and insightful.  She probably already has this award, but if so, she's getting it again!
3. Jenny Matlock.  She is too funny, and you never have to guess what she's thinking!
4.  Let's Have a Cocktail.  I'm sure Jenny's gotten this award before since she has so many followers and is so awesome...but I'm giving it to her again so you'll check her out.
5.  Christopher and Tia.  I just love her blog, she's super cute and trendy, and her blog has a great honest quality about it!
6.  Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles.  The name says it all, check her out!
7.  Single Infertile Female.  Check out her blog, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll have a good time!
8.  The Musings of Amber Murphy.  She already has this award, but I'm giving it again anyway, because if you're not reading her TMI Thursdays, you are missing out!
9.  Magically Ordinary.  Great blog!!  Check it out.
10.  Stoic.  She cracks me up!

Whew!!!  Alright......  my job is done here.  

Oh.... and by the way, 

I would SO give this guy money!

Yikes!  I gotta go get ready for work so I'm not late... SEE I told you... it's all your fault!

(I forgive you.)

Just Love!

"Blood is not thicker than water.  Who loves you when you really need them.... that's family." 

- Troy Dunn

I've been very fortunate to have a wonderful family.   My family has always been there for me, through thick and thin.   But in my book, family isn't always just about who you are related to.

I'm grateful for all of the people in my life who love me and who are there when things get tough.   I'm grateful for those who loved me for a while, and those who will love me forever.   Whoever you have in your life that loves you, be thankful.   And love back!   You never know when you are the only family someone might have. 

I'm participating in "Friday Follow!"   

I love making new friends!

If you're a new friend, be sure to enter my giveaway.  

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

What a Bunch of Geeks!

Last year some friends of ours had a geek party.
Oh yes... it was amazing!

It allowed me to finally live out my fantasy of being
Mary Catherine Gallagher... 

"SUPERSTAR!"

Don't we make a super sexy couple?  

There were so many hot guys
.... kind of took your breath away.

(yes...that's a jedi cloak AND a fanny pack he's wearing)

I know, it's hard not to be jealous....

So, what does one do at a Geek Party you might ask?  Well...Duh!  We played Star Wars Trival Pursuit!   

And what do a bunch of geeky girls do at a party?  Well..Duh!  Dance on the bed to Brittany Spears!

Oh yes.... we're that awesome.

Speaking of awesome, if you're new here, sign up for my
lash enhancer giveaway