Every day I'm discovering more and more new blogs and am in complete awe over the endless possibilities and direction for this current blog.  Some of the sites I find addicting and quite fitting for the many diverse aspects of my personality are as follows:

Something new and girly

Something inspiring

Something addictive....

I could go on and on with about ten more, but then you would be convinced that I have stalker tendencies, which i don't, i think.  Enjoy!

I have one major, huge, mega flaw: I can't make a paper snowflake to save my life.  It's the simply kind of activity you learn early on in grade school, and just like quick multiplication, I have never quite grasped it.  Never really an insecurity of mine, as the need for such an ability only applies this time of year, I think it would be rather cool to make pretty little snowflakes like the ones below.  

When indulging in my latest guilty pleasure (Casa sugar), I came across this fantastic link, and with it my faith in my creative talents has been restored.  Check it out to possibly decorate on a recession proof budget.  Enjoy!

 

A white Christmas indeed...

I was going through my last Internet addiction, Casasugar from the uber fabulous website Popsugar.com, and I came across this very cool Christmas tree that I thought was worth noting.  Look how cool a white Christmas tree looks with all those cool bright and colorful pink ornaments on it.  Even notice how neat looking the top of the tree looks, a modern twist on the traditional star or angel seen on most Christmas trees.  I'm very jealous of this tree right now (maybe cause there is no tree yet in my own home and it's some thirteen days til Christmas morning) but more so that in all my years of independence and adulthood I have never taken the time or money to fully decorate for the holiday season.  But if I did I would imagine that need for a creative holiday would manifest itself into something like the photo below.  Check out the other cool pics off of the website, http://teamsugar.com/group/429878/blog/2550944, and the whole website in general, it's my true guilty pleasure!  

"The name of the game is snaps..."

"Snaps is the name of the game, and the name of the game is snaps."

"Snaps isn't the name of the game, the name of the game isn't snaps."

"Snaps is the game of the name, the game of the name is snaps."

Last night I was curled up in bed indulging in one of the greatest guilty pleasures of all times, the good old chick flick.  My film of choice for the evening was PS I Love You, a film I hadn't seen in quite some time, yet was still as good as the first few times I had watched it.  There is a scene in the movie where Hilliary Swanks character celebrates her birthday at a popular gay bar in NYC, and her kooky sister learns the game of snaps.  Now I've seen this movie quite a few times and I try to pay special attention each time to this scene so that I too may learn the game of snaps, but once again I was lost to the meaning and purpose of the whole activity.  That's when I decided to do a little google research and I think it can be broken down into the following:

 You have to pay attention to the first letter of the words used, as well as vowels.  Each vowel contains a specific amount of snaps, such so that A is one snap, E two, I three, O four, and U five.  Given the example of the word SAVED, the game would be played as, "Snaps is the name of the game (snap), very snappy (snap, snap). 

Doesn't that seem rather hard?  And a bit confusing?  I challenge everyone to figure this one out I think my friend Kyle would be the first one to get this one, since he adores brain teasers. For help, try this link which I just found to be extremely helpful in breaking it down: http://joeymarie.livejournal.com/tag/movies%3B+ps+i+love+yo as well as this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtjchkXqcfk.  Good luck!

Are you ready for some Monday night football?

I'm a simple pleasure kind of girl.  The littlest and smallest things are always the ones that make me the happiest.  As a little girl I'd be just as content in an empty room with just a few little nick knacks to play with as I was in a whole toy store.  A good movie, warm coco, a giggle fest with the girls, and discovering the next great band or author are the sort of things that really put me on cloud nine.  I find these small tokens of happiness to outbalance the fair share of bad days one gets in their lifetime.  So last night I was delighted beyond measure when I got to see my Carolina Panthers play live in living color at Monday night football.

While many may not view me as a crazed sports fanatic or the world's biggest Panthers fan, nothing beats good football in the Carolina's, professional or not, and my good friend Ashley knows this too.   Ashley surprised me by inviting me to last nights game, and the awesomeness that followed cannot ever be described in words, but I'll be brief by quickly stating that the two of us got to sit front row center on the fifty yard line and their couldn't have been a better game or victory for us to watch in those exact seats!  We were constantly beaming from ear to ear, and our excitement kept us warm most of the frigid night.  The simple pleasure of a good hot dog with all the works before hand, the company of one of the most amazing and good hearted girls ever, the roar of the crowd (or should I say grrrrrrrrrooowwwlll) and the pulsating excitement of such a good game was outstanding.  Alone each one of these small things would be enough to make my day, but combined it will make my week and probably even month.  Here are a few pics from last night's game for y'all to enjoy.

.

Rock me mama like a wagon wheel...

Below is a quick little picture of the girls and I at the Old Crow Medicine Show this past Saturday.  We all went out to celebrate my friend Nikki's completion of the LSAT (got it right ladies) and to basically have a good time all around, and that we did.  We started the night off at Cabo Fish Taco in the NoDa district, and I've quickly fallen in love with the area and this restaurant in particular (they also have great 'rita's for a descent prize).  We then headed over to the Neighborhood Theater to hear the band play their bluegrass originals, and while we didn't know the words to every song we still had a blast, especially when we heard our favorite Wagon Wheel.  I'm still new to this whole blogging and uploading thing but if I knew how to work the technology I'd show you guys a snippet of the song, as it truly is one of the greatest songs ever.  I always have a ton of fun when I'm with these girls, and although I've been fighting some major sickness, they kept my spirits up and we all had a blast dancing and singing and just hanging out.  Can't wait for our next fun adventure out!

Goodbye Fall

Thanksgiving has come and past and with it comes the conclusion of a most beloved season, Autumn.  I loooove fall, as warm memories fill my mind now of all the fantastic reasons why this season is so wonderful.  Before I can officially get into the Christmas spirit I must say farewell to fall with a stroll down a leave covered memory lane.

When I think of fall, of course like everyone else I think of leaves, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.  I also think of the movies Stepmom, Runaway Bride, and Remember the Titans.  I think of my childhood obsession with my little red riding hood Halloween costume that I wore not once, not twice, no but four years in a row.  I think of the warm apple cider served during the Ghost Tales at the National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee, the festival my parents took me to for several years of my childhood, specifically to mark the start of the fall season.  I think of fall festivals at school, of pumpkin carving nights, of scary haunted houses with friends.  I think of the fun Halloween parties thrown in middle and high school, of trick or treating with friends beyond an approiate age.  

I think of playing the wicked witch in local children's theater fall production of the Wizard of Oz.  I think of the crisp change in the air.  I think of the lovely scarves I found in China Town with Kelly Bischoff while visiting NYC for fall break.  I think of classic scary movies.  I think of first boy girl parties.  I think of Sunday afternoons spent watching Carolina Panthers play ball, of tailgating at the big game.  I think of silly costumes.  I think of visits from old friends.  I think of things slowing down, the calmness that embraces the season.  I think of the first hot chocolate.  I think of pumpkin pie.  I think of candy corn.  I think of sleepovers with childhood friends, spent baking brownies and giggling about things.  I think of warm blankets, that favorite hoodie.  I think of orange, yellow, and red everywhere you turn.  I think of Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks.  I think of Charlie Brown.  I think of innocence.  I think of family.  I think of laughter.  I think of the joy that the season brings, only to be followed by an even bigger season of joy. 

 

With the simple thought of fall, my face unconsciously erupts into a smile.  In many ways I feel saddened that this wonderful season comes to an a end, a rather quick end for me.  At the very same time, I can't help but to think of all the wonderful holiday memories I have from childhood and beyond that make the Christmas season so very bright and wonderful.  Of course that stroll down memory lane will come another day.  But today, I'm simply saying goodbye to an old childhood friend, Fall.

The news report says it might snow here in Charlotte tonight and the simple thought of that makes me giddy with excitement.  It's been quite a long time since I've seen a decent amount of snow, or actually snow that sticks to the ground, and with the holiday season coming up I can't help but feel a sense of great warmth at the thought of the cold, cold snow.  Like Lorelei Gilmore in Gilmore Girls, the first snow is always the best snow, and its symbolism is beyond the simplicity of the actual snow itself.  So as I head into work I can't help but smile a little, as I imagine that when I get off I can curl up on the couch with a warm cup of hot coco and the company of good friends and laughter.  That to me my friend is the holidays.  

You can like the life you're livin, you can live the life you like...

So I'm already slack on this whole posting thing, and it's probably because I'm such a perfectastionist when it comes to writing.  No really I am, it takes me twice as long to write an essay than most people, not because I can't write or I don't know what to say, it's because I want it to be the best piece of literary writing anyone has ever read, blog included.  However, I've come to the conclusion that at this I will fail most miserably, because let's face it blogs aren't designed to be great masterpieces, and those that can turn the simplest piece of writing into some extraordinary really do have a talent that needs to be commended.  

With all that said, I'm going to be spend this blog catching all of you ( all of you being probably the one person who knows about my blog, but still that's not the point) up on things.  Things while simple are very satisfying, and quite fulfilling.  I recently took a seasonal retail position at Ann Taylor Loft.  It's been tough finding a decent job during this economic crisis we're under, I've sent out dozens of resumes, cover letters, and follow up phone calls and e-mails, having purposefully steering away from corporate positions and aimed more for secretarial, office like jobs that can really build my resume.  However, a friend encouraged me to apply at her job for the holidays, and I figured it would be a great experience, as I'm a firm believer that every experience aides in the next.  So for the past week I've been working there, and enjoying it, but trying desperately to avoid spending my entire first paycheck there.  

In addition to my new job, my social calender has been full with all sorts of fun activities over the last few weeks.  A few weeks ago my friend Cameron celebrated her birthday at the US White Water Center and we spent the day rock climbing and exploring the trails.  While I myself didn't partake in the climbing aspect of our day adventure, I did take it upon myself to be the group photographer and below are some of the pictures from the day.  That same weekend the girls (being the Bffers of course, Lisa, Hannah, and Nikki) traveled up to Grandfather Mountain to go hiking.  Too bad it was the coldest freaking day of the year up there! It was horribly windy and we were severely under dressed in our multiple long layers.  To make matters worse, I somehow got a flat tire on the way up there, and spent a lot of the day on the phone with AAA and getting my spare put on by the super friendly park staff.  But overall the day was wonderful and am I'm so glad our BFFer mountain trip finally came to be.

In some similar exciting news, Cameron and I saw Chicago not once, no, but twice this week and still love it just as much as ever.  If you don't know, Cameron and I both are obsessed with the production, as this was my sixth time seeing the play and probably no lie Cameron's 18th.  Yes I just said 18th!  We had the pleasure of seeing the play for the first time together in New York City when Wayne Brady played Billy Flynn and we both were hooked.  A few months later Cameron moved to NYC (coincidence, I think not) and every visit to see her included a trip to the box office to get our student rush tickets to see the show, where we sat wide eyed, mouthing every word to every song, and basically dying on the inside with excitement.  Cameron spent the last year in international missions and I at UNCW, so our Chicago fix was long overdue.  We fed our obsession with $20 student tickets and second row seats, for not one but two performances of the show, and loved, loved, loved, loved it!  The first night was a combined mother daughter date, and last night Cameron, myself, and a friend all got to see it sitting in the second row.  You could feel the heat and sweat as they danced to all that jazz.  Afterwards, Cameron and I stalked the stage door in true NYC fashion where we talked with my favorite Amos to date, and her favorite Roxie to date as well.  To put it mildy we really like the show. 

Everything else in life is rather simple but again as I said before satisfying.  Catching movies here and there (definitely recommend Quantum of Solace) and spending time with my family and friends here in Charlotte is rather fulfilling.  Got some exciting plans for the next few weeks like Old Crow Medicine show, and Thanksgiving! I'll promise to post more often, as I've already thrown all attempts at eloquent verse out the window. 

Things have been rather boring yet satisfying around here.  Nothing truly eventful, just another ordinary week of sleeping in, avoiding daily chores, watching excessive amounts of movies and tv, and of course my overload of perez and facebook.   Oh, and don't forget looking for a job.  But through my aimless time online, I've been trying to figure out what I want to do with my bedroom.  

   I've discovered an abundance of websites, and even blogs, that have diy projects and fantastic makeovers that has my mind reeling with anticipation, not just for my room, but for my future career goals.  I may not have mentioned but I plan on one day opening my own design shop, and seeing the many possibilities online encourages me just how much of a reality my dream is.  I'm actually anxious to get started, but baby steps and lots of trial and error.

   My own bedroom is quite a trial and error itself, as it's gone from a "latte" and brown bedding, to white and silver, to it's current look of black and white, and grey walls.  I'm very pleased with the outcome, and hope to post pictures soon for everyone to see.  Right now I'm busy painting the bathroom grey, and the bedroom will soon follow.  While uneventful, my days have been quite simple and blissful, I really enjoy a break from the chaos that has been my last five years of overload.

The start of something truly and utterly beautiful...I hope.

So I've been reading a lot of blogs lately and I thought the whole process seemed rather fascinating.  A devote follower to the world of celebrity blogging (most notably Perez and Pink Is The New Blog) it wasn't until recently that my curiosity peaked. 

 A wonderful friend of mine made the horrible decision to move some ten million miles away from us here in North Carolina to the horrid, ugly, and too distant state of Washington.  To keep in touch with her many friends, both old and new, she created a blog.  At first I clicked and read out of pure obedience for my dear friend.  Then I started visiting every day, waiting to see what she had to say next.  And like a spiral effect I quickly found many other blogs that peaked my interest just as much.  I found blogs on motherhood (not there yet, but it does pass the empty time brought on by unemployment rather nicely might I add), on interior design, business owners, and so much more.   Because I consider myself a follower of all trends I chose to join the new Internet in crowd, and have proudly created my first blog.  

Consider this my next great chapter in life, I'm anxious to get started.  I understand that life's daily events can become boring for those who don't get to experience them first hand (heck they can even be boring for those that do experience them), but I hope that I may be a little different from the rest.  After all, a very famous Coco Channel said, "To be irreplaceable, one must first be different."  I hope I can bring you a little bit of joy to your daily life.  Enjoy readers, this should be fun for the both of us!