LIFE: AMBITIOUS

Go RED

2012-02-03T06:00:00.006-06:00

Join me today as I wear red in support of National Wear Red Day 2012!

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S. and it is truly insane how many lives it claims every year. The Go Red for Women movement was initiated to raise awareness about heart disease in women. Go Red for Women is something I am very passionate about. I had Wolff Parkinson White syndrome and my seemingly very healthy grandma passed away from a heart attack a few years ago. Both situations were completely unexpected.

So, wear red today to stand up against heart disease and stroke. People need to be more informed and be empowered to live a more heart healthy lifestyle. By wearing red today, you can help spread the word and encourage countless other women (and men!) to change their lifestyle for the better.

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Hip Hip Hooray!

2012-01-20T06:00:00.005-06:00

Oh goodness, what a long week. A semi-draining week at that. I'm relieved to be reunited with Friday and am really looking forward to girls night with my college roommates tomorrow night. These ladies are some of my favorite people and spending time with them is one of my favorite things to do. Happy Friday to you! Have a fantastic weekend!

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Happy girl

2012-01-13T18:28:00.004-06:00

2012 is starting out with a bang. I am one happy girl... one incredibly blessed girl. This is a complete ramble, but I am just so excited for all the fun and new experiences I'm going to have this year. It's going to be lovely.

I'm starting out the first half of the year with some fun travel. I'll be going to California for my friend Mackenzie's wedding, to visit friends and to attend The Ellen Show! (Still geeking out about The Ellen Show... I just got the call today and can barely contain my excitement! Another item to check off my 101 in 1,001!) Shortly after California, I'll be heading south to Costa Rica with family for a week of fun in the sun -- beach time, zip lining, and horseback riding (gotta conquer that fear of mine!) among other things. A few weeks later, I'm taking the trek down to Iowa for a bridal shower for my friend Allison. And a month after that, I'll be ringing in the big 2-5 with my friend Alicia in New York City. I'm hoping to make it to Chicago too. Am I missing anywhere? :)

On Monday, I accepted a new job at the company I currently work for. I had two AMAZING opportunities and had the most difficult time deciding which path to take (picture me sitting on the kitchen floor staring into space out of pure stress). Ultimately, I felt like I was being led down one path more than the other and made the decision official on Monday. I could have been happy in both and both would have offered me incredible development opportunities. I am so thankful and I cannot wait to venture down this new path, learn new things and continue to make an impact.

My two best friends, Mackenzie and Allison, are getting married this year and I'm a bridesmaid in both weddings. I'm currently in bridal shower and bachelorette party planning mode and it is getting me so stoked to watch two of my favorite people get married. I've been waiting for these moments for both of them for so long and I am so glad they're finally here. I'm going to be a mess at both weddings -- I'm confident this joy is just going to boil over and turn into a flood of happy tears on their big days (thankfully I'll be in good company).

Oh, and I got confirmation on Wednesday that I now have 20:20 vision in both eyes. Amazing! Yeah, LASIK!

2011 included some of the most fulfilling, memorable, exciting, spontaneous, scary, and new experiences. I ended the year feeling so blessed and couldn't imagine how 2012 could even compare. I learned a lot about myself when I lived in California and I'm working really hard to keep the positive, faithful mindset I was able to regularly adopt during that time. I had many years where I felt God had given up on me, where I felt completely hopeless and over the past year and a half, He has been reminding me over and over that life is on His time, not mine, and as I trust Him and His direction with complete faith, He will never lead me astray.

My joy is just bubbling over today and I'm feeling really really thankful for the life I've been given and for the wonderful people I have as my support system.

The Ellen Show! Photo taken last time I was on The WB lot.

One Tree Hill: Bonus Features!

2012-01-10T22:12:00.000-06:00

Disclaimer: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote One Tree Hill Season Eight on DVD.

A good friend of mine once told me (as a compliment, thankfully) that when I find a topic that interests me, I research it until I know everything about it. It's just who I am. I'm curious, I love learning and when I find something I'm passionate about, I just want to know as much as I can about it. It's because of this that I love watching the extra's on DVDs, watch shows over and over until I can recite things word for word, and have friends who call me and say "Ok, you'll know this. There's this one movie where this guy and girl fall in love and I can't think of who the guy is and what else I know him from. Help!" and I know exactly what/who they're talking about.

Last summer, my mom came to visit me in California and we spent a day in LA -- we went to Urth Cafe in West Hollywood for lunch, ventured to The Grove so she could get up close & personal with Mario Lopez during a filming of Extra! and spent the afternoon on a studio tour at The WB lot in Burbank. The studio tour at The WB was so fascinating and has me watching tv shows & movies more closely than I had in the past. Even if you aren't as obsessed with TV and film as I am, I'm guessing you still find it interesting to know how some of your favorite TV shows & movies were made, watch blooper reels and get the inside scoop on the characters & the show.

Unfortunately, One Tree Hill films in Wilmington, North Carolina, so I couldn't get the inside scoop about OTH during my studio tour (but there is oh so much other goodness to learn on the tour). Thankfully, the OTH Season 8 DVD has over two hours of bonus features, including featurettes, full-lenth commentaries, deleted scenes & of course, a gag reel, so I was still able to learn all that I could about the making of OTH Season 8 without actually being on set or in the writers room. I think that watching the bonus features on DVDs really adds to my overall viewing experience -- I get to know the actors and see the connections they have to their characters, see how scenes were pulled together and learn the thought process involved, and see how much effort goes into making the shows we love so much.

Has there ever been a time in your life where you've said "Now that I know what goes into it, I can appreciate it so much more!" Or a time when you said "I'm not sure that show/movie looks very interesting, but I just LOVE _____, so I'm going to watch it anyway!" Enter DVD bonus features. These extras are helping to build the overall experience you have with the show -- the commentaries may help you build a connection to the actors which in turn may help you connect with the characters of the show... the deleted scenes may make you say "Ohh, I was wondering how they would have played that out if it was part of the script... now I know. Love it!"... the gag reels will easily make you laugh your butt off (and we all know how good laughter is for our health).

One of my favorite bonus features on the One Tree Hill Season 8 DVD is on Disc 3. The hurricane episode is a pivotal one in the season (it aired as the midseason finale). Disc 3 has commentary and a special feature "making of" that shows how the episode was made -- I won't spoil anything for you (because I assume you're going to go buy the DVD and watch it for yourself!), but I can guarantee you'll find it interesting. And, of course, the gag reel because it just makes me wish I could be on set with these people every day having all the fun they're having while also working their butts off to make the show a success. I really enjoyed the feature involving season 8 memories as well because it gives you a view of the season (and prior seasons) from the cast and crew... it shows their emotions about the storyline, their characters and the future of the series.

So, next time you get a DVD and see bonus features included... actually watch them! You'll probably learn a lot and get some good laughs while you're at it.

For fans of One Tree Hill, the Eighth Season is definitely one to own! It includes all 22 episodes on 5 discs plus all-new featurettes, commentaries, deleted scenes and gag reel. Own OTH Season 8 on DVD now! And don't forget, it's also available on UltraViolet!

One Tree Hill - S8 'Stop!' by thewbdotcom

I Dont Want To Be

2012-01-03T20:31:00.003-06:00

Disclaimer: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote One Tree Hill Season Eight on DVD.

I love music. And when I'm watching my favorite shows and films, good music only makes them better. Music helps to form the experience we get when we watch shows and theme songs help us to identify the shows we love so much. When I hear 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name' by Gary Portnoy, I automatically think of Cheers. When I hear 'Everywhere I look', visions of Full House consume my mind. Don't forget 'I'll Be There For You' (Friends), 'I Don't Want to Wait' (Dawson's Creek), 'Where You Lead' (Gilmore Girls), 'As Long As We Got Each Other' (Growing Pains), 'California' (The O.C.), 'I'm Always Here' (Baywatch) and 'I Don't Want To Be' (One Tree Hill). We start to associate these songs with the shows we love so dearly and are so loyal to. The opening theme songs stick with us just as much as the shows do. These songs remind us of the moments the show gave us and often times help covey a message about the show to the viewers.

After season 4, Creator/Writer/Executive Producer Mark Schwahn made the creative decision to axe One Tree Hill's opening theme song and use only a white-on-black title page, a format previously used only for episodes of a sensitive nature. After three seasons, Schwahn decided to restore the opening theme song. During season 8, viewers once again heard Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Want to Be" (from his first album 'Chariot') in every episode. Schawhn, however, decided to mix it up and have various other artists cover the famous opening theme song, choosing to air the original version (DeGraw's) only 3 times throughout the season (the season premiere, a mid-season episode and the season finale). A risky, but intriguing decision. Cover artists included (but not limited to): Laura Izibor, Grace Potter, Susie Suh, Wakey!Wakey!, Aimee Mann, Augustana, Joshua Radin and series guest star Kate Voegele.

I am a big fan of the original by Gavin DeGraw (my love for Mr. DeGraw can't quite be captured without some unnecessary girly squeels and really off-tune singing, so I'll refrain) and it's easily my favorite (hey, I'm a creature of habit), but there were a few covers that I really enjoyed, specifically Laura Izibor, Tegan and Sara, and Augustana. But the cover I liked the most? So & So. It was upbeat and edgy, and I loved the change up of a female voice. Do you have a favorite cover?

If I could have hand-picked an artist (or two or three or four... I'm indecisive, ok!?) to cover the theme song, I would have to say Andy Grammer, Tyrone Wells, Ben Rector, and Missy Higgins (separately, not together... although, that'd be interesting). But, I'm partial to Gavin DeGraw's original version -- it's the song that pops into my head when I think of One Tree Hill and I like the connection that has. Who would you like to hear cover the theme song?

Missed season 8's opening theme song mash-ups? Order Season 8 of One Tree Hill now! Check out One Tree Hill Season 8 on UltraViolet, too!

Oh, and don't forget that One Tree Hill Season 9 premieres on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 8/7c on The CW!

One Tree Hill - Season 8 on DVD & UltraViolet

Book a photo session!

2012-01-03T17:53:00.000-06:00

Some people know this about me, others don't: I used to do lifestyle photography as a side-job. I tend to say life got in the way, but mainly, it was that when I started earning money for it, I lost much of my passion for it. Not because it was a lot of work (which it most certainly is), but because of people's attitudes toward photography, having a photography business and how I chose to run mine.

For a photographer, prices for sessions and prints aren't just picked out of thin air. They are carefully thought through based on what clientele we're aiming to reach, the time/thought/care/passion/energy/money we alone put into it, the resources we need, what we genuinely believe we're worth, what we need to make an income and so much more. If we don't believe in ourselves as photographers and set our worth, who else will? As I started out my photography business, I kept my prices low because I wanted to gain experience. I had many people jump on my just-starting-out-prices for the obvious reason: I was cheap. Sure, they liked me and my work, but add in a 2-hour session for the cost of what they paid to fill up their mini-van gas tank and they had all hands on deck. The moment I decided that I needed to validate my worth as a photographer (by increasing my prices and standing firm in my policies), I had an amazing amount of push back. I can't tell you how many times I heard "$150 for a session? That's really expensive..." and "Well, can I get my photos back within the next week and a half?" and "Oh, my daughter's best friend dropped by - could you take a bunch of pictures of them too for no extra cost?"

I got burnt out. Fast. I had just graduated college and was working 40+ hours/week at my day job and spending much of my free time at/traveling to sessions and editing them. Add to that the emails, texts and phone calls that came with it with one request after another for a price break and speedier-than-average editing and all I could think to myself was how ungrateful people were for what us photographers were asking them to pay for and what they, in turn, would be receiving.

Photographers, by nature, believe that getting photos of yourself/your family/your friends is incredibly important. We don't do this work because it's easy (because it's really really not), or because we don't want to sit in an office at the computer all day (because we sit at the computer editing/blogging/responding to emails/networking far more often than one might think) or because we have a fancy camera (the camera does not make the pictures wonderful, your joy & the photographer's creativity/skill do) or for the multitude of free time in our schedules (because most photographers work evenings and nearly every weekend) or for our wallets. Not for our wallets, but for yours. For your wallets, for your walls, for your albums, for your frames, for your cards, for your family and your friends. For you.

If you don't believe me in that getting photos of you/your family taken is special and important, I've got a letter for you to read that a photographer received from one of her clients. It's heartbreaking, but this photographer shared it in hopes that it would encourage others to book sessions. Because, as she says, portraits are more than paper.

Looking for a photographer in the Twin Cities area and need some recommendations? I've got plenty for you. Just ask.

A Year in Review

2011-12-31T16:18:00.000-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again: 2011 was really, really good to me. And, if 2012 is anywhere near as great as 2011, I'll be one lucky gal.

In 2011, I:

Lived in California for 3/4 the year (started living there Sept 2010)
Explored SoCal
Met some of my favorite realty TV personalities (guilty pleasure! sorry!)
Went to a book signing
Visited my sister in AZ multiple times
Started working on the WBWord team
Went to Disneyland
Rented a car for the first time (and had my car break down for the first time)
Served as a Personal Attendant at my friend Alicia's wedding
Went to the Newport Beach Film Festival
Went to American Idol's finale performance show
Watched as my friend Beth got married
Visited one of my favorite places - The WB lot in Burbank, CA
Took a boat ride off the coast of Dana Point, CA to watch dolphins & see a whale with my mom
Took an evening boat ride through Newport Harbor with friends
Watched as my longest friend Amy got married
Kayaked in Dana Point Harbor
Toured The Getty - Amazing.
Watched as my first college roommate, Jessica, got married
Made new friends
Broke out of my comfort zone
Got professional pics taken of myself
Worked as a Casting Intern
Learned to shoot a gun
Went to my first Wild game
Cheered from a distance as two of my closest friends got engaged
Moved back to MN
Found myself.

In 2012, I plan to:

Be a bridesmaid in my friend Mackenzie's wedding
Transition into a new job at work
Go to Costa Rica
Go to New York City with my friend Alicia to celebrate the big 2-5
Be a bridesmaid in my friend Allison's wedding
Complete as much as I can on my 101 in 1,001
Live life to the fullest and follow my heart - always
Continue to go out of my comfort zone

Cheers!

The Wedding

2011-12-27T20:42:00.002-06:00

Disclaimer: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote One Tree Hill Season Eight on DVD.

Throughout the years, I've attended many weddings. 2011 has been a year of weddings for me. I flew back from California for three weddings this year, and attended a fourth a week after I moved back to Minnesota. Next year, I'm a bridesmaid in two weddings. I love going to weddings and watching people I love get married.

Many little girls dream of their weddings. I know I've had many thoughts of my dream wedding throughout the years, but due to my perpetual single status, never gave those thoughts too much concern. Over the years, my vision of weddings has changed from the little girl's dream of the big elaborate wedding to a more down-to-earth celebration with the people closest to me. I now believe the wedding is a bonus. It's the marriage that's important. This quote sums it up perfectly:

"I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance,

A church filled with family and friends.

I asked him what kind of wedding he wished for,

He said one that would make me his wife."

-Author Unknown

You've watched Brooke & Julian's wedding on One Tree Hill, haven't you? My favorite parts of their wedding (and of all weddings) don't cost a dime --- spending time with your bridesmaids, the face of the groom as the bride starts walking down the aisle, and the vows. It's the sentiments that mean the most.

While it would be a blast to have that elaborate wedding in an amazing location with beautiful decorations, and really yummy food, I love the idea of a simple, down-to-earth wedding that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I envision a quaint church, a simple lace dress, a gorgeous back yard with earth-toned everything that just screams romance. But most of all? I dream of a day of pure happiness, just like Brooke & Julian had. I dream of being surrounded by my favorite people and of walking down the aisle and seeing the man I love staring at me with the biggest grin on his face (aka the TV/movie moment most girls swoon over).

In Brooke & Julian's wedding on One Tree Hill, Brooke spends the morning getting ready with her best friend/ maid-of-honor Haley. These two are the best of friends and the bond they have is one every girl wants and cherishes. When it comes time to walk down the aisle, Brooke enters the sanctuary to a grinning, giddy Julian. And their vows, which they each wrote, were totally them. I resonated with what Brooke said in her vows -- as she talked about how pre-Julian, she lived in her world of "me" and it took Julian to bring her out of her shell, she said "You saw through the facade. You saw me. You taught me to trust. How to let someone in." I loved their first dance, and Jamie's best man speech.

One Tree Hill - 'I Love the Way You Love Me' by thewbdotcom

It's the moments I love and it's the moments that make a wedding so special. When someone asks you about your dream wedding, the typical response is "red roses, a gorgeous wedding, a reception at the beach club..." etc. But when I think of my dream wedding, I think of a day of happiness and love, just like Brooke & Julian's.

Missed the RSVP to the wedding? Here's your special invitation with Season 8 of the One Tree Hill! Check out One Tree Hill Season 8 on UltraViolet too!

Oh, and don't forget that One Tree Hill Season 9 premieres on Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 at 8/7c on The CW!

Christmas Recap

2011-12-26T01:57:00.004-06:00

I really like Christmas. I enjoy that it's a time when all of the family comes together and hangs out for like a week straight. We all have so much going on in our daily lives and some of the family lives out-of-state, so it's one of the only times throughout the year where everyone is in Minnesota spending time together at the same time. It was so strange to have no snow. While it has been a nice transition back from Cali life to only have mildly cold temps and very very little snow so far, I would have loved a white Christmas.

Here are a few photos from my Christmas weekend.

I've decided to start keeping my eyes open for houses, as I think I'd like to buy.

It's on my 101 in 1,001 to do so & I just think I'm ready for a place to call "mine."

I went to this little charmer late last week. Unfortunately, there's basically no

closet/storage space and I think it's priced much higher than it should be. Bummer.

For Christmas Eve, we have my mom's family over to our house for dinner

and the dice game. My sister and I decided to do each others hair this year

as we've been pinning cute hair styles for a while and wanted to try them out!

This was the upside down braided ballerina bun I did for my sister (I snapped

this picture during our test run pre-shower, so the bun was teased and made pretty

to look like a ballerina bun during the actual styling)

Sitting by the fire with my cousin and sister!

The cousin's from my mom's side of the family together on Christmas Eve!

On Christmas Eve, we went around the table reading a Christmas story.

Clearly I was entertained.

Hanging out with my dad and two of my cousin's from my dad's side on Christmas.

On Christmas Day, we typically play some sort of game to kick up the energy.

This year, my aunt had the genius idea of making us split into two teams and

perform "music videos". It was quite funny. Check out the video:

Oh, Valentine's Day.

2011-12-20T22:50:00.000-06:00

Disclaimer: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote One Tree Hill Season Eight on DVD.

I'm not a Valentine's Day kinda person. I think it's a Hallmark holiday that feeds into cultural beliefs about romance and thus alienates a significant population of people. When it comes to love, I'm a realist.

BUT, as a lover of television, film, and literature, and a dreamer that some day I'll get my own happy ~~ending~~ beginning, I often find myself engrossed in the love stories that are depicted in the shows/movies I watch and books I read. Even as a realist, I'm a sucker for a good love story just as much as the next person. And, I've seen some pretty sweet love stories.

One of the shows I really like is One Tree Hill. I started watching at the very beginning and have continued watching as the show and characters evolved. I watched as Nathan, Haley, Peyton, Lucas and Brooke (can't forget Karen, Dan, Keith, Deb, Whitey, Mouth & Jake!) faced the ups and downs of high school and family life. Then, as we jumped ahead 4 years to watch as they moved beyond those experiences and managed life and all it entailed -- parenting, business ownership, relationships, career decisions and family. We saw the glitz and the glam of young adulthood. As we moved into season 8, we went back to being rooted. Back to relationships, love and family as the characters worked (and sometimes struggled) at defining their lives and determining what their futures might hold.

After the intense start to Season 8 (Who can forget crazy Katie shooting Clay & Quinn? Oh, and the car accident! And Brooke's Clothes Over Bro's legal drama... yikes!), I was relieved when life for the gang we love in Tree Hill started to stabilize. And when we hit the Valentine's Day episode? Shoot, my "psh to romance" flew out the window. We watched as Nathan and Clay played coy all day while Haley & Quinn got squirmy over how their Valentine's Days might end (and if their men would actually end up doing anything special despite their earlier declarations not to), as Brooke and Julian spent the day playing dress-up, and as Mouth & Milly spent quality time together.

As the single gal, I adored Chase in this episode -- mainly because he plays the "big brother" to Chuck so wonderfully and helps to make Clay's surprise for Quinn go off without a hitch. I loved the "average day turned romantic" for Mouth & Milly and Haley & Nathan -- the simplicity of their days were perfection in my eyes.

But, Clay & Quinn? Oofta. Even as a fairly non-romance person, I'll take that Valentine's Day once in my life. I liked that Clay played coy all day and then surprised Quinn with this extremely romantic night. The effort that Clay put into planning and executing the evening is the most romantic part -- he had clearly planned it far in advance and put on his best "I don't like Valentine's Day" face to trick Quinn into thinking the day would be nothing special. As he spent the day working with Nathan, Chase and Chuck got Tric (which was closed for the night) ready for the big date night and Quinn helped her newphew Jamie pick out a gift for his crush, Madison. When Clay & Quinn finally got to Tric for what Quinn expected to be a normal night of hanging out and dancing, Quinn was shocked to find that Clay had arranged for Chase to completely deck out Tric for a dinner-for-two date night with a private City & Colour performance. All in all, it's the thought that counts. And Clay sure thought this one out.

I am so glad that Season 8 is out on DVD because it means I can relive the craziness all over again any time I want. And guess what? So can you! In Tree Hill, there is never a dull moment. Hope, heartbreak and a hurricane -- all in one season! One Tree Hill's Season 8 is packed with drama and ready for pre-order! It's available in DVD and UltraViolet!

ABC's of Kelly

2011-12-19T05:00:00.002-06:00

My good friend Ashley is a rockin photographer -- have you checked out her stuff? If not, you should probably just go do that right now. Anyway, she posted a cute blog last week called "ABC's of Ashley." I think things like this are fun (for me at least, probably not for you), so I'm joining in on it! Here are the ABC's of me...

A. Age -- 24
B. Bed size -- Queen. I'm just waiting for the day I can get that California King.
C. Chore that you hate -- Dusting. I'm allergic to dust mites, so dusting is zero fun. Living at home with my parents, I pretty much hate all chores. But when I live in my own place, I actually LOVE cleaning (probably too much).
D. Dogs -- We (with my parents) have a "havaton" which is a mix between a Havanese and a Coton de Tulear. She is the sweetest dog EVER. My parents didn't want to get a new dog, but I wanted Coco soo bad that I would take her from my aunt and babysit her so that my parents could see how sweet she was. They finally warmed up and now they can't imagine their lives without her. When Coco is choosing to cuddle with my mom instead of me, I like to say "I loved you first - she didn't even want you!" Yes, I'm a meanie like that, but it's fun to see my mother squirm when I say it. (Sorry, mom!)
E. Essential start to your day -- Oh my. I have a morning routine and a bedtime routine that if messed with, completely throws me off. I wake up 2 hours before I have to be at work because I hate feeling rushed and hate being late. The first thing I do when I wake up is make my bed. I absolutely cannot even leave my room if the bed isn't made.
F. Favorite color -- Green (Unless we're talking favorite color to wear, in which case it's black.)
G. Gold or silver -- Silver
H. Height -- 5' even. Every time I go to the doctor, I'm secretly hoping that number changes. It never does. Boo.
I. Instruments you play -- None regularly. I grew up playing the piano & keyboard but haven't played in a long time. It's on my 101 in 1,001 to pick it up again because I love it dearly. In elementary school & middle school, I also played the flute. I've always wanted to play the drums.
J. Job title -- Recruiting Coordinator
K. Kids -- None yet.
L. Live -- Minnesota.
M. Mother's name -- Cathy
N. Nicknames -- Kelly Cole, K Cole, KC, Belle, Kellser, Kel, Kel(s) Bel(s).
O. Overnight hospital stays -- None (except when I was a baby, of course)
P. Pet peeves -- Oh my, this is a long list. I don't think I can list everything. Ticking clocks. Chewing with your mouth open. Being late. Having to turn the volume down when commercials come on. People who don't turn their headlights on in the rain. Plus more.
Q. Quote from a movie -- Oh boy. I'm a big movie buff, so I have a lot of movie quotes that I love. I guess I could say I adore pretty much everything substantial from P.S. I Love You.
R. Right or left handed -- Right
S. Siblings -- Older sister, Christy.
T. Time it takes you to get ready -- I plead the fifth. Too long, but I promise it's not because I'm extremely high-maintenance. I just hate being rushed and like to take my time getting ready.
U. Underwear -- Again, plead the fifth.
V. Vegetable you hate -- Cauliflower
W. What makes you run late -- It's either that my hair is taking forever to straighten or traffic.
X. X-rays you've had -- Oh my. I've actually had a lot of x-rays and I honestly can't remember them all. But in the past few years, I've had one of my hand and multiple of my chest (heart & lungs).
Y. Yummy foods you make -- Well, I'm a really picky eater so cooking isn't much fun for me (I basically eat like your average 4-year-old). But, I think I make a mean grilled cheese. I also do pasta, and lots of baking :)
Z. Zoo animal -- PIG. (Ok, I get that they are farm animals, but sometimes you see them at the zoo...)

P.S. I Love You

{photo}

35

2011-12-11T18:43:00.000-06:00

Doing good things for other people shouldn't be hard. It should be something we all do on a regular basis. I shouldn't have to put it on my 101 in 1,001 in order to make it happen and I certainly shouldn't have waited until now to actually do it. But, it's also easy to say "Oh, I'll do it soon" or "Naw, this isn't good enough." Truth be told, any act of kindness is good enough. After reading DrewB's birthday post, I kicked myself for failing to check off #35 before now. I'm actually quite embarrassed that I haven't. I've thought about it many times and had some grand ideas for what I could do, but I never put them into action. I even posted about random acts of kindness last year -- as you can tell, the plan I mentioned in that post was never executed.

So, last week at work, I put a dollar bill in the vending machine so that when the next person to use the machine went to put their money in, there would already be money in there waiting for them. And hopefully they'd pass it on and do the same for the next person! It's a really small act of kindness, but you never know who is going to reap the benefits of that and what their day might be like when they get it. Hopefully it was a pleasant surprise for them.

I have to give a big thanks to Drew for reminding me and all of her other readers of how important random acts of kindness are (and hey, just kindness in general). They make you feel good for doing something good for someone else, but most of all, hopefully they are helping someone else - even if in the smallest way.

Ten on Tuesday

2011-11-29T06:00:00.003-06:00

It's been a while since I did a Ten on Tuesday post, so I figure I may as well throw another one out there since the blog has been a little neglected lately.

Do you wear glasses, contacts, or are you one of those perfect eyed people? I wear glasses. I've been wearing glasses since about freshman year of high school. I will periodically wear contacts, but I don't love them. I'm getting LASIK next week though! So nervous!
What is the next item you are going to purchase? I guess my facial on Wednesday doesn't count as an "item". Umm. I'm not sure! I suppose Christmas gifts are next on the list.
Have you ever watched Judge Judy or any other real court show? I have. I'm a sucker for law, court & forensic shows although I tend to stick to the scripted shows. I've probably seen snippits of Judge Judy once or twice. I also watched a little bit of the Conrad Murray trial.
How do you feel about fake nails? Not a fan. Loved them in high school, but they were so damaging to my natural nails and I've stopped biting my nails.
What is your favorite sport to watch? Hockey!
If you could create your own Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, what would it be and what would it be named? Oh boy. I'm not too picky when it comes to ice cream. I like vanilla, cookies & cream, and chocolate chip cookie dough. I think I'd be OK sticking with one of those rather than creating my own.
Do you have any scars? Yep! I have a very small one on my knee from falling off my bike when I was younger and another small one on my knee from a minor disagreement with the box cutter while packing up my mattress to move from CA to MN. I've got a little one on the bridge of my nose from when I had chicken pox. I also have five scars in the groin area from the catheter ablation I had in 2008.
Does your pet's name fit them? Is there a more appropriate name? Our dog's name is Coco and I think it fits her just perfectly! I'm not sure why, but it works!
What is your favorite television show theme song? Oh boy. Probably Cheers. :)
What was your favorite activity on the playground? Monkey bars, of course! That was prime girl time. Aside from that, I loved kickball days and playing "hot lava".

34

2011-11-28T22:43:00.004-06:00

Hockey is my favorite sport. My dad coached boys hockey from when I was a really young age until I was in high school and then he switched to coach an women's adult league for the last few years. Obviously when I was growing up, I thought it was pretty sweet that my dad coached all the boys my age because I was able to hang out with them at hockey tournaments and thought it was the greatest thing ever (Full disclosure: I was boy crazy). My dad tried to get me to play hockey many times -- I was in hockey skates at a young age and have always really enjoyed the game and going skating, but at that time, there weren't a lot of girls playing hockey, so I wasn't too thrilled at the idea.

Even though I grew up surrounded by hockey and going to hockey game after hockey game, I'd NEVER been to a Minnesota Wild game. Shocking, I know. I've been to college games and I watch them on TV, but had never been to a Wild game in-person. So, I added it to my 101 in 1,001. Tonight, my good friend Brian and I went to a game -- it was a blast! We had great seats -- 5th row to the left of the net along the goal line -- and the Wild won 3-1! Here are a few pictures snapped with my cell phone at the game:

64

2011-11-20T14:07:00.000-06:00

I've been wanting to check #64 off my 101 in 1,001 for a long time. I finally got around to it today, thanks to the generous teaching of my friend Dan. I had a blast! Shooting a gun isn't easy -- I had such a hard time keeping my hands steady! He brought a couple hand guns and his new AK-47. I shot all of them, but the AK was quite intimidating :) I'm really glad I learned and I'm sure I'll do it again in the relatively near future! Check!

A Fighter

2011-10-17T17:45:00.002-05:00

I am a huge fan of Giuliana & Bill Rancic. I've watched 'Giuliana & Bill' on the Style network since it first aired in 2009, follow both of them on Twitter and throughout their various escapades and subscribe to Giuliana's popular Fab, Fit, Fun site.

I really admire Giuliana's work ethic and her passion for life. I especially admire her fight for the life she wants and the things that are good for her and the people she loves. I think a lot of women (and hey, men too) could learn a lot from her. She grabs life by the horns and makes the best of all of it.

When I popped over to People.com this morning as usual to check out some entertainment news, this crushing announcement immediately caught my eye and sent a wave of emotions through me. She's now fighting TWO battles that plague too many women yet she consistently remains optimistic, believes in God's plan and promises to beat both.

If you haven't already, watch Giuliana's shocking announcement on The Today Show this morning.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Going outside my comfort zone

2011-10-10T18:01:00.006-05:00

This past year has involved a lot of pushing myself outside my comfort zone and trying new things. One of those things involved getting photos taken of myself. I much prefer to behind the camera -- actually quite hate getting my picture taken. But, as someone who once did photography as a side job and preached so often how important it is to get family pictures, I figured my last month in Cali was as good a time as any to embrace the awkwardness and step in front of the camera. I figured I'd capture the joy California brought to my life over the past year. Thankfully, Candice happened to be having mini-sessions, so I jumped on the opportunity and actually had a blast.

I went all out and even got my hair and make-up done. Carina at Flawless Faces in Costa Mesa made me look and feel beautiful! Her studio is so chic - I honestly wished I could have hung out there on a regular basis.

It's still strange to look at photos of myself (and equally strange to blog them), but the photo shoot itself actually made me feel really confident. When someone wants to take your picture and provides positive reassurance about the photos, it's definitely uplifting. So, a big thanks to Candice for making me feel completely at ease and pulling me out of my shell so I could enjoy myself. I love her work and I'm so glad it worked out for her to take my pictures! She is seriously one of the nicest people around, which made letting my guard down that much easier.

I love the pictures Candice took, adored my hair (gosh, I wish I knew how to curl my hair!) and make-up and I'm glad to have some photos of myself. As is my mom, who already has a dozen of the unedited photos, printed off the internet, hanging on the fridge. Thanks, Mom ;)

Location: Eagle Rock Beach - Laguna Beach, CA
Photography: Candice Brooke Photography

Make-up: Carina @ Flawless Faces

Hair: Carina @ Flawless Faces

Engaged!

2011-10-09T13:29:00.007-05:00

In July, my two best friends got engaged within a week of each other. Such happy moments. Since I moved back to Minnesota this past week, Allison asked me to take her engagement pictures. Given that she's one of my closest friends, of course I said yes. Allison and I met through a mutual friend the summer before college. We were going to be going to the same school and our friend thought we'd get along great, so he arranged for us to meet quick. The day we met, we were wearing the same shirt. We also learned that we drove the same car, played soccer against each other and had the same college major. Naturally, we decided it was best to become great friends. That we did. I'd be lost without her and I am SO happy her and Allan are tying the knot. Allan is a great guy and I know he's going to take care of Allison for the rest of her life.

I don't do photography as a side job anymore, so I'm a little rusty. I was really nervous we weren't going to get any good shots because of it, but I think we got some good ones! Here's their slideshow!

Change

2011-09-26T05:00:00.001-05:00

Exerpt from Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

Friday Favorites: California

2011-09-23T06:00:00.006-05:00

A lot of people who don't live in California and/or have never been to California, often have a lot of judgment about the place. Much of it negative. While some is probably well-reasoned, most is just silly.

After living here for over a year, I can say that it is an absolutely wonderful place to be. Sure, there's traffic and there are a lot of people, but can you really tell me the cons outweigh the pros? Shows like The Real Housewives give California a bad name. Yes there are blondes, yes there are people who drive nice cars. But there are also people with 2001 Honda's, brunette hair they styled on their own, and jobs they work hard at to pay the bills. California isn't all glitz & glam... it's a real place just like Minnesota, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, etc.

This past year has been one of the best years of my life. I have grown so much and I am in love with my California experience. I am so incredibly sad to leave. As I prepare to leave California next week, I figured I would jot down some of the things I'm going to miss. Really, I'm going to miss just about everything, but I figured I'd list some out (in no particular order). LONG POST ALERT :)

Feeling free

Breaking out of my comfort zone

Trying new things

Being fearless

Overcoming obstacles on my own

My apartment (and, for the past 6 months... living alone)

My pools and apartment complex amenities

Awesome restaurants. Some of which

are right on the beach... like these:

Beachcomber

Ruby's on Huntington Pier

(This is my favorite breakfast spot. The Cliff in Laguna Beach)

My Office

I loved the people I sat near and the solitude. And this view from my desk:

Making new friends and deepening old and/or existing friendships

The ocean... The beach... The weather

The abundance of adventure and simply being adventurous

Danza del Sol Winery

Rock Harbor's Easter service @ The OC Fair Ampitheatre

Aaron Sorkin @ The Newport Beach Film Fesitval (& Something Borrowed!)

WB Studio Tour

Live show tapings (EXTRA, American Idol)

Whale/Dolphin Watching

Benefit @ W Hollywood. Meeting people from The Bachelor franchise & listening to good music (Cary Brothers!)

Lo Bosworth book signing!

Disney!

kayaking in the harbor

The Getty! Such a gorgeous place.

The speed limits

Feeling at peace

Being independent

Having so much to do. Always.

My life here.

Thoughts during a bout of insomnia

2011-09-06T06:45:00.003-05:00

I see the world through brighter eyes in California. I feel a never ending sense of optimism and opportunity, like the world is at my hands - ready for the taking. I am only a tiny part of this massive place, but I never feel alone. There is no one here who's expectations I feel I must live up to... I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself. The freedom in that is liberating. I've had the space and time to figure out who I am apart from anyone else. To become the person I want to be without influence.

The challenge now is taking this person, this self I've become, and bringing it back into a smaller, different world with history, judgment, fear, love, family, friends, expectations, and maintaining it. My greatest fear at the current moment is that this person I've identified as in the past year will disappear. Because I love this person... And that's a feeling I didn't often feel in this old world of mine that I'm returning to. And when you love yourself and you love your life, your whole perspective changes. At least mine did.

Cherish Your Solitude

2011-09-06T05:00:00.002-05:00

This quote captures my thoughts over the past year perfectly. And I hope these are the thoughts that continue to drive me forward as I go through this next season of change and life beyond it because it's this mindset that has led me through one of the happiest times of my life.

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Ten on Tuesday

2011-08-30T04:00:00.001-05:00

My mom recently asked for a new blog post, but I've been feeling uninspired lately. How I describe it is: Emotionally drained. It's almost like I'm mentally preparing myself in advance for all the change that's going to be happening in the next two months. Change that is inciting so many different feelings within me that it's kind of difficult to juggle them all on a daily basis. I've been a bad friend the past couple weeks because I just need "me" time. I feel silly saying I need "me" time when I live in a different state from my family and closest friends and have an abundance of alone time, but I'm learning that I need to stop feeling bad for doing things for me. It may inconvenience someone else and it may bother someone else, but for so long I've put everyone else ahead of myself and I need to get better at balancing being a good friend while making time for myself too.

So, in keeping things light, here's another edition of Ten on Tuesday.

What is your favorite brand of shoes? I guess I don't really have a favorite. I get a lot of shoes from Target and DSW. I have some 'Me Too' booties from Nordstrom that are super comfortable.
How old were you when you learned to tie your shoes? Umm, like 5 or 6? My best childhood friend taught me on the beach at Camp Christmas Tree.
How do you feel about freckles? People are pretty with them, people are pretty without them. I don't have strong feelings about them either way.
I can count to ten in ___ languages. 3 - English, Spanish, French
What is your favorite store-bought ice cream flavor? Store-bought as in grocery store? If so, vanilla. If we're going ice-cream shop store-bought, oreo from Sebastian Joes.
Were you in ballet or gymnastics as a little girl? As a young girl, I was in gymnastics. I started dancing in 7th grade. I was most involved in t-ball and soccer as a young girl.
Who is your favorite Sesame Street character? I can't remember. I don't think I was a big sesame street fan. I was more of a Barney girl.
What's your bedtime? I'm usually in bed around 930
Do you have any jewelry that you wear every single day? Yes - 2 rings. One from my grandma, the other that I had made in college with "1 Corinthians 7:17" engraved on the inside of the band.
Who is the bug killer in your household? Since I live alone, me. But I never see bugs. When I move back in with my parents, they'll be the bug killers.

Ten on Tuesday

2011-08-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

Life has been busy and blogging has taken a spot on the back burner. Here's a little Ten on Tuesday to try get back into the swing of things.

What do you do for a living? I work in Human Resources on the Operations side. I process new hires, work on process improvement projects, build process flows, work with college recruiting, plus much much more. (Wow, that's a lot of process. I need to find a new word.) It's a great job.
What's your favorite thing about your job? There's a lot about my job that I enjoy... I'm not sure I can pin it down to just one thing. I love process flows, I love college recruiting, I love helping to drive change.
What's your lease favorite thing about your job? Nothing?
If you weren't a ___________, what would you be? Oh my... Do I have to pick just one? Architect, Intelligence Analyst, Special Agent, Detective, Casting Director, Teacher...
What is something that you would love to get paid for that you think no one would ever pay you for? Hmmm. I haven't really thought about that. I would say watching TV but periodically I do get paid to do that, so that one's out. Ohhh, sleeping! Or dancing.... it'd be sweet to be a back-up dancer.
If you could have any job for exactly one day, what would it be? Work for the FBI and play a role in taking down a Human Trafficking or Child Cyber Crimes ring.
If you had to do manual labor, what would you do? Home improvement projects. Does that count?
What is something you were forced to learn in high school that was supposed to be super important, but you never actually use? Division without a calculator. Thank God for cell phones and calculators. (Precisely why I will never be an architect.)
Who was your favorite boss? Why? Elissa in the Admissions Office at Bethel :) Most fun ever! She was the nicest manager ever.
Where would you rather work: Dunder Mifflin Paper Company (The Office), Wernham Hogg Paper Company (The Office, UK), or Initech (Office Space)? I think I saw a short bit of Office Space a really really long time ago and have seen like 3 episodes max of The Office. I'll have to go with The Office.

THE Decision

2011-07-25T06:00:00.002-05:00

As I mentioned recently, I've been trying to decide whether I'm going to stay in California, move back to Minnesota or head somewhere entirely new. The decision is one that has been weighing heavily on me and was not easy to make... until recently. For a while, I was certain I wanted to stay in California. Then, I became extremely eager to move to Chicago. After finding that rent in my desired Chicago location was too expensive to justify, I began telling myself that the smart decision was to head back to Minnesota. Not surprisingly, I then got really emotional and found myself in tears any time I thought of leaving California.

My heart is torn. I feel that I've made a home for myself in California, but I also know that a part of me is in Minnesota too. And of course, there is excitement and anticipation at the possibility of exploring a new place for some time.

Yet, I know my priorities and one of my top priorities is my relationships. In the past two weeks, two of my closest friends got engaged. Being in both weddings, I know that there will be a lot to do and a lot of events to attend. Being that these are two of my closest friends, I can't imagine not being able to make it back to MN to be with them as they prepare to get married and embark on their pre-wedding festivities. Weddings are expensive and the added cost of flying back to MN for each event for both of them is way too high to justify. Don't get me wrong, they are worth the expenses, but the logistics of it are just daunting.

Upon discussing this with my best friend, who's wedding is actually in California next spring, she said "Ohhh no. You are not doing this for me. You've changed. You're actually happy. I don't want you to come back here and lose that..." And, I admit, it's one of my biggest fears associated with the decision. But, the joy I feel toward being with two of my closest friends as they go through the journey of getting married is far more important to me than letting my fear keep me from doing what is right. I know, with 100% certainty, that I would regret my decision if I couldn't be there for my friends in every possible way.

So, with mixed emotions, I'll be saying "hello, again" to Minnesota in October.

Rizzoli & Isles: Power Women

2011-07-03T01:01:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had someone tell you, "You can't do that - that's a man's job"? If so, let me apologize on behalf of that person. You CAN do what you want to do, even if it has traditionally been seen as a "man's job." There's still a lot of room for growth when it comes to women's equality, but I think society has made big strides and will continue to do so until we are truly seen as equals.

Improvements can be credited to all the women out there who have stood up for being equals. And to all the men out there who agree. Another credit can go to changes in media/entertainment that have made women's equality more visible by casting females into "traditional male roles" in film and television. We all know how influential media is, so these changes are critical.

Rizzoli & Isles is helping in this regard. The show has cast two strong female characters into "traditional male roles." (Yes, I'm going to keep putting quotation marks around that term because it's silly to think of them as "traditional male roles" when there should be no gender restrictions in the first place.)

Rizzoli stands out as the lone female detective in this Boston homicide unit. She proves her intelligence, critical thinking, wit, drive and tactical skills but is admittedly feminine. Her character bio says, "I've wanted to be a cop since a police officer came to my school for career day... I knew that was the job for me... I wanted the respect," and yet notes that it hasn't come easy when she admits "Still, it gets old, having to prove myself again and again."

We've seen other females in forensic pathology roles (Law & Order and CSI, for example), but Isles is different in the sense that her character maintains her femininity while working in "the man's world". She wears dresses and is compassionate. She is ethical, witty and extremely passionate about her career.

Both Rizzoli and Isles are demonstrating that women can be positive role models. They're two women who followed their dreams and didn't let their gender get in the way of what they're capable of. I hope that because of shows like Rizzoli & Isles and women who follow their dreams, we'll begin seeing more female bios that say, "I've wanted to be a _____ since a _____ came to my school for career day... What's great is that I never have to prove that I can be female and a _____ because it doesn't matter." I suppose I should also say I dream of this for men desiring to be in "traditional female roles" as well, because it's true. I hope one day everyone is able to pursue any and all of their dreams without having to worry that their gender will prevent them from accomplishing their goals.

See the reason why Rizzoli & Isles won Best Drama at the 2010 Women's Image Network Awards. The first season is now available on DVD!

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles Season One on DVD.

Friday Favorites: The Shine Project + BIG news!

2011-07-01T04:00:00.005-05:00

You know about The Shine Project, don't you? If you don't, you need to check it out. Now.

Ashley over at The Shine Project is so great. The Shine Project started out of a desire to excel in life and really go after what Ashley wanted in life... to accomplish things she's always dreamed of accomplishing, to go out of her comfort zone, be a better person and try to better the lives of others. It started for a reason much like the one that drove me to start this blog - but Ashley has gone above and beyond and is really working hard to touch other people's lives while she works to better her own. I'm excited to help Ashley announce some big news!

In October, Ashley will be hosting a great event to benefit The Shine Project Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund will be giving scholarships to inner city school students to help them better their lives. For these kids, the scholarship they receive from The Shine Project could completely change their lives in a positive way. And guess what? You can be a part of making that happen.

There are a few ways for you to help:

Donate items to the Silent Auction for October's big event.
Create a CHANGE FOR CHANGE jar. People all over the country will be creating these jars to put their leftover and/or loose money in for three months, and then cash it in for the scholarship fund. The jar is super easy to make... grab a mason jar (or a soup jar, tin can, etc... whatever you can get your hands on!), print out one of the below labels and adhere it to the jar and then start putting money in it. Don't forget - you can make more than one! You could have one at home and at work if you'd like! Then, in three months, you'll cash it in and send it over to Ashley to contribute to the scholarship fund.
Pray for the work Ashley is doing and the way this event and scholarship fund will help these students.
Share the news! Get your co-workers, friends, family, blog followers, Twitter followers, Facebook friends, etc. to join in and help out!

Details about October's event will be revealed over on The Shine Project blog in July, so keep your eyes peeled for more announcements. You can also follow The Shine Project on Twitter and 'Like' The Shine Project on Facebook.

If you have items you'd like to donate to the silent auction and/or you'll be creating a CHANGE FOR CHANGE jar that you'll need to cash in for the scholarship fund, please contact Ashley at 'ashley.theshineproject@gmail.com'.

Lets change some lives!

Rizzoli and Isles: Partners in Crime

2011-06-25T00:35:00.002-05:00

I'm lucky to have a handful of people in my life who I can speak freely to and with. I think one of the things that makes a truly great relationship is when you can communicate in a way where disagreements, frustrations, joys, envy and criticism don't deter the relationship. You understand that what you're saying to one another is in love and you're careful enough to get across your point without being disrespectful. If you end up being disrespectful, you care enough to apologize and put it aside you. You're mature enough to realize that every relationship has disagreements and that always agreeing with people is boring. You've reached a point in life where you realize your voice is powerful and that you have to stand up for what you believe in, what you think, what you need, and what you want.

My best friend, Mackenzie, and I are extremely different. We have different family lives, career paths, beliefs, looks, and friends. What we do have is history, respect, admiration and love -- our pasts brought us through similar relationships and through those relationships we never left each others sides. We went to preschool together, lost touch and reconnected in high school when we started working at the same daycare we attended together. We became instant best friends and she's been my sidekick ever since. We're both aware of our differences and don't hide them. When I say or do something she thinks is ridiculous, she calls me on it. Vice versa. We express our differing opinions candidly. We are supportive of one another and we love each other to death but we are indeed feisty with one another from time to time. I'm appreciative of it because it tells me we can really be ourselves around each other. If I'm upset, Mackenzie is my go-to. She is one of the very few people who can call my BS when I say "I'm fine" and I'm not. In fact, I don't even need to say anything. She can take one look at my face and know when something's up -- she knows all my faces and knows how to handle each of them without being intrusive. Our differences make us stronger as friends and our strong relationship makes it easier to express our differing opinions. The two go hand-in-hand.

My relationship with Mackenzie reminds me of the relationship between Rizzoli and Isles on the hit show of the same name. Rizzoli has a confidence, bravery and strength that resonate with how I view Mackenzie. Both place themselves in "The Boys Club" (Rizzoli as a detective, Mackenzie as a Project Manager in the IT department at a large corporation) and prove that girls have got skills in these fields too. Isles is practical, as am I -- we try to find an explanation for everything and find comfort in logic. We both enjoy learning, investigating, and reading... we often find it necessary to excel at everything we encounter. Mackenzie and Rizzoli have similar statures (tall, thin, brown hair) while Isles and I have similar statures (shorter, curvy).

Despite their differences, Rizzoli and Isles work wonderfully together. They're frank with each other, which is key to their working relationship. Neither can miss a beat - they always have to be on their game and keep one another accountable in order to solve the crime. They can disagree with one another without feeling attacked or belittled, which is a great relationship to have in a field where there seems to be so much masculinity and appears to be very "dog-eat-dog". They don't feel in competition with one another -- they know that the personal relationship they've built is critical to working relationship they maintain. As I watch the show, I can't help but be entertained by their dynamic and I can't envision their relationship being any different. The show is fluid because of their distinct personalities and the way they engage with each other. I'm sure many of you out there have a relationship (or a few!) similar to the one I have with Mackenzie or the one between Rizzoli and Isles. And if you're anything like me, you wouldn't change the relationship(s) for anything.

If you have a fun, yet sometimes challenging platonic relationship with someone, you understand. And if you've never watched Rizzoli & Isles, so you are lost in understanding what I'm saying, you need to tune in. Seriously - great show. For those who do watch & get what I'm saying, I rest my case. And guess what? Second season is almost here!

Excited for the second season of Rizzoli & Isles? Get prepared with all 10 episodes of the first season on DVD! Available for pre-order here!

Disclaimer: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles Season One on DVD.

Nearing the end?

2011-06-23T02:00:00.008-05:00

It has been a rough week.

I'm nearing the one year mark in California. I honestly cannot believe time has moved so quickly. When I moved to California, the intention was to only stay for a year. I drilled this into my head so that if I hated it or if I "failed" at going out of my comfort zone, I could come back at the end of the year and no one would think twice about it. There has been a shift, though. More than words can express, I've loved it. And it makes me really sad to think about leaving.

I'm happy. I'm relaxed. I'm content. I'm free. I'm breaking out of my comfort zone. I'm embracing new experiences. I'm learning so much.

But I'm missing being near my family and my friends from Minneapolis. If I could transport them all to California, I'd be whole.

I'm at a crossroads. Do I close this chapter of my life and move on, or do I keep going? I have no idea what to do. My mind is telling me I have four options: LA, Orange County, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Do I go to a place I've dreamed of and live in a world I've fantasized about? Do I stay in a place I've called home for the past 10 months and continue to hang out with the friends I've made and enjoy the things that make me happy on a daily basis? Do I go to a city I love and live a new experience and go out of my comfort zone in yet another way? Or do I go back to the place I've called home for 24 years with the people who mean the world to me? So what is most important?

I'm at a loss and it's an inner battle I'm fighting. I'm trying to figure it out so I can (shocker) plan for what comes next and accept what decision I make. I pray about it daily and each day, I feel God telling me something different. So what is He really telling me?

A wise co-worker with more life experience gave me the advice "When you let your heart answer, it may not always work out for the best, but there wont be any regret." So what is my heart telling me?

We'll see...

Love this art I saw at my fave store in CA - Tuvalu.

Rizzoli & Isles Season One DVD

2011-06-17T23:53:00.000-05:00

The large fanbases for movies like "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" and television shows like "The Vampire Diaries" are largely due to the books that came first. Readers of these series became hooked on the books and formed a loyal following. An advantage of the book to small screen relationship is not only the solid fanbase from inception, but the ability to expand upon the characters, relationships and experiences already formed in the books. Readers of the books understand the history, know the characters and the general storyline and are often very excited to hear that a favorite series is moving to the small screen. Viewers who haven't read the books also benefit because the story is already developed.

Such is the case for the crime drama "Rizzoli & Isles," based on the books by Tess Gerritsen. "Rizzoli & Isles" follows two close (and very different) friends - Boston police detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon), the only female detective in the department, and medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander), who is more comfortable around the deceased victims than the living - as they work to solve Boston's homicides and bring down the criminals. "Rizzoli & Isles" premiered on TNT in 2010 -- it's first episode garnered a record breaking 7.7 million viewers, and has maintained a steady fanbase.

I'm confident in saying that the ratings for "Rizzoli & Isles" is so strong not only because of good casting (three cheers for Angie Harmon!), but also because the characters and storyline had already been worked out. This is not one of those shows that premieres and works to "find itself" for the entire first season. The books allowed the show to start strong by introducing the characters for viewers who hadn't tapped into the books and diving right into the story. Fans knew what to expect moving into the rest of the season which, I suspect, has contributed to the continued following. Fans liked what they saw each week, and since the story and characters remained consistent, they continued to tune in week after week.

It's not surprising that "Rizzoli & Isles" has been picked up for a second season on TNT. I'm a sucker for crime dramas and love this show - I'm so glad it's returning for another season! And, I can't wait to re-watch Season One before the second season premieres on July 11. If you haven't watched "Rizzoli & Isles," I urge you to give it a shot. Make sure to tune into Season Two on July 11 and don't forget to pre-order your copy of "Rizzoli & Isles" Season One on DVD today to catch all 10 'must see' episodes!

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles Season One on DVD.

Friday Favorites

2011-06-17T02:00:00.001-05:00

I've been trying to branch out when it comes to my work-outs. I hate working out -- seriously find it dreadful. I enjoy being active, but getting myself to the gym is not a fun process.

Growing up, I played a lot of sports. I'd have entire days filled with soccer and softball games and/or practices. I remember one particular weekend where I had softball playoffs and the last day of playoffs included a double-header followed immediately by a soccer game. I briefly tried hockey and golf and eventually added tennis and dance. My freshman year of high school, I was on the tennis team in the fall, dance team in the winter, fast pitch softball team in the spring, and traveling soccer in the summer. I'm not sure if it was my youthful age or the fact that I was part of great teams and actually good at what I was doing, but I really enjoyed being so involved in sports. Nowadays, I just don't make it a priority.

So, I recently decided to try some new stuff when it comes to working out. Two of my favorite recent findings are S Factor and The Bar Method.

S Factor, is the most out-of-the-box workout I've ever tried. For those who don't know, S Factor is pole dancing. It does not match with who I am, but that's something I enjoy about it. One of the great things about S Factor is that it tries to empower women and make them feel confident in their own bodies. I've struggled with my body image so this has been a really great escape for me. The class can be embarrassing and awkward, but I suppose you have to go through those feelings in order to get to confidence and empowerment, huh? Despite the strangeness of the activity, I actually encourage women to look into finding an S Factor class near them to give it a shot. It's a good (albeit not obvious) workout and because it's not the standard, every day workout you hear about, you actually have a lot of fun knowing you're trying something so different.

The Bar Method is my most recent finding. I heard about it a while ago and wanted to try it out but just never made the leap. Last weekend, Bar Method Newport Beach had a special on Groupon, so I enlisted a friend and we decided to try it out! Let me tell you, you haven't seen shaking muscles until you've tried a Bar Method class. You barely move in the class and use such "simple" movements, but it is honestly an outstanding, difficult workout. I'm looking forward to continuing to go to classes and see the results (hopefully).

Here's to working to achieve goal 54 :)

[Photo credits: 1, 2]

Ten on Tuesday

2011-06-14T02:00:00.001-05:00

I had good intentions for Ten on Tuesday, a weekly "get-to-know-you" post. Those intentions clearly failed miserably. I've been all over the place the last month and blogging hasn't been on the top of my priority list. Gotta try get back into it.

How do you pronounce the word aunt? Does you pronunciation rhyme with 'haunt' or 'can't'? I don't think I'm consistent on this, but I'm going to say most of the time, when I say aunt it rhymes with can't. There are definitely times where I say it and it rhymes with haunt, though. Is there a correct way to say it?
Do most of the people in your life know you blog? Or are you partially or totally anonymous? I don't think it's common knowledge that I blog. I will periodically tweet about a post, but for the most part, I just post to post. I created this blog for myself -- as an outlet -- so I don't feel the need to share it with others. If people read, great! If not, no big deal.
When you grocery shop, do you prefer to bag your own groceries or do you like it when the store bags them for you? Paper, plastic, or reusable bags? Hmmm... if they know how to bag groceries without squishing my bread and taking 20 years to do it, they are more than welcome to bag for me. If not, I'm perfectly fine bagging the groceries myself. And, reusable bags all the way! If I don't have any reusable bags on me, I prefer paper because they can be reused at home and recycled. Plastic bags need to go away.
Do you have a green thumb? Absolutely not. I would love to say I do, but I'm confident I could not make a garden look beautiful if I tried. I don't have patience for it, so I'd end up just throwing things into random places and hope they grow into something that will look decent.
If you watch the Food Network, which chef/show host is your favorite? This is what my best friend is for. She loves the Food Network and is a chef extraordinaire. I, on the other hand, find the Food Network to be quite boring. Sorry, people, I know how much it's loved.
Do you like to take baths? Do you take them very often? I do like baths! I think bath's are very relaxing. I don't think I've taken a bath since grade school, though.
What color are the walls in your kitchen? White. White, white, white and more white.
Do you prefer to dine outdoors or indoors? Depends. In MN winters, indoors for sure. In California, always outdoors. In MN, outdoors are great during the day but at night I sometimes prefer indoors because of mosquito's.
Describe your ideal weather. Low/Mid- 70's, sun shining, light breeze.
If you could learn any foreign language, which would you choose to learn? It's a tie. I took Spanish for 7 years and think it's the most realistic second language. I took French in elementary school and would love to travel throughout Europe someday, so I'd love to know french as well.

19

2011-05-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

I recently attended the Newport Beach Film Festival and checked off Goal #19 on my 101 in 1,001. I really enjoyed the experience.

I went to the screenwriting seminar, A Conversation with Aaron Sorkin. Aaron Sorkin is so insightful. He is full of wisdom, extremely engaging and it really was a conversation with him. He was very in tune with the audience, participated in Q&A and gave us a lot of great information.

I also went to the Something Borrowed screening and after-party with some friends, which was a lot of fun. I read Something Borrowed right after it was published and was SO excited for the movie. I spent the night critiquing all the differences between the book and the movie, so I had to go see the movie again a few days later :)

Minnesota Fun!

2011-05-15T18:25:00.002-05:00

I just got back from a trip to Minnesota. It's so much fun to be around family and friends -- I had a blast.

My first night back, my good friend Beth got married. It was such a wonderful night. So happy for Beth and Bob!

On Thursday night, I attended the launch party for By Elizabeth Dehn with my friend Nicolle. We had fun getting pampered (I tried eyebrow threading - so great!), meeting Elizabeth and learning more about her skincare line.

On Friday, I went to the hospital to meet my friend Brittany and her day-old baby, Alexis. Congratulations, Brittany, Matt and Madeline!

On Saturday, my mom and I went to my friend Amy's bridal shower. Amy and I have been friends for about 21 years... I am so excited for her upcoming wedding. I remember having fake weddings when we were younger -- she made a prediction when she was young of what she'd wear on her wedding day and she's wearing what she always imagined she'd wear.

I spent lots of time hanging out with my family and friends and even puppysat to decide if I want to get a puppy (a younger sibling of our family dog, Coco).

Ten on Tuesday

2011-05-03T08:00:00.002-05:00

My friend Ashley recently introduced me to Ten on Tuesday - a weekly series of "get-to-know-you" questions. So, I'm giving it a shot this week! Here goes:

What is the weather like in your city today? Well, the sun is just coming up, so it's a bit breezy right now, but the forecast is calling for sunshine and 92* temps. I'd ask you if you're jealous, but I sit in an office all day so I don't get to enjoy it either :)
Do you like the zoo? I love the zoo! Aside from seeing Dave Koz every summer at the Minnesota Zoo (which I, sadly, have to miss this year), my zoo highlights include seeing two tortoises humping while at the Phoenix Zoo with my mom in high school (so funny), and sleeping by the dolphins with my Girl Scout troop in elementary school. I've taken kids I babysit there and gone there on many school field trips. The zoo is great!
Do you eat coconut? That'd be a negative. The taste is too strong for me. I recently bought coconut milk ice cream thinking it'd be just as good as dairy ice cream and I was wrong. If you like coconut, I've got some coconut ice cream in my freezer for you.
Have you ever hammered a nail? Are you good at it? Oh, yeah. On both accounts. I just wish I had my own home so that I could hammer nails more frequently - both in the decorating sense and the DIY sense.
Does your family have a vacation destination that you visit often? If we ever go somewhere as a family, it's to Phoenix to visit my sister.
How many pillows do you sleep with? Just one.
What's the first thing you do when you wake up? Make my bed. I've had a few mornings recently where I contemplate not making it because it's one less thing to do in the morning and then get stressed out at the thought of not making it.
Will you send your kids to summer camp? For sure. I was not a fan of overnight summer camp, but I will certainly give my kids the opportunity to go. I was more of a day camp kinda kid. My best childhood friend taught me how to tie my shoes on the beach one summer at Camp Christmas Tree. I remember singing "Miss Mary Mack," "Miss Suzie had a steamboat" and "I had a little brother, his name was Tiny Tim, I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim..." My favorite was Obo Shenaughten Taughten (did you know there are tons of different versions? Clearly Minneapolis knows the cool words. Stella Ella Ola? So lame.).
What do you put in your baked potatoes? Butter.
Did you take swimming lessons as a kid? Yeah! I can't remember if I was any good or not, but it doesn't stand out as something I excelled at. Even now, despite being able to swim, I'm more of a treading water or stand in the shallow end kind of person.

Friday Favorites

2011-04-29T00:00:00.004-05:00

I am seriously obsessed with braids. I've always loved them. I remember when I was young and my Tia would french braid my hair and then eventually taught me how to do it myself (Thanks, Tia!). Right now, I'm trying to get the whole fishtail braid creation figured out - practice makes perfect, right? :)

images: 1, 2

Things I do regularly to relieve stress

2011-04-28T00:00:00.001-05:00

I get stressed easily. So, I have to be conscious of when I'm stressed for no good reason. Here are a few things I do on a regular basis to eliminate minor stress points from my life and to help me relax:

Make my bed.
Get rid of clutter (clothes, counter tops, etc)
Take a lunch break -- give your mind an hour break
Go for a walk outside
Wake up a half hour early. This keeps me from starting my day feeling rushed.
Get ready for bed at least an hour before bed (when possible). This helps me make sure I go to bed on time and feel calm when I go to bed so that I can fall asleep quicker.
Listen to music (Dave Koz and Michael Buble are my favorite when I'm trying to relax)
Remind myself I'm not superwoman. Some things will have to wait until tomorrow, other things I won't be able to do at all. Knowing what I can manage, realistically, makes a difference.
Say no. I'm a "yes" person when it comes to making commitments and even though saying no is hard sometimes, I instantly feel better when I say no to something I know I can't do to the best of my ability.
Don't get caught up in other people's drama.
Prep the night before. This includes setting out tomorrow's outfit and figuring out what I'll eat for lunch the next day. It means less to do in the morning and my mind is usually clearer at night, so I'm less likely to forget something.
Read
Stretch
Have a good conversation with a friend

Striving to be content

2011-04-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

I have mixed feelings about what it means to be content with life.

From one perspective, I think negatively toward being content because it reads as stagnant to me. I think, shouldn’t we always be moving forward? Shouldn’t we always strive to be greater, to do better? This is the side of me that expressed the need to hand out fliers to promote my babysitting services when I was 11… this is the side of me that gave me the drive to finish college early and embrace moving half-way across the country alone. It’s because of this side of me that I navigate to the Self Help section every time I go into a bookstore.

Other times, I think being content with life is a goal to achieve. I wonder, if we aren’t content with life, how can we truly be happy? I often forget that happy, satisfied and content are synonyms. It reminds me of the word “settle” – culturally, it has a negative connotation to it, but really, it’s a constructive word that is often overlooked. It’s overlooked because more people seem to focus the world “settle” from a perspective such my first view of the word content above. We live in a world that is constantly moving… a world that encourages innovation… a world that focuses on the negative. But, can't we focus on the positive and still move forward?

I suppose being content with life includes a mixture of both perspectives. Being content with what we have been blessed with in life to ensure we remain grateful and humble, yet not getting so comfortable with where we’re at that we never seek to improve ourselves or the world we live in.

So, while there are many things in life that I would love to have that I don’t, or would love to experience that I haven't, I’m choosing to focus on the positive. I’m choosing to be thrilled with where I am right now and refrain from worrying so much about tomorrow that I forget about today, all the while trying to make choices on a daily basis that will improve who I am and the world I live in. I'm going to continue to dream and follow my dreams but remind myself that where I'm at is not a bad place to be (unless, of course, it is).

It's the little things that count... like having Caribou at the airport. Mmm.

To make life all the more exciting, I continue to check items off my 101 in 1,001 list. There are a number of items currently in progress (the most surreal at the moment may very well be #14… a dream come true) and I’m so proud of myself for the accomplishments I’m making.

Quote of the Day

2011-04-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

The List

2011-03-21T02:00:00.065-05:00

I assume, at one point or another, every girl (and maybe even the guys out there) have had some sort of mental list of qualities we would like our significant other to possess. I also assume that many of these lists are fairly unreasonable and probably center on qualities that likely don't matter much in the grand scheme of things.

Some girls always date the same type of guys... I don't have a 'type.' For me, every guy I've dated (I say that like there's a lot of them, lets get serious - I can count them on one hand.) has been completely different than any other guy I've dated - both in looks and personality. The one thing they have in common? They almost always let me down. I admit I have high expectations of every relationship I'm in - both platonic and romantic - and these expectations tend to set me up for failure. Both "Unhooked Generation" and "Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough" discuss the need to drop 'The List' and get more realistic about relationships. After reading "Marry Him," I promised to get vulnerable and talk about my journey toward #30 on my 101 in 1,001, so here goes another long post.

I never really thought I had a list. I really don't care if you like football, have tattoos, work in construction or have all brothers. I don't care if your eyes are green or blue, or if your hair is curly or straight. Yet as I read these books and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I certainly do have an idea of some characteristics I'd like. The "would be nice" characteristics of this mental list of mine are:

At least 5' 7" or taller
Brown hair
College graduate
Athletic
Physically fit
Nice teeth
Older than me (max. age 28)
Likes hockey
Financially stable
Has a good job
Not a big alcohol drinker
Has a full head of hair
Not a slob
Ambitious
Likes jazz music
Likes to travel
Fights clean
Funny
Accepts me at my worst
Humble
Supportive of me
Shared values
Handy around the house
Can cook
Likes my friends (and I like his)
Team player

When you put your mind to figure out all the things you tell yourself you'd like, you can certainly come up with a list -- whether you thought you had one or not. See above -- I'm living proof... and I know I'm not alone in this! Now, when I come across a guy I'm interested in, I don't mentally pull up this list and assess them against it, but I admit that certain things on the list cross my mind. While I would never say: "I refuse to date him because he's 5' 6"," it doesn't mean I might not secretly wish he were taller.

Well, Lori Gottlieb ("Marry Him...") learned that having a list is destructive because no one will ever be able to meet the expectations of it. Her dating coach encouraged her to assess her list and come up with three "must haves." This new list of three needs serves as her guide through dating -- if someone doesn't meet any of the three, they are automatically ruled out as a potential significant other and vice versa... if someone meets all three, they should be given the benefit of the doubt and get a shot at a first date (hey, s/he may prove you wrong and be much greater than what is on the surface). Gottlieb's dating coach reminded her that if she wants to get married, she needs to be looking for the best life partner... not the best arm candy. Gottlieb stresses that the word "settling" and term "good enough" are misunderstood. She doesn't suggest that women (or men) marry just to marry -- she simply recommends that we stop being so judgmental. Over time, someone you never would have pictured yourself with could turn out to be "The One" for you -- maybe they are far from perfect, but for you, they are what you need and ultimately, want. They are good enough because they are right for you and you don't need or want someone else despite this person's flaws. You don't need perfect -- Perfect does not exist.

So, after much reflection, I've narrowed down my "list" and come up with my three must-haves:

Book Review and some vulnerability

2011-03-11T00:00:00.004-06:00

Disclaimer: long post alert :)

Last year, my friend Nicolle gave me "Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough," by Lori Gottlieb. As someone who is hesitant about marriage in the first place, I automatically judged this book by it's title and put it at the bottom of my stack of books. I'm a strong person and don't need some lady trying to tell me I need a man to be fulfilled, I thought. Yet, when I was packing for California, something inside me urged me to pack this book. So, I did. Now, seven months later, I finally read it. And let me tell you... this book put me in my place.

Romantic relationships are difficult for me. Actually, that might be an understatement. It's just dangerous territory. I've faced heartbreak and been hurt badly in the past... it has jaded me and made me very picky. I'm a "nit-picker"... I sabotage the good things that come my way because I'm afraid of getting hurt. Vulnerability is a requirement of being in a lasting relationship and I just haven't been capable of that because I have a really hard time trusting people. I've been deceived in the past, and I fear being betrayed again. I've lived by the quote, "sometimes you have to build walls not to keep everyone out, but to see who cares enough to break them down."

With this mindset, I've built myself to be the "strong" girl. The girl who focuses on school, on work, and on taking care of everybody else. I'm the planner, the driven and ambitious girl. I'm the one most likely to get married last... by my own admission. I always say "there is plenty of time," and "I'm still young - what's the rush?" Sometimes I even wonder if I will ever get married. Not because I feel like I'm not good enough, but because I'm not sure I can do the institution of marriage justice.

Gottlieb presents a convincing case of what my life is going to look like if I don't change my mindset. At 41, Gottlieb is a single mom who for years tossed relationships aside in an effort to find The One, only to realize that her approach was all wrong.

Through mindful research and stories of both her own experiences and those of others she has encountered in life, Gottlieb shows how culture has shifted the view of what makes a successful relationship and what it takes to stay in that relationship. Gottlieb details the fascination with "butterflies" and the need to feel constant passion in order to determine if someone is The One. Alternatively, she derails the idea of The One, saying that multiple people throughout our lives can be perfect for us and it's up to us to make the choice about how we approach someone, how we feel about someone, and how we choose to manage the relationship. She encourages people look for what makes a good partner, rather than searching for "the spark" because the spark fades and ultimately, it's most important that we find someone who will be our partner - someone who will go through the trenches of life with us and have our back every day. She admits that this mindset sounds unromantic, but her research has shown that approaching relationships in this manner will ultimately lead to a more fulfilling romance - one that shows itself in daily life in meaningful ways, rather than big sweeping gestures that really don't mean all that much over time.

I appreciated this aspect of the book from the beginning, mainly for the reason that I pride myself on being "realistic" and actually have very similar views from her research of what a relationship and marriage should look like. Gottlieb wasn't always so aware, though. Her reason for writing the book was because she started out very much like me: picky. She had a laundry list of things she wanted out of The One. Throughout her time researching for this book, she had sessions with a dating coach, spent countless hours on online dating sites, and had many people tell her that her expectations were too high. When her dating coach told her that her criteria limited her to about 2% of the local population of men, and that a portion of those men wouldn't even be interested in her, she started to face reality.

So am I. Now, I wouldn't say that I have a laundry list of "must haves," but when I date someone, I ultimately find things that bother me or that I wish were different. One guy I used to have feelings for always dressed in athletic gear -- my irrational side thought "when we're adults and I bring him to a work Christmas party, will he even be able to look presentable?" For this same guy, I said to my friends, "he's really nice, but he doesn't challenge me. I just don't feel 'it'." What I really should have been asking myself is if we had the same goals in life. One of Gottlieb's assignments from her dating coach was to narrow her list down to the three most important "must haves." I thought this was a great exercise!

I am going to start blogging about my efforts to fix my commitment issues and work toward making myself available to be in a relationship. I promised vulnerability at the beginning of 2011 and this will be me at my most vulnerable and will help to keep me accountable. I need to shift my mindset. I need to be more open to relationships and I need to break down the walls.

Friday Favorites

2011-02-18T00:00:00.003-06:00

I've been blaring music all day long, every day lately. I have some obsessions that I just can't get enough of. So, here are my top 10 songs of the week:

1. Cup of Sorrow by Amos Lee
2. A Little Bit Stronger by Leighton Meester
3. Something About You by Cary Brothers
4. At This Moment by Michael Buble
5. Running Around in My Dreams by Tyrone Wells
6. When You Got a Good Thing by Lady Antebellum
7. Kiss the Rain by Yiruma
8. You Got to Believe in Something by Jonathan Butler
9. Grenade by Bruno Mars
10. Inside of You (Acoustic) by The Maine

[image]

What story are you writing?

2011-02-17T00:00:00.007-06:00

If you read anything today, I think it should be Kyle's challenge to write an unforgettable life story.

I went to college with Kyle and he's currently serving on a mission program in Cape Town, South Africa. I read his post last Friday, on a day when I greatly needed the reminder (and later that day had an awesome opportunity to add to my life story, and failed - good lesson for next time), and I think it's a question to have in the forefront of my mind to always help me make the best decisions possible and take advantage of the endless opportunities I have been blessed with.

A great, great weekend!

2011-02-15T00:00:00.002-06:00

My friend Nicolle was in town from Minnesota this past weekend to celebrate her birthday. Aside from having to deal with my car breaking down on Friday night and having to get a rental, I had such a fun weekend! There are so many things I still haven't seen or done since I've been in California. I love having friends who want to explore the city with me! :)

{santa monica!}

{disneyland for Nicolle's birthday!}

{i'm a little tea cup...}

{i couldn't go to disney & not put on some minnie ears}

Quote of the Day

2011-02-14T00:00:00.001-06:00

[image]

The Monkey Cottage

2011-02-08T00:00:00.003-06:00

I'm obsessed with The Monkey Cottage in Sun Valley, Idaho. Rustic elegance is how I'll describe it. I adore the classic lines mixed with the comfortable, worn elements of the furniture and brick. It looks like such a perfect retreat.

How picturesque is this walkway?

I dream of having a porch like this someday. Sitting on a rocking chair or a swing, reading a book sounds perfect.

Perfect hang-out spot. Amazing views.

A reminder for the ladies

2011-02-01T00:00:00.001-06:00

"If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.

If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.

Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.

Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.

Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be.

Slower is better.

Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.

Don't settle.

If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.

The only person you can control in a relationship is you.

If something bothers you, speak up.

You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within.

Don't ever make him feel he is more important than you are...

even if he has more education or a better job.

Do not make him into a quasi-God. He is a man - nothing more, nothing less.

Never let a man define who you are.

Never borrow someone else's man. If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.

A man will only treat you the way you allow him to treat you. All men are not dogs.

You should not be the one doing all the bending... compromise is a two way street.

You need time to heal between relationships... there is nothing cute about baggage...

Deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.

You should never look for someone to complete you.

A relationship consists of two whole individuals...

look for something complimentary, not supplementary.

Dating is fun... even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right."

Source: unknown, provided by Stefani.

Happiness

2011-01-28T00:00:00.009-06:00

I'm loving this happiness interview between Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project) and Lori Deschene (Tiny Budda). Lori has some great insight about attaining happiness and is able to articulate her thought process and experiences really well. Tiny Budda will definitely be added to my Google Reader!

Happy Friday! Can you believe it's already the last weekend in January?!

Glee's Celebrity Obsession

2011-01-25T06:15:00.001-06:00

Check out my guest post about Glee's celebrity obsession on tkTwin Cities today, friends!

Happy Tuesday! :)

21 & 99

2011-01-15T16:21:00.000-06:00

I met Lo Bosworth today when I went to her book signing for her new read, The Lo Down. Two more items checked off my 101 in 1,001! Barnes & Noble told us she was feeling under the weather, but she still stuck it out and put a smile on her face to meet everyone who came out to see her. Lo is really nice and super down to earth... it was a lot of fun to meet her! Her parents were there and her dad had this really proud look on his face as he watched her interact with people and sign books. You could see in his eyes how great a moment it was for him. It was really sweet.

An anniversary and an update.

2011-01-01T00:00:00.023-06:00

It has been a year since I started this blog. Obviously, my dedication to the blog itself has worn thin in the recent months. Whoops. I guess, as is the "difficulty" of blogging, it became a struggle to find things to say. I'm sure there are plenty of things I could have said -- some that would greatly bore anyone who stumbled across this web address, some that would offend, and some that would greatly reveal my inner thoughts and feelings to a point I'm not sure I'm comfortable with yet.

As we roll into 2011, I'm not going to force myself to be diligent about blogging. I figure that way I'll only blog about the things I find worthy of blogging about (You and I are sure to disagree about the definition of "worthy."), instead of just blogging to fill space. The intention of this blog was to help find myself (among other things), and while "finding oneself" is a daily process, the revelations of such a process aren't as frequent (at least not for me). I'll try to bare my soul more often... Baring it to the world wide web is slightly frightening, but an added goal for 2011 is to become more comfrotable with vulnerability.

I gave updates on my 101 in 1,001 progress at the three and six month markers... here's a recap now that I'm at the year mark. Very little has been accomplished in the past six months. One and a half years to go -- lots to do still.

Completed (In addition to Update #1 and Update #2)

Acquire a taste for wine. I would say I've acquired a taste for white wine, but I don't love it. I'm not a big alcohol drinker (really, not much of a drinker at all - maybe a few sips every few months). So, while I can now somewhat stomach the taste of Chardonnay, water is still my main beverage of choice.
Hire a stylist to teach me how to dress well for my body type. Stacey, the mastermind behind CherryChic Beauty & Fashion, is someone I know well and trust. Shortly after moving to Cali, we connected and she helped pick out some fall/winter clothes for me, adding suggestions for my body type and noting why certain selections are (or aren't) suitable for me. Loved it and totally recommend it.
Stop receiving at least one of my allergy shots. I actually stopped receving all of my allergy shots in December. Due to an unfortunate mishap with my interim clinic in Cali mishandling my serum, I had to choose between stopping & starting over from the beginning.

In Progress

Live in California for at least 6 months. I've been living in Cali since September and love it. It isn't a long term residence; however, my time here has been critical to the journey of finding myself and going out of my comfort zone.
Pay off my school loans. Does this one ever end? :)
Read 101 books. This is slowly progressing. Usually, I read at least one book per week. But in the past months, I've taken a hiatus for no reason. Time to get back to it!
Take nature pictures and have them professionally printed. This is on-going. Living in California, I have a lot of options for great photos. I've taken some and need to get them printed.

Love is Louder

2010-12-01T19:28:00.003-06:00

Love is Louder. It's a powerful statement. After the spike in suicides in September, actress Brittany Snow partnered with MTV and The Jed Foundation to create Love is Louder, a movement pushing to send the message that love is more powerful than hate, bullying, self criticism, etc.

The 7 Days of Love is Louder, a December "spread the word" campaign, launched today. Take time to tell people that Love is Louder and make an extra effort to show kindness to everyone around you.

Check out the 7 Days of Love is Louder schedule and join in!

Day 1 - Wed 12/1 - AMPLIFY: Help grow the movement by writing #loveislouder on your hand to spread the word and inviting your friends and family members to follow Love is Louder on Facebook and/or Twitter so they can be part of the 7 days of #loveislouder. Upload or tweet out a pic of your "hand art" or post/tweet how you've spread the word.

(I wrote Love is Louder on my wrist because the pen would wash off with handwashing)

Day 2 - Thurs 12/2 - REACH OUT: Give someone who needs it a compliment today or reach out to someone you haven't spoken to before. Your positive words and actions can make a huge difference, especially to someone having a difficult time.

Day 3 - Fri 12/3 - APPRECIATE: Make a list of what you are grateful for. Focusing on the positive things in our life makes us healthier and happier. It also makes us more resilient when negative voices try to pull us down. Post your grateful list on Facebook or tweet it out.

Day 4 - Sat 12/4 - GIVE: Make a donation to a charity or commit your time to volunteer with a cause you care about. If you choose to, you can make a donation to The Jed Foundation and the #loveislouder campaign by texting LOUDER to 20222.

Day 5 - Sun 12/5 - LOVE: We have to give ourselves love by taking care of ourselves and focusing on the positive. Today, make a resolution for the coming year on how you will make love louder in your own life. Examples are: "I'll remember that love is louder than my feelings of insecurity," or "I'm going to spend 10 minutes every day reflecting on the positive things in my life."

Day 6 - Mon 12/6 - SPEAK UP: Have you been worried about a friend but afraid to ask them how they are doing? Have you been struggling with something big or small that you've been reluctant to share? Today's the day to speak up and make an impact.

Day 7 - Tues 12/7 - CELEBRATE: Create Love is Louder artwork or incporate Love is Louder into your holiday decorations to send out a powerful message to anyone who is having a hard time. You can do this on your own or with a school, organization or group of friends. Ideas include: creating graffiti (the legal kind) by writing #loveislouder on sidewalks with chalk, your windows with soap or putting up posters around your community or campus; encouraging people in your school or organization to create and display Love is Louder artwork; or incorporate Love is Louder into your holiday decorations by making ornaments or signs. Get creative and make sure to upload pics to the Love is Louder FB page or tweet them out with the #loveislouder hashtag.

Back to the tundra!

2010-11-19T23:23:00.000-06:00

Today I finished my last full week of work until mid-January. It's officially time for the Holidays.

With my trip back to MN quickly approaching, I am finding myself very eager to see my friends and family and once again explore the city I lived in for 22 years. I'll be in town for a little over two weeks and am hoping to have a lot of fun while I'm there. Aside from celebrating Christmas, working and visiting (face to face! yah!) with my friends and family, I hope to do these things while I am home:

*Eat. A lot! Many of my favorite places don't exist, or aren't as common, in California. I'm excited for Caribou, Noodles, Leann Chin, Einstein Bros., Mandarin Yang, and the Original Pancake House (ok, they have OPH in CA, but all of the locations are over 20 minutes away and I just know they wont be the same so I don't even try).

*Hang out outside! I actually don't hate winter. Sure, the freezing cold temperatures are so terrible in the moment, driving after a new snowfall isn't fun in my little Jetta and the winter months can really drag on, but I actually find snow quite fun. I want to go skating, build a snow man, shovel (I'm going to regret saying that... Mom & Dad, pretend you didn't read that!) and go to the Hollidazzle.

*Go to movies! I'm a movie buff. Some people think spending $10-$15 to see a movie is a total waste of money. I don't. I would much rather spend money to see a movie than go out to dinner or buy new clothes. And thankfully, I've got a handful of friends in MN who love going to movies just as much as I do. So, I'll be taking full advantage of it!

Sweater Dress

2010-11-19T00:00:00.000-06:00

To me, sweater dresses have always seemed to look so hot and itchy... I was never a big fan. This year, for some reason, I really want to get one.

This first beauty is my favorite. Too bad it doesn't come in grey and costs way too much money :)

Love this dress from Victoria's Secret. Looks awfully short, but maybe on my 5 foot self, it'd be a bit longer!

Not finding much else out there that I love. Boo.

ADOGO Update!

2010-11-14T15:19:00.000-06:00

Hi friends! A while back, I mentioned that a new pet hotel was going to be opening in the Twin Cities metro area. Well, the time is quickly approaching... ADOGO Pet Hotel will be opening on December 17! Just in time for the Holidays!

Whether you don't want your pet trapped in the house alone all day, or you can't take them out of town with you for the Holidays... or you simply just want them to have a fun place to go to hang out with other pets all day, head on over to ADOGO! There is still has space for your pet for the Holidays, so act now and reserve a spot before ADOGO fills up! Really, if you're going to leave your pet in someone else's hands when you're not around, these are the best hands to leave them in.

Stacey (L) handing out some ADOGO frisbees to a couple gals!

ADOGO is located on the NE corner of Hwy 62 & Baker Road in Eden Prairie, MN. As they near completion of the building renovations, you soon wont be able to miss them. The building will soon look like this:

Check it out!

2010-11-11T00:00:00.009-06:00

My fabulous friend Nicolle is the uber-fab blogger behind the growing Unhooked & Unsettled Tuesday blog. She's great - in fact, I've mentioned her on here before! Anyway, I resonated with her blog post from the other day and wanted to share it as I'm sure we're not the only ones in the "single" bucket!

Nicolle always has great messages in her Tuesday blogs... they focus on relationships, both romantic and platonic (but, mainly, romantic), and often spark great conversations among our group of friends and her faithful readers. There are a lot of different opinions out there about relationships and most people have strong feelings about why they believe certain things, so the back-and-forth conversation that results from her posts are great! I recommend you start following her!

Healthy

2010-10-27T20:16:00.000-05:00

I spent 2 hours at the Doctor yesterday and 4 hours at the ER today due to some irregular breathing I've been experiencing for a little over a week now. After an "iffy" lab, I was poked and prodded all afternoon to rule out a possible Pulmonary Embolism or new heart problem. Thankfully, all additional tests were negative and I was discharged. Either I have some Costochondritis or am experiencing an anxiety spike.

I'm incredibly blessed knowing that I'll wake up tomorrow morning alive and in my own bed. While I wish I had been in Minnesota during everything to be able to have my parents around, it is comforting to know I handled it all on my own. I joked to my dad that the past 28 hours must be my initiation into adulthood.

When I got the call from the Doc this morning telling me to go to the ER right away, I called my Minnesota Doc (whose nurse so nicely reminded me that I'm alone, without my support system and that totally sucks -- she took the words right out of my mouth!) who agreed to go immediately. So, I called my parents, packed up my work and headed off. In the hustle of the morning and endless waiting of the afternoon, my mind flooded with "what if"'s. Was my office space clean? Was my work in order? Was my bathroom clean? Did I tell my parents and friends that I love them? Because, what if.

So, although I still don't have any firm answers, I'm thankful. Thankful to be home. To have my family and my friends. To continue having fun in Cali. To be alive and, for the most part, healthy. (Until I get the doc & hospital bills... I might have a heart attack when I open those envelopes. Stay tuned.)

:)

Another Update...

2010-10-16T22:37:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged in a while. To be honest, I feel like I don't really have much to say. At least, not anything that's of much interest to you.

My life in the past month and a half has been a whirlwind of change... a period of time I'm thoroughly enjoying. While it has been busy, I have yet to find myself feeling homesick. Sure, I miss the comforts of home and being around my family and close friends... but, I'm genuinely having a blast in California. I'm going out of my comfort zone, trying new things and meeting new people.

Here's a little recap of my life over the past month:

I drove into LA to the JW Marriott to attend an event with some of my co-workers. It was great to see some of the people I saw daily in Minneapolis and meet some of the people I work with daily but had never met. Passed USC on the way... hit very little traffic... made a wrong turn and found myself on a street where stores had metal bars on windows... paid $12 for parking... had a blast.

Took a weekend trip to visit my sister and my niece, Milly. Isn't she sweet? :)

My friend Alicia came to visit. We spent a day in Huntington Beach eating at Ruby's, walking around, laying in the sun and watching a small wedding on the beach 10-feet from where we sat. Great to have her in town!

Got a few more decorations for my room and organized a bit. Still have lots of decorating to do, but it's starting to come together!

Having a blast hanging with my roommate(s)!!

My best friend, Mackenzie, and our friend Brit came into town from Minnesota. One of the days they were here, we went to a pumpkin patch! Later that same afternoon, we drove to Temecula to spend the day at Danza del Sol winery. Mackenzie's boyfriend's dad owns Danza, so we got a tour and did wine tasting. We had a blast. The winery is gorgeous... if you're ever in Temecula, go there!

More to come! I promise to try work on the lame blogging I've had going on lately :)

Life in CA so far

2010-09-13T00:00:00.007-05:00

I'm getting all settled into my new apartment in Southern California. While the changes in living and work locations are an adjustment, i'm loving my time here so far. ((long post alert))

Who couldn't with this pool? :)

One of my first few days here, we went to Newport Beach. It was hazy and chilly so we only lasted at the beach for about an hour before packing up to browse the shops along the boardwalk. The shops weren't all that exciting, but it's a fun area -- very "chill." Later that night, we went to an authentic Mexican restraunt in the area and it was so good. I'll definitely be going back for more!

The next day, we went to Laguna Beach for a few hours. I forgot my swim suit at the apartment, so thankfully it was really hazy when we got to the beach. Hazy enough that you couldn't see any water. So, again, we walked the shops. I've gone through the shops in Laguna a couple times before moving here, so I was excited for the shops. I have a feeling I'll spend quite a bit of time/money there. Especially since it is so close to my aunt & uncle!

The rest of the moments during my first few days here were spent unpacking, cleaning, organizing and shopping. The apartment is still a work in progress as we decorate, but here is our kitchen at the beginning.

I'm expecting to feel homesick as the days go on, but thankfully have visits from friends lined up through mid-October and am starting to meet people through my fab roommate. The office gets lonely at times (the rest of my team sits in Minneapolis), but I expect to eventually find my niche there as well. Overall, I'm optimistic that this is going to be a great experience.

I've had a few "firsts" since I've been here:

1. Went to Seal Beach -- love this quaint little town on the beach.
2. Tried hummus. Not as terrible as I thought it'd be, but not something I'll eat on a regular basis.
3. Spent an inordinate amount of money.
4. Got my brakes fixed. Boooooo.
5. Watched Jersey Shore. Funny, but lame.
6. Ate at Pinkberry. Unfortuntately, it didn't live up to the expectations.
7. Flew with a layover.

More firsts to come. More great experiences to come. More tears to come. I miss my friends and family in Minneapolis, but I'm loving the experiences I'm getting out West.

{images: © all rights reserved - not for use without written permission - thanks!}

See Ya Later, Minnesota!

2010-09-01T06:14:00.000-05:00

Today is the day. I'm headed off to California today. It's amazing how quickly time flew by -- I can't believe it is already September! There are SO many things I'm going to miss about Minnesota, but here are just a few (In no particular order):

My Family

My Dearest Friends

My Puppy

Caribou Coffee

The Lake

Quote of the Day

2010-08-20T00:00:00.003-05:00

[Image: Perfect Sentiment]

Engagement

2010-08-16T00:00:00.036-05:00

A while back, my friend Alicia got engaged. We went to college together and now work together, so it's exciting to see her take this next step in life. We chat often about how planning is going and I have to say, this must have been a lucky weekend because Alicia found her wedding dress and we finally got around to snapping some engagement pictures! We had a blast! Alicia and her fiance, Derek, love the Twins so it seemed fitting to spend most of our time at their local baseball field.

Alicia and Derek, I'm so happy for you guys and I can't wait to come back to Minnesota for your wedding in April!

Alicia and I have a somewhat unhealthy addiction to ice cream, so we HAD to stop at a little joint in the area. It was quite an adventure... an exuberant teenage boy behind the counter slightly creeping us out, a teeth flossing extravaganza, and a very friendly, leotard-clad little girl playing with her barbies in the sand in the parking lot kept us chuckling.

Changes

2010-08-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

On September 1, I will be moving to Southern California.

This move is going to push me far out of my comfort zone and is going to be a really great experience. I'll have my ups and downs... I'll no doubt get homesick, feel like the new kid at work again even though I'm not changing jobs, miss my friends and family like crazy, and crave Minnesota's amazing fall and winter months. Yet, I'll be at the beach and/or pool in November while those back home are in jackets. I'll be experiencing a different culture and will interact with a diverse group of people.

My relocation will likely drive home the reality that I take many of my relationships for granted. I'll need to work really hard at maintaining my friendships back home... and while I'll likely feel lonely and left out, I have to remember that I made the decision to leave and recognize that with that comes changes to relationships. Some changes will be good, while others may be difficult. I'm going to take it as it comes and truly hope that my friendships only get stronger.

I'm excited for what the changes will bring and for how I will be shaped in the process. I'll likely learn a lot about myself and about life, which I'm really excited about.

For now, I'm forcing myself to spend the month of August with the lovely people around me. Blogging will be sporadic until I'm settled in my new place.

ADOGO Pet Hotel

2010-08-04T06:09:00.004-05:00

If you're like my family, it's no fun to play with your pets when you wake up in the morning only to have to put them in their kennel and head off to work for the day. I wish I could play with my puppy all day long.

Now there's a solution! (Well, for the Twin Cities metro, that is.) Enter: ADOGO Pet Hotel, a boutique hotel for dogs. The perfect place to drop your dog off in the morning for all-day care and play, and/or for overnights and extended stays! Opening its doors on November 1, 2010, ADOGO Pet Hotel will be affordable, offer upscale boutique products and will surely deliver the best quality service everyone wants for their pets.

Don't wait! Check out ADOGO Pet Hotel right now!

The September Issue

2010-08-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend, I watched The September Issue. As I watched the documentary, I found myself becoming a huge Grace Coddington fan.

Why? She's friendly. She's ambitious. She's emotional. She's realistic. She's funny. She's unconventional. She's charming. She's innovative. She's passionate. She's honest. Overall, she's just great at what she does.

If you haven't watched The September Issue, check it out! While not entirely exciting, it gives an interesting glimpse into life at Vogue!

[Images: Vogue]

Gotta Get It

2010-07-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

I went to Anthropologie last week to buy these hand towels for my new apartment:

On my way to the back of the store, I stopped to look at a display bed and fell in love with this quilt. It is suuuper soft.

I want it. I'm thinking I need to find one similar to it (I can't justify this exact one due to the steep price tag). I don't do duvets, so it needs to be a comforter/quilt. If you come across anything, I'm dying to know!

[Images: Anthropologie]

Birthday Girls

2010-07-26T00:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Happy birthday to one of my best friend, Allison, and her twin sister/my future roommate, Katie!! I love you both so so much and hope your day is marvelous, despite not being able to spend it together.

Pelican Hill

2010-07-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

I want to spend a day at the Pelican Hill pool. Gorgeous!

[Image: Architectural Digest]

Lovin Lamu

2010-07-22T00:00:00.003-05:00

I'm thinking a trip to Lamu Island with some girlfriends sounds like a perfect getaway.

[Image: Architectural Digest]

Mmmm Summer Treat

2010-07-16T00:00:00.001-05:00

I am getting ice cream today and am going to a fantastic concert tonight (Dave Koz - my fave). I'm hoping that between the two, it is a splendid day. Who can go wrong with ice cream and good music? :)

Happy Friday!

P.S. As a side note -- I've kind of got some stuff going on right now that has left me feeling conflicted, confused, frustrated and sad. If you're the praying type, I'd love some prayer for guidance, patience and understanding. Thanks!

[Image: Midwest Living]

Picky Eater's Anonymous

2010-07-15T00:00:00.026-05:00

Cheese pizza
Noodles with butter. Or marinara. Zero tomato chunks allowed.
Plain bagel. Plain cream cheese.
French fries. No ketchup.
Cooked broccoli
Cooked carrots
Pears. Minus the skin.
Pineapple
Apples. Minus the skin.
Turkey and cheese sandwich. White or 100% Whole Wheat bread. No condiments.
Plain cheeseburger. American/cheddar cheese. No lettuce, tomato, ketchup, etc. No sesame seeds.
Mac and cheese
Grilled cheese w/ American or Cheddar cheese. White or 100% Whole Wheat bread.
Chocolate chip cookies. No nuts.
Corn. Cut off the cob.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Creamy PB. No strawberry chunks. White or 100% Whole Wheat bread.
Beef-only hot dog and bun. No ketchup. No mustard. No relish. No sauerkraut. No pork.
Chicken fingers. No dipping sauce.
Water. No lemon.
Diet, caffeine free Coke.
Vanilla ice cream.
Kids strawberry yogurt. No chunks of anything.

Hello, my name is Kelly and I'm a picky eater. Actually, that might be an understatement. It looks like a long list to me, but the contents are awfully bland to most people and don't include many common options. I used to gag every time I attempted to eat a banana. I've since learned that if I want to eat a banana, it has to be cut into small pieces and eaten slowly. I get really stressed out at the thought of trying a new restaurant, for fear I won't be able to find anything that fits into my food palette. I've been ridiculed for my eating habits for a significant portion of my life. It isn't that I don't want to branch out, I just can't in most instances.

The Wall Street Journal recently featured an article about adult picky eaters. For once, I felt like I wasn't alone. There are other people out there like me. Other people who are pickier than I am. Other people who smell a food and think "Wow, that smells awesome," only to try it and compulsively gag. In fact, there's even a support group for picky eaters with nearly 1,400 active members.

I was really intrigued by the article and the potential medical reasoning's behind it. I've been told by Doctor's that I have obsessive compulsive tendencies (I have a bedtime routine that, if deviated from, impacts my ability to fall asleep, and I have a morning routine that, if deviated from, causes me to feel frazzled for the remainder of the day.). I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and Generalized Anxiety in 2005. To think that these "disorders" may somehow impact my eating and 'selective eating' might be added to the DSM is interesting and scary at the same time. I never really considered my eating habits a medical problem -- always believing that I "simply" experienced adverse reactions to foods with inconsistent textures or smells. This article informed me that my issues with food could become a type of eating disorder in 2013.

It's something I'd love to break away from, but genuinely don't see a change on the horizon. While it is an interesting article, and one I am glad I came across, I am left feeling conflicted. It ties back to my Success vs. Failure thoughts -- if I can't break free, am I a failure? Are you a picky eater like I am? Did you used to be a picky eater and somehow managed to break free of your selective habits?

[Image: CartoonStock]

Success vs. Failure

2010-07-14T00:00:00.002-05:00

I was reading an interesting article about child birth yesterday (Random? Maybe!). The author is a woman who had a traumatizing first child birth experience. Now pregnant with her second, she is determined to have a different experience. The article tries to discern whether or not women can control labor and how our personalities can define the "success" (e.g. using a doula and giving birth at home, or delivering naturally) or "failure" (having a C-section, or for some, giving birth in a hospital) of child birth. While reading, I found myself stuck on a sentence toward the end of the article:

"Perhaps part of the problem is that our generation of women is so ambitious, so driven, that we don't know how to do anything without quantifying it as a success or a failure."

While I can't speak to the correlation between this statement and child birth, I can say that outside the context of this article, I find the statement to be accurate. Very rarely do I say, "No matter what happens, it's going to be fine." I'm a perfectionist. A type-A. A do-er. A gal who is afraid of (dare I say it) failure. This article prompts me to question: What is the real definition of success? Failure? It's likely different for each person, as we all have different opinions of what is sufficient/acceptable and what is not. How do we change the mindset that we can do something and not have to deem our actions as successful or unsucessful. We don't have to categorize ourselves as failures if one thing goes out of line. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer or a suggestion for how to change. This whole thought process is a huge struggle for me.

I guess my only suggestion is to have a support system of people who remind you that in most instances, it really doesn't matter all that much (Note: In some instances, it may matter.). I might be stubborn and resistant to listen at first, but it's something I need to drill into my head. I can continue to be me (ambitious, driven, hard-working, organized) without having to quantify everything I do as a success or a failure.

I'm going to be beginning an adventure soon and have already wondered, "What if I fail? What if I can't do it?" The simple sentence above, placed in an article completely unrelated to my adventure, reminded me that I need to readjust my mindset. It's going to be OK. An experience might be difficult, but difficulty doesn't equal failure... just as ease doesn't equal success.

[Image: PostSecret]

Lake Day!

2010-07-12T06:40:00.005-05:00

I spent the day on the lake with my parents and pup yesterday. We had a blast! It got pretty cloudy at one point, and we got sprinkled on for a few minutes but the sun came back out shortly! All in all, great weekend!

Coco had to escape the heat for a little while.

Since she was hot, I put her in the lake! She is a really good swimmer, but she does not enjoy it. She wasn't too pleased with me, but hey -- she cooled off!

Goodreads

2010-07-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

I'm a fan of Goodreads. My sister introduced me to it earlier this summer, and I've found it to be a great resource! It is a great place to keep track of the books I've read and want to read, as well as gain recommendations and reviews from other people on the site.

I used to keep all the books I want to read on my Barnes & Noble wish list. Now, I have the opportunity to store everything in one place, rate books, write reviews, etc.

When you log in, the home screen greets you. This screen provides you with updates from your friends, and snipits from your profile (i.e. a reminder of what you're currently reading... in case you forgot...).

You can click my books to review books you've read, books you're currently reading, or books you'd like to read. You can also create your own shelves. I created a on-hold shelf for those books I started but just haven't been able to finish. You have quick access to ratings and reviews of the books, descriptions, ISBNs, publishing data, etc.

You can click on my profile to view your profile as your friends, or other Goodreads users, do.

Intrigued? Sign up for Goodreads! It's free and is a great resource! Friend me to get my book updates!

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

Have a fantastic fourth of July!

101 in 1,001 Update #2

2010-07-01T00:00:00.094-05:00

Well, I’ve hit month 6 of blogging. Since the commencement of Life: Ambitious, I have:
• Posted 109 times.
• Knocked off 20 items on my 101 in 1,001 list
• Started 10 additional items on my 101 in 1,001 list
• Learned more about myself – what I enjoy, what I dislike, what I need to improve, etc.

This blog was created as a means of figuring out what makes me happy and going after those things. Of going outside my comfort zone, eliminating incessant worry and anxiousness over things that really don’t have enough significance and figuring out who I really am.

In some ways, I’ve partially succeeded. In others, I’ve back-tracked. The funny thing about figuring out who you are is that you learn so many things in the process that it makes you question some of the things you previously felt certain about. That’s kind of where I’m stuck right now.

I have made some additional progress on my 101 in 1,001 since my last update and hope to check many more things off in these next 6 months. Here’s a little progress report...

The items I’ve completed are:

Join an adult soccer league.
Spend an entire day at a spa with a friend.
No ice cream for a month. It's amazing that I made it the entire month of April without ice cream. I love ice cream!
Go a week without using my straightener. I liked ponytail's a lot during this week :)
Try a new food. I tried a pepper. It didn't taste how I expected it to, but I don't plan to eat them on a regular basis.
Spend an entire weekend without the internet. This was so amazing and I plan to do it on a more regular basis. It allowed me to focus on filling my time with meaningful things.
See Avatar in 3-D. LOVED this movie in 3-D.
Find a cute paid of heeled boots that fit. Walked into Martin + Osa to find a sole pair of boots. It was the last pair, was my size, and was over $150 off the original price. Sold!
Buy a big pair of prescription sunglasses.
Pay for the beverage or meal of someone in line behind me. A random act of kindness that left me feeling really good about helping someone else out.
Create a box filled with greeting cards for every occasion – use them.
Become an aunt. Ok, so this isn't technically true. It isn't a human child, but my sister & brother-in-law got a puppy! I'm keeping 101 unchecked on the list in hopes that a human child comes into the picture. Unlikely, but my fingers are always crossed.

Things currently in progress:

Pay off my school loans.
See a broadway musical. I have tickets to see Wicked in August!
Go to Costa Rica. My aunt and cousins are planning a family trip for Spring 2011.
Read 101 books in 1,001 days. I’ve currently read 12 since January 1.
Get a passport. As I stated in my first update, the picture is taken but I haven't submitted the paperwork yet. Debating whether or not to re-take my picture.
Stop coloring my hair. Still in the process of reverting back to my natural hair color.
Do pilates or yoga 2 days a week for 2 months. My workout schedule will help me check this off!
Lose 10 pounds. My company began participation in The Biggest Loser corporate challenge and the previously mentioned workout schedule will (hopefully) help me achieve this!
Live in California for at least 6 months. It's happening!
Do a good deed for someone without them knowing I did so. I've got an idea and need to make it happen. It will happen soon.

Work It!

2010-06-22T00:00:00.003-05:00

I'm five feet tall. I'm curvy. I've got a short torso. I've been a member of the "I Hate My Body Anonymous" group for many, many years. I've always struggled with maintaining a consistent workout routine because I get bored easily and I'm never motivated to start. I've always struggled with food because I'm an extremely picky eater. My weight is constantly fluctuating and some of the foods I eat make me feel bloated on a regular basis. For the past few weeks I've been working to create a better workout routine. My current routine is:

Sunday: n/a
Monday: Yoga/Pilates Fusion class (1 hour)

Tuesday: n/a

Wednesday: n/a

Thursday: Zumba class (1 hour)

Friday: Soccer every other week (90 minutes)

Saturday: Pilates (1 hour), Zumba (1 hour)

After reading about Jennifer Love Hewitt's struggle with weight and overall body image in this week's People Magazine, I felt inspired. She's short like I am, so I take notice of how she overhauls her body more than others because I can relate to her body type. She mentioned that the first step of changing her body was to stop caring so much about what other people thought and start making the changes for herself. Though I don't have the luxury of being able to hire a personal trainer for regular sessions, I can certainly learn from her routines. I'm thinking of changing up my routine to include the elliptical and weights:

Sunday: Elliptical (50 minutes), weights (20 minutes)
Monday: Yoga/Pilates Fusion class (1 hour), weights (20 minutes)

Tuesday: Elliptical (50 minutes), weights (20 minutes)

Wednesday: n/a

Thursday: Zumba class (1 hour), weights (20 minutes)

Friday: Soccer every other week (90 minutes)

Saturday: Pilates (1 hour), Zumba (1 hour)

I'm not sure if I'll be able to stick to it exactly, but I am going to try. I would love to lose 10 pounds by early fall. If I stick with the above plan, I will be able to check 2 items off my 101 in 1,001 (#25 & #54) and will hopefully, start to feel better about what I see when I look in the mirror. While I want to lose weight, I'm sticking to the following rules:

Deprive yourself of a food you want to eat and you'll over-eat it later. Eat in moderation and make up for the extra calories by adding to the workout plan.
Do it for me, not for anyone else.
Continue drinking milk, but limit cheese consumption
Toning and feeling better is just as good as losing weight. If I'm gaining confidence and liking what I'm seeing and how I'm feeling, the number on the scale is not as significant.
Take at least 1 day/week off to prevent burnout

[Image: People]

Clean Lines

2010-06-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

This Greenwich, Conn. house is quite massive, but I love the clean lines!

[Images: Architectural Digest]

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T00:00:00.002-05:00

I've got a goofy dad. Proof:

He lets me write "MAID" on his t-shirts with permanent marker and he stands tall when I comment on his gray hair. He lets me fish with him and let me be one of those "boomerang kids" who came to live at home again after college (maybe I'm the reason for the gray hair?). He doesn't fuss too long when I turn the channel from CNBC or FSN to watch a show of my choice, or when I eat the last scoop of ice cream.

He loves me anyway and I love him. Happy Father's Day, Papi!

Aunt Kelly?

2010-06-18T00:00:00.001-05:00

I think this is the closest I'm going to get to checking off #101, and it's quite a stretch... I'm an aunt! My lovely sister and brother-in-law are now the proud parents of this rockin' pup, Milly. I can't wait to meet her (Although, by the time that happens, she'll probably be as big as I am - eek!).

Random Acts of Kindness

2010-06-17T00:00:00.023-05:00

For the remainder of June, I’m committing to do good things for other people. I really need to work more on helping to lift others up than focusing so much on myself (though my own personal well being is extremely important and I firmly believe it is difficult for one to effectively help someone else if you can’t help yourself). It’s so much fun to see other people smile and/or brighten their day, even if just for a little while.

So, I am going to hop on the Random Acts of Kindness boat. I have one main thing planned that will allow me to check off #35 on my 101 in 1,001. I’m not going to tell you what it is though because I plan for it to be anonymous.

Some ideas for Random Acts of Kindness are: (Comment if you have additional ideas that you love!)

Send a hand-written "Thank You" note
Send a hand-written "Thinking of You" card
Pay for the meal or beverage of someone in line behind you (If you're in the Twin Cities, check out the KTIS Drive Through Difference)
Make baked goods
Make a bag lunch and bring it to someone who is homeless
Volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen
Offer to babysit for a parent who needs a day/night out
Deep clean your home for your parent(s)/spouse/roommate(s)/etc while they are gone
Clean out your closet and donate clothes you no longer wear
Send flowers
Say only positive things to (and about) others
Smile and say hi to people in passing - even strangers!
Compliment someone

Summer Nights

2010-06-15T21:52:00.001-05:00

I love summer nights around the neighborhood, especially since we've had rain on and off for nearly the past 15 days. Even though it rained today, the sun broke out this evening and allowed all of us in the neighborhood to gather and enjoy the brief opening of nice weather. I even took my camera out of hiding and snapped some pictures as we "chilled." Happy Summer to you!

Nook

2010-06-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

I envision myself sitting around this table with my college roommates eating a Saturday morning breakfast in our PJ's. Lots of hugs, laughter, food and good conversation. Gosh, I love nooks like this.

[Image: m. elle design]

Book Review

2010-06-09T00:00:00.004-05:00

If you can recall, I won Michele Keith's Designers Here and There on A Life's Design back in April. I love it! If you enjoy interior decorating and are looking for a new coffee table book, go to your local bookstore and pick up Michele's book.

Exquisite images and colorful words grace every page of Michele Keith’s book. She opens the doors to the homes of some of the most coveted decorators, providing readers with a glimpse of tasteful décor and personal design preferences of said artists.

From luxury to comfort, colorful to neutral, West Coast to East Coast, apartments to mansions and everything in between, Keith takes readers on a tour of nearly forty personal residences. The images, combined with a refreshing narrative, portray each designer’s distinct individuality and zest for life.

With subtle creative décor ideas and expert testimony about translating personality into a place to call home, Keith’s book is a must read. One need not be a professional in the interior design or architecture fields to enjoy this book. You will walk away feeling inspired to cultivate your own personal space, and educate yourself on the ins and outs of impeccable design.

[Images: Michele Keith]

Lady Love

2010-06-08T00:00:00.011-05:00

Last year, I read Finishing Touches by Hester Browne - a good, light read. It raised an important topic: etiquette. I have now recently started reading Classy, a book on how to be a lady, by Derek Blasberg. Neither of these books are over-the-top books suggesting one must become a socialite to be deemed important, a stick-thin model to be considered gorgeous or wealthy to be seen as stylish. They explain it's all in the way you dress, the way you act, and the overall way you carry yourself.

In the midst of a story about family, love, friendship and going after what you want, Finishing Touches takes place at a London finishing school and provides random tips on how to be ladylike (for example, how to eat sushi, the "must haves" of a proper handshake, and how to transform a LBD from a day in the office to an evening dinner party).

Derek Blasberg often rubs shoulders with very important people. Like many of us, he has seen a wide array of people in his twenty-some years of life. He began to classify girls and women into two categories: ladies and tramps. The ladies, he says, "were pleasant, well-groomed girls who knew to keep their phones off the dinner table and wear underwear when sporting a short skirt." On the other hand, the tramps "wore clothes two sizes too small, ate with their hands, and always smelled of cigarettes. And designer imposter perfume. And tequila. And worse." With the realization that the tramps far outnumbered the ladies, he set out to encourage women to become more ladylike.

Blasberg discusses personal appearance, general manners and etiquette, travel tips, relational advice and "must know" topics, including office behavior and politics.

I look back to my days growing up and often cringe at my personal appearance. The white eye-liner, butterfly clips, and skunk-like combination of high- and low-lights. My decisions to expose my bra-straps (so not ladylike!), midriff and underwear, thinking that maybe it would spark the attention of the cute guy behind me in algebra. Of flirting excessively and being obnoxious. So, you see, I experience a severe "My GOSH, I actually did that!?!" But, I'm sure many of you do, too. That's what the teen years have been about in the past - becoming individuals, making mistakes and learning from them. However, Browne and Blasberg have made strong points about reversing the trend. Thankfully, the trend started turning for me at the end of high school and into college - I dress far more modestly, rarely swear, rarely drink alcohol, keep in tune with current events, wear very natural-looking makeup and carry myself in a far more professional and appealing manner. However, I am not perfect and could still use some "finishing touches."

So, I vow to do more of the following:

Dress like I care. Don't go to the grocery store in sweats and uggs - throw on some nice jeans, a cardigan and flats instead.
Focus more on eye contact. I love to watch people's mouths because I think the way someone talks tells a story, and I sometimes forget about the story their eyes are telling. I need to focus more on improving eye contact
Maintenance! Wash my face every morning and every night, no matter how tired I am. Make a recurring eyebrow wax appointment - there is a difference between bushy and out-of-control brows. Pedicures! Hair color touch-ups. I don't have to look perfectly put together at every second of the day, but I need to look like I care about myself.
Stop biting my nails! Yuck, yuck, yuck.
Put on perfume before I dress. It will help to keep the scent subdued and wont ruin my clothes.
Be confident. I hear it time and time again that confidence is sexy. As of now, it is something I lack.
Learn to sew. I hate to sew because I once attempted the use of our sewing machine to re-attach a strap on a beloved tank top. I missed the fabric and got my finger. I should keep a small needle and thread kit with me and be able to hand-sew a button back on.
Send Thank-You notes. Always. And always hand-write them. Sure E-cards are tech-and eco-friendly, but they aren't sentimental. I much prefer a hand-written note to an E-card, email or wall-post and I'm sure others do, too. Stick to the traditional on this one.
Put the phone away. At the dinner table, and during conversations, ditch the cell phone. My cell phone is like a security blanket - what if my mom or co-worker needs to get a hold me? What if, what if, what if? I need to get better at putting my cell phone away and living in the moment. My dining companion deserves my attention more than my phone (with the exception of a few circumstances - i.e., if someone is in the hospital, etc.)
Stop yawning. I yawn a lot because I don't allow myself to get enough sleep at night. Go to bed earlier, and stop yawning during the day. It's rude to be in a meeting or in the middle of a conversation and start yawning.
Accept compliments graciously. When someone compliments me, I get embarrassed. Going forward, I'm going to work on smiling and saying "thank you!" with meaning.
Ditch the tabloids. I read People Mag, and sometimes browse Us Weekly. If I'm at the hair salon, I'll grab others. I've always been into celebrity gossip; but fail to remind myself that my "entertainment" is coming at the expense of another human being, and is often being told with false exaggerations and/or premature accusations. I would like to limit, or completely sever, my celebrity gossip magazine intake -- and when I do read them, take it with a grain of salt.

I would say that the majority of my friends are ladylike. However, I think Blasberg's book is a great read for all women, so I just might have to start giving it to friends/family for Birthdays and/or Christmas. I promise I am not gifting it as a means to tell you that you're trampy :)

Dream House

2010-06-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

I love many different styles of homes, but the one below is at the top of my list. I would seriously qualify this house as a dream house. I love the stone and wood combination. An added perk: It's on Lake Minnetonka. Amazing.

[Images: Tonka Times Magazine]

Happy Birthday!

2010-06-05T00:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday, Christy!!!

I hope you have a fantastic day!

I love you to the moon and back -- you are my favorite (albeit, only) sister :)

Zumba!

2010-06-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

I heard about Zumba a while back and have always wanted to give it a shot. I was a dancer for nearly 8 years and like aerobic exercise more than straight cardio (running, for instance!).

Thankfully, a new Yoga/Pilates/Dance studio - Yoga Bella - opened nearby and they were offering Zumba classes. On top of that, my company recently began participation in The Biggest Loser corporate challenge with other large companies in the Minneapolis area. So, it was perfect timing to try it out!

I went to my first Zumba class last night -- I will be sticking with that class for a long time. It was so much fun and it was a great workout! It coupled dance (latin, bellydance, hip hop, etc...), aerobics and cardio that worked every inch of my body. If you get the chance, you should check out a Zumba class near you! I promise you wont be disappointed (unless, of course you have two left feet... then it may take a class or two to get the hang of the foot work... but, I promise, it really isn't difficult so you'll catch on quick - don't give up!).

Shopping Hiatus: iTunes

2010-06-01T00:00:00.058-05:00

526*: Number of items I've "purchased" through iTunes
*Disclaimer: some of these were free downloads, so the number isn't really exact. The number purchased is probably closer to 480.

2,053: Number of items in my iTunes music library

I think I spend too much money on iTunes. Considering I've only been using iTunes for one year, 526 seems like a pretty large number. I love music, but when I see a number that big I can't help but wonder where else that money could be going.

For the month of June, I'm going to eliminate my iTunes expenses. You heard me: Zero purchases. I've removed my payment information from my account details to eliminate immediate impulse purchases. I'm also going to start utilizing the 'Wish List' feature before making any purchases in the future.

Thank you!!

2010-05-31T00:00:00.001-05:00

I think most of us probably know someone who is presently serving our country, or has previously done so. If you're like me, you know many. Every day, I'm amazed at their courage, bravery, loyalty, perseverance and willingness to be so selfless. As Memorial Day reminds us, we have lost many people who have valiantly served in the Military. Take a minute today to thank your soldiers and honor those whose lives have been lost.

O Magazine isn't just for your grandma!

2010-05-28T00:00:00.025-05:00

Many people love Oprah. I'd even go as far as saying quite a bit of people worship Oprah. Admittedly, I've never been one of those people. I didn't watch Oprah growing up and in the past few years, have only seen the show a handful of times. Aside from being in school during the show's airtime, I don't have any specific reason for not watching. Oprah is powerful. Inspiring. Worldly. Smart. I just never got into the Oprah pandemonium. I confess, though, that I love O - The Oprah Magazine.

The June issue of O has hit stands and as always, it delivered. It aligned well with the purpose of my blog: To embrace my dreams, go out of my comfort zone and live a full life. As Oprah says in this issue, "Stepping out and doing what you've always wanted to do is saying yes to life."

This issue offers some great wisdom and advice. You should probably go buy it.

"I don't want to get to the end of my life

and find that I've just lived the length of it.

I want to have lived the width of it as well."

-Diane Ackerman

...On Page 36, Donna Brizile, author, political commentator and former campaign strategist, advises readers of great life wisdom in her article, Smartest Advice I Ever Got.

Be the buffalo.
Organize the small stuff to make room for the big.
Go help someone.
Ask the turtle.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Take care of your body.

...Jane Lynch, Glee's narcissistic cheerleading coach, shares her Aha! Moment on Page 38. In the past, Lynch often blamed herself for the injustices other people faced... even if it had nothing to do with her (For example, You walk into a room to find your friend crying and automatically think, "Crap. Did I do something wrong?"). She finally got herself out of this rut and shares, "It's really hard to focus on what someone else needs when you're so focused on what their problem could mean about you."

...The issue advises readers how to effectively create a vision board. Believe it or not, the article advises you to stop thinking... to "let go mentally and emotionally," stating that when you do so, you may find something you never knew you loved.

...In his regular column, Dr. Phil helps readers with their relationship woes. He advises readers:

"Remember that it's not selfish to make time to heal and replenish yourself -

in fact, it's the responsible and absolute necessary thing for you to do."

"You can't take care of others until you take care of yourself,

so you need balance and joy in your life."

...We're reminded to spend money on experiences rather than material goods. Abraham Maslow's psychological research found that "once humans have satisfied the basic necessities, we seek to fulfill more complicated social needs, such as feeling connected to others." As this issue works to show, "adventure is life."

Oprah closes the issue saying, "The idea of doing something unexpected, something unpredictable - daring myself to tune into another way of seeing and feeling things - intrigues me." She goes on to say, "I know for sure that all experiences contribute to who we're meant to be."

May is my birthday month and I'm glad I read this issue of O because it's a great reminder not to let the years pass me by. I'm still young and have plenty of time to round out my life with experiences and love. Thanks to Oprah, I'll start my 23rd year of life vowing to say "yes" -- vowing to do the things I've always wanted to do.

Sundance

2010-05-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

My dad signed my mom up for the Sundance mailing list. He liked the clothes and jewelry and thought he'd send my mom a subtle hint.

While she has yet to take the bait, I am swooning over their home-goods. Love.

[Images: Sundance]

My vote goes to....

2010-05-26T00:00:00.001-05:00

Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze are both phenomenal. All of the top 20 contestants are phenomenal. Each day, they're overcoming odds they never thought they'd beat. They're showing the world how amazingly talented they are, and for these two, how grounded they are. They both seem like they would be great "Idols" and both have the chops to get the title. However, I do have a favorite. My vote goes to...

... Lee DeWyze!

[Image: CNN.com - The Marquee Blog]

Welcome!

2010-05-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

I am loving the simplicity of this entry-way. Delish.

[Image: ohdeedoh]

My Wish For You

2010-05-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

[Image: pennywishes]

Sunday Sabbatical? Not quite!

2010-05-23T23:08:00.002-05:00

Today was jam-packed. One of these days, I'll force myself to actually deal with Sundays as they are supposed to be: Sabbath. Anyone have any tips for converting oneself from a catch-up-on-life-and-don't-relax Sunday person to a relax-rest-reflect Sunday person? I have a feeling it's much easier said than done :)

This morning, I attended a baking seminar at Kitchen Window with a good friend of mine who has dreams of being a chef. What a great facility! We didn't actually get any hands-on experience, but for this particular class, it made sense. We learned the basics of making caramels, hard candies, chocolate ganache, truffles and directions for tempering chocolate. So good!

This afternoon, we had our standard family dinner to celebrate May birthdays. We have 4 May birthdays from my mom's side of the family within a 2 week period, so it's easier to celebrate together -- and more fun! I love getting together with my family... every time we're together is such a natural pick-me-up.

Tonight, I tried something new. I went to a meditation workshop and loved it! I'm the kind of person that desperately needs "Me Time." I'm always looking for natural ways to reduce stress, clear my mind and rejuvinate. I love massages, acupuncture, dancing, stretching, pilates, yoga, etc... but needed to find something that put me in a space all alone and allowed me to check-out for a few minutes. I think I found it! I'm going to try to meditate on a daily basis and hope it helps me spiritually as well as mentally and physically. I'm also going to start taking regular yoga, pilates and Zumba classes in hopes that all combined, I will be able to handle mental and physical stress with greater ease.

All in all, it was a great (albeit busy) day. I hope you have a great start to your week!

[Images: me, me, MuseMarya]

Rainy Day Reads

2010-05-22T12:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday! The weatherman told us it'd be 85 and sunny today... instead, we've got rain, thunder and wind. I'm loving it. I love the sound of mid-day thunderstorm and it gives me an excuse to curl up with a book. I was going to go to a Zumba class, but decided against it. Scrambled eggs, Wild At Heart and my couch are calling my name. If you could use a time filler, check out some of these Rainy Day Reads:

Stress-Free Living
*What Other People Think of You.....
*Letting Go of Attachment, From A to Zen
*How To Fall in Love With Life Again

Save a Dime
*Frugal Fashion: Eight Ways to Make Your Clothes Last Longer
*Email Answer: Money Management?

Yum, Yum!
*I hope you have chocolate chips handy...
*Pudding Cups
*Swirls

Hangin' Out

2010-05-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

I dream of having a porch swing one day. I'm okay with simple porch swings, but this one would be just fine and dandy, too :)

[Image: Apartment Therapy]

Dear Grey's writers: Good Job.

2010-05-21T00:00:00.015-05:00

Some of my favorite shows have been lame this season. Specifically, Grey's Anatomy. I think everyone will admit that. Too many characters vying for the spotlight and no strong storylines (at least, not ones that every viewer, including first-timers, can't easily predict) have made for a dull season. I'm not going to lie, I was ready to give up. I went 4 weeks without watching because I was over it. Then everyone started talking about the finale. Guess what? There's a shooter in the hospital! Oh my gosh and someone dies! One of the Doctors! Who could it be!? So yes, the build up of viewer chatter got me to catch up on the season so I could watch the finale. I prepared myself, thinking it'd likely be the last greys episode I watched because, well... as I've said... it's become a dull show.

I'm glad I watched. It was brutal. It was gut-wrenching. It was mind boggling. It was suspenseful. It was sad. It was shocking. It was every synonym of horrible. It was GOOD. Yes, you heard me. Best episode in a LONG time.

What else? It was thought-provoking. Grey's, combined with the Private Practice finale, shook me. It was a brazen reminder of how precious life is... and for some, how short.

For those who haven't watched the episode yet, I don't want to give anything away. However, I do have to comment specifically on one thing: At a point in the Grey's finale, one prominent character was at a crossroads of life and death - he explained that he'd had a career he loved, a woman he loved, experiences he's loved, a life he's loved and due to these things, whatever happened next wouldn't matter because he knew he had lived a full life.

I've had good and bad experiences. I've had good and bad relationships. I've grown. I've received an exceptional education. I've landed myself a great job at a great company. I've been surrounded by family that will always love and protect me. I've made forever lasting friendships. I've been blessed with a God who will never leave me. I've lived with a strong roof over my head my entire life. I've gone every day with food on the table. I've had plenty of options for shoes on my feet and clothes on my back. I've lived a life I am forever grateful for. But have I lived life to my fullest potential? Surely not. I'd love to travel more. I'd love to make a difference in the world. I'd love to fall in love. I'd love to make sure that I remind every family member and friend of how much they mean to me on a regular basis and not let "life" get in the way of those relationships. I'd love to wake up every morning feeling chipper and ready to conquer the world. I'd love to kick my cynicism to the curb. I'd love to be confident that even in the tough times, it's all going to be fine.

When you're at a crossroads in life, how awesome would it be to say "I've lived a full life - I'm ok whatever comes next." If you were presented with a challenge tomorrow, would you be able to confidently say that?

Be Free

2010-05-20T00:00:00.003-05:00

[Image: pennywishes]