Bringing Out The Brave

This past weekend, Tom and I took a weekend trip to Traverse City. Although I wish the trip could have been a little longer, we had a marvelous time. We spent some time outside taking in the gorgeous weather and views, we shopped, we ate delicious food and drank good beer, and we explored. It's been a long time since I have felt that care free. I turned the e-mail off on my phone and just enjoyed my time with him.

As I was getting ready for bed on Sunday night, smiling from ear to ear, wishing I was back in Traverse City with Tom, I started to think about what exactly made that trip so special.

And the conclusion I came to was that it wasn't just that TRIP that was special. It's Tom that is special.

Part of the reason I was so elated when we returned form our trip was that I was so proud of myself for doing a few things that normally scare me. Now, you need to understand that because of my lifelong battle with anxiety, there are a LOT of things that scare me. I always jump to the worst possible scenario of every situation and convince myself that the worst is going to happen. When I get in that state its' really hard to get me out of it. But Tom does such a fantastic job of keeping me calm. He does it in a gentle way- he does not totally dismiss my fears, but he helps me to see around them.

Thinking about it, that's all I've ever wanted in a relationship- someone who can understand my fears, and help me to overcome them. That's not to say that I need a man, or anyone, to depend on to get me past these obstacles, but rather, I've needed a companion who can bring out the brave in me. And that is what Tom has done. He makes life so much fun for me that I don't want to miss out on any opportunity. He's also very patient and practical with me, and takes the time to tell me why what I am worrying about is not going to happen. Example, we were walking around the fair on Friday night and Tom wanted to go in the Funhouse. I am terrified of mazes because I feel like I am going to get trapped for ever. I know, for most people this seems silly, but that is my fear. Tom showed me the clear entrance and exit of the maze, and led the way so that I could clearly follow him. Another example- I hate crowds. Being in a large crowd makes me feel stuck and I need to have an escape route just in case. As we were leaving the Fireworks on Saturday night with thousands of other people all heading the same direction, Tom knew that I would struggle walking back. So he found a clear path and led me down that. It allowed us to be away from the crowd for most of our walk.

It's just what he dos- he looks out for me. And I guess by Sunday evening I was feeling so grateful to have found Tom and to have him in my life that I was giddy. I started to look up other places we could go on vacation, just to have more adventures.

I know that this post may embarrass Tom, or may seem a bit cheesy to put out into the universe, but it was something that I just needed to share. Growing up we're always told to choose someone who is honest, makes us laugh, treats us right, etc. In Tom, I've found all of those things, plus someone who makes me feel so good about myself that I can do things I never thought possible.

For my friends that are single and are still looking for their perfect match, make sure that person makes you feel like you have wings. You deserve to soar, and your partner should be right there along with you.

Guest Post Swap!

This month I participated in a Guest Post Swap sponsored by Chaotic Goddess. Here is my partner's post. Enjoy and go check out her blog!

Hello Everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful day. I’m Jacquie and I blog over at Confessions Of A College Angel. My blog is a little bit about everything so I was super glad when I found out that I would be getting a chance to blog over here!

 

I am so excited to share with you guys my:

 

 

Image by Cool Text: Free Logos and Buttons - Create An Image Just Like This

 

1. Irish Breakfast tea by Twining's- this is my FAVORITE brand of tea and Irish breakfast tea is the best. It is different from English Breakfast Tea in that it contains more Assam Tea.

2.  My super cute Starbucks tea mug. I LOVE these little travel cups so much and buy WAY to many of them!

3. Selena Gomez’s Stars Dance CD I really like her music and this CD has some great beats. My Favorites are Slow Down, Come and Get It, Forget Forever and Love Will Remember.

4. Kelly Clarkson’s Wrapped in Red CD- Classic Christmas Songs and I adore all of them!

5. Revlon Color Burst Matte Lip Balms- I think I have gotten all 10 from this collection and have yet to find a color I didn’t like even the one that looks Barney Purple turns into a pretty matte plum on your lips!

6. The New Dracula TV show has really gotten my attention- I am a little behind but I love it so far!

7. Civilization V – This is a favorite time waster for me! I can sit down and play this game for HOURS if I don’t pay attention.

So what are your favorites for November? I would LOVE to know!!

Megan's  November Favorites:

• Dandelion Tea- Alright, so it doesn't actually taste that great, but it's really good for your body and helps decrease bloating!
• Bath and Body Works Candy Apple Body Wash- Smells so delicious <3 li="">
• Melinda Doolittle You're The Reason EP- Damn good music! If you haven't picked it up yet I really don't know what you're waiting for.
• Starbucks Nonfat, no whip, gingerbread latte- Honestly I could drink one of these every day. I have to limit myself to two a month, but they are DELICIOUS.
• Orange is the New Black- Not exactly new, but Sam and I just finished watching the entire season and OMG. If you stream Netflix, watch this now.

PS: My guest post is live on Jacquie's blog!

 

Pink: Truth About Love Tour

I am sure I thoroughly annoyed all my Twitter and Instagram followers last night with my concert tweets/videos, but YOU GUYS.

That was not like any concert I've ever attended. How many artists can truly sing live while being catapulted through the air and flipping about? Not many. And how do I know she is singing live? Well, for starters, she'd often stop to breathe and the singing would stop too (except her background singers). Secondly, there's a pretty famous video on youtube of Pink falling during one of her stunts, and the singing totally stops. That's proof right there.

The entire show was centered around love. Which makes sense, being that her latest album was titled Truth About Love. The concert was very theatrical, weaving stories of love in between the songs. They didn't just focus on the sweet, lovey dovey type, either. They talked about sensual love, love that frustrates you, heartbreak, and, my favorite, loving yourself. Some of the final words spoken to us by the Ringmaster (yes, there was a ringmaster) were "We all know you cannot love another person until you love yourself".

I knew it was going to be a great show from the start. The Ringmaster came on the stage and got everyone excited, and then said he needed someone from the audience to come on the stage. He pointed to a section and the cameras zoomed into Pink, just sitting in the audience. The lights went dark and a few minutes later, she came flying out from under the stage, attached to ropes and wires, flipping in the air above the stage while singing "Raise Your Glass". I kept hitting Tom and screaming "OH MY GOD". I had never, truly, seen anything like that before.

Pink continued the spectacle by singing songs everyone knows, like "Just Like A Pill" and also cuts from her latest album, like "All We Are We Are". The choreography, stage set up, dancers, band and background singers were all flawless. Here are some of my absolute favorite moments from the show:

Try. This song is super powerful on its own, but for the concert Pink did acrobats, plus she and a male dancer did the actual choreography from the music video. I found a great quality video from another concert. Watch for yourselves and be amazed.

The Great Escape. Detroit was only the third show where Pink played the full song on piano. Before starting she admitted she was terrified, but she nailed it! Here she is doing it at another concert stop, but before she fully learned the song and had a few boo boo's, letting her piano player take over at the end.

Sober. This one was full on acrobats, as they put her in a wire cage and she flipped and spun around. The choreography for this matched perfectly for the mood and lyrics of the song. Here's a video from Orlando. Fast forward to about 45 seconds in to get the start of the song.

So What. Pink closes the show with this tune, and I really can't explain it to you, you just have to see it.

 

So now you have a little taste of the show I was truly blessed to witness last night. Pink is an artist you see live, no questions asked. Go see this show. I'm going to be on a concert high for a very long time from this!

I'm Rare!

So there's a bloghop going on that I didn't know about until this morning. It's Blogtember and by the looks of the prompts, I need to be a part of this! The prompts are great and are giving me a much needed jump start to writing.

Today's prompt was to take this quiz and post the results. Here are my results:

I actually took the longer version of this test in high school and got the same results, so I guess things don't change. Here are some fun facts about INFJ (which I got from this website)

• The INFJ type is believed to be very rare (less than 1 percent of the population) and it has an unusual set of traits.
• Even though their presence can be described as very quiet, INFJ personalities usually have many strong opinions, especially when it comes to issues they consider really important in life.
• INFJ personalities are drawn towards helping those in need – they may rush to the place of a major disaster, participate in rescue efforts, do charity work etc. INFJs see this as their duty and their purpose in life.
• INFJs are masters of written communication, with a distinctively smooth and warm language.
• INFJs need to have some “alone time” every once in a while or otherwise

• INFJs take great care of other people’s feelings and expect others to return the favor. Unsurprisingly, people with this personality type are very sensitive.

INFJ strengths

• Determined and passionate.
• Altruistic.
• Decisive.
• Creative.
• Inspiring and convincing.
• Very insightful.

INFJ weaknesses

• Extremely private.
• Can burn out easily.
• Very sensitive.
• Perfectionistic.
• Always need to have a cause.

INFJ In The Workplace (Peggy, Lynn, Mags, Amy 1 and 2, Christina---can you confirm/deny these? haha)

• Loathe conflict and tension
• Highly idealistic, but also very insightful, able to sense somebody’s motives nearly instantly
• Surprisingly social and eloquent, quickly and easily connecting with their co-workers
• Popular, friendly and altruistic (however, INFJs need to make sure that their generosity is not being abused)
• Very serious about their duties and responsibilities, especially if they are strongly aligned with the INFJ’s principles
• Seek harmony and cooperation
• Prioritize values and good atmosphere rather than cold facts or ruthless efficiency
• Need to be able to work alone if they choose to

And, just for fun...two cartoons about INFJ that relate to my life!




So to those that know me, does the sound like me? What is your personality type?

Weekend Recap

It was yet another busy, busy weekend for us girls. Seems to be a common theme with us- always on the go!

Friday night we did just kind of hang out, our usual crew, listening to music and chatting about life while sipping on beverages. It was a late night, but a fun and low key night.

Saturday morning I woke up at 6:30 AM to get ready for the Alzheimer's Walk in Downtown Detroit. I only got about 3 hours of sleep, so I had to peel my eyes open to be ready to hang out with coworkers and walk a mile. I drove down with my coworker and friend Lynn, and we met up with a couple other coworkers. The walk was cool, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we felt good doing it. So many of our patients have Alzheimer's, and it was special for us to be an advocate for them through walking. The walk ended at Ford Field, and we were able to actually walk around on the field. A surreal feeling, when you're on the field you see how big it really is. I kept imagining how Taylor Swift must have felt at a sold out show there. Overwhelmed, I'm sure. My coworkers and I shared a lot of stories and laughs.

When I got home, Sam, Lauren and I went to our favorite breakfast place. Then I took a really deep nap (I woke up not knowing what day it was!), forced myself to work out, and came back to get ready. The three of us headed an hour up 75 to meet Lauren's friends for a bachelorette party. In a weird small world kind of way, one of our old college buddies/roommates, who we know as "Fitz" is also friends with the bride to be, so we reunited with her for the evening. It was a little awkward at first, considering Sam and I don't know the bachelorette, but we soon fit right in. The plan was to ride a party bus and go bar hopping. Honestly, the bus was the fun part of the evening. We blasted music and danced, laughing hysterically. We did stop at two bars- one was a low key bar full of dudes, and the other a more well known bar that was pretty much empty. But we had a great time. We got back to the house we were staying and all claimed a spot to crash for the night. I was with Fitz on the couch and the last thing I remember before drifting off into dreamland is her whispering "Hi, Megan" and me giggling.

The next morning Sam, Lauren and I headed out early so we could get back and enjoy a full Sunday. The second we swung open the car doors to head inside, we were met with our neighbor. She looked at me and told me she hit my car, which is almost always in the street. She was really upset, and rightfully so. The car was barely hit, it's a small dent, but she was most upset because we don't really know each other at all, so I think she felt badly that this is how we were meeting. She also just lost her husband a few months ago, and told me that he did everything for her so she's still learning how to do things on her own- driving included. I felt awful, the poor thing was crying and shaking as she kept apologizing to me. I assured her it was fine, I wasn't worried at all about the "damage", that it wasn't a big deal and that it happens- cuz it does- our next door neighbor also tapped my car once.

When I finally calmed her down, I headed back inside with every intent to take a small nap and then go work out. But plans changed, and we found ourselves driving to the brand new, Michigan's fist Cheesecake Factory. I have visited Cheesecake Factory in Nashville and Cleveland and always wondered why Michigan did not have one. We finally opened one a week ago in Novi. People were waiting for FIVE hours that first week! We got there and got a buzzer and were told the wait was about 70 minutes- which honestly, I didn't think was that bad. Especially because the restaurant is in a mall, so we could walk around and kill time, which we did. I got face wash from Lush (my new expensive obsession) and candles from Yankee candle. We headed back to Cheesecake's waiting area and were sitting for maybe 15-20 minutes when our buzzer went off. We were seated outside, which was fine by me since it was a gorgeous day. We were starving, since we waited so long and barely ate breakfast. It was now almost 2 pm. I ordered from their skinnylicious menu- chicken potstickers and white bean chicken chili. Both were delicious- I couldn't eat all the chili and had to bring half of it home. I also ordered a slice of wild blueberry cheesecake to go. I know, I shouldn't be eating cheesecake, but I wasn't about to go to Cheesecake Factory and NOT eat it! That's like, a sin.

When we got home I did take a little nap, and then went to the grocery store for a few things that I needed. I got back, had a chat with the girls, and then made cookies for my neighbor who hit my car, Lois. I also wrote her a little note, explaining she did not need to worry about the car and that she could stop by anytime. I walked over and handed her the cookies, to which she handed me two small loaves of zucchini bread and said she was about to come over and deliver it to me! Lois invited me to sit down and we chatted for a good 25-30 minutes, for the first time ever. It was so nice to get to know her, and I feel a little better about the whole situation and knowing that I have such a lovely neighbor. She said she watches our house a lot (not in a creepy way) to make sure we're all okay, especially if she knows we're out of town. It was very sweet conversation and I have decided I am adopting her as my grandmother.

After my heart to heart with Lois I came back home and watched the VMA's with the girls. My thoughts: I don't care about Lady GaGa anymore, Miley Cyrus should be locked up, Justin Timberlake is beyond incredible, Nsync reunion was the greatest thing I've ever seen, Jennifer Hudson's surprise appearance was my favorite moment, Bruno Mars singing Gorilla made my heart stop, and Katy Perry looks good. Oh, and Taylor Swift is the Queen Bee.

This is a new week full of activities. I have a Tigers game with my coworkers tonight, planning on making dinner and going to a movie with my roomies tomorrow, possibly Kelly Clarkson concert (if ticket prices go down) Wednesday, and Softball party Thursday. Busy busy! But I wouldn't have it any other way!

Weekend Recap

What a fabulous weekend I had!

Friday I got out of work a little early, ran home and changed, and then met up with the young adult group from my church to go to the Tigers game. We piled into cars and headed Downtown. The game wasn't that great (we lost, and played horribly) but we still had fun and I was in good company. I love going to games, the atmosphere is just fun and I love being downtown.

Saturday morning I got a really good workout in, stopped at the grocery store, and then headed home for an afternoon of relaxing. It was an absolutely beautiful day weather wise, plus the Woodward Dream Cruise was happening, so I was truly in my happy place just sitting outside, and then curling up for a nap with the windows open and hearing all the music and people down the street. Eventually, we had people over for grilling and drinks. We walked around a little bit, and played Rockband. (The best video game ever). We laughed, ate delicious food, and enjoyed a beautiful summer evening. I didn't go to bed until 4 am. Party like a rockstar!

Sunday I headed over to my parents house to check on my dad who had not been feeling well. Spent a little time with them, came back home and watched Dawson's Creek. I fell asleep at one point during the show, and when I finally opened my eyes and mustered up energy, I made dinner for Sam and I, our usual Sunday night ritual. (That will change when youth group starts back up again!) I made a salad  and a wrap (recipe coming in this week's weight loss Wednesday). After dinner I was craving something sweet, so I convinced Sam to walk to Downtown Birmingham and get frozen yogurt with me. My fro yo of choice? Chocolate/Vanilla twist, Reese's peanut butter cups, peanuts, and peanut butter sauce. I know that seems a bit much for someone on a diet, but hey. I burned it off in the 2.5 mile walk there and back. :)

After our frozen yogurt outing, Lauren was back home from the Tiger's game and we all collapsed into our usual seats and popped in Silver Linings Playbook. We couldn't make it through the whole movie, though. I had only gotten about 4 hours of sleep on Saturday. I needed my sleep!

So yes, a beautiful weekend. The weather was perfect, the company was glorious and I was giddy and happy. It's a new week, full of meetings and trainings. Let's get through it!

PS: 40 days until the wedding! I got my shoes, so next step is dress alterations which I am doing this week.

Girls Weekend!

For a few months now, a group of gals and I have been planning a trip to head to Northern Michigan for the weekend. I've got to hand it to my friend Kristen for handling all the details. Thanks Kristen!

My roommates and I packed up Lauren's car on Friday morning and headed up 75. The trip was quick (mostly because I slept for all of it). We met up with the other group of girls (four of them) at the local grocery store to get some essential items for the weekend. We grabbed lunch and then found our cute little cottage. After throwing our bags on the beds and putting groceries away, we headed to the beach. Except...you know.. it was cloudy and cold outside. Michigan weather has officially gone bipolar on us, folks. So since the beach didn't work out, we headed to the indoor pool instead. That's where the fun started. A group of 7 girls in the pool, doing synchronized swimming and taking silly pictures. Acting like we were children. Laughing hysterically. Just the way it should be.

After our pool time we went back to the cottage and had a great family meal together- pasta, salad, and garlic bread. We talked, listened to music, popped in a Disney sing a long VHS. Everything a girls weekend should be. It was soon discovered that I would be the bug killer for the weekend. Once in a while I'd hear a collective "MEGAN!" and I'd come running, squashing bugs and flushing them down the toilet. The best one was when I shot down the stairs, jumped over two of the girls, and got a spider with one fell swoop. Bug Killing Skills, you guys. I have them.

Saturday morning started early. We all got ready, ate breakfast and hopped in the cars to head to Mackinac Island.  We took the ferry from Mackinaw City over, which takes you under the bridge. It was really awesome, but also FREEZING because it was once again chilly outside, and with the wind mixed in it felt like we had suddenly moved to Alaska. Brr. But it was still a beautiful view. I'm glad we chose that option!

When we got on the Island we did a little shopping, and then we rented bikes and took a bike ride around the island. This was my favorite part of the weekend. The 7 of us in a single file line riding our bikes for 8 miles. Early on in the ride, we spotted the Catholic church on the Island. Lauren and Sam knew I wanted to stop there and came in with me, and everyone else waited outside for me. The church is beautiful, and I realized it was started by Jesuits, which made me even happier. Lauren I discovered a mini "museum" in the church basement and I'm sure she noticed the massive smile on my face. It just felt right to be in there. I felt something in that Church.

I took it upon myself to be last in line on our bike ride. I wanted to make sure everyone else was okay, and it was fun to watch them have fun. We'd stop every few miles to take pictures, and we laughed a lot during the ride. I kept yelling things out to my friends, but since I was in the back I really couldn't hear them. I made myself laugh, a lot. I looked like a darn fool, riding my bike and smiling so big. But I don't care, because those two hours were pretty perfect.

After the bike ride our group split up, and Sam, Lauren, and I finished our shopping. We found a lot of cool things, got some fudge (a must at Mackinac Island), and people watched. There were a few weddings happening that day, and it was cute to see everyone dressed up.

Our crew took the 5:30 ferry back to Mackinaw City to get our cars. This time we rode on the bottom of the ferry so we'd be warm. Excellent choice. By the time we got back to our cottage, our tummies were grumbling. Lauren and I grilled the brauts (please be proud of us, we don't grill). While the other girls made corn and salad. Lauren and I only had one moment of panic, but I'd say we did pretty well. We giggled, sipped on beer, and cooked the meat. We felt so accomplished.

After we ate and cleared the table, we wanted to start a campfire. Except none of us have done that before. But, somehow, Lauren and I got it going. It took a while. It would start and then go out, but we eventually got a really good fire going. And again, we only had one moment one of panic when Lauren's pants almost caught on fire, but other than that, we ROCKED that fire. I was so proud of us! Then our group just sat around the fire, chatting, watching videos, making videos, laughing. Eventually it started to rain so we headed back inside for more story telling and laughing. It was another favorite moment from the weekend.

I think we all slept pretty well Saturday night. After biking 8 miles and walking probably 4 or 5, we were pretty exhausted. Our bodies were thankful for the rest.

Sunday morning Sam, Lauren and I packed up our car and headed out earlier than the rest of the gang. We had a lovely breakfast and drove for a few hours before stopping at Frankenmuth, another Michigan favorite. We went to Bronner's Christmas Store, the largest Christmas store in the United States, and each bought a few ornaments. We poked around a few other stores, grabbed a big lunch, and then sailed on home.

It was honestly a really great weekend. The weather sucked, but the company was spectacular and the beauty of Michigan made it all worth it. Plus I loved spending so much time with my roommates, even though I see them almost every day. Our friendship just seems to get stronger, and I'd do anything for those two. At one point on our bike ride the two of them were in front of me and I just said "guys? I love you.". I do. They are amazing friends.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the weekend. They probably won't make sense to most of you, but I gotta save these somewhere!"

"One of these days some lucky fella's gonna get an Ipass"-Mary
"Can a bear like come in the house?"-Sam
"The pants girl the pants!"-Mary
"Look, it looks like afterbirth"-Mary
"Squirt something in there!"-Tracy
"It's either fireworks...or a bear"-Me
"I feel like I'm straddling a pole"-Kristen
"How do you use a vcr?"-Julie
"Let me set the mood....to die"-Lauren
"It's either leaves...or bacon"-Mary
"How do I change my profile picture?" Sam "Just change it"-Kristen
"They never have Lady and the Tramp stuff. Guess they have something against tramps"-Sam

As you can tell, that Mary girl is pretty darn hilarious. She had us cracking up. Everyone was so fun this weekend, I just loved it. Thank you girls for such a beautiful time!

Caroline's Birthday Party

I went to a birthday party last night where the cake looked kind of like this:

and every single present was Disney princess themed.

And you know what? It was a really fun night.

The party was to celebrate the 4th birthday of a little gal named Caroline. Considering I've known her since she was born, it really freaked me out when I saw her at Church on Sunday and she proudly walked up to me and said "I'm three but I'm turning four on June Eighteent".

Can this kids please stop growing up?

It so was weird to walk into work this morning and make chit chat with my coworkers about the shows we watched the night before. "Oh yeah, I missed part of the voice because I was at a 4 year olds birthday party". Because yeah, that's a total normal thing for a single 25 year old to do.

I wouldn't miss Caroline's birthday party for the world. In fact, I changed plans to be there. She's very special to me.

Caroline is the youngest of six children. When the oldest was in 2nd grade, he had my mom as his teacher. Then she had the 2nd oldest. Then the third. She became very close to the family, and, in turn, so did my dad and I. In spring 2010, Fred, the dad, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Everyone pitched in to help. I served as the babysitter for a few weeks that summer. Caroline was still a baby then. The oldest was only 12. It was a very difficult time for everyone. But that sweet baby was my saving grace. We laughed together, played together, cuddled together. I know now she doesn't remember those days, but I do. And I cherish them.

Fred passed away on September 25th, 2010. The past few years have been a complete whirlwind. I don't know how Martha, the amazing Mama of the family, does it, but I do know how much I admire her. She has six beautiful children, an incredible sense of humor and a very strong faith.

So even though I'm not at the family's house every day anymore or even every month, I love them. And I know I always will. I'll always be here for them when they need me. And as long as they keep inviting me to birthday parties, I'll be attending.

Here's to Caroline's 4th Birthday, may all her Princess wishes come true!

So, sweet Martha, thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your family. And Caroline, Lizzy, CC, Mary, Charlie, and Spencer: Hugs. Always here for you.

I Don't Care, I love It.

I had yet another busy, beautiful weekend.

I suppose it all started Friday afternoon. I knew my brother and sister in law (Jonathon and Sara) were coming into town, and while I was at work I was anxiously waiting 5:00 to come so I could head over to see them. But instead, they came marching in my office along with my mom, my sister and my nephew at lunch time. What a treat! I loved being able to show off my family to my coworkers. We all went to lunch at the diner next to my office. So much fun. I was insanley jealous when they left, though, knowing that they were going to be hanging out the rest of the afternoon. It was difficult to make it through the rest of the day..

When I did make it out, I headed over to my parents house. My whole family (minus my brother in law who had a work event) came together to cook a nice dinner and spend time together. We oogled over our little Ryan and caught up on each other's lives. It was such a lovely evening.

Saturday I spent most of the day running around doing errands. Oh, and we got a cat. Yep. A little black and white cat has moved into our home. His name is Binx and although we've only had him 24 hours, I can tell you he's pretty chill. Here he is

Saturday evening, us gals hosted a little party. We had been talking about trying to coordinate a bunch of people to go out to the bar, and we figured it'd be easier to just have everyone over. So, the evening was spent with some of my best friends in the entire world plus my brother and sister in law. We laughed ridiculously hard and had a crazy dance party. The night didn't end until almost 3 am. I haven't had that much fun in a while, and it was so wonderful to have everyone together and laughing so hard like that. 

Today I woke up at 7 and after an hour of laying there, peeled myself out of bed to clean up post party. After packing away the bottles, washing dishes, and picking up trash, I laid back in bed and fell asleep until noon. It was glorious. 

I ran some more errands today, mostly to pick up father's day cards. Ran into my mom in the parking lot, which was funny. Then made my way to Macaroni Grill for an early family dinner. Sat myself in between JP and Sara since I knew that this would be the last time I would see them for a while. We once again laughed during dinner, and watched my little baby nephew from the other side of the table.

I didn't want to say goodbye to JP and Sara, but, unfortunately, I had to. I just love when they come into town and when the whole family is back together. We always have the best time.

I left dinner to have one last youth group meeting. We bbq'd for the kids and just chatted about college and summer and graduation parties. It was nice. I really am going to miss those seniors. They are good kids and I hope that they take the lessons they learned in youth group on with them to their future.

Before I go I'd like to say a few words about my daddio, in celebration of Father's Day:

I can only count three or four times my dad has yelled at me. But he doesn't let me get away with anything, either. He takes a gentle approach to teach me a lesson. My dad makes me laugh, and he's often the jokester among a group. He is patient. He's sweet. He works really hard. He would do just about anything for his family. He is the one we call when we have a question about cars or banking. He listens well. He will call me at work and pretend to be someone else, just to mess with me or make me laugh. He taught us how to swing a bat, catch a ball. He took in our friends. He stands back when necessary but jumps in when he's needed. He wants to see us succeed. He's proud. He's kind. He's sort of a dog whisperer.

I'm kind of an emotional person. And when I say kind of, I mean I cried the other day when we were talking about the song "His Eye Is On The Sparrow". My older sister, on the other hand, is the opposite. I think I've seen her cry twice in my life, and even as a teenager, she was pretty chill. So my dad probably thought "why does everyone complain about teenage girls? this is a piece of cake". And then, I became a teenager. And he probably thought "Dear. God. Help. Me". I was, and still can be, an emotional wreck. But my dad was always there for me and comforted me.  And he still does. This recent headache/dizziness/sinus infection I've been dealing with has worn me out and made me worry, and Dad (and mom) have stepped up to the plate to  help me and make sure I'm okay.

I've always been a daddy's girl. That guy has my heart. He will randomly ask about my friends from elementary school or high school, and he genuinely cares. He doesn't care when my mom and I tease him and call him curmudgeon (daddio has his cranky moments) and he still coaches our softball team.

To sum it up, everyone loves him. But no one more than me.

Colorful weekend

Note: Thank you to all who read and commented on my last post. It was an issue that hit home, and I had to speak out about it. I don't stand for bullying. That's really what the Abercrombie issue is all about. I could care less what sizes they carry, but the bullying is not okay.

Friends...this was a beautiful and colorful weekend.

I am low on funds right now, so I made quite sure to not spend a penny during the week and saved up all my cash for the weekend.  I knew it was going to be a big weekend. Luckily we had already paid for most of the things we did, so I really didn't spend much. This is the life of a 20 something, ya'll.

Friday we celebrated Lauren's birthday. Lauren is one of my two roommates and also one of my best friends. I met her six years ago through a mutual friend at a party. We hit it off right away and soon she was hanging out with Sam and I all the time. We became so close, in fact, that Lauren and I lived together the next year, along with our friend Jess. We've remained friends and live together now, too, along with Sam. It's like everything came full circle. Lauren is the funniest person I know. She can talk to anyone, she isn't afraid to be herself, she says what's on her mind. She's brave, she takes charge. She cares about people and will drop anything to help her friends. She's in love with the game of golf and with Justin Timberlake.

The three of us (Sam, Lauren, and I) had dinner at Champps, and then we saw The Great Gatsby. I've been anxiously awaiting this movie to come out. It is one of my all time favorite books. I saw the original movie in high school. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the 2013 release. I can't compare it with the book, because if I do that, it's not nearly as good. So I will say that as a movie on it's own, it's incredible. The camerawork and creativity in the costumes and set design is outstanding. The soundtrack is flawless. The actors were wonderful. It's captivating  Lauren and Sam did not know the story and the movie kept their interest for the entire 2.5 hours. It's worth seeing, that's for sure.

It was a fun night out with my gals. I am so happy to be living with my two best friends and creating such precious memories. There are many more to come.

Saturday morning came early. Sam and I were up at 5:30 to get ready for the Color Run. We did the color run last year on my birthday, so I sort of knew what to expect. Sam's friend Patrick picked us up and we made the trek to Ypsilanti. We were there in plenty of time, which is a blessing because we were closer to the starting line. 15,000 people participated in that 5k yesterday, and they were releasing us from the starting line in wave of 1,000. So it was a relief to be some of the first.

The Color Run advertises itself as the "Happiest 5k on the planet" and it really, truly is. If you're gonna do a 5k, choose the color run. As you run/walk the course, there are stations where volunteers throw colored corn starch on you. The goal is to get as colored as possible. Everyone has a smile on their face as they make their way through the color stations. Music is blaring. Little kids giggle and tag along their parents. It is so fun you forget that you're running 3 miles.

The best part about the color run is the finish line. When I crossed I made my way through the crowd and found my friends. We headed to the stage area where runners are gathered with extra color packets. After a countdown, everyone throws their color packets into the air, creating this incredible dusty rainbow. That is when you get the most colored. We stayed there for about an hour, going through the "Color blast" three times.

Here is a picture of myself, Sam, and our friend Julie, all colored.

When we decided we were colored enough, we headed home. Sam and I took turns showering to get the color off our skin and hair. It comes off pretty easily, although blue seems to be the toughest. I still have blue on my feet and legs. Then we settled in for some nice long naps.

That night, Sam, Lauren, our friend Krystin, and I headed downtown for the Tiger's game. We met up with some other friends there, as well. It was freezing. It's not supposed to be that cold in May, but we were huddled up under hoodies, fleece jackets, and blankets, and we were still freezing. The Tigers were not playing very well, but we had fun anyways. It was Sam's first Tigers game. We cheered for our boys and people watched. Made friends with a Steve Carrell look a like. Laughed a lot.

We left in inning 6, when the Tigers were down 4-1. We very, very quickly walked back to our car. When we got there I noticed that the parking lot attendant was the same was when we pulled in. She must have been freezing, sitting there in the dark and cold. I had some extra hand warmers in my pocket, so I gave them to her. I hope they did her some good.

This is Lauren, myself, and Sam at the game

After we left, we went to our favorite coney island to grab some food since our food/sleep schedule had been so off. Then we headed back home to sip on some wine and settle in. We laughed so hard, just making silly jokes and sharing stories and pictures. I laughed so hard my face hurt. My ears burned. Just thinking about it now makes me laugh again. I love those nights. I love these friends.

Today, of course, is Mother's Day. I know we should celebrate moms all year, but I like having a special day to spoil them. I've been blessed with a wonderful mother. Here's what I wrote earlier on facebook about her:

My mom is the first person I want to talk to when I have a bad day. She is full of wisdom and humor. She understands my anxieties and calms my fears. She loves her children ans grandson and each and every student that she has taught. She wants nothing but the best for all of us. She's a Notre Dame fanatic. She cares deeply. She is a friend to many, often a rock for those in need. She's her mothers daughter. She is passionate. She is the very best.

I meant every word of that. My mom is a 2nd grade teacher (and has been for many years). The love and passion she gives out to those students and families is absolutely beautiful. I have witnessed, again and again, people coming to her in need of support and my mom so willingly lending out that support. She is one of my best friends and an amazing woman.

To celebrate today, we had a family brunch at my sister's house. This is my sister's very first mother's day, and she hosted a lovely brunch. It's wonderful to witness my sister as a mother, learning about her little boy and growing each day. She already is a great mom, and I know she will only continue to be the best mom to little Ryan. He's one lucky dude.

And now, it is Sunday evening and for the first time all weekend I don't have anywhere I have to be until tomorrow morning. My bones hurt, my muscles ache, my cheeks are wind burnt, and my eyes are heavy. But my heart is full. I loved this weekend. I love the people in my life, and I love my life.

Barn Dances

I don't live in a "farm town" by any means, but right in my own community there is a great little place called Bowers Farm. Year round it is full of activities- corn mazes, petting zoo, sledding hill. It's a great place to take kids and let off some steam.

When I was in middle school, Bowers started hosting "Barn Dances". All of the local middle school kids were invited to attend. If my memory serves me right, they were monthly. It would be about 50 preteens packed into a barn, with a dj and a concession stand. What more could you want at that age?

My friends and I took barn dances VERY seriously. On the day of a barn dance, my group of friends would meet at one of our houses (we had a rotation schedule). We'd change out of our Catholic school unifroms, chow down on pizza, and start getting ready. There was always Nsync playing loudly in the background, and a bathroom full of hair ties, snap bracelets, Baby G watches, and glitter eye shadow. We helped each other get ready and giggled through all of it. Then a parent- sometimes two, depending on how many of us were going that night, would drop us off at Bowers Farm. We'd meet up with our cool public school friends and dare each other to ask some guy to dance. Within our group we each had a buddy or two that we'd stick with the whole night- none of us were ever alone, even if we felt like it in our preteen angst.

Sometimes, we even tried to coreograph a dance before we went to the barn, thinking it'd be so cool if that song played and we broke out into dance. I can't remember a single time we were successful at this....although I do recall performing it for all of my sisters friends at her 16th birthday party in our basement. I'm positive they were jealous of us.

The first time I ever slow danced with a boy was at a Barn Dance. His name was Kyle and I thought he was the cutest boy in the entire world. Besides Justin Timberlake, of course! I remember how terrified I was to ask him to dance. What if he said no- in front of EVERYONE! So instead, my friends told him to ask me. And he did! I have a clear visual of this happening. He tapped me on the shoulder and sort of shrugged while he asked me. We awkwardly slow danced, which basically just meant sort of swaying back and forth and not speaking. But in my mind, it was magical. I have no idea what Kyle is up to now, I can't even remember his last name or really what he looked like (besides that he was signficantly shorter than me), but I will always remember that moment.

When the dance was over and we'd have our heart broken by some jerky 8th grader, we piled into a car and headed to the hosts house. Parents always had snacks ready for us, and we would quickly wipe off the glitter eye shadow and change into our pj's. With our sleeping bags laid out on the floor, we would put a movie on and pretend to be watching it and falling fast asleep, when actually we were whispering and playing truth or dare or cheering up whoever had been hurt the most that night.

Those nights were beautiful for us. We laughed, we cried, we bonded, we grew up a little. We taught each other things and made each other braver. You know that quote in the movie "Stand by Me" that says... I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone? That's exactly how I feel. Friends have come and gone, but there have never been anyone as great as my middle school pack. Kelly, Danielle, Rosalyn, Kim, Katie, Aimee, Christine, Clarissa and Larissa. My pals.

2013 Grammy Awards

I get giddy and excited about the Grammy Awards the way most people do about the Superbowl. It is my favorite night of television. I love to see music being celebrated and my favorite artists being honored for their work.

The past few years have been a little disappointing- but last night was one of the best Grammy nights I can ever remember. It was full of GOOD music. And when I say good I mean real, raw music. Less gimmicks and less auto tune and more instruments and raw voices. It made me so happy to hear strong singers, singing songs that THEY wrote, without much of a spectacle. Let me break it down this way...

The Performances

Taylor Swift
Taylor kicked off the night with an Alice In Wonderland-esque performance of her hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together". It was fun, creative and energetic. She looked confident and sassy, especially when delivering the line "So he calls me up and he's like 'I still love you" with a British accent, clearly mocking her ex Harry Styles. Immature? Maybe. Awesome? Yes. Way to go Tay Tay.

Elton John and Ed Sheeran
When I heard that they were performing together, I was a bit skeptical. They proved me wrong. It was a perfect pairing. "A Team" is a fabulous song all by itself, but Ed proved not only can he sing the hell out of it live, but he can harmonize with Sir Elton John. Pretty impressive.

Fun.
Fun. performed my favorite song off their album, "Carry On". They are a great band- Nate did not sound his absolute best last night, but they get major props for the rain on stage and just the fact that they are real artists who write their own music and play instruments.

Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley
This was really the only performance of the night that I could have done without. Miranda is gorgeous, and that "Over You" song is flawless, but together they didn't sound too great.

Miguel and Wiz Khalifa
Kelly Clarkson said it best when she said "Miguel I don't know who you are but that was the sexiest damn thing I've ever seen". I don't know him either, but wow that boy can sing! It made me want to know who he is and go check out his music. And Wiz is Wiz.

Mumford and Sons
One of my very favorite bands, Mumford and Sons performed their banjo heavy hit "I Will Wait". I was rocking out just as hard as Taylor Swift was- how can you not? It's a catchy tune and those boys can sing. Once again, it's refreshing to have people who actually write and play their own music.  Probably my favorite performance of the night, honestly, besides Kelly. Duh.

Justin Timberlake
I can't properly dissect this performance because I'm still trying to catch my breath from giggling, fangirling, and dancing. All I have to say is #morejt , please. Now. But seriously, this was amazing, I like how he is doing the old school thing even though Bruno Mars has already beat him to it, and if there was ever a doubt, I assure you he definatley brought sexy back.

Alicia Keys and Maroon 5
Or shall I saw- Alicia Keys and Adam Levine. Seriously, does anyone else feel sorry for the rest of Maroon 5?  Anyways, "Daylight" was great, although Alicia out sang Adam on his own song. "Girl On Fire" is that one song that everyone is sick of hearing, but Alicia jamming on the drums was pretty awesome.

Rihanna and Mikky Ekko
Rihanna performed her song "Stay" which is pretty obviously about Chris Brown, right? It was a beautiful, emotional performance and Rih looked stunning. I like that song and the lyrics, but I hate her situation. It's like okay Rihanna we know you want him to stay. We get it. But the rest of us want him to leave. He's kind of a jerk. I will say I was pretty happy we got this side of Rihanna for once. Oh, and Mikky Ekko accompanied her so well. What a smooth voice.

The Black Keys
YES. They are fabulous and gritty and everything I love about a good song. Wonderful performance of "Lonely Boy". No other words here other than- they are GOOD.

Kelly Clarkson
At first I was a little sad because she wasn't performing "Stronger", which was nominated for a ton of awards last night, but her tribute to Patti Page and Carole King was FLAWLESS. She absolutely killed it. Her voice was strong. Really strong. And she always looks like she's barely even trying. Like she just opens her mouth and magic comes out. Fantastic.

Bob Marley Tribute with Bruno Mars, Sting, and Rihanna.
Except it wasn't really a Bob Marley tribute until the very end. But Bru Bru kicked things off with "Locked Out of Heaven" and sounded amazing as usual- I love his voice and the way he performs. Sting joined him on stage for "Walking on the Moon" and THEN Rihanna and Ziggy Marley come out for "Could You Be Love". The best part of this whole tribute, besides the amazing vocals and Bruno Marks shaking his hips like Shakria, were the cuts to the audience. EVERYONE was jammin- even Nicole Kidman. Such a fun performance.

The Lumineers
Is there anyone on this planet who doesn't love that sweet "Ho Hey" diddy? I love The Lumineers and was pulling for them to win Best New Artist. Cute song, cute band, good music. Enough said.

Jack White
I'm not a huge rock fan, but this was pretty amazing. That dude can sing in ways most people cannot even imagine. It got a little scary towards the end, but overall a solid performance.

Carrie Underwood
"Blown Away" is one of my favorite songs of the year. The lyrics and production of that tune are just amazing. And Carrie's voice is, obviously, amazing. She also sang "Two Black Cadillacs" while a laser light show was happening on her dress. I kept trying to guess what the shapes were. At one point I yelled "IS THAT A DRAGON?". Way to represent Idol, Carrie, and way to sing the hell out of those songs.

A Tribute to Levon Helm. Elton John, Zac Brown, T Bone Burnett, Mavis Staples, Mumford and Sons, Brittany Howard perform “The Weight” by The Band.
So Brittany Howard is a beast. That's what I learned last night. I have recently learned about her band Alabama Shakes and I very quickly become a fan. Her voice is incredible. Also, this tribute worked really well. It was pretty inspiring to see all those artists up there singing their hearts out.

Juanes
Although I don't know this dude or his stuff, I don't want to leave him out, because he performed this beautiful cover of Elton John's "Your Song"- some English, some Spanish. It was gorgeous. Props to you, Juanes!

Frank Ocean
So here's my thing with Frank Ocean. His songs are genius. Seriously. He takes metaphors and words and phrases and mashed them all together to write these beautiful, creative songs that will blow your mind if you're reading the lyrics. But as a live performer, his voice doesn't match up. Wonderful song, poor performance vocally.

The Awards (That I care About)

Best Country Album
My Pick: Zac Brown Band "Uncaged"
Winner: Zac Brown Band "Uncaged"
If you haven't jumped on the Zac Brown Band train yet, it's about time you do. These country boys have soul and talent for days.

Best Country Song
My Pick: Carrie Underwood "Blown Away"
Winner: Carrie Underwood "Blown Away"
Download. it. now.

Best Rap Album
My Pick: Drake "Take Care"
Winner: Drake "Take Care"
Okay, so maybe this was the only rap album of the ones nominated that I own, but it's darn good.

Pop Vocal Album
My Pick: Kelly Clarkson "Stronger"
Winner: Kelly Clarkson "Stronger"
I wish I could explain to you how happy I felt when she won. I screamed so loud my neighbors probably thought I was being robbed. That album is pop perfection, so it was so deserving of this award. And now we must talk about how adorable her acceptance speech was. First of all she hugged like everyone in the audience as she passed them, got stuck to Miranda Lambert, and then ran to the stage. It was clear she really didn't think she was going to win, either, but she's adorable and humble. I'm so proud.

Record Of The Year
My Pick: Kelly Clarkson "Stronger"
Winner: Gotye "Somebody I Used To Know"
I'm glad Gotye won for that song- it was everywhere, I still get excited when I hear it, and it's a terrific song. But I was pulling for my girl Kelly for producing everyone's anthem for 2012.

Song Of The Year
My Pick: Ed Sheeran "The A Team"
Winner: Fun "We Are Young"
I'm happy for Fun. and all the success they have gained with their new material, but A Team is such a beautiful, haunting song.

Best New Artist
My Pick: The Lumineers
Winner: Fun
I'm really happy for Fun (I keep saying that). But they have been around FOREVER. And by forever I mean 12 years, but still, a long time. They used to be called the Format and I have been listening to them since 2003. They made a few changes, swapped out some guys, became Fun, had their song featured on Glee and now they are EVERYWHERE and "new". I thought The Lumineers were more deserving of the "new" category. But oh well. I guess "new artist" never really means new.

Album Of The Year
My Pick: Mumford and Sons "Babel"
Winner: Mumford and Sons "Babel"
YES. YES. YES. They are so deserving of this award. Babel is a flawless album.

Sidenote....Arists who were rigged
Jason Mraz, Pink, and Alex Clare. Cmon. They had some darn good music this year. Where were their nominations?

Overall, a wonderful night for music. What were your favorite performances?

Also, here is the best acceptance speech ever...

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ericafutterman/kelly-clarkson-gives-most-adorable-grammys-acceptance-speech

the best birthday. ever.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

That? Is How I feel. In the best way possible. Today is my birthday, and this weekend has been the BEST birthday weekend I have ever had.



Friday

Sam and I got to Indy in the late afternoon. Our first stop was at the runners forum to pick up our race packets for the color run the next day. It was a little chaotic, but we managed to get out of their with our color run tshirts, bracelets, sunglasses, and color packets. Next stop? JP and Sara! We made it to their beautiful home and were greeted with hugs and smiles. The four of us headed out to the mall (Indy has some fabulous shopping) and to BJ's for dinner- mmm apricot beer. We shared stories and laughs, enjoying our time together. Hung out a little bit back at their place before crashing on couches.

Saturday
Wake up call was 6 am. Got dressed into our white clothing and headed downtown to line up for the color run. We ended up in the second wave (10 waves of 1,000 people each). I told Sam to go ahead of me, I decided pretty much right away I was going to be power walking/jogging a little. The course itself was great- minimal hills. Lots of space. The color part was cool, it was fun being blasted with colors. Pink was the toughest, because I decided to just jog through the middle rather than go on the side like normally, and one of the volunteers through the corn starch- directly into my mouth. Um, yuck. Anyways, I finished the race and there was Sam, waiting for me right over the finish line. We hung around the "color festival" a little bit, where I got blasted with purple. Color run was fun- no pressure, lots of laughter and smiles along the way.

We got home, jumped in the shower (color came off immediately) and passed out for a little bit. Soon it was time to get up and get dressed up for dinner and Melinda's cabaret. We headed out to Fugiyama, a Japanese restaraunt. We met up with Maria, Des, Gem, Barb, and Gem's sister Betsy. Such a fun dinner! Our chef was hilarious, cracking jokes with each of us (he asked if I was turning 15)...and the food was phenomenal! Oh my goodness!

After our wonderful dinner we headed downtown to the Columbia Club. I love that place; it is the same venue where my brother got married and it has a special place in my heart. We got our table, ordered some drinks, and sat around to chat before the show started. Got a surprise- SARA! One of the backups I haven't seen since 2008! I was so excited to see her! Just LOVE that girl, she is so sweet and down to earth.

So, Love 101 (the name of Melinda's cabaret show) is, seriously, out of this world. Melinda ties in personal stories with the songs. She sings some of her well known Idol performances (Home, MFV, I'm A Woman), some old school love songs, a few original songs that she has written, and a top 40 medley. It's just fabulous the way it all fits together, and almost everything she said related to my life. She looked like she was having the absolute time of her life up there. Very much out of her shell, interacting with the audience. And her voice- every SINGLE time I see her live I am blown away. It's so hard to explain the quality of that girl's vocals, but it gives me goosebumps and I feel it down to my bones. Just amazing. If you ever get a chance to see this show, do it.

After the show us backups sat and chatted for a few moments- again, so great to talk to Sara. Then we went over to Melinda as she was wrapping up her picture and autograph line. I approached her with a big hug and we talked about my color run (she checked my ears for color).

Was also there to witness Melinda receiving a gift from Gem and throwing it on the floor. Gem had made a necklace out of locust shells, she spray painted them gold. Melinda literally threw it on the floor, screamed "WHAT IS THAT" and jumped back. The reaction was priceless, I don't think I'll ever forget the look on her face.

Saturday was seriously SO MUCH FUN. I loved seeing everyone again and witnessing Love 101 live in person! We made plans for the next day, said our goodbyes to each other, and got our cars to had back home.

Sam and I hung out with JP and Sara for a little bit before bed that night. At midnight they all shouted happy birthday to me in their different ways- so cute. I had almost even forgotten it was my birthday.

Sunday

We met up with Melinda and the backups for breakfast at Le Peep downtown. It was so darn special to spend my birthday breakfast with some of my absolute favorite people in the entire world. I just loved it. I sat in between Melinda and Sam. I honestly don't remember every conversation we had at breakfast, because I was in such a state of bliss. (General topics of discussion: Idol tour, idol judges, check ins with everyone)  I will tell you this: Melinda is such a genuine, gracious person who really, really cares about all of us. You can just tell. She radiates with friendship and love. And she is hilarious. After breakfast we spent a few more hours with JP and Sara, and then we got on the road to go home. Sam and I were both exhausted, delirious, giggly. I'm not sure how we both made it home, but we did.


I have so much gratitude and love flowing through my body right now. I made a stop on my way home to pick up thank you cards because I want to thank all the people who were a part of my very, very special day. I've been scared about turning 25, scared about getting older with more responsibility, more pressure, more everything. But after this weekend I am sure: I am exactly where I need to be, and I am surrounded by some of the most wonderful, beautiful people. I love you all so much, and I wish I could hug every single person in my life, because you make such a profound impact on my heart every single day of my life.

Here's to 25.

"We will endure what life has in store.
Have faith and believe, like the air that you breathe-
Love will stand when all else falls."-Memphis