the elusive mr. right...

Yesterday I got an email from one of the many web sites I subscribe to that really struck a nerve and for lack of a better word PISSED me off!  The subject line read "February Must Read Books". If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for a good book! Like any unsuspecting book worn would do, I opened the email only to be appalled at what I saw.

The first book that was suggested was "Marry Him: The Case for Settling For Mr. Right Now".  As a single girl fast approaching my mid 20s, I will admit that at this point in my life I'm not in any hurry to get married.  I don't have an overwhelming need to wear the white dress and all the insanity that comes with a wedding (someday... just a looooong time from now).  I will also tell you the number one question I get from certain family members: "Are you dating anyone?"  This simple question will make any happily single girl cringe.  Heads up nosy people: We HATE this question!! Ask about work, school, anything but that!

I'm rambling: back to the book! Settle for Mr. Right Now?!?! Are you kidding me?  What moron decided this is a good idea?  I'm sorry but no girl wants to marry a guy she looks at and thinks "oh he'll do, let's get hitched!" She wants the guy that gives her butterflies & makes her feel special. Every girl wants the fairy tale.  We want Richard Gere climbing the fire escape, Patrick Swayze dancing in the middle of the country club, or Patrick Dempsey following us home on a lawn mower (can you tell I'm obsessed with 80s movies?)! We want the fairy tale and we all damn well deserve it!

Let me ask you this: What guy settles for miss right now? Can you think of any guy you know who proposed to his girlfriend because she would make an "ok wife and mother"?  I didn't think so! A guy goes for the girl he has to work to get, not the one who makes it easy.  It's a girl's job to be choosy and only say yes when we find our version of prince charming. If we have to kiss a few frogs along the road to happily ever after, so be it.  So to the author of "Marry Him", you've got it all wrong.  The perfect guy is out there for every girl.  If you settle for Mr. right now, you may pass up Mr. Right!

oh say can you see...

In the days after Super Bowl 45, the biggest thing making headlines isn't who won the game (GO PACK), the score or the halftime show.  It's the fact that Christina Aguilera flubbed the words to the national anthem.  It seems that no one will let this go!  Give the poor girl a break.If you were singing the national anthem in front of millions you KNOW you'd be a nervous wreck and there'd be a chance you might slip up too!

But that's not what bothers me about the thing.  Everyone is so quick to judge the fact that she forgot the lyrics, but how many people actually know the words themselves?  I do.  In high school, I was given the opportunity to attend Arkansas Girls State.  What's that you might ask?  I'll be glad to tell you!  Girls State is a program put on by the American Legion to given high school students going into their senior year of high school a chance to see how government works on a state level.  For one week, girls from across the state encroached on Harding University in Searcy for Girls State to learn about state and local government.  If you leave there at the end of the week only learning one thing, it's our National Anthem.  You sang it 3-6 times a day, everyday!  Not only did we learn the standard verse that's always sung, but we sang a second verse that 7 years later I could probably still sing (but please don't ask me to).

I'm proud of the time I spent at Girls State as a delegate and as a counselor.  I'm proud of knowing that I can sing our national anthem from memory at any given moment.  Knowing the lyrics of our national anthem is part of having pride in our country and shows respect to where we've been, where we are, and where we're going as a country.  It honors the men and women who fought to protect our freedom and gave us the opportunity to live where we do and have the freedom we have.

So I'm issuing a challenge to all of you who read this: Learn the lyrics to our National Anthem!  You'll be proud of yourself (and I'll be proud of you too!) and you'll impress all your friends at the next sporting event you attend when you can sing along!

time for school...

I've had Pressly for 7 months now and I'm noticing a few changes in her behavior.  She's calmed down a lot since she had her surgery last month but I'm now seeing that she's a lot more aggressive at times.  She's started snapping at me when I do something she doesn't like. (Trying to put on a collar now requires 3 sets of hands!) She;s figuring out how to wiggle the hate loose to get out of the bathroom while I'm gone and she's become so bold as to jump over the gate!  These new issues along with the fact that she still chews constantly and we're still having "accidents" only means one thing: Time for obedience school!

I'm hoping to start a class at some point this month and start getting her under control.  I'll document our progress once we start the process and Pressly may even write a guest blog or 2. (Don't judge me, it's cute!)

Wish us luck!

new space, new energy

So now that January is half way over, that only means one thing: moving time!  I've been dreading the actual process of moving for about a month now.  I'm not one that enjoys the chaos and mayhem that comes with packing your life away in boxes.  Nevertheless, I decided last weekend it was time to bite the bullet and get it over with. I spent a week packing & schlepping small things that would fit in my land rover over to the new place and Saturday with the help of my mom, an amazing aunt and my grandfather, we got all my furniture moved!

The rest of this week I'm moving the rest of my small things, my clothes (which if you've seen the 3 closets in my old place, you know is quite the challenge!), and cleaning in preparation for turning in my keys.  Every time I move, I feel like it's the start of a new chapter.  With my last move, I was going out on my own, living by myself for the 1st time in a new place.  It was my chance to prove I could be self reliant and I think I've done just that.  This time, I feel move confident in living on my own, not as scared as I was last time to be by myself.  I'm also becoming obsessed with decorating since I have so much space to fill in the new apartment!

I think the biggest accomplishment it this whole thing is me buying my first piece of furniture.  I was so proud last Thursday when I went into a showroom, looked around and saw a couch I loved and bought it with my own money and without anyone's opinion. I'm so excited to buy the last few pieces I need to make my new apartment feel like a home!

one year later...

Yesterday marked the 1 year anniversary of my move to Little Rock.  On the drive back from Christmas with the family, I had time to think about the past year and what I've seen and done and been through...

This past year has challenged and tested me a lot.  It was the 1st time I've truly lived on my own, in my own apartment.  I've loved having a space that's all mine.  I've had times where I thought "I can't do this, I want to go home" or "This isn't where I'm supposed to be".  I know now that for this time in my life, this is where I'm supposed to be.

I've made a few new friends, reconnected with old ones, even lost a few along the way.  I've noticed that people who are meant to be in your life will work to be a part of your life, others will fall to the side.  I've been so lucky that there are a few people who make the effort to stick around.The people who truly care have stuck by me and I'll never be able to express how much I appreciate them.  I hope this next year brings more new people and memories.

There is one little thing that has come into my life that I can say is the highlight of my year.  In August, I was given my puppy Pressly.  As anyone who's met her can tell you, she's quite the wild woman and full of personality.  I've been so blessed to have her and I love having her around and she definitely lives up to the memory of the amazing woman she was named for.

The past year has been one of the best yet.  I hope to have many more amazing ones, wherever I am.

moving on...

As is the norm with living in an apartment... my lease is up. which means I've been pondering my options: 1) stay in my current too small studio apartment with not enough room for me and the dog OR 2) look for something else. Total no brainer right? I thought so too. 

It just so happens that my mom decided on a whim to buy a house, leaving 6 months left on her current lease up for grabs. Score! So with that said, I'm happy to announce Pressly and I are moving in 2 weeks. I couldn't be more excited to get into a bigger space! And I love that one of my fellow aerie girls will be my neighbor... not to mention a finally have a whole apartment to decorate any way I choose.

On a more serious note... this past weekend has brought to light some much needed changes that I need to make.  I won't go into the details of what happened or the parties involved because it's not really that important but I will say this:  I live my life for me and no one else.  I won't be someone's doormat or verbal punching bag.  I make no apologies for standing up for myself and doing what I think is right.  If you don't like it- not my problem.  There are far too many amazing things in life to focus on instead of people who try to make you feel unimportant.

So with that said I leave you with this: You are wanted. Someone, somewhere cares about you and only wants what's best for you. People who try to make you feel worthless and small have some complex within themselves that makes them lash out and cause you pain.  As long as you stay true to who you are and treat people how you want to be treated... nothing else matters.

The First TIme

I swore up & down that I would never start a blog.  I felt it was self indulgent and tedious.  But now I choose to look at it as a form of therapy.  A way for me to express myself and tell my thoughts and stories. I don't care if anyone reads it or comments on it... this is just for me. And so with that said... here I go.


I learned years ago that friends are few and far between.  When they come into your life, there's a reason.  After they've had the impact they're meant to have on your life, and you theirs, they slowly drift out.  You may see them from time to time, but the bond slowly breaks down.  There are exceptions to this rule.  Some people have such an impact that they become a constant in your world.  They become another part of you.... something you can't live without.

I had a person who was a constant.  We talked every day and spent so much time together.  He was my best friend.  After an awkward conversation between us and his significant other, he slowly drifted away from me.  It's been weeks since we've had a meaningful conversation.  I haven't seen him in a month. I've sent texts with no reply. I'm done trying to keep my friend.  I'm fighting a loosing battle.  Our time in each other's lives is up.  Our bond is broken. I'll miss my friend but I knew we wouldn't be together forever.

My advice to anyone who comes across my little piece of the world- enjoy the people you have, while you have them.  They won't be around forever...