Holiday Time-Out!

It's the most wonderful (and busiest) time of the year!

Happy Holidays, friends - we'll see you in 2013!

Welcome to the neighborhood.

So we are here now in Miami. And being the curious resident that I am, I wanted to know what I was up against. When we find places to live, we try and find safe areas, but having never been to the place it's hard to tell, so we wing it. And hope we make it. 

I decided to use Family Watchdog to see how the hood looked.

I have memorized the crime offenders profiles and will be staying clear of anyone that looks like them.

Music Stuff: Our First Concert

You never forget the thrill of the first time you hear some songs you love played live...



My dad took me to my first concert at the Tulsa Fair Grounds to see Alan Jackson.  I'm sure we went solely for the ever-popular Chattahoochee song.  We'd sing it all the time, my mom thought we were just hilarious (obviously I had no idea what the song was about at such a ripe age).  Though besides this being my first concert experience, it was also one of the first times I remember seeing my dad for the amazing man he is.  Back then, anyone could smoke, anywhere really, and my Dad and I ended up with seats next to someone who was lighting up incessantly.  Well, he marched over to a security man and said the seats just weren't going to work for he and his young daughter.  And like magic, we were shuffled to the FRONT ROW.  I thought my dad was superman that day. 

I'm not 100% sure that this is my first concert, but it is the first concert that I remember being truly awesome. I was 10. I went with my mom, my 3 best friends and their moms! Mother-Daughter concert date! What is also so awesome about this concert is that Point of Grace and 4Him performed in Gallagher-iba Arena... if you aren't an Oklahoma State University fan then that fun fact won't be as exciting to you. I remember our seats were on the court, my mom must have stood in line for days for those tickets! P.S. I googled and found the article from 1996 about them performing at OSU, that was a big deal for 2 huge groups to perform in Stillwater, Oklahoma!

GARTH BROOKS CALLIN' BATON ROUGE by rawestern
I've been fortunate enough to see some pretty dope concerts in my day. However, I think seeing Garth Brooks for my first concert just set the bar unbelievably high. He's a phenomenal performer and one of the few country acts that is known and loved across the U.S. I'm also pretty partial to him because he says my name in a song.

Hello Samantha dear, I hope you're feelin' fine!  (min 1:20)

I swear, hundreds upon hundreds of seats back from the stage, I know he was singing directly to me :)

To follow the themes of first concerts being country music or at the fairgrounds, mine was both!  I grew up in a little bitty town called Woodward in Oklahoma (pop. 12,000), and for some reason, a somewhat successful country music singer named Bryan White gave a concert at our fairgrounds when I was in 6th grade.  My dad took me and my best friend, and we sat at tables in folding chairs.  It was weird, but also awesome.  Bryan White was only really prominent on the country music scene around 1995-1998, but you might remember his songs "Rebecca Lynn," "Throw Another Nickel in the Well," "Someone Else's Star," or "My Heart's Sitting on Go," or even the song I put up for you above, which I still maintain is one of the saddest songs everrrrrrrrrrr.

Julia Child is One Smart Lady

Lately I've been sitting on the couch, watching TV, and eating ice cream.  And I'm tremendously interested in all 3 things. 

I might need to reevaluate my passions a bit!

Finally... we are free!

I have mentioned before about living with a roommate. Well I'm going to mention it again.

For those of you who missed it or is new to my life here's how it has been for my husband and I... I'm taking you to the beginning so you can really get a feel.

May 2011- Got married, I moved to Philadelphia to be with my husband (who is also from Oklahoma, but going to eye doctor school there).

February 2012- Moved to Phoenix for husband's first rotation. Lived with my glorious Aunt and it was awesome!

May 2012- Moved to Denver  for 2nd rotation. Lived with a male classmate and while at times wanted to punch myself, it was actually a lot of fun.

August 2012- Moved back to Philadelphia (suburbs this time) for 3rd rotation. Living with a male classmate. ALWAYS want to punch myself. Realizing that our time with our Denver roommate was so great and I would trade him for Philly roommate. 

November 2012- Moving to Miami tomorrow for fourth rotation. NO ROOMMATE!!!!! NO ROOMMATE!!!!!

DID YOU READ THAT??? NO ROOMMATE!!!!! We have been married for 18 months and 9 of those months we have had a ROOMMATE!!!!! THAT'S 1/2 OF OUR MARRIAGE. 50%!!! I'm sorry for the all caps typing. I'M SO EXCITED I CAN'T HELP IT!!!

(via)

We will be in Miami until May, then he graduates and we have no idea where to next (everyone pray Oklahoma!). So I guess we technically aren't out of the woods for a roommate free house (do babies count? Don't worry, I'm not planning on that either) but we have 6 months of freedom! No more cleaning up after someone else that isn't my husband, no more trying to get to the remote first, no more throwing away expired food from the refrigerator because our roommate is too dumb to do it on their own, no more wearing a bra!! 

I'm freeeeeee!

Bring on the nakedness!!!

The not so serious side of Election Day

Ladies and gentlemen... In honor of all those bloody "I voted" statuses, tweets, instagrams and of course stickers...

I give you my very first, "I voted" photo shoot.

No matter what tonight holds, I have Peace.
My friend Jaime sent me a text this morning that pretty much says it perfectly,

"Happy voting day love! Don't stress, be happy, because Jesus knows the ultimate plan for us!"

Vote Yes on Lee Greenwood's Leather Fringed Jacket

Do what you need to do tomorrow, Americans!

(and by that I mean:  vote)

pitch perfect, cups, anna, rebel and just a whole lot of awesome for your friday.

Have any of you watched "Pitch Perfect" yet?!
I've been itching to see it!

I feel like it is going to be a winning combination of Bring it On + Bridesmaids + 'any typical under dog movie'... all the while, not-so-subtly poking fun at the show we all love to hate and hate to love, Glee.

Or, at least I do anyway...

I can't tell you how much I love Rebel Wilson. I mean, she's Australian, so obviously she's amazing, but her humor is just so hilarious to me! I would give anything to not only be that confident, but that funny. The delivery of her sarcasm and jokes remind me of Steve Carell; Rarely changes, but never fails to make me laugh every single time!

*Fun Fact: As rare as the name Rebel is, I actually have an aunt named Rebel too! 

Who also has a son named Cougar. 

No.. I'm not kidding. 

Also, I am so stoked that Anna Kendrick broke out from her "Twilight" shadow and made a name for herself. I will be honest and tell you that at first, I was a bit skeptical of her as an actress. I think it's just because Jessica annoyed me SO. MUCH. in the books... Poor Anna, didn't stand a chance for me to like her. However, this girl has made a believer out of me! As if her role in 'Up in the Air' + an Oscar nod weren't enough to make me an Anna fan, this song would have done the trick. I mean, let's just say that I am scouring iTunes hard core right now to find it as ringtone....

You’re gonna miss me by my hair

You’re gonna miss me everywhere, oh

You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

I’ve got my ticket for the long way ‘round

The one with the prettiest of views

It’s got mountains, it’s got rivers, it’s got sights to give you shivers

But it sure would be prettier with you

You’re gonna miss me by my walk

You’re gonna miss me by my talk, oh

You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

Happy Friday you gorgeous people!
Have a good one :)

Making Lists

For all of those working gals (and guys!) who take their lunch every day, do you prepare the night before?  Or grab whatever you can in the fridge on your way out the door?  Perhaps have the luxury of running home for a quick bite?

 (via)

My method has always been grab whatever on my way out the door, which usually results not grabbing enough and feeling hungry by 1 o'clock. I end up running down the street to buy a quick "snack" aka lunch that was actually thought out and healthy, that I could have prepared myself if i was a little more prepared.

Not good. 

So this week I tried something new!

I actually went grocery shopping on Sunday. Yeah!  The menu idea wasn't in my head then, but I happened to grab enough items to piece together breakfast, lunch, and a snack for the week.  This is what I came up with:

Not mentioned: a bag of chocolate candy in my desk, mixed nuts, and granola bars whenever I needed a little extra.

This is what I ate from 8am-3:30pm, and then grabbed another snack the moment I got home.  It's a pretty good start.  I had some awesome lunches this week, I didn't have to spend any extra $$, and I really enjoyed making that list above!

Happy Halloween!

Ghoulish transformations performed on the amazing Picmonkey

Things Grown-Ups Do: Be Prepared

Sandy has made her brief but destructive East Coast appearance and has now gone on her way.  When disasters strike, there's always a bit of panic involved in getting things together in case the worse happens.  I'm here to remind you to get things together now, so the panic isn't necessary!

First off, assemble an emergency kit.  It will take you less than an hour, and then you never have to think about it again.

Include:

• Flashlights (that work!) - good idea to have at least one for every person living in your house
• Battery powered radio
• Batteries for both the above items (check what kinds they use!)
• Candles and lighters
• Extra blankets
• Good stock of non-perishable food items + bottles of water
• Emergency contact information, important phone numbers, insurance policies

Seems like an easy list, but somehow whenever bad weather is on the way, there always has to be a trip to the store for batteries, and we discover that our flashlights have disappeared.  Get a clear storage box, label it "emergency supplies," toss everything you may need in there, and then put it in a place that is easily accessible (because if the lights go out, you need to be able to reach it!).

Secondly:  insurance. 

We tend to get lazy with insurance because it's a hassle and it seems like something we will never need.  If we're lucky, that will most certainly be the case, but that's not something we can predict!  So, if you own a home, make it a point to get homeowner's insurance AND flood insurance (floods aren't covered in homeowner's insurance!).  If you rent, as silly and pointless as it seems, get renter's insurance.  There are tons of policies that are only $10-15 a month, and guess what?  They cover allllll of your belongings.  If anything you own is stolen (even if your laptop gets stolen from your car, for example), renter's insurance will cover that.  It's too important and too cheap to overlook!

Now that I've given you my public service announcement for today...I'm going to follow my own advice and make an emergency kit and get some insurance!  Do it, do it, do it!

It's Sandy Time.

Today I've been preparing for ol' Sandy to pay us a visit here in Philly.
Valerie is also going to be hanging out with Sandy in NYC.

It could be an interesting couple of days. Or it could be a boring couple of days.
Weather men are wrong more times then they are right. That's a fact. Proven by me.

Favorite Stuff: October

A few of our favorite things this month (or year)!

I'm not sure why I am making this my favorite this month, because it has been my favorite for about 2 years now, but I think it's about time I talked about this. (I recently put it in Valerie's get well box!) My mother-in-law opened my eyes to these incredible color catchers and they actually work! I seriously have saved numerous loads of laundry and clothes with these babies. Now I wouldn't suggest putting your sexy red panties in with your favorite white tee, but you can live a little with your colors and darks. It's amazing! At under $4 you too can have easy laundry days.

Last week I talked about my love for the cheese-tastic Dancing with the Stars, and this week I was provided with one of my favorite moments ever from the show:  when Carrie Ann Inaba fell out of her chair in a fit of overjoyed ecstasy.  She wasn't hurt at all, so that means we get to laugh at it!

Ah, this candle.  It's from Anthropologie (swooooooon) and it's probably way too pricey for a little ol' candle, but it smells so good and I've had my eye on it all month. My in-laws are big into Christmas lists, so I think this bad boy is going to make the cut!  Next time you are in Anthro, take a sniff and let me know what you think. 

Diesel: Girls Allowed

Did you guys know that the brand Diesel, which is typically known for it's hard core swanky boy watches, has both unisex watch line AND a female watch line too?!

Now, when I say unisex, I don't just mean they're all feminine watches with a smidgen bigger face than the other brands. I'm mean these watches literally swing both ways if ya know what I'm sayin...

I have the titanium one!

I wear it on the reg and get compliments on it nearly every time I wear it from both genders!

I lurrrrv it :)

Well, my birthday was last week and a friend sent me a surprise birthday gift in the mail!
What could it be??

Behold, my second Diesel watch! This one is definitely from the female line and I pretty much have fallen in love all over again!

Isn't she a beaut :) 

What are your guys thoughts on big watches for women?! 
Like them? Hate them? Never seen them? Too manly? Too butch? Too hot to handle?
Please feel free to write your true thoughts! 
I'm down to hear some opposite sides of the spectrum too because these bad boys are, in fact, pretty intense for the female wrist and I enjoy hearing all the different perceptions on them. That's what makes personal style so much fun; all the uniqueness :)

Happy Thursday!

Beautiful Advice About Loving Your Body

I recently discovered that Amy Poehler has a channel on YouTube called "Smart Girls" that celebrates girls around the world who are accomplishing wonderful things by being themselves.  It's geared toward young girls, and I actually wish I could go back to my 13-year-old self and watch some of these videos and be inspired.  If you have a younger sister/daughter/friend, send them here!

Amy Poehler just jumped up a few notches in my book, though she was already pretty high on my list of favorites.  In response to a young girl's question about being unhappy with her body, Amy gives this thoughtful answer that I think every woman should hear, because body issues can plague women at any age and at any stage in life.  As I struggle with my body right now while recovering from surgery, wishing I could heal faster, hoping my body will be able to once again do what it could before all of my back problems, these words are encouraging, uplifting, and universal.



Let's not forget to be grateful to our bodies, and focus on what they enable us to do, rather than what we dislike about them.  And let's pass this on to the next generation of girls as well!

Are they together? Are they not?!

Jef and Emily were photographed hanging out, still in love (my own interpretation), after their official "we're not together anymore" announcement to People. 

(via)

I can't take the games, you two.
We are still rooting for you!

I have a twin!

I don't normally get into politics or anything related to it. I don't really understand anything about it, but I did just spend the weekend in D.C. so I'm feeling American. But instead of talking politics I'll just share a picture with you.

My friend posted this photo on my Facebook wall, it is originally from Barak Obama's Facebook page.

Did you have to do a double take to make sure that wasn't me chillin with Obama talking on the phone. Yeah me too.

This is my doppelganger, my very liberal, politically informed doppelganger. 

I want to know her.

TV Stuff: Fall Shows We're Excited About

Leaves changing colors, the holidays approaching, everything pumpkin, and TELEVISION.  These are a few of our favorite things about fall!

I have to go with Nashville -- for the country girl deep down inside, the big love for Connie Britton, and the pure enjoyment of a diva throw down.

This is such a hard decision! Fall TV is what I look forward to the most! I could pick all of the funnies out there right now and I wouldn't be lying but I think what I'm most excited about is The CW, particularly Gossip Girl and 90210 (along with others). I have been watching these shows since college, and they are still going strong. Well, not that strong, but they are still on the air for one more season so good job! I love the fashion and the ridiculous unbelievable story lines, I love that I never remember what happened the previous episode, and I love feeling like I watched these crazy kids grow up. The CW sure knows how to make magic....

As Heidi said, this was tough! I love Fall TV too. Probably more this year than ever before... I could literally write about so many show I'm stoked for; Vampire Diaries (I love the CW too Heidi!), Hart of Dixie, Revenge, Nashville, Sons of Anarchy, Switched at Birth, The Office, Once Upon a Time, The Walking Dead, Duck Dynasty, X- Factor, Downton Abbey (projectfreetv.com, you da bomb!) and truly the list could go on forever and a day. HOWEVER, life just really seems to get in the way of any and all TV watching. Between school in the mornings, work in afternoon/evenings, then studying, cooking, working out, showering (let's be honest, doesn't happen much either)... my TV time is quite miniscule. It's really sad... However, in my heart and mind I know I will watch them all eventually.  Someday, someday...

My favorite for the fall has already been on for 4 weeks:  DANCING WITH THE STARS.  I love this show so much I wish it was on every night of the week.  My dream in life is to reach the minimum level of fame possible to be on this show.  I don't know how I'm going to achieve that, but...just you wait.

What do you have your DVR set for?

The Only Mess I Can Handle

As I've mentioned before, I'm a neat freak who married a slob (is there a nicer way to put that?).  I'm also a neat freak who has spent the past week laying in bed recovering from my back surgery and the fact of the matter is that with me unable to do anything around the house, it's easy for it to very quickly get to a bad state.

I'm pretty much relegated to the bedroom right now, and honestly, I'm surrounded by a super mess.  Stuff is spread out all over, things are piling up, there's an empty Cheeto bag on the nightstand.  But for some reason, it's not really getting to me.  As I looked around the room today, I realized that I think that's because though there is a mess, it's a lovely one.  It's the loveliest mess I've ever seen, because everywhere I look in this room, I feel love and support and memories from family and friends and everyone I love.

Here:

(1) PJ pants I bought on a trip to see my favorite college friends.
(2) My laptop, which has All of the Stuff up on it, this blog that I am so excited to share with Kendra, Heidi, and Sam everyday!
(3) Flowers from my parents and siblings.
(4) A TV from my grandparents.
(5) My husband's biking clothes, which are kinda stinky, but are a great reminder of something he loves to do.
(6) Magazines brought over by sweet friends.
(7) Crosswords sent by my thoughtful cousins.
(8) My phone I've received a million "thinking of you" texts on.
(9) A tapestry my husband brought back from Bonnaroo, a yearly tradition (both him going AND him bringing me back a tapestry)

I feel a lot of things laying on this bed in this room - among them, boredom, restlessness, and discomfort - but I also feel a whole lot of love.  Laying here it's easy to see that love really is all around, even in (and perhaps especially in) the mess.