Where To?

Chicago, DC, St. Louis, Disney World, Mount Rushmore, Seattle

My parents did a wonderful job making sure the travel bug bit me, and bit me hard.  Ever since I can remember, we took a family vacation every year.  And it was always a big one:  at least a week long, to a different state, taking being tourists to an entirely new level (our family trip itineraries are a sight to behold).  We've been to the East Coast and the West Coast.  I've put my feet in both the oceans.  We've seen historical sites and national parks and ridden a million roller coasters.  We've traveled by car, plane, train (for real - an overnight one to Chicago), go-cart, alpine slide, subway, and tram.  I've been to over 30 states, and I have my parents to thank for that.

Not only are those trips some of the greatest memories of my life, they've also made me appreciate so much that my parents made traveling a priority.  We never missed a vacation for 18 years straight.

Next year will be for the first time ever in life that neither Scott and I will be in school (which is kinda weird to think about!), and I would love to start doing the very same thing:  put aside a fixed amount of money every month, all year long, so that every year when vacation time comes around, you can go without a second thought!

I've got about 20 states to go before I've hit all 50 (Hawaii and Alaska, you elusive things!), so I would love to hit up some of those...along with about a million places overseas.  If you could leave for a vacation tomorrow, where would you go?

Single Girl Swag: COMPARE

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So many times I find myself playing COMPARE. You know what game that is, right? Sure you do. The one where you look at everyone/everything around you and begin measure your strengthens versus theirs, your flaws versus theirs, how much money they have, your body, your hair, your clothes, your intelligence, your good deeds, your work ethic, your efforts, or maybe even, your blogging... GASP.

I hate when I find that I'm comparing myself to my friends or others around me. Actually, I feel like this is a trait most women possess.. Which is so heartbreaking.We are all so wonderful in our own ways, yet the enemy does whatever he can to make us feel as little as possible; which in turn leads to such ugly, sinful emotions like greed and jealousy.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.-- Psalm 139:13-15

This past weekend, I was out with friends and as I was sitting next to one of the girls that was with me, a boy comes up to her and openly gushes on and on about insanely gorgeous she is. No lie, homeboy straight up walks up to us and starts telling my friend how absolutely stunning and beautiful and perfect and breathtaking she is. As I'm sitting elbow to elbow with her, I immediately become extremely uncomfortable. I truly don't care to hear how model-esque my friend is, especially as I spent a good 1.5 hours getting ready tonight and wore my ballin' red pumps...

The more I reflect on it though, the more I'm just so frustrated with the whole thing. Not because the stranger didn't find me gorgeous, but because I do not want to be that kind of a person! A jealous person, an envious person, a self-pity person. It's so ridiculous!

Why can't I be happy for my friend? Why can't I appreciate one of God's creations and know that I am just as equally loved and appreciated by our Heavenly Father? Why can't I realize that I will be that stunning to my future husband one day? Why do I care what complete strangers think of me?!

I've realized the only way I can overcome this terrible habit of comparing, is by diving into the Word and prayer. Unfortunately, I'm flesh and born into sin; we all are. And I'm female so I'm convinced I will always possess a comparing gene somewhere in my DNA. No, not an excuse but also something that is real and that I will have to work to control every single day.  However, it doesn't have to control me. It doesn't have to overrule my heart and my thoughts to the point of pain and suffering like it did on Saturday night.

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
    The woman to be admired and praised    is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Proverbs 31: 30

So I encourage anyone that ever struggles with this like I do, to take deep breaths and say a little prayer to the good Lord above and ask that you can see yourself through His eyes; because that is true beauty and the absolute definition of love and admiration.

Music Stuff: Favorite Movie Soundtrack

So, my favorite soundtrack doesn't fall under just one movie, but a series of movies... THE TWILIGHT SERIES THAT IS. I can't even pretend to be ashamed because these soundtracks are just that good! I know, I know... but really guys, before you stop reading, give these bad boys a go.  I truly can't decide which one I love more out of the 4 options. It all depends on the day and what kind of a mood I'm in, but for the sake of the post I will say that New Moon was my favorite. I genuinely listen to every song on the album! Not just a select few :) I'm glad my love for the soundtracks hasn't faded at all, which I sadly cannot say about the books or movies.

 



I debated picking one of my favorite artsy/indie movie soundtracks but then I decided I wasn't being honest with myself or with you all.  So here it goes, High School Musical, 1, 2, and 3. I love them all. Does it count that it's a musical and the first movie wasn't even on the big screen? Whatever, HSM is by far the best soundtrack out there. Is it possible to not start dancing around your room every time you hear any of their greatest hits? I couldn't pick my favorite song but "Can I Have This Dance" really brings it home for me, I posted the extended scene so you can relive the love for yourself.

Remember that obsession with Zach Braff that I mentioned awhile back?  Well, it mostly stemmed from this movie, Garden State, and the fact that he picked out all of the music himself was a cherry on top.  Seriously, love this guy (though now that I follow him on Facebook, I find he cusses a whole bunch and is mildly inappropriate, but I try not to think about that).  Above is my favorite song from the soundtrack, Let Go by Imogen Heap (also known as Frou Frou).  Enjoy!

 
Love Actually, if not my true favorite movie, is at the very least the movie I have watched the most times.  Probably upwards of 20.  It's just complete and total perfection.  And the soundtrack totally is too!  It starts with a Kelly Clarkson song and ends with Christmas music <-- #winning.  The clip above is a perfect showcase of two of the other songs on the soundtrack as well.  First is the instrumental one, which is called "Love Actually Theme" on the soundtrack, and it will make you feel all the feelings.  Then when he walks outside, and Dido's "Here with Me" starts playing, and he zips up his sweater at the exact moment that the music gets epic...IT SLAYS ME.

Leggings 101

Today we are talking about leggings. During the fall/winter/ months I live in my leggings. It's part of the reason fall is the best. Especially those crazy colored and patterned leggings.

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Okay, maybe not that crazy.

But this season I'm in a rut. A legging rut. I've talked to a few of my friends and they are also in the same rut! So here is where I come to you blogosphere.

My normal go-to leggings are the basic Target leggings, cheap and I can wear them and not sweat. But they aren't perfect. I'm searching for the perfect pair. All of the leggings I have found have been too thin and you see your panties right through them, which means you have to wear a long enough shirt so you don't look like a hoochie. Also, I can't justify spending a ton of money on leggings.

Has anyone found the perfect pair of basic black leggings? If so, where are you finding these hidden jewels? Share your secrets with me internet world! My undies should be reserved for home, not seen out in public.

Ever-Strange Content

Can you really tell a lot about a woman by the content of her purse?

Because I'm very unsure what this photo says about me!

this love is ours

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I instantly thought of Australia when I saw this and immediately sent it to all my friends from the land down under. I haven't seen them actually in person for over a year now. That is just crazy to me! How can they be such a huge part of my life, hold such a huge part of my heart, and yet I haven't actually seen them in the flesh for so long?

It's truly amazing what our hearts are capable of feeling.   

I can never go back to that time no matter how hard I try. Things will continue to change and life will always go on and move forward. However, they will always have that part of my life; that part that no one else can really understand, that part that nothing else can touch. Not even time itself. Like a secret shared or an inside joke that would only make sense to us. They may never get to experience any other points of time in my life and same for me with theirs... but, that time, those five and half months, those memories, those cherished experiences, will forever be ours. 

What did you think of when you read this quote? Is there a place, a face, a point in time you were taken back to? I would love to hear your stories. 

Happy Tuesday you beautiful people.

Rabbit, Rabbit

As a child, I read every Babysitter's Little Sister book I could get my hands on (until I graduated up to the much cooler Babysitter's Club books, obvi).  It's weird the things that stick with you, but I have never forgotten that the main character, Karen, would say "Rabbit rabbit" upon waking up on the first day of every new month.  I tried and tried and tried to remember to do that as a kid, but I just never could.

But guess what:  today I did!  I'm not even kidding!  I said "Rabbit rabbit" when I woke up this morning, and it only took me about 21 years to get it right.

The phrase is supposed to bring you good luck all month long (and also I just learned from Wiki that really its supposed to be "Rabbit rabbit rabbit" so I guess I'll only have 2/3 of the luck I could have), so I've got high hopes for October!

Also, it got me to thinking about taking things one month at a time.  We do New Years' Resolutions at the beginning of each year, but those are usually quickly forgotten and difficult to keep up with (I'm not alone in this, right?).  What if, instead, we made a new resolution each month?  "They" say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so if you followed through on one resolution per month, by the end of it, your habit would be formed!

I'm going to try it, starting now.  My October resolution:  Getting to work on time every day this entire month.  That seems like a pretty basic principle that I should have under control at this point, but...I don't.  Work starts at 9 AM, and to be honest, I'm generally rolling in around 9:02/9:03.

Anyone else want to join me in this?  If you do, tell me what your October resolution is!

(and let's all try "rabbit rabbit" for November!)