Summer is Exciting!

Ever notice how life just pick up in the summer? Well, mine certainly does! Here is a run down of all the fun and exciting things I have going on...

May 22 Camping on the Beach
May 23-25 Fort Caswell Singles Beach Retreat
June 8 No Doubt Concert with co-workers
June 12-14 home for Mom's Birthday
June 18-21 Michigan for Jonathan and Lizzi's Wedding
June 27 Matt and Kate get married!
July 11 Billy and Bethany get married!
July 18 move into the new apartment w/ Rachel and Laura
early Aug Jenn and Josh come to visit!!!
Aug 6 Coldplay concert

Yep- lots to look forward to. I can't wait!!! Not to mention time by the pool, going to the beach with my friends, going camping in the mountains, being outdoors a lot. Such exciting things!

What are your big plans for the summer?

"Eclipse" by Stephanie Meyer

And this weekend I finished book 3 in the Twilight Saga.

Book 3 ("Eclipse") is better than book 2, for sure. But the same old same old when it comes to what I think about the actual series- I won't repeat for those of you who read my blog regularly. If interested, here is the "Twilight" review and here is the "New Moon" review.

I have found that more people have read these books than I would have guessed. Here is the one consensus I get from the people I have talked to: The writing is a little sub-par. It is very simple (which is why you can read about 100 pages in an hour); and if I see "Ugh." one more time I will scream. She uses "Ugh." A LOT! About every five pages or so.

Oh well- I am enjoying the series. My tween side just is giddy that (SPOILER ALERT!) Jacob and Bella get married, and devastated that Jacob doesn't have someone yet. Hopefully in book 4 (about 400 pages in at this moment).

So what should I read when I get done with this series?

American Idol: The Finals

I swore up and down this year I wasn't going to watch American Idol. Not because I don't like it, but I really wanted to cut down on my TV time. I watch entirely too much of it and I am working hard to read more, scrapbook more and just use my time more wisely. Giving up TV is one of those ways.

Not to mention- I just don't like how they put through people who are obviously bad (and probably have a mental disability or something) and then proceed to make fun of them. It breaks my heart... every time. YES, there are the normal people who are there for their 15 minutes of fame. But GEEZ! You can tell the difference. I will give American Idol this- they were better this year...

Anyway... i still got hooked. My roommate went to Chapel Hill and once Anoop was on it, all bets were off. We were watching every Tuesday and Wednesday. And of course we developed favorites over time, as well as opinions. Now I care who wins...

Here are my random thoughts on this season:

-Adam is good. I'll give him that. But he creeps me out. STOP MOVING YOUR HIPS IN THAT MANNER. and NEVER, EVER wear pants that tight. PS. this MSN article hit a lot of my opinions on Adam on the head.

-I loved Matt G. Not because he was spectacular- but because he is from Kalamazoo Michigan. That's where my parents are from. Made me smile to think about Kalamazoo having something going for them right now.

-On Tuesday, when Simon called Kara out- favorite moment of the season, maybe ever. HE WAS SO RIGHT! Kara, don't complain about Kris's song choice when you gave him the song to do!

-I think Adam will win. Do I wish Kris would win? Of course! But I really think Adam will.

-I do NOT like Kara. She adds nothing new to the judges panel and is annoying. Paula seems slightly more sane that previous seasons, but she is still all fluff and nothing more.

Ok... those are all my thoughts for now.

Have you been watching? Do you have any favorites?

Terms of Credit

There was in the December 2007 issue of Real Simple explaining some of the terminology of the financial world. I am always baffled by the terminology of the financial world- so much to try and keep straight, not to mention understand!

They gave a little cheat sheet of some of the more common terms- thought I would share a couple with you!

Balance Transfer- moving debt from one credit card to another, usually to get a better interest rate.

Credit History- a record of how you have repaid all your past credit obligations.

Credit Report- an accounting of your credit standing, including your credit history and public records.

Credit Score- a numerical evaluation of your credit worthiness, based on past performance (amount of debt, length of credit history, new credit applied or, payment history, etc).

Debt-to-available credit ratio- the total amount of money you owe compared with the total amount of credit available to you on all your cards.

Double Cycle Billing- a calculation of interest over two cycles (say, 60 days) rather than one cycle.

Grace Period- the time (usually 20 to 30 days) in which you can avoid any finance charges by fully paying off a balance.

Trailing Interest- interest charge daily after a credit accounting period ends until payment is received.

If the term has a link, it is what I could find on Dave Ramsey's website about it (whether he thinks it is a good idea, his definition, etc).

What are you learning about in the finance world? Are you working hard to pay off debts? Do it! The freedom (or even that taste of freedom) is addicting! :-)

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Tony and Mariah!

It is Tony and Mariah's third anniversary! Congrats! Can't wait to see photos of the little one due at the end of the month!

It was a fun wedding to attend- lots of friends to celebrate the day with Tony and Mariah! It was a beautiful May day in Michigan. The weather was warm- but not hot; and it was sunny! What a great day for a wedding!

The reception was short and sweet- afterwards all of us girls took a group picture. It took a little bit of effort to get us all one spot- but look how cute we all are!

And then we had a great cook out at the Cross St. house and a wandering party around Ann Arbor. It ended up at a Park with all of us taking turns on the swings. Fun memories of a great day!

Congrats to Mariah and Tony! Thanks for sharing your day with me and for all the fun memories it brings back! :-)

Forgetfulness

I was rocking and rolling this morning. Got ready in a decent amount of time. The sun was beautiful, so I enjoyed my drive to work with the windows down. It was great!

However, I pulled into the parking space. Got out. Went to grab my laptop-- and realized it was at home!

Ooops.

There goes the being early. OH WELL! I live only 10 minutes from my office. I got back in the car and went to pick it up. Since when did we become so dependent upon our computers that i couldn't come up with one thing I could do today if I didn't have my computer- not to mention the awful shape my Inbox would be in if I chose to do that.

What have you forgotten at home recently?

"New Moon" by Stephanie Meyer

I finished the second book in the Twilight Saga, "New Moon," this past weekend. I'll give you this: those books are addicting. I definitely keep thinking, "Could I read just 5 more pages here or there?" I want to know what happens!

However, I still stand by my "there-not-as-good-as-Harry-Potter" judgement.

I can see why they are teen hit.

"New Moon," was even more addicting than "Twilight;" mainly because a certain character disappears for a while and you can't help but wonder when and how he'll be brought back into the picture.

I do really like the way that Stephanie Meyer allowed for the break-up, and how she handled it in written form. Definitely how it would feel if you were Bella and you just lost the love of your life.

I also really like the way Stephanie Meyer developed the character Jacob. I fell for him! I want him to find someone to love as much as Edward and Bella love each other (maybe in book 3, please, please!). However, i am still not seeing the development in secondary characters like I did in Harry Potter. And I think that is the difference between the two created worlds. JK Rowling allowed you to care for even the smallest character, and you believed her when she said she has names for all the students at Hogwarts- even if you don't ever meet them. However, I don't know if that is the same for Stephanie Meyer's world of Forks. I do think it is her world, and she understands the characters... but why don't I care for Angela or Jessica the same way I care for the Creevy brothers in Harry Potter?

Anyway, I am half way through "Eclipse" (book 3); I am hoping to read a lot tonight... I really want to know how life turns out for these characters. ;-)

Daddy's Girl

My Dad is a teacher and I have many memories of him taking care of my brother and I. Because he had summers off (and we lived at the beach), we didn't got to summer camp. Dad took care of us. Our schedule was pretty much the same everyday:

- get up (around 8am)

- go to swim practice/Vacation Bible School/whatever activity was booked

- run errands (the stores opened at 10)

- come home

- eat lunch

- go to beach (at 1:30, after the WGN news was done)

- come home (normally around 4)

- eat dinner

- play outside

- go to bed

- repeat

Many great memories- and I am so thankful that I got to spend that time with my dad. Not everyone can say they truly spent everyday possible on the beach when they were kids... with their dad who would take them out into the Ocean up to his neck (It was way over our heads! My dad is 6 feet, 6 inches tall), who would bring snacks with him, who would lather us up with sunscreen because mom told him to, who would let us fish and crab, who enjoyed the beach as much as we did.

Well, this post here and this post here reminded me of some other stories about time spent with the dad.

My dad loves music. He probably has a better music collection than me and he is always adding to it. Well my mom loves to remind him that when she would come home from work she would find me in my crib watching MTV while he was grading papers. Yep, sounds about right. MTV was never off limits in my house (but in their defense, at the time it was more music videos than they crap they play today).

My dad also loved my long curly hair growing up. Check out these photos of me with the long dirty blonde/honey brown, curly hair:

(Sorry these are so blurry)

It made him sad when I got older and started cutting it. ANYWAY, in the summers I would get up and need someone to do my hair. Dad, doing his best, would brush it and then put barrettes in my hair. EXCEPT, they wouldn't actually hold any hair back, they would just clip in my hair that was already in my face. Come on girls, you know what I am talking about. Too bad we don't have any pictures of that... at least that I have in my possession.

What memories do you have of your dad? I am blessed with an amazing father! Love you, Dad!

I'm Just Reducing Stress!

It has been nice to be on a reading kick recently... when I said I read a lot as a kid, I mean A LOT! You couldn't get the book out of my hands; I would bring a book to a restaurant, to church, to the beach, in the car, to school, everywhere. We have pictures of me reading on a dinner cruise we took, at a hockey game... I read everywhere.

And while I can now restrain myself, I still love to pick up a good book and get lost. And now I have a great excuse to start up my old habits of reading everywhere...

This article claims that reading reduces stress!

Do you think my boss would fall for that? I am reading at my desk to take a breather... my volunteers are stressing me out!

Umm, yea I don't think it would either. But, I could try. ;-).

Jon and Kate Plus 8

Update: Here is Kate's reaction. I commend her- I think she handling this all very well. I hope the family can continue to support each other and do what is best...

I love Jon and Kate Plus 8. The kids are just too adorable; I want to be friends with them!

Anyway, all the recent tabloid talk just makes me sad. Not because I believe the stories or because I should even have an opinion on their life.

It makes me sad for the family, for Jon and Kate, for the stress the show and the rumors (whether true or not) are having on the family. I am sure it is getting talked about at school (poor Maddy and Cara); I am sure they can see the photos in the magazines when they go to the store. It can't be easy.

I wish that our culture knew when to stop digging into celebrities' lives. Yes they signed up for fame when they did they show, but they didn't ask to be followed by hungry paparazzi, looking for the best way to cause a sensation.

And yes, I realize by even commenting on the stories, I am only feeding the frenzy and given the magazines a reason to continue to hunt the famous. I just wish we could draw a line and respect it.

Join me in praying for this wonderful family. Their faith does get to shine through and I just pray that God uses this to draw the family closer together, not rip them apart.

Walls and Word Vomit

Warning: If you don't like the word vomit, then don't read any further. I will be using it occasionally (but take comfort in the fact that I am not talking about actual vomit here).

First- let's define Word Vomit. I first heard this phrase from a girl I lived with the summer after my Junior Year; I stayed in Ann Arbor that summer for my Internship at Pulte Homes. I sublet at 710 Catherine house and one night I stayed up late talking with Nikki. She was going through some rough moments and she "word vomited" in her words. It is basically what it sounds like: all the words to describe what you are going through just come right on out of your mouth, almost in way you can't control. So there you go- word vomit.

That being said, I don't word vomit. At least not often. And most likely not about things I haven't dealt with. I have walls and they are high my friends. If I have dealt with something I am feeling then I'll probably be willing to talk to you about it.

If I haven't then most likely not.

I don't like being vulnerable.

And its not that in the midst of being vulnerable that I mind it.

It's the way Saran attacks me afterwards. I just regret it. I question why I ever said those things. I feel dumb. I feel like an idiot for letting my guard down, for letting people see me as weak.

And while I know accountability and being vulnerable is a good thing, I just don't do it.

I am working on it and have made improvements by leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. But I am learning that I need someone to ask me questions, someone I trust to do it, too. If not, I probably won't be offering up the material (in my head I think, why bother them with that information, they don't want to know).

In fact, I am now realizing I want my closest friends to ask me about it they notice something. Why are you so sad? What are you learning about? What are you reading? Do you like that boy? Are you feeling fulfilled at church? Do you miss being in a Bible Study?

But they don't, and yet I expect them to. So now I am trying to decide how to tell them that I want to be asked. That I want to be pursued in that way. That is one way I feel loved...

So what is the point of this rambling entry? Pray for me... Pray that I would be open with people... that I would lower my walls (especially with those people who are closest to me) and that i would learn how to word vomit.

A funny one...

here is a funny blog post (or at least I thought so) that I want to share with your before I try and type out a more serious one.

If it offends anyone, sorry! But I just laughed imaging if it all really did happen at church.

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer

I caved. I am reading the Twilight series. I tried to resist... I really did. But I couldn't. I think that I am about 13 at heart. I love all things Tween... High School Musical, Disney movies, Harry Potter (although that is more accepted to love in the adult world), etc. And now I am reading the Twilight series.

The first book ("Twilight") was addicting. Stephanie Meyer definitely draws you in from page one. I wanted to know more about her characters, the world she was creating. I wanted to know what parts of vampire lore she was keeping and what she wasn't (good call on the coffins).

However, all the comparisons to Harry Potter? Unwarranted, at least so far. Harry Potter is (in my opinion) a much better written book where the world seems more developed. I care for the characters more than just the main three- I care for side characters who come in and out. In Twilight, I am glad she has friends at school but I am not yet invested in them. Maybe as I get into book two (New Moon), my opinion will change. I'll let you know.

On a side note- the Twilight movie? Definitely teeny bopper; I watched it with my roommate on Saturday night and we couldn't stop laughing. Awkward glace here, staring there... lines straight from the book that were slightly cheesy there and much worse on screen. However, if I was truly 13, I probably would eat it up.

Have you caved? Have you read this 4 part saga yet?

Scrapbook: Mom's Album for Jaye

Ok, so on my list of 26 Things I mentioned I wanted to Scrapbook at least three times a month. It certainly didn't happen in April, but I am giving myself a pass because it was only a half month. But, I'll have to get serious about it during May. Let's see if that can happen...

Anyway, for Christmas my mom had me make her an scrapbook/album for her of each of us kids (so one for Ross and one for me). I worked pretty hard on them, and I think they turned out great. Here are some of my favorite spreads from my album (I'll share Ross's later...):

Yep, look at those baby pictures. I really like the one on the left- don't know why. PS- don't I look like an alien baby on the right? My head is HUGE!

I did at least a page for each grade... my mom wanted me to use the professional pictures; I embellished with some of my personal pics from the years.

Each graduation page turned out pretty nice... or at least I think so. Really hard to believe that I have not only graduated High School (almost seven years ago), but also College. Also pretty crazy I can remember each day pretty clearly in mind, what I did in what order.

I also did a page/spread for memories and/or activities. So, the one on the far left is for all my Michigan memories. Click on it to make it bigger and check out the picture of my dad with a slight mullet- it's hot. The center picture is of the Girl Scout page, and the right one is of Little Point Sable, Michigan- my favorite place on earth.

Good Things: April

Another month of 2009 has passed us by! Yikes! Where did it go? April was a much better month than March... why? because I wasn't working cra-azy hours! Here is my list of Good Things for April:

1- no April Fools' Joke (I hate being fooled...)
2- dinner date with Jenn Lowther!
3- Laura and I hosted dinner at our apartment... people actually showed! (and it wasn't too awkward)
4- Easter Outreach at Church- had lots of fun hanging with some sweet kiddos; Ravi's b-day party!
5- went to the NC State IM fields and played frisbee. So nice to be outside, the spring here has been beautiful!
6- UNC won the National Championship! Watched it at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill
7- took a sick day... nice to just sleep all afternoon (although it sucked to feel crappy)
8- my guilty pleasure, The Real World/ Road Rules Challenge began (The Duel II)
9- made some yummy puppy chow for my weekend in Charlotte
10- Charlotte, went to Ikea!
11- the bro came to hang out; evening at Meg's, Cranium was super fun (despite the fact that my team lost)
12- Easter- the family visited and we went to Umstead.
13- worked from home in the afternoon- nice to sit on the couch and get some things done
14- lunch at Chick-fil-a (amazing how just that can make my day)
15- dinner at Chili's w/ Stephanie, Jenn, and Laura
16- Recognitions Night for one of my areas- just ends up being a fun night versus feeling like I am working
17- bought U2 tickets!!!! went to see Bride Wars w/ Laura (pretty good movie)
18- b-day party at Red Robin (not my b-day)
19- just a blah day... took an afternoon nap
20- Tax Rebate arrived- completed Baby Step #2!!!
21- FREE CONE DAY at Ben & Jerry's... yummy!
22- Matt G. didn't go home on American Idol (sue me, I like him!)
23- Friday's w/ my volunteers wasn't all work talk (thank goodness!)
24- slept on the couch (something I like to do, but don't get to very often); sunbathed in the afternoon!
25- Kanki for lunch, Fish Fry at Pullen Park and then downtown Raleigh wandering
26- afternoon spent outside in the sun!
27- dinner @ the Nieman's, sweet prayer time with the girls
28- last Try-It Troop meeting :-)
29- All Day Staff "Fun" Day @ Lake Johnson
30- Shag Dancing at North Hills

Sorry this is a couple of days late. We got a new phone system on Friday at work and it was messing with my Internet all day and then I just don't seem to blog on the weekend.