TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

“She grew up on the side of the road
Where the church bells ring and strong love grows
She grew up good
She grew up slow
Like American honey

Steady as a preacher
Free as a weed
Couldn't wait to get goin'
But wasn't quite ready to leave
So innocent, pure, and sweet
American honey

There's a wild, wild whisper
Blowing in the wind
Calling out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothings sweeter than summer time
And American honey

Get caught in the race
Of this crazy life
Trying to be everything can make you lose your mind
I just wanna go back in time
To American honey, yea

There's a wild, wild whisper
Blowing in the wind
Calling out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothing's sweeter than summer time
And American honey

Gone for so long now
I gotta get back to her somehow”

~ American Honey by Lady Antebellum (Click here to listen.)

Figuring out who we are and what makes us tick is one of life’s greatest challenges.  I tend to be a little more self-aware than most.  I’m not sure if that’s a blessing or a curse.  Still, we all get a little lost sometimes and need to find our way back.  This is the story of where I’ve been, who I am, and where I want to be. 

I’m a girl that grew up in a small town with a family who loved me unconditionally and encouraged me to be anything I wanted to be.  I grew up in church and was constantly surrounded by good Godly people who wanted me to know His love.  I grew up believing that I could do anything. I was smart enough to know the rest of the world didn’t grow up in my warm fuzzy little bubble.  I couldn’t wait to get out there and experience all the world had to offer me, but at the same time I was completely terrified.  Like the song says, I couldn’t wait to get goin’, but I wasn’t quite ready to leave.  I was insistent that I needed to go away to college.  When it came time to go, I was so scared that my parents had to drag me to school literally kicking and screaming.  As it turns out, college was a good thing.  Imagine that?!  I learned a lot… more about life than anything else.  I made mistakes.  I formed lifelong friendships.  I got sick, and my life was changed forever.  My eyes were opened to a world I didn’t know even existed.  I learned hard lessons.  I learned to take care of myself.  I learned the value of a dollar.  I learned how lucky I was to have grown up on the side of the road where the church bells ring and strong love grows.  I learned that strong character and values are essential.  I learned about honesty and heartbreak.  I learned who I am.

Sometimes we do get caught in the race of this crazy life and we need to take a minute to remind ourselves who we are and where we came from.  I’m not perfect, but I’m happy.  I’m thankful for the people and experiences that helped shape me.

I’m a Christian. I’m funny.  I’m smart.  I’m kind and compassionate.  I’m stubborn and strong-willed.  I’m creative.  I’m a dreamer.  I’ve got a wild imagination.  I’ve got a temper.  I’m nerdy.  I’m independent. I like to be in control, but I want to be with someone who will take charge and can take care of me.  I have strong opinions about everything, and I don’t hesitate to share them.  I think the color of a person’s skin should be totally irrelevant.  I think we should all be free to love whoever we want without judgment.  I struggle with faith, but I believe God has a plan for me.  I work hard and I play hard.  I value my freedom.  I don’t like to be told what to do.  I’m funky, quirky, and occasionally awkward.  I’m funny.  I don’t like going to the bar every weekend… I don’t even like beer.  I like going to the movies, game night, theme parties, sharing a meal with friends, and road trips.  Most of the time I don’t care what anyone else thinks about me, but sometimes I do.  I want to be with a man who wants to be with me and only me.  I like being comfortable. I’m a jeans, t-shirt, and flip flops kind of girl.  I think it’s fun to get dressed up every now and then, but only when I feel like it.  I love music.  My family and friends are a priority.  I’m a big believer in communication.  I want to talk about all of my girly feelings, and I want to be with someone who isn’t afraid to share theirs with me.  I believe kids should be kids.  I think it’s our job as adults to set a good example, encourage them, teach them right from wrong, and keep them safe.  I think honesty is the best policy.  I cry during movies, songs, and commercials… even when I’m not sad.  I seek adventure.  I volunteer.  I have a heart for those who are hurting.  I wish for world peace.  I’m a diabetic with a sweet tooth.  I’m always going to be curvy… but I still want to be healthy.  I’m passionate.  I’m feisty.  I forgive easily.  I love freely… too freely often times.  I talk a lot.  I’m smart and clever.  I sometimes say things I don’t mean, and instantly regret it.  I apologize too often.  I expect too much of others.  I’m sentimental.  I’m confident in my career and a little insecure the rest of the time.  I’m emotional.  I’m a liberal Republican.  I believe we should all be free to be ourselves.  I support our military, but not war.  I believe in being faithful.  I love to dress up for Halloween.  I love giving presents even more than I love getting them.  I’m thoughtful.  I like making others feel special.  I like being the life of the party.  I’m a planner.  I’m not in any rush, but I do want to be married someday.  If I have kids, I want to adopt.  I take pictures of everything.  I like nature, but I’m allergic to it… literally.  I wiggle in my sleep.  I’m fearless.  I have a hard time trusting people.  I’m still learning to love myself and forgive myself for my mistakes. I want to surround myself with people who love me just as I am.  

So, this is me, take it or leave it.

An Ode to Pajamas

Who doesn't love a cozy pair of pjs?! My love affair with pajamas is the real deal. I have an impressive collection of pjs. I have cute pajamas, cozy pajamas, sexy pajamas, and what I like to call daytime pajamas... those are the pjs you wear around all day when you're when you're busy being a lazy hermit.  In fact, I'm wearing my daytime pajamas as I write this ode to my favorite snuggly duds.

The list of reasons to love pajamas is endless! Here are a few of my favorites:

They make you feel good... when you put them on it's instantly soothing and relaxing... magical!

They're comfortable... and generally a little stretchy which is helpful when you need a little extra room for your food baby.

They keep you warm... or cool depending on the season.

They're FUN-ctional... they serve all of the above noted functions, and they do it in style! I have striped pajamas, polka-dot pajamas, silky pajamas, sparkly pajamas, animal print pajamas, holiday themed pajamas, patriotic pajamas, and lacy pajamas.

FACT: One can never have too many pairs of pajamas! So today, I encourage you to follow my lead and give thanks for your pajamas! Show your appreciation by spending as much time as possible in them this weekend!

Glittery Man Pants

The bond between sisters is hard to explain. My little sister is my best friend. She's the strongest and most interesting person I know. She's cool and I love her. Basically, I want to be just like her when I grow up! We are opposites in almost every way you can imagine... and yet every now and then we have these moments where we are thinking the exact same thing at the exact same time. Our family affectionally refers to this phenomenon as sharing the brain.

Tonight, we were sharing the brain. I was watching the CMAs. She was watching the CMAs. Neither of us knew what the other one was doing. Luke Bryan hops on stage to sing his catchy little tune and immediately I reach for my phone to call Katie. As I'm reaching it starts ringing. I answer and in unison we say "Oh wow! Are you watching..." and "Can you even believe..." followed up with "...those awful glittery man pants!" We went on to have a ten minute conversation discussing the glittery man pants. To sum it up, Luke Bryan = HOT! Glittery man pants = NOT! His performance and the commercial break came to an end and the show went on.  Our conversation was filled with outrageous laughter and then ended with an abrupt "It's back on! Okay bye!" Ultimately, we decided that my brother-in-law, Keaton, is totally getting a pair of glittery man pants for Christmas. Lucky. 

Side Note: The glittery man pants were so scary there weren't even any pictures available online yet... give it a day or two and Google... Luke Bryan CMA performance 2011. Yikes. 

I'm too pretty to die in Oklahoma!

I can think of a few places worse than Oklahoma, but most of them are third world countries. I hate Oklahoma... not just a little bit, a lot. Apparently, Oklahoma feels the same way about me because it's trying to kill me. So far tonight I have survived an earthquake, a tornado, a flash flood, and enough wild game to feed one of those third world countries I mentioned earlier. Did I mention that I hate Oklahoma? Luckily, I have exceptional balance, I'm a good swimmer, and I have a gift for deer whispering... similar to dog whispering only cooler! I'm stuck here until Thursday evening... which can't come soon enough. Assuming I survive, you'll know I've crossed back over into the promise land (aka Texas) when you hear me joyfully yelling hallelujah as I speed across the state line. Did I mention that I hate Oklahoma? Is it Thursday yet?

These Boots Were Made For Walkin’

My parents got engaged just a few months after they started dating.  They knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together right away, but they waited to tie the knot longer than one might expect given their short courtship.  It wasn’t because they weren’t sure.  It wasn’t because they planned a big extravagant wedding.  It was because my Paw-Paw wanted to have a new pair of boots made for the wedding.  True story.  My parent's engagement lasted the exact length of time it takes to have a handcrafted pair of men’s boots fitted and sewn.  Texans in general take boots very seriously.  My family takes it to a whole new level.  My Paw-Paw has his boots handmade… and they aren’t cheap.  You could put a kid through college on what he has spent on boots in his lifetime.  He’s a very frugal man, but he understands the value in a good pair of boots.  That has been passed down through the generations.  His great grandson is two and already owns a pair of square toed Anderson Bean boots.  For those of you that aren’t in the know when it comes to boots, Anderson Bean boots are like the Rolls-Royce of boots… the closest thing you can get to a one of a kind handmade boot.  Paw-Paw and Daddy have always made sure all of our boot needs were met.  There was no style, color, or brand that we were denied over the years… even when our request was absurd.  In the first grade, I was convinced that I could not settle for a plain red pair of boots like every other girl in my class… I needed a “special” pair of boots!  They were special alright.  They were bright yellow and I thought I looked gooood!  I showed up to school sportin’ my special boots and immediately, Ashley Jacobs (you guys may know him now as Michael) dubbed me “Mustard Feet” and it stuck.  I was devastated that no one else could see the beauty in my bright yellow boots!  They were magical and unique… and mustard yellow.  I’m sure my parents saw the whole “Mustard Feet” thing coming from a mile away.  As adults, we anticipate things like that.  Still, my Paw-Paw bought me those special mustard yellow boots without hesitation, and I rocked ‘em like they were goin’ out of style.  Anyone who knows me well realizes I never really outgrew my tendency towards all things flashy and different. 

I'm all grown up now, and I still follow in my Paw-Paw’s boot shaped footsteps.  You need two pairs of boots… one pair for every day, and one pair fancy enough to be fit for a wedding.  I’ve become a bit more sensible about the color of my boots, but they’re no less flashy than they were in the first grade.  Even my every day boots secretly scream for attention… under my jeans you’ll find red uppers with purple stitching.  Boring on the bottom, funky on top!

My fancy boots are a bit more subdued.  You won’t find their color in a rainbow, but they’ve got their own spicy flare… they’re a brand new pair of Lucchese Vaquero snip-toe boots that make my feet happy and my heart sing!

Here’s the most important thing about boots… you can wear them anywhere with anything and you’ll always look hot!  You’ll also be comfortable, and that’s at the top of my list of priorities when purchasing new shoes.  I wear mine with jeans, dresses, shorts, and yesterday when I couldn’t find my flip flops I slipped them on with my pajama pants and drove to the Sonic for a Diet Coke… yeah, I looked hot!  Trust me.

Moral of the story: If you don’t own at least one pair of boots, you should go ahead and ask Jesus for forgiveness when you say your prayers tonight.       

Ain’t Nothin’ Sweet ‘Bout How I Hold My Gun

What does your family do for fun?  Mine plays with guns… in a responsible totally legal kind of way.  I’ve never shot a pistol before (until today)… truthfully, I’ve never shot any kind of gun before.  I’m always the nerdy kid sitting in the shade reading while everyone else blows through the ammo.  To say I have a healthy respect for guns would be an understatement.  They scare me… so much so that until now, I didn’t even like being around them.  I’ve always been curious what it would feel like to shoot one, and it looks like fun… assuming you can get past the fear that you’ll accidentally shoot yourself or someone else.  So today, I went to the Bexar County Shooting Range with my aunt and uncle.  Turns out good aim runs in the family!  I’m not one to brag, but I’m good… like real good… like pity the fool who tries to mess with me good!  A picture is worth a thousand words: 

Playing with guns is fun!  Playing with guns is empowering!  Playing with guns is also really dangerous if you’re not careful, so take it seriously.  I shot two different kinds of guns… a Glock 27, 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Ruger LCP, 380 caliber semi-automatic pistol.  The Ruger is tiny, cute, and sassy… it’s also deceptively hard to handle.  The Glock is bigger and easier to handle.  Plus, it kinda makes you feel like a real BAD A$$ when you shoot it… pardon the language, but there’s really no other way to describe it.  If you’re not clear on what feeling like a BAD A$$ looks likes, here are a few pictures:

The best part about going to the shooting range is that it requires 100% of your attention and focus.  That’s a beautiful thing… no time to dwell on any of life’s troubles or the laundry that awaits you at home!  I was nervous and my body was tense, but it was strangely relaxing… all the junk going on in my head was completely silenced… totally peaceful.  It’s kind of odd to think that aiming a gun and shooting to kill is a fun, relaxing, peaceful pastime, but it was like going to my mental happy place… in a good way, not in a creepy way… no need to be alarmed.  There are also some real safety benefits to knowing how to properly use a gun.  As a single girl who travels for a living, it’s not a terrible idea to have one handy as a means of protecting myself.  As it turns out, guns aren’t scary… if you know how to use one properly and responsibly.  Meaning, it’s not okay to pull out your gun and wave it around to let the lady who cut you off in traffic know that you find her poor driving to be mildly offensive and annoying.  It should only be used as a means of self-protection or for sport… and aiming at a person’s feet making them jump around to avoid your bullets is not a sport… although I cannot lie, I can think of a few people I’d “play with” if it were a sport…

Bottom line, I’ve really been missing out all these years!  I’m asking Santa Claus for a Glock, a Concealed Handgun License (CHL), and sassy hot pink pair of those ear protector thingies for Christmas!  BANG! BANG! BANG!     

Swagga Like Us: Why Texans LOVE Texas!

I’m in a Lone Star state of mind today, and I’ve been thinkin’ about all the things that make Texas so great!  Texans have a special kind of pride in our state that’s hard to explain to those who don’t live here… nobody has swagga like us!  As Robert Earl Keen likes to say, “The Road Goes on Forever and the Party Never Ends!” My list of things I love about Texas is a lot like the road… it could go on forever…

The Dallas Cowboys, The Texas Rangers, The Dallas Mavericks, The Dallas Stars, The Houston Texans, and The Houston Astros are all proud to call Texas home!

The bluebonnet is our state flower.  They’re kind of a big deal…

Friday Night Lights! No other state takes high school football as seriously as we do.  Heck, most of our high school football teams could give the Houston Texans a run for their money! ;-)

We’re home to the Live Music Capitol of the World! ATX knows how to rock, roll, and honky tonk! For that, we are so very thankful!

Willie Nelson… enough said.

We used to be our own Republic.  If we get tired of playing nice with the other states, we have the right to secede.  Awesome.

Everything is bigger in Texas… including our economy.  It’s the 14^th largest economy in the world!  That’s bigger than the economy of most countries.  True story.

We don’t have a personal income tax, and you can buy a house twice the size of what you can buy in California or New York for about half the price.  Who doesn’t love a bargain?!

Texas is home to some of the finest establishments of higher education in the country. Hook ‘em! Guns up! Whoop! Sic ‘em!

We’ve got mountains, canyons, beaches, rivers, woods, and everything in between. 

We’re friendly.  We wave.  We say yes ma’am and no sir.  Basically, we have manners and that’s not universal. 

We love guns, and we know how to use ‘em!

The ladies of Texas can skin a deer in the morning and look like the quintessential southern bell by the time the sun sets.  Speaking of sunsets…

We’ve got the most gorgeous sunsets in the world.  Almost all of the sunsets used in television and film are shot right here in Texas... that means even our sunsets are famous!

Our food will make your taste buds high five each other!  Some like it hot, we like it extra spicy with a delicious burst of flavor for good measure!  The best part… it’s served in Texas sized portions!

Simply put, we’ve got history… an entire text book full.  Texas History is part of the core curriculum for Texas students.  We’re as proud of our past as we are of our state!

There are so many things to love about Texas that it would be nearly impossible to list them all!  Bottom line, Texas is AWESOME!  If you don’t agree, you’re clearly from the portion of the map simply noted as NOT TEXAS.