What I've been doing

Something that is very near and dear to my heart and that has been keeping me busy as of late...and will be keeping me very busy until April 27th...actually until 6am April 28th....is Relay For Life.

I have touched a little here and there about the topic and how volunteering with the American Cancer Society is one of my passions. If you have been following me for quite sometime, then you know why it means so much to me to volunteer my time to such a wonderful organization...if you are new, Hello by the way...then let me explain.

Four years ago this coming March, I lost my best friend to cancer.

I hate cancer.

Always have, always will.

When my friend was diagnosed and after her surgery and all through her treatments, I felt helpless. Useless. I wanted to do so much. To take away her pain if I could, but I couldn't. I also couldn't cure this monstrosity of a disease that was taking over her body. All I could do was to be there, to make her laugh, to brush her hair, to try on wigs, to paint her nails...anything I could do just to take her mind off of what was really going on...I would do it.

After she passed, I once again, felt helpless. Even more useless. I was lost...I was lost for quite sometime actually. These plans I had after I graduated college didn't seem to matter anymore. I had no idea what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. All I knew is that I wanted my friend back and there wasn't anything I could do about it.

What I did do the last summer she was here with us, was volunteer for Relay For Life. I had volunteered before in college, because I had to...you know if your in a sorority and you have to do philanthropy work...that sort of thing. I liked it, but didn't think about again until after DonEtta got sick.

I volunteered kinda last minute. I actually ran into a local fire fighter who told me about it and how he had a team, and I will be lying if I didn't join his team just because he was a fire fighter. However, the night of Relay was so much more. It was hard that night, during the remembering ceremony. If you have never been to a Relay For Life event, the remembering ceremony takes place when the sun goes completely down and all along the track they have bags or luminaries with names on them. Names of those you have lost or those who are still fighting their battle or those who won. It's completely quite and everyone just walks along the track...it's very emotional and therapeutic at the same time.

After that and after the passing of my friend,I knew this was my cause. Everyone has their cause that means something to them. The following year my mom and I had a team and were team captains, the next year I served on the committee as the Survivor Chair and this year I am the Co-Chair of the entire event.

To say I am busy is an understatement, but it's a great busy. I actually feel like I am making a difference in the fight against cancer. 

For our first team captain meeting, I showed this video...just as a reminder of why us volunteers do what we do. Why we are willing to camp outside for 24 hours do all sorts of crazy games to keep awake, why I am stressing over getting money raised and donations in...sometimes we let these big and material things  get in the way of why we really Relay. So, please watch this video...and you'll see why this means so much to me. Maybe you'll be inspired to start your own team and get involved. 

For more information you can visit www.relayforlife.org 

I'm not here...I'm there.

Hey girls....hope your weekend was fab. Mine was great...it consisted of a lot of nothing.

Which was perfect.

Today I am guest blogging over at my in real life best friend...Miss Football's blog...Figuring out the Plot...so, go over and check her out.

It's all about friendships...in particular our group of four's friendship. She is doing a series this week based on this book she bought for of four of us to read and then write about.

Hope you all have a great day!!

 

A little bit of everything

I'm a procrastinator.

As in if you were to look up procrastinator in the dictionary..there I be, just twiddling my thumbs until the very last minute I need to get something done. I work best when I am stressed out to the max. My Relay For Life meetings...I go over stuff the day of, blogs...well, seeing how I haven't blogged since Wednesday...and something else I have been procrastinating on that is probably not something one should do....is a toothache.

Yes, a toothache...and because of this little pain in my tooth, I now have to be referred to a specialist to get it fixed...who by the way, the one time I try and not procrastinate and I call them first thing this morning to hurry up and get in before, you know my tooth gets worse....they aren't freaking open.

Joy.

Procrastination still wins even if I tried to stop it.

In other news, I have successfully entered my food this week...well excluding today because I haven't had lunch or dinner yet, but I am doing very well on entering all my food choices into myfitnesspal.

Go me!

I am however not doing very well on working out this week...between working late and meetings and going to bed at 8pm...yes, 8pm...I have been too exhausted to work out...after all I don't won't to be lifting some weights and then drop them on my foot because I fell asleep half way through the work out. What good would that do me?

I bought the new Jake Owen CD, well it's probably not new but new to me and I am in love. I mean, I love him as in he's gorgeous but I love literally every single song...especially this one.."Alone with you"

Can't wait to see him in concert in a couple of weeks...hope that collar bone heals up nicely Mr. Owen...because I expect to see you.

I have special assignment this weekend to watch the movie "Tangled"...I have never watched it and my friend is throwing her little girl ,who will be four, a tangled birthday party...and I have no idea what the heck she is talking about when she tells me we need to make this or that just like it is in the movie.

Therefore, tonight...I just might be watching Tangled.

So is the life of a single gal.

I apologize how all over the place this post is...but I haven't blogged in days and I feel as though these are very important things you people should know...ha!

Everyone have a great day and wonderful weekend!

XOXO

I've got friends in low places

Well hello there my people...I have so crazy busy I am not even sure what day it is.

Can we say weekend??

Yesterday was a looooong day. Up for work at 6am...then two non-work related meetings later and I am finally home by 9 and passed out hardcore by 10.

Where does the time go?

I'll blog more on my non-work related meetings later, but right now I just want to touch base on what I am sure you have already seen or heard.

There is a certain well known singer that lives just down the road and across the railroad tracks, up a long hill and around an even longer corner from me...the man Garth Brooks himself. The past two weeks or so he has been in my hometown having a trail against Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in Yukon. The reason behind the trial is about three years ago Garth made a 500,000 dollar donation to the hospital and in turn was promised that a woman's health center was to be built in Garth Brook's late mother's honor.


Garth sued the hospital because nothing was coming of the promises made.


Well, last night Garth was awarded the 500,000 back plus another 500,000 in punitive damages.


Do I think he deserved to win?


Hell to the yes!


Garth is a great man, I know this because of the community in which I live in. He and his wife Trisha are the nicest most caring people and had you not known they were these big time country music super stars...you would think they were just like you and I. Because they are just like you and I. Active in the community, kind, generous...etc.


What I admired most about Garth during this trial was that he wasn't just fighting to get his money back, the whole reason he donated the money in the first place was in honor of his mom, who passed away from cancer in 2009...he felt as though his mother's wish was being tossed around...that he disappointed her in some way.


Before the verdict was read...Garth simply stated this was just all in memory of my mom...this is what she wanted, "This little pistol....she deserves nothing but good!"


There is no doubt in my mind that this money will go to charity, Garth already mentioned that a time or two and I am sure we will be seeing a hospital here in Oklahoma with his mom's name on it.


One of the juror's when asked why they chose the verdict they did said, "We wanted to show them(the hospital) not to do that anymore to anyone else."


Just one of the many reasons why I love Oklahoma, why I love country music and why I love Garth Brooks!

My weekend in a nutshell

Why can't work weeks be two days and the weekend be five days??

I had a fairly chill weekend...for a person who says she never does anything sure has been busy on the weekends for the month of January.

Quite the social butterfly I am....Friday night my mom and went out with some of her friends...then Saturday we got our hair did...I got my blonde highlights put back in...all this warm weather we have been having makes me SO ready for Spring/Summer.

In fact, I almost bought this swimsuit at Target yesterday, but opted to just wait a little bit longer. Thought maybe If I bought it and hung it up it would be great motivation.

Saturday night I went out with my friend Katie to celebrate her new job...

Sunday I went and watched Beauty and the Beast in 3D...well, it was supposed to be in 3D...they didn't give us any glasses and said that showing wasn't in 3D...I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I am a sucker for Disney movies and Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite ones...it's funny how you look at the movie differently and notice different things as an adult then you did as a child. I went and saw the movie with my good friend/boss and her three year old little girl, who is so adorable and I love her dearly...

Even more exciting than watching Beauty and the Beast...I learned that Finding Nemo is coming out in 3D...LOVE that movie.

Yes, I am five years old.

Sunday evening was rounded out with a great ass kicking in my first spin class in like five years!! My friend, who has never gone to a spin class before, and I went and we had a great work out...I'd be lying if I said my butt didn't hurt today...but hey...no pain no gain...I have to be able to look good in that swimsuit.

That's it for today ladies...hope everyone has a great day!

Paranoid much?

This quote really has nothing to do with this post today, like at all...but I just really love it and wanted to use it.

So, yesterday I posted this which I found off of pinterst

and maybe me posting it made me more paranoid then normal...if that is at all possible...and maybe watching Criminal Minds right before I went to bed probably wasn't a very good idea...which led to me hearing "noises" outside...and quadruple locking every door and window and looking outside every window and walking up and down the house...all the while my ever so trust worthy basset was doing what all good hound dogs do...following me as I go crazy looking out all the windows and checking locks....

and because I wasn't paranoid already...it led to me searching for these items that every paranoid, criminal minds watcher, obsessive door locker, must have...all while searching for these under the covers with the light on...because we all know that whoever is breaking in to your house...certainly won't get you while your "hidden" under your covers.

The fact that these are pink does not decrease the intimidation factor...not at all.

and even though I am quite the skeet shooter when I go with my brother and dad( intruders beware, I am a good shot)...I thought me having a pistol might be a little dangerous, so I searched for these instead.

Pink tasers...

Until then...know that I am armed with a ferocious basset hound...who takes no prisoners.

I am loving

It has been awhile since I have linked up with Jamie for What I love Wednesday...so here we go...

I am loving that the weather for this weekend is going to be back in the 70s...now this is my kind of January weather. Perfect to finally get my lazy butt outside and run!!

I am loving that I am getting my hair done this Saturday. I think I am wanting a change, but not sure what. For the winter I have done the low-lights and now with the nice weather and the fact I want it to be spring/summer so bad...I am thinking about putting all my blonde back in. What do you think??

Also, I need a new hairstyle...I want to keep the length, but I need something. Some bounce or whatever. Does your hair just ever get in the phase where no matter what you do, it just doesn't look good?

That's where my hair is at right now.

Ideas are welcome ladies.

I am loving that American Idol starts tonight!! My favorite part of American Idol are the auditions. 

I just don't understand if you know that your friend can not sing, why do you let them go on National TV and embarrass themselves??

I am loving some of my pinterest finds...

This is so true...I am a paranoid freak about noises...one time, my blinds were open and someone knocked on my door...I didn't want them to see me...so I army crawled to the peephole. It's true. And I am not ashamed.

75 healthy salad recipes

Spring

And I am loving that Monday night I volunteered with one of the American Cancer Society's programs...that is funded by Relay For Life, it's called "Look Good...Feel Better!"...it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have done...and I can't wait to blog more about it.

What are you loving today??

I'm a princess and this is my tiara

I realize I have had two tiara related posts in a row...obsessed much?

That would be yes.

I have been slacking on my posts as of late, posting late in the day, I am running out of ideas to blog about. Y'all have that...bloggers block? I need help, ideas...so if you lovely ladies would like to know anything about me or my dogs or Oklahoma...or anything in particular...let me know.

Tell me what you would like to see more blogs about.

Make-up...because I do love make-up, hair...I do do a mean poof...snookie watch out.

You tell me and I will blog about it or try to blog about it.

So, this weekend I thought I would try and be a college kid again.

I failed.  How I ever stayed out late and still functioned properly at my job/school the next day...beats the heck out of me.

Friday night a bunch of us celebrated my friends bday at the Hard Rock Casino..no not the one in Vegas(I wish) but the one here in good ol' Tulsa, Oklahoma. It's a lot of fun...so if any of y'all are passing through and are looking for a fun place, the Hard Rock is the place to go!



We danced, had drinks, laughed, I got kicked out of the club for trying to sneak past the bouncer. I mean, I should have known that after the first time of sneaking in, my luck was probably going to run out if I tried it again.

We had IHOP at 2 or 3 in the morning...not good for myfitnesspal...all and all it was a great time had by all.

And I was reminded of why I am 27 not 21 and can not do what I used to do.

Not.At.All.

Saturday afternoon I had my kick-off event for Relay For Life...I am very excited that this means that we are officially getting closer to the actual day of Relay which is in April.

Then Saturday night I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to watch my favorite thing ever. My Superbowl if you will.

Miss America.

I have to give props to my girl Miss Oklahoma..who by the way goes to my Alma Mater...Oklahoma State University. She was runner-up...should have won first if you ask me.



On another note, I realize that I am exactly like Amy Farrah Fowler...well, I am not a scientist or anything...but given a Tiara...I would most definitely react like this.

"I'm a princess and this is my tiara!"

LOVE IT!!
Tonight I am off to volunteer for one of the programs that Relay For Life raises money for. It's called "Look Good...Feel Better" and it's a program specially designed for women who are undergoing treatment to come and get fitter for wigs and to learn how to apply make-up now that their skin has probably changed. I am very excited about this. Can not wait to tell y'all more about it.

Have a great evening my loves!

Given a cape and a tiara...I could rule the world

Hello Friday!!

Today I have a few little confessions

I confess that sometimes I have these dreams where I dream all about food...like as in I dream I am eating a pie or ice cream or a five course dinner with Top Chef Judge Tom Colicchio...and then I literally wake up in a panic and think to myself, OMG..I hope I am not one of those people that eats while they are sleeping...so I run to the kitchen and look for traces of food. Not kidding...happened this morning.

I think this means that I need to not watch a show about strange eating habits and Top chef before I go to bed.

I confess that I may be going to a birthday party tonight...not just because of the birthday girl...but because the Firefighter Calender reveal party is being held at the same place as her birthday dinner/party.

I mean...a single girl has to do what a single girl has to do.

I confess that I watch Jersey Shore.

I confess I have a crush on Pauly D.

Please don't judge me

I confess that I love love the Miss America pageant. I have always wanted to be in pageants...I mean I have the pageant hair and everything..just no talent. I am talentless...well, I can touch my tongue to my nose, but I don't think that gets Miss America title's.



I am so excited about the pageant this Saturday and I may even go out and get a tiara and watch it in my sweats with a glass of wine. Afterwards I just might watch Miss Congeniality...you know, keep the pageantry going.


Have a great day loves!

Thoughts for your Thursday

Just some random thoughts for today...

Sometimes you need to hear...

Seems like I go through this every day...

Oh and only in Oklahoma will it be 60 degrees one day and over night you wake up to snow on the ground.

I didn't even want to take a picture.

I like snow and everything...in the mountains, where it belongs.

Happy Thursday!

 

Winter time staples

Let's talk make-up...preferably products I like to use in the winter time.

I don't know about y'all...but in the winter time I need a little extra TLC on my face, body and especially my lips.

My lips will get chapped whether the weather is 120 outside or 30 outside...it's frustrating...let me tell you.

I do not know how many different chap sticks, lip balms, lip conditioners, everything lip related I have tried. From very cheap to pretty expensive.

Well, ladies have no fear because I am here to tell you the magic that I have found and it comes in the form of this...

It's called Sugar by Fresh. And it's hands down THE best lip treatment I have ever used. Seriously. I have been recommending this to all the other chapped lip ladies I know...and they love it too...it's a little pricey for a chap stick..but I have the philosophy(which is probably why I need to be on a budget) that if it works and you like it...then it is SO worth the money!

Also, I picked up this little thing while at Sephora and I use it as a night treatment..it to is just as AMAZING and here lately I've been using it during the day too and it's only 6 bucks!!

I didn't know this, but it's also good for dry elbows and diaper rash...just learned those little diddy's from the website...guess it is true you learn something new everyday.

I love lotion. If you were to look in my bathroom, I would probably have at least 4 or 5 bottles sitting on the bathroom counter. I am a huge fan of Bath and Body. I never had tried this kind of lotion before, but my friend got it for me for Christmas and y'all...no kidding, this is so good for your skin in the wintertime.

I tell you..I put it on right after the shower and my skin is like baby smooth soft. It's great.

It's their Body Butter...which makes sense because I imagine it feels the same as if you were to use real butter.

But I don't really want to try that.

Now, my hair gets all sorts of crazy in the winter time. It sometimes gets a little dry and dull and is all over the place. My favorite line of Shampoo's and Conditioner's are Redken. I swear by this brand.

For the winter time I like to use Redken's All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner.

It's great for taming those wild sometimes dry tresses in the winter time.

Now as far as face...I always always no matter if it's winter, spring, summer, fall...always use moisturizer.

I never put on make-up with out putting that on first, not only does it protect your skin and help keep you looking young but it's great at helping your make-up last longer through out the day.

I generally use MAC Studio Moisture Fix SPF 15

Love this stuff...L.O.V.E.

If I am out of it, which I currently am, I use the generic version of Oil of Olay

This stuff has been around for years and if it was good enough for my great-grandma and if it's good enough for Carrie Underwood...then it's good enough for me!

Ok, so those are the products I like to use during the winter time...to keep my skin looking fresh and hair from being frizzy...what products to you ladies use?

Channeling Martha

I realized that after I posted all my new year's resolutions...I decided I had more.

I mean, it's ok if you have like 20 or so resolutions, right?

New Year...a year to do whatever your little heart desires...that's the way I look at it.

So, what does my heart desire you may ask...besides Matthew McConaughey or just a tall, God-fearing, OSU LOVING, Two-stepping, southern man??

(if you know of one, please send him my way)

Well...it's pinterest.

Yes, my heart desires to FINALLY make all those DIY projects I have in my board. Mainly the ones where I re-do my bedroom.

I have been wanting to re-do my bedroom for quite sometime now, actually I never really decorated when I moved in. I have lived in my house now for 4 years. You would think at some point I would have decorated my room.

I guess it's hard, because I still rent...yes, I know..I am just throwing money into the air...I think maybe this could be the year I buy a house?? You never know.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand...my bedroom and pinterest.

Here are a few bedrooms I have pinned

I like classic and feminine.

Things that I want:

An upholstered headboard.

An Anthropologie duvet

So, since one of my main resolutions is to save a little cha-ching, cha-ching...I've taken to pinterest...

in hopes to make these

Custom headboard

my very own version of an anthropogie duvet

A ruffled lamp shade?

Throw pillows

I am going to channel my inner Martha...not the Martha that goes to jail, but the Martha that sews and cooks and stuff.

Also, I will probably end up recruiting my mom and maybe try and convince my nana to drive up here...I need all the help I can get with le sewing machine.

Wish me luck ladies!