the big 23!

Today, folks, I turn 23. That seems to me like a big scary number. I feel like I turned 21 about a week ago, so it's insane how time really does fly by.

Somedays I wish I were back in this picture, making a sand castle with my daddy. I used to LOVE making those little drip things, thanks for teaching me that dad. 

Although I would love to be 5 years old and at the beach with my dad forever; I'm very happy and proud of where I am in my life at the big ole age of 23. 

- I have a bachelors degree in biology from NCSU, Magna cum laude.

- I have myself a big girl job at UNC hospital.

- My dream of getting into & attending Physician Assistant school is becoming a reality. I start on August 13, 2012 at Campbell University. I will earn a Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree. 

- I live and support myself in a two bedroom apartment.

- I FINALLY have my own dog, who is perfect for me & that I can afford.

- I have kept up with old friends & and made some great new friends. 

- I have developed my cooking abilities, I'm turning into quite the chef. (ask Nash!)

- I have a wonderful boyfriend whom I love so much & can't wait to see where this world takes us.

- I have the best family a girl could ask for that continue to support me.

- I have learned how to be content and happy being by myself. (big accomplishment!)

Within the next 5 years, I plan to work some big travel plans into my life. 

Other than that, I am so happy with where I am, I can't wait for things to progress, I am so incredibly lucky to be surrounded by my family & friends, and I look forward to what's headed my way.

I hope this 23rd year of my life is fantastic. :) (Although sometimes I really do wish I could go back and be 5 again, building sand castles with dad.)

my wonderful family.

I didn't have this blog going during Thanksgiving 2011, so I'm back blogging. Thanksgiving 2011 was one for the books, and these pictures are too great not to share. This past Thanksgiving was hosted at my Aunt Nancy & Uncle Mikes house in Spartanburg, SC at the same house we've always had Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember. 

This holiday was extra special because of all the 4 pawed additions. As my cousins and I are getting older - we've all decided to get our own dogs. Who was in attendance, you ask? 13 people & 8 dogs (and 9 pies). We questioned whether or not we needed some sort of license for this, or if it was even legal....but we survived with smiles. 

Take a look at my wonderful family. (ps. I warned you about all the dogs)

Full of love. 

Since we were little we've taken the dogs to this nearby cemetery to run. I always loved walking around and reading the tombstones.

Here a few of my favorite cousins & siblings. 

Craziness.

Left-Right: Alli, Bear, Patrick, Max, Easy, Brody, Beth, Josh, Gus, Sadie, Nate.

Notice: Gus's dont mess with me face. 

Sadie, the smallest pooch, always got to the ball first. She's quite the fireball. 

Easy needed a power nap with his favorite aunt after such a fun afternoon. Sleepy pup. 

 I feel so lucky to have these people as my family. Every holiday or gathering is usually filled with dog fun, footballs & frisbees, ESPN, lots of food, beer, and lots & lots of Euchre playing.

a garden party.

My mom & stepdad decided to build a garden behind our house. My first thought, surprisingly, was "CAN I HELP!?" Lately, outdoor adventures and handywoman activities have been right up my ally.  So...my contribution was planting some of the plants in flats to get them ready to be planted in the ground. I felt like a little kid because my mom let me sift through the bags of seeds and PICK which ones I wanted to plant :)

My mom had already planted most of them, but I noticed that a few important ones were missing. I choose to add squash, zucchini & broccoli to the mix. Those were the first ones planted in the ground too! Its a 10 row garden with a big walkway down the middle. Its about 20 feet x 40 feet, and eventually my mom wants to build a duck house for 2 ducks. Yes, my mother wants to get ducks to tend the garden and keep the bugs out; its an organic garden.

This is the front of the garden (& my stepdad!)

Back of the garden, the dogs HAD to be right in the middle. 

I think the gates give it the perfect, southern & outdoor charm. 

It took us a good 7-8 hours to put the fencing up & the outer posts. Steve taught me a lot about putting up a fence, pretty soon I'll be a pro. Next on the list (I've heard) is a greenhouse and a fence around the yard for the pups. 

Danny's song

Song of the day:

"And even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with ya honey,
And everything will bring a chain of love.
And in the morning when I rise, you bring a tear of joy to my eyes,
And tell me everything is gonna be alright. "

"Love the girl who holds the world in a paper cup, drink it up,
Love her and she'll bring you luck.
And if you find she helps your mind, buddy, take her home,
Don't you live alone, try to earn what lovers own."

A few weeks back, Nash and I found ourselves on an unplanned road trip to Pinehurst to visit his Gramma Dottie in the hospital (sad...but she is okay! :) ). Well on our way, Nash was the DJ and of course found the oldies stations. Sometimes I complain, but when this song came on, Danny's Song by Kenny Loggins, I turned it up, mumbled whatever words I could try to remember, and we bopped our way right through this song! We smiled and joked about we, also, are broke & in love, haha. 

I can listen to this song on repeat, it's just that great. Doesn't it make you appreciate the love you have? It reminds me that love is simple & kind, and it makes me excited for what lies ahead in my life.

PS: here is how the bangs turned out!

a fresh look.

A new hair cut gets me all excited inside! Tomorrow I have a hair appointment and have found my inspiration. Even though I'm just going for a layered trim, I'm deciding to add in some bangs this time. 

(I love Katie Holmes' hairstyles, so cute and simple. They fit her perfectly)

I've done this short look before and just can't manage to cut off my hair again. 

Can't wait to get a fresh look tomorrow! :)

a forever friend

I hope everyone in their lifetime finds a forever friend. I've known my forever friend since the first day of 6th grade when she saved me a seat in gym class. She's the kind of friend that:

Has been on trips with you and your family, knows your grandparents & cousins and you know hers. 

This is us at my grandparents in 8th grade :)

Always lends a hand, an ear, advice (& the right advice) and she's the one you call to make sure you aren't crazy, because she will tell if you are. p.s. this is us at my grandparents 7 years later. 

You two can laugh about nothing, sit on the couch and watch pointless TV, share clothes so often you forget who they really belong to, and talk on the phone for 87 minutes and not even cover all that you've missed in each other's lives. (literally)

Is more your date than your boyfriend's date at college functions. You take prom pictures, dance together and go home together. 

You usually have more than one picture like this, and dance with each other more than the boys you came with. You've also probably kissed each other more than you should admit, haha.

Me and my forever friend even have our own little family. We refer to our dogs as brothers and they love each other almost as much as we love each other. 

 Every memory of college involves her and she was always your beer pong partner (pep talks included). In fact, you never really went out if she didn't come too because it wasn't the same.

And even after you graduate college and you aren't living together anymore, you pick up right where you left off the next time you see her. This is my forever friend, Allie.

Our boyfriends say when we get together we act like Thelma & Louise (minus the ending) and typically let us just be together and do our Thelma & Louise thing. It sounds about right & perfect to me. 

summer storms

When I got home from the park today, I opened my patio door as I cleaned my apartment. As the afternoon passed the sky turned from a sunny blue to a dark gray. I started to feel kind of happy because this brought me back to some great memories as a kid.

When I was growing up, anytime a big thunderstorm rolled through {particularly summer storms}, my family would set up lawn chairs in our garage, grab some blankets, and watch the storm literally pass by. 

The warm, yet cool, breeze... the heavy downpour of rain, the blowing trees, the fast moving gray clouds that approach so fast, and the calm feeling it leaves once its gone; leave me loving these summer storms. 

Right now, the sky is a cool gray and the wind is swishing the trees outside my apartment. I just love this feeling and I am waiting for it to pour. I think I may mosey {dad's word} out to my patio and watch this storm pass on by. The rumbling just started!

my mom's breakfast...

Now that I'm living on my own, in my own apartment, with my own kitchen buying my own groceries, I spend most mornings whipping up breakfast for just myself, or occasionally for both me and my boyfriend. 

I usually cook with the same style as my mom. Probably because of the way she taught me & the way I grew up watching and helping her. I love cooking the things she used to make for me; the way she used to make it, with the same music playing in the background (usually Jack Johnson). 

Well, I spent this weekend at home with my parents & dogs so as I was slowly waking up this morning my mom asked me what I wanted for breakfast { :-) }. Of course I was filled with warmth and gave a huge smile. It was nice to feel like a kid again, and have someone cook breakfast FOR ME! I guess thats what moms are for...no matter how old you are. 

My mom always says that she especially loves cooking breakfast food, and cooking for people is one of her many ways of showing her love. And let me tell you she does a great job of showing her love through food! Yummy, healthy, filling food. 

This morning she whipped up some whole wheat banana pancakes and dippy eggs (this is how we referred to over easy eggs when I was a child...and we still do!) & a glass of milk. 

Oooohhh I'm such a lucky girl, to have the best mom in the world. I just love being at home & I just love her breakfasts :) The funny thing is I'm not even a breakfast person - just hers!

Now that we're all filled up, its time to go help build her garden!