How do you text a middle finger?

So when someone is texting you and really driving you crazy, you don't know what to say, and all you want to do is forget about being a lady and flip them the bird... how the heck do you text that!?

Someone? Anyone?

Love, hugs, and sassy texting ;-)

The zero cal brownie sundae

I've discovered (with help from CBK) a way to enjoy a delicious brownie sundae sans calories.

Go to the gym. Work out. Burn 200 calories. Make 200 calorie brownie sundae. Enjoy.

It's basic math people. -200 cals + 200 cals = 0 calories!!!!

I feel like I should be up for a Nobel Peace Prize. I've practically saved the entire female race with this discovery. (Though I'm sure someone has already realized this.)

love, hugs, and liberation

P.S. If a brownie sundae is more than 200 calories. Please don't tell me. I don't want to know.

Workin for the weekend...

Oh Monday. How cruel and torturous you are. What other purpose do you serve than making us all wish it was Friday? I move that we just take Monday out of the week. And Tuesday, too, while we're at it.

It was a really fun weekend running around and spending a lot of time with my wonderful CBK and Liz. CBK and I have been having a series of LOST mini-marathons the past couple of days and will continue with this trend until we finish 3 seasons and catch up on #4.

We're pretty obsessed.

In other news, I'm looking forward to a mini-vacation in Orlando this weekend at the bestie's! Whoop whoop! I'm basically going to be the 4th roommate... my own key and everything!

So bring on the brownie sundaes, Gilmore Girls, pillow talk at 2 a.m., forced budget meeting with the twin and her bf (they love me THAT much), Summit, and hanging out with "Dominic", because we're all just workin for the weekend!

You'll say WOW every time!

I really want a Shamwow. I mean... really.

I know ya'll have seen the commercial on TV with the crazy guy. The thing soaks up EVERYTHING!!!! It's like the miracle of cleaning supplies and I have to have one. Amazingly, on a Target adventure with the bestie this past weekend, we found a Shamwow. A real live SHAMWOW! Unfortunately, I was broke at the time, but this weekend I am making my way to Target's "As seen on TV" section and buying me one of those amazing yellow super-soaker-uppers.

And I will say WOW every time.

A complete clutz...

To all of those who know me, you know I'm not exactly the most graceful person. In fact, many of you would say I'm about as far from graceful as it gets. I'm really pretty clutzy.

It really makes no sense for my to be uncoordinated. I'm an athlete and in sports I've never been clumsy - it's quite the opposite - I excel. So why is it that as soon as you take me off a field or court I can barely walk without tripping or running into something (hence the reason I always have at least 2 or 4 bruises in various places)? Who knows, but I thought I was beginning to outgrow it. I think I've gone about a week without an incident... until today.

I dropped another coffee mug.

I was picking a bag of tortilla chips off my little food rack and the mug was teetering dangerously on the edge. I, however, did not notice. By the time I did notice, the mug was halfway to the tile floor and all hope was lost. I made a lunge for it anyway, almost knocking myself out in a close encounter with the edge of the sink. My attempts were futile and the mug cracked and a chunk chipped off.

This makes 2 mugs in 4 months.

Thank goodness it wasn't the mug Liz got me though. Whew. However, this particular green and white flowered Starbucks mug was a faithful holder of my life's nectar so it's a sad occasion.

RIP Ms. Flower Mug

It's better on the floor...

Around 5:00 yesterday evening I headed over to the bestie's where it took a total of about 5 seconds for us to assume our positions on the floor laughing hysterically. What were we laughing about? Good question. Couldn't even tell ya, but it was so nice to just collapse on the floor and roll around laughing until we cried. (Not good for me because I wasn't wearing waterproof mascara.) Why do we always end up on the floor? Another good question. We started in chairs, I promise. It just always ends up on the floor. It's like a certified laughing zone. Ya'll should really try it sometime. And just in case you don't realize how great it really is... I'm going back for more tonight. :-)

Love, hugs, and laughter...

A little thing I like to call chaos...

It's only 11:30 a.m. and it's already been another interesting day in the chaos I like to call my life.

Wake up early. Freezing cold. Sweater, jeans, boots. Forgot poptart. Walk to class. Note to self: buy ear muffs. Class. Stomach growling for poptart. Think about how tasty poptarts are. Class dismissed. Walk to Bill's Bookstore to buy textbooks now that I have financial aid and $$ in the bank. Helped by very nice guy who ends up handing me two textbooks and telling me that I have to go to the other two Bill's to get the others they're holding for me (The very last ones). That's right. 1 day, 3 Bill's. Fun. Walk back to room. Note to self: buy ear muffs ASAP. See CBK. Comment on cute outfit. Stand outside door for 5 minutes trying to find keys. Look ridiculous. Finally get in room. Heat coffee back up. Again. Sit down. Sigh...

So after 2 more classes CBK, L., and I will be on a mission to the aforementioned bookstores and to the mall where CBK has gift cards to spend and I have a raincoat to buy (courtesy of Momma Hart). Knowing us, we'll also get food.

Busy, busy day. Busy, busy life. The best part, though? I absolutely love it. Every little crazy bit.

Love, hugs, and mi vida loca...

For a good laugh...

That's right... 2 posts in 1 day! Stop the presses!!!

Anyway... I've been laughing hysterically at a new McDonald's commercial and just thought I'd share with ya'll.

I honestly laugh every time I see it and am developing a minor crush on the blonde that likes football. Haha.

ENJOY!

Well that doesn't make sense...

A friend in one of my classes directed my attention to the weekly forecast on his mac's screen. Tuesday: Low - 29 degrees. Rain.

Now hold on a sec. Last time I checked, 32 degrees was freezing, which makes 29 BELOW freezing. And if it's going to rain, doesn't that mean it will freeze on the way down? Thus creating... SNOW!!!???

So needless to say I got quite giddy at the thought of snow. So I woke up this morning and after rolling around a while, trying to ignore the alarm clock, I remembered the forecast. I jumped out of bed and flew to the window, throwing the blinds around and getting tangled up in them in the process.

What did I see?

No snow. Just wet, cold, rain. I turned on the TV to see what the temp was - 48.

Dang.

Novel writing tips...

Considering the title of this blog and the fact that my ultimate career goal is to be a published novelist (preferably a successful one), I thought it would be only fitting to give a few tips I've found that help me when developing a story.

Fiction Writer's Connection advises unpublished writers to "start with an important action." Us newbies to the industry don't have the luxury of building up suspense - we have to hook the reader (which is really an editor or publisher) right away.

Another important tip is to develop conflict. What is a story without an issue or problem that the characters have to deal with? It's just boring and no one will want to read it. Seriously.

My personal favorite - "Develop a main character your readers can identify with, worry about, and root for." This pulls the reader into the story and provides that welcoming escape from reality. Readers want to feel like they have a connection with the characters and the most successful writers know this, and use it extensively.

And perhaps most importantly, Fiction Factor tells novelists to stop focusing on writing a novel; "readers want to read a story."

And to add a touch of broadcasting so I don't get rusty...

Staring at a blank computer screen or all too white sheet of paper? Tune in next time for some tips on curing the infamous case of writer's block.

Love, hugs, and putting pen to paper...

Time for an escape...

I'm feeling much better than I was just a few days ago. Thanks to all of you who sent me well wishes and prayers. They are much appreciated :-).

I don't really have much to write so I thought I'd just recommend a few books to any of you looking for something good to read.

Currently I'm reading "The Life & Letters of Jane Austen" - a gift from the bestie - and Marley & Me - a really funny and heartwarming book for all dog lovers.

If you're looking for an entertaining book that reads like a guilty pleasure, but is really much more, I suggest "The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets."

Another book I really enjoyed was "The Book of Lost Things" - a story about a boy that gets lost in a world of fairy tales gone wrong. It's deep and intriguing.

Next on my list of books I want to read is "The Effects of Light" so I'll let you know how that one turns out.

So grab a book, curl up on the couch, and escape. :-)

Ay yi yi...

All the optimism from yesterday has gone down the tubes. Everything was fine until about 8:30 last night when I was bombarded with 50 things to do at once, all due very, very soon, and realizing that my classes are screwed up and if I don't take certain ones right now, I won't graduate on time.

AHHHHH!!!!

So after a major meltdown where I bawled on the phone to my mom and made panicked calls to my reporting teacher to no avail, I knew I had to make a decision and I had to make it right then.

I scrambled to find the classes I need and luckily got in. Barely. Then I called my professor one more time and left a very depressed message as well as sent her an equally depressed e-mail.

I had to drop the advanced reporting class. Yeah. The one I was super excited for and would give me all kinds of experience and look great on my resume. Yeah. That one.

The problem is, I can't do it all. And I resolved to make more time for me and stop stressing all the time. I need to take these other classes in order to graduate, whereas I don't need the reporting one. So my choice was made, however heartbreaking it was. The worst part is that I let my teacher (who is also a big role model to me) and the rest of my peers down and I hate to disappoint people.

So I'm trying to cope with all of these changes at once, and most of you know that I don't handle too much change at once very well. Luckily, I have amazing people in my life that are doing everything they can to cheer me up, so thank you.

This too shall pass.

Feeling good about '09

I've never been one to make new year's resolutions, but I'm feeling good about 2009 so I decided to go for it.

I've been praying a lot lately and I think my prayers are finally being answered. So with that in mind, I resolve to live, love, and laugh until I cry.

Live - seize every great opportunity that comes my way and enjoy all the little things that make life so beautiful... and stop worrying about things I can't control.

Love - spend some quality time with the ones I love and be blessed with their love in return. Last semester I spent way too much time and energy on school and I've come to realize that some things are just a lot more important, for what could be more of a blessing than love?

Laugh - take the time to collapse on the kitchen floor with Ky and laugh until tears come streaming down our faces, sit with Elizabeth on the deck at Black Dog or in the cozy comfort of Jim & Milt's laughing about all the crazy things that happen day to day, sharing stories with Courtney and laughing at ridiculous youtube videos until we can't breathe, and laughing in the face of doubt.

This is 2009, baby. Bring it on.

Blessings...

So I know I'm officially the worst blogger ever. I apologize for the lack of posts, but as I'm sure you all know firsthand, it's been a hectic holiday season.

I've gone through a wide range of emotions the past few weeks, with times where I was laughing uncontrollably with friends or times when I would sit in my room and cry for no apparent reason. It was the strangest thing.

I was feeling pretty down the other day when I drove over to Sunrise Bread Co. at 9:30 a.m. to have breakfast with two of my best friends. We got our coffee and pastries and settled in to a table by the window to chat and exchange Christmas presents (on New Years Eve of course :D ).

Kyla and I had already exchanged presents (and let me just say that she is unbelievable in this area. Really.) but we hadn't seen Elizabeth so this was our exchange day.

Now like I said, I was feeling a little low, but it's amazing how much being around wonderful people can bring you up. I was already feeling much better when Elizabeth handed me a little bag with a big smile. I reached in and pulled out a beautiful coffee mug. (How perfect!?) But that's not the best part. The little piece of paper inside was by far the most special.

I won't put it in here word for word, but the words on that small strip of paper made me feel so whole, so loved, that I had to bite my lip to hold back tears. The essence of the gift was that since our friendship (which has grown to something I'm so thankful for) was founded around a good cup of coffee, she wanted me to have a coffee mug to symbolize not only that, but also something else very special. The mug was handmade in downtown Titusville and since I have no idea where life will be taking me in just a little over a year, Elizabeth wanted to me have a piece of home to take with me wherever I go.

Life has a funny way of making you feel small sometimes. Thinking about moving somewhere right out of college at barely 21 years old to a place where I might not know a soul is scary. But when we're feeling scared or alone, God always finds a way to bring us back and show us that we're going to be fine, that great things await us, and beautiful people are here to help us along the way.

"...You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?

The Lord replied, 'The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.' " - Mary Stevenson

So after four hours of wonderful quality time, I left Sunrise feeling much more, sunny. :o)

Love, hugs, and so much more than a coffee mug...