It's been too long...

Welp, I've returned from my much needed vacation and had about a week of depression because I missed it so much. The beach has stolen my heart again and has helped motivate me to move once more (just what I needed). I'll slowly type a few things about my vacation so that I will not overwhelm all of you at once.

Saturday:  The trip was GREAT! My car left around 7:30am on Saturday and arrived in Gulf Shores around 11pm Sat. night. The drive down went by pretty fast and everything was going smooth until...I hit a raccoon. Yup, my first roadkill ever. I thought I would be sad the first time I hit a helpless animal but nope, it gave me this big adrenaline rush and I soon found myself wanting to hit more raccoons (sick, I know). Luckily, for mother nature's sake, I did not hit anymore innocent animals. I did realize how scary parts of the south can be. For example, in Mississippi we saw about 5 huge burning torches in the middle of nowhere (not sure what they were all about), about 10 stray live/dead dogs running around the highway or in the ditch dead/sleeping (seriously MS, let's get this situation under control), and garbage everywhere. Gulf Shores was a beautiful area and until you arrive in the actual city you feel as if you're in a horror movie (Jeepers Creepers is what my car felt like). But in the end we made it safely and I love road trips so I was never too upset on the ride down.

Sunday: Woke up, called me ma out by the pool, and laid out alllll day long by the pool. It was perfect. The temp was warm if you were in the sun otherwise the wind gave you a few goosebumps here and there. Damn wind cooled me down so much I didn't know I was being burnt alive by the sun until that night when we went out and I looked like a tomato. Sunday was rehearsal day so the wedding party rehearsed while the rest of us had a few drinks inside before we all headed to "Tacky Jacks" for dinner. Tacky Jacks was an exciting restaurant. Located right on the ocean front and three stories tall. You could eat inside or out and the best part was that the menu was small enough so I didn't stress over a million items on what to eat for dinner. Food was good too. After dinner, we headed to a karaoke bar called Live Bait. Ohhh karaoke...yep, after a few drinks I stood on stage and sang, "Fat Bottom Girls" by Queen, oops. Other than karaoke I just drank and danced and had a lovely time. Everyone was super nice and welcoming. After Saturday and Sunday, I knew it was going to be a great week.

Well, there's the weekend for now, a little later I'll write about some other memorable (keyword) days of the week.

Of course the song of the day/blog will be, "Fat Bottom Girls" by Queen; Enjoy.

Gulf Shores, Here I come!

Pearly Whites

I went to the dentist yesterday for the first time in a very looonng time. I don't know how I ever let myself go for this long. I love dentists, I love teeth, and I used to want to be a dental hygienist. My only wish for my dentist appt. was to not have any cavities.

Bad News:

• I brush too hard (I've been warned from my friends of this issue before).
• My gums are recessed a little bit (basically they're exposing my roots a little)

Good News:

• I have long roots so I don't see myself losing my teeth and looking like a hillbilly in the future.
• I have strong solid teeth.
• I only have 3 wisdom teeth so less pain if I have to get them removed (mom sold the other one on the black market).
• NO CAVITIES!

Random Interesting Fact: Chewing sugar free gum causes your mouth to increase the production of saliva by 10 times the normal rate. Chewing sugar free gum for 20 minutes after eating or drinking can help reduce tooth decay by up to 40%!!!  **Courtesy of Orbit**


Song of the Day: "Bird of the Summer" by A Fine Frenzy (spring is coming!)

"The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly"

The Good: I've been searching for places to move and I am getting very excited to do so. I have found this quaint little college town in North Carolina that has the same cost of living as Ames. Ames near the beach?!? How much better can you get ?!? It's a college town too so I won't feel completely grown up yet and lose all of my youth. This weekend I thought of living in a new place and so of course I started planning the apartment and the cuteness it will be. I want books on coffee tables and bookshelves; Books for entertainment such as Postsecret books, books with lists about music, my life, interesting facts, etc. I went to Urban Outfitters and could've easily boughten every book in the store (I even found a book full of love letters people have sent to one another! Too perfect). Thank god my conscious was telling me to put on the brakes and settle down.

The Bad: I was supposed to have a busy busy week and was really excited for the adrenaline rush of getting everything done with a limited amount of time (I miss being busy and stressed) but found out I won't be so busy after all. As some of you may know, Howie Day was supposed to perform in Ames waaaay back in either January or February and rescheduled twice. So, I looked up his new date and I know it said March 10th so I put it in my calendar. Today, I checked the website and apparently the concert was yesterday...Howie Day and/or the M-shop, you're now on my "list". 

The Ugly: I was haunted this weekend by one of the most disturbing photos I've ever seen. It was my boyfriend dressed in the most white trash outfit with the worst mullet and dirtiest glasses I've ever seen...The first time I saw the picture I immediately went into a panic and had to convince myself that was not the man I was dating; it made me sick to my stomach.  Then, when I was driving back from Omaha the picture randomly popped into my head and made me feel dirty all over again. Props to Jared for being the trashiest white person I've ever seen...

Song of the Day: "Dogs" by Damien Rice because I want to have an orange tree and dogs and I love the morning sun :)

Lovely Ladies

Today at lunch I was graced by the beautiful presence of a "Red Hat Lady" meeting. Next to my table was a group of about 10 women all decked out in their usual red hats and purple attire. Precious.

Of course I eavesdropped to hear what type of things I'll talk to my friends about when I'm older. They're conversations went something like this:

"I know a woman who makes her husband dinner in advance and puts the dinner in individual packages in the fridge. She even marks the days of the week on them so he knows what to eat each day. One day she came home and her husband was sitting on the couch starving to death because he wasn't able to get up and take his pre-made meal out of the fridge to eat it. She had to do it for him"-Lady #1

"Hell, I would've let him starve to death if he couldn't even get up to eat his already made meal"-Lady #2

Woot, props to lady #2! Seriously, if I ever marry a man this dependent, I will let him starve to death and let him learn his lesson the hard way.

After the talks of lazy husbands they immediately went on to talking about their complete obsession with the Olympics. One woman was disgusted with how much she watched the Olympics. I heard her say how often she watched them and was then disgusted in myself because I knew that I had watched more than she did...if only she knew...

After the Olympics, I found out these women were in love with the TV drama, Brothers & Sisters...did I just hear these women correctly? First, their obsession with the Olympics and then their obsession with my favorite TV drama?!?! Say it ain't so but I might just join the Red Hatters at the young age of 23.5!! Now, I just need a red hat and some jazzy purple jumpsuit...

P.S. My grandma is a red hat lady and LOVES it :)

Song: "My Strongest Suit" from the broadway musical Aida

Coffee Lovin'

There is just something I love about going to a local cafe and hanging out for hours and hours. The atmosphere is soothing and the smell of fresh coffee and bakery items is scrumptious. Wherever I move to, I must find a local coffee shop and become a regular. Maybe, I'll just open up my own coffee shop. It can't be that hard can it? Especially since I've worked at a coffee shop...my coffee shop only sold coffee (no fancy drinks here). Ahhh, my own coffee shop. It will have great music, great art, cool people, outlets, and of course the most comfortable booths/tables/love sacs in the city.

Tonight, I hung out in a coffee shop and listened to catchy tunes and chatted with silly friends. I miss having homework and an excuse to visit the coffee shops more often...

Song of the Day: "Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop" by Landon Pigg

**Picture from Flikr.com**

Ooo MinnesOta

Last weekend I drove up to Minnesota. Here is a summary of my adventure.

Friday: I hit the road Friday afternoon and my destination was Mankato to visit Jared hard at work. The drive up was pleasant: Nice weather, pretty sunset, open road, and great music. I arrived in Mankato around 6:30pm and checked into a hotel downtown. Loooved the king bed and must own one soon. So Friday night was relaxing: ate dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) and had a few beers. It was at BWW where I first encountered the people of Mankato...

Everyone, and I mean everyone, was wearing arctic cat jackets aka snowmobiling jackets and way into the hockey game on TV. I was upset because they were more into the hockey game than the winter Olympics...sick. So, whatever, we drank some beer and ate some wings and discussed how trashy the people of Mankato were. After dinner, we went back to the hotel and drank at the hotel bar for a bit and then called it a night.

Saturday: I was alone the whole day and was super excited to see how I'd survive in a new city on my own. I woke up Saturday around 8:15am and immediately needed food. I wandered over to the restaurant in the hotel and asked for a table for 1 and helped myself to a delicious breakfast buffet. This moment was very empowering because I had just eaten by myself in a sit-down restaurant and was able to entertain myself while doing so. Awesome. After bfast, I headed back to the room, let the food settle, and then hit the baby gym in the hotel and sweated on the treadmill while watching, what else, the Olympics. Then I made a list of things to do for the day and researched where to find these places.

First stop, the mall. Ooo dearest Mankato mall shoppers, let's clean up our act. I sat at the food court eating the WORST greek salad ever (no dressing) and sipping on some terrible iced tea while people watching. During this time, I did not see one person who looked cool enough to be my friend. After seeing people wear sunglasses in the mall, people who want a diff. skin color, girls with terrible eyeliner, and some bad mullets, I ventured over to Target where I finally saw someone cool enough to be my friend. This person was a Target employee so she might have been cool because she was in a uniform and I couldn't see what she'd really wear but whatever, I felt safe. Bought myself a new board game at Target and some other item I will not mention for fear of being called a "dork" again, thanks Jared.

Mall, check. Next stop, Advance Auto Parts to buy some cool new 'blades for the car. Picked up some 'blades and met another cool person who installed the 'blades for me. Turns out, this person wasn't from Mankato originally so that explains a lot. He was from Boston and asked me what I thought of Mankato. I politely replied, "it's interesting," and then went on my way to find an ATM to get some cash for my next stop, a carwash. Oohh, the carwash.

I did my research on finding the perfect carwash and I found a family owned carwash that had great reviews and had their prices listed online so I was hooked. I drove to the carwash and put in my $20. Next thing I know, the carwash machine is spitting out 10 $1 coins at me...are you serious? What am I going to do carrying around 10 coins each worth $1...ugh. So, next step was entering the carwash. There was an old lady in front of me at the carwash so I assumed that if she could do it, then I could too. I pulled forward to the door area and wasn't sure if I was supposed to enter right away or not. I knew she was in the wash but there were these big plastic flaps hanging down and I couldn't see through them and had no idea if I was supposed to just drive on through or if they open. So, I waited, waited some more, and continued to wait. I was about ready to drive through the flaps or just get out and find someone and ask how the hell I enter the carwash. Finally, the flaps turn and open and the man directs me in. What a stressful carwash. Afterwards, I tried to shop at a Walgreens but was stopped at the door and told they were closed for the weekend. By this time I had had enough of Mankato and was ready to go back to the hotel room.

I hung out at the hotel room, chatted w/my mom and brother until Jared was off work. We ordered in some delicious pizza and went down to the hotel bar to spend our free drink coupons. While at the bar we ran into some more interesting people of Mankato including 4 guys that came in who thought they were black and hitting up a hoppin' Mankato bar (it's in a hotel...). Whatever, we kept drinking and then went back where I forced Jared to play my new board game with me and I learned cool facts. Did you know on average a baby can laugh up to 300 times a day? Woah, or that a blue whale's tongue weighs between 6,614-8,818lbs?!?

Sunday: Wake up and pack my bags and get ready to head to the beautiful Northfield, MN to meet Jeanna. So I'm at Casey's gas station and what happens but my Garmin dies on me...AHHH. I frantically call Jeanna to ask for directions and she calls me back to inform me that her internet is down...what are the odds. I have maps but they're worthless b/c I am somewhere random in Mankato. I finally get the Garmin up and working and race to the highways so that I can finally have relaxing coffee date. When I arrived in Northfield, I had just that! Great coffee, great food, great talks, and of course, the great Jeanna (thanks).

So everything was pretty low key on the way home and I made it safely to Ames, a place where I felt safe again. Mankato, you have potential if you get rid of the people...