Day 23

I've decided to put a song in the beginning so you can listen while reading! So please enjoy, 

Yesterday, I had a snow day. Today, I had ANOTHER SNOW DAY!

Snow day 1:

• Breakfast: eggs, hash-browns, orange juice 
• Laundry
• Grocery shopped at Wegman's:  Wegman's is like a glorified HyVee. Their fresh produce section is crazy large and they have everything you'll ever need, except a nice cut of meat. There's no place like Iowa for a nice good steak.
• Post Office:  had to mail a very good buddy a very belated birthday present
• Cooked:  Taylor and I made a very delicious vegan style lasagna. If anyone wants the recipe I'll be more than happy to post it
• Oprah: never fail with Oprah
• Baked: baked some delicious cookies (I'll def. be posting this recipe)
• Painted Nails: Navy Blue
• Movie: In Her Shoes (highly recommend this flick)

Also, I've given the blog a little facelift. You'll notice I added a "Puppy of the Day" gadget and a "Teeth Whitening Tips" gadget (you know I love teeth). Also, take the poll! I know I'll be lucky to have maybe 6 votes but I want to know people!

Now, a small picture to remember Iowa snow fun:

Ice Skating

Snow day 2 will be posted after I've completed the day :)

24th Day

Woops, I already forgot to post and it was just day #2!!!

Yesterday, as many of you know, Buffalo got hit hard with snow and my phone was hit hard with incoming texts/calls!  So, I'll clear everything up and enlighten some of you with my opinion of this "snowstorm".

I first woke up to a text telling me that school was closed for the day. Woohoo! No work and tons of snow on the ground to play in! Wrong, I looked outside at 7:30am and our road didn't even have a layer of white frosties on it. Really? Buffalo can't even handle the idea of a snowstorm?!? So, I turned on the news and BOOM, there it was, about 10 miles south of where I live. People were stranded on the interstate for 18+ hours without food, water, or heat.

• Cars were running out of gas 
• Semi drivers were opening their doors and allowing people to stay in their cabins. 
• No U-turns were allowed, even though traffic was moving on the other side of the interstate. 
• Thruway patrol was shoveling out one car at a time
• If someone got out of their car, officers instructed them to get back in
• Some good samaritans bought food and drinks and walked up and down the thruway handing it out

The south towns had between 12" to 30" of snow and were still being dumped on. Jeesh! Now, I understand the call for a snow day (not that I was ever complaining). How did I spend my snow day? Let's save that for another day.

Christmas Song: Faith Hill-Where Are You Christmas

The 25 Days of Christmas

It's here. The most joyful time of the year. Christmas music is playing, lights are decorating homes, snow is falling, & shopping has begun. Yup, I smell Christmas!!!

I'm going to try and do a "25 days of Christmas" blog. Hopefully I'll be better at keeping it up to date this time.

So, as you all know I'm living in Buffalo now. I'm living with Taylor (Jared's sister) and Cody (her husband). One major perk of living with them is that Taylor is a photographer. I just so happen to LOVE having my picture taken and getting really into my "photo shoots". About 3 weeks ago, Taylor and I decided to take some fun holiday photos around the house (I loved this day). I'll try to feature a new picture everyday in the blog, but I'm not sure if we have 25 total pics...looks like we'll just have to take more :)

Every year I love going Black Friday shopping. This year was a little different. It was my first time going shopping without my kick-ass shopping partner, Whitdawg. It was also my first time camping outside of a store. Cody and I waited in line outside Target in the rain and wind for 8+ hours. About 15 minutes before the doors were going to open, people jumped out of their cars and tried to cut in the front of the line. Let's just say complete chaos broke out and the "security" guard was worthless. Here's a video of what happened next. (I'm in the white puffy coat and blue hat aka very confused/scared girl who doesn't know what just happened)



Some other things I saw that night in line:
1) Wasted lady causing drama
2) Man dressed in red, sitting on a shopping cart, who budged and claimed he was just seeing what Black Friday was all about, claiming he didn't actually want anything.
3) Buffalo's finest chain smokers
4) A woman with a baby?!?!

And now...the moment you've all been waiting for...here is the premiere of our "Happy Holiday Photo Shoot".

Ricky is telling me the cutest secret.

Holiday Song:  Coldplay-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas  (my favorite)

Testing YouTube Videos

Enjoy this precious corgi literally flopping into the water :)

All By Myself

It was my last day in Moline, IL, a day where I had to fully entertain myself on my own, and stay busy because there was no Motel 6 for me to go back to. So, I chose to do activities on my own that I have never done before. These activities were exciting and empowering. I felt as if I could conquer the world that day.

The first thing I did was grabbed a bite to eat and drink at Panera. I watched people for about an hour and judged the people of Moline once again.

After Panera, I decided to go to a movie I had been wanting to see, Going the Distance. This movie has Drew Barrymore in it who I loooove, so I knew it'd be good. Going into the movie, I thought I might be an emotional mess, since I was moving away from home and leaving a relationship due to long distance. I sucked it up and went anyways. I walked inside the theater, told the clerk I'd like one ticket to the movie and she said, "Just one?" in a semi-snotty way. Of course I had to repeat it and there were people behind me in line so I probably looked like a lone loser, but whatever, I got over it. I was really nervous to head into the theater and find a seat while everyone watched me. I enter the theater and it's complete silence. "Ok..." I thought, this is unusual. I turned the corner and BAM, not one soul in the theater. I didn't know if this was a good or a bad thing. Good: I was able to choose where I wanted to sit without being judged. Bad: someone would walk into the theater and see one lonely loser sitting by herself. Ten minutes passed and not one person came into the theater. Perfect, there I was in a theater completely alone. I laughed out loud at the movie, cried out loud, and even kept my phone on, booyah. I loved the movie even though a few things were too parallel to my own life. Definitely a movie I'll be buying.

So, the movie ended, I grabbed some lunch at a deli, and still had time to spare before I had to leave. Next thought, "I should go to the zoo and see the animals!" Perfect, I found directions and off I was to conquer a zoo all by myself. I bought my ticket to the zoo and walked around quickly. I must say, going to a zoo is a little scary by yourself. You're face to face with a lion or a jaguar and they're staring right at you and you're staring right at it. No one is around if this animal tries to break free and attack. This experience gave me a bit of an adrenaline rush. I saw lions roaring, animals sleeping, and even saw giraffes galloping (amazing).

Scary Lion

Giraffe that really liked me.

Monkey

Proof I was there.

 I refused to go on the Australian walk since I could see through the fence and there were emus wandering around freely inside. No thanks, I don't want to be walking on a path with an emu next to me. The zoo was a cute little zoo and I was so happy afterward.

My day ended with a drive to Chicago. I definitely recommend trying something new by yourself. You'll feel empowered and like you've done something worthwhile.

I suggest listening to this song before you go to the zoo. It'll get you really in the mood.

Enjoy and happy days.

Lovin' the Motel 6

I've never stayed at a Motel 6 and never really thought I would. My time has been interesting. Here's a little sample of what you get at a Motel 6.

Amenities include:

• TV
• Phone
• Lamp
• Desk
• Free coffee until 10am
• Internet (my life saver for the week)
• Room service maid from Centerville, IA

Not Included:

• Alarm clock
• Microwave
• Fridge
• Baby shampoo, conditioner, and lotion bottles (ugh)
• Other items fancy people might want, but I'll survive without.

Since I've been stuck in the room all week, I've tried to make the most of each day, but today has been the most entertaining so far. The only thing that happened today different from other days, room service. I made a friend! Best part...she's from Centerville! Morgan, I didn't get her name but totally gave a shout-out to the Dickersons and she freaked out and said, "the twins?!?" so that really caught me off guard because I have no idea what she's talking about. Anyways, I'll give you a little story of my issue with room service.

I purposely set my alarm to wake up when room service knocks on the door. I'm sitting alone in the room and can hear the maid in every room surrounding mine. "Why isn't she knocking on my door?" I think to myself. So, finally I get the nerve to feel "bitchy" and hang the, "maid please ASAP" sign on my door and sit back down in the chair. I hear a knock, answer, and it's the maid! I sit in the chair as I watch her clean the room. I try to make small talk and soon find out she's from Centerville. I tell her how I used to go to Centerville for Pancake Day and her eyes lit up! She was so excited and told me she already requested her day off because her kids love it. I refrained from telling her that my main reason for going was to laugh at the people (she was probably one of them at some point). So, we keep chatting and I'm probably looking like a stuck-up snob as I watch her run from side to side of the king bed making sure the sheets are tight and on right, and she leaves to get her vacuum. I tell her there's no need to vacuum but she does anyway and in doing so she finds a Mike 'N Ike on the floor. Stops, picks it up, holds it up, looks at me, and goes, "Mike 'N Ike?" I tell her she's right and she puts it in her pocket!!! What?!? How about we throw it away. I just hope that she later threw it away instead of eating it for a snack later. She then tells me of new candy and how there is now a strawberry Laffy Taffy (I swear there has always been a strawberry one). So, eventually our friendship came to an end and I was once again alone in the Motel 6.

P.S. I later killed a spider in the sink. Gross.

Chez Moi

Here are some lovely pictures of my new "home".

Bottom Floor: landlord lives upstairs.

My Bedroom: one door is a closet and the other is to a sun room.

My Bedroom: small and precious

Dining Room: my favorite room so far

Living Room: still needs bright pillows and other sources of color.

Looking down into part of Niagara Falls

Small part of Niagara Falls