spring break? what’s that?

it’s spring break around these parts.  it’s also the time of year i kick myself for not being a teacher. and in about 3 months, i’ll swiftly kick myself again and question why i didn’t decide to run a classroom and educate young minds. then i’ll quickly realize i don’t have the patience, the focus, or the desire to be responsible for educating the youth of america. no thank you. but yes please to the holidays, breaks, summer vacations and other perks of that career.

i’ve had serious writer’s block lately. that’s no secret. i’m going to blame it on my crazy busy schedule and desire to get out and do things instead of sitting down and blogging. sorry. i love you. i really do. and i’m glad you take time to visit my corner o’ the interwebs. bless you. i just have a bazillion irons in the fire and something has to give. right now, it’s blogging. who knows how long it will last. i’m just not in the mood.

i am however in the mood for a getaway. probably because at precisely this moment last year, i was sleeping in a bed in the hotel boston in montecatini, italy. i’m clearly not on vacation. okay, maybe that’s not clear. but it is now. i’m at home. definitely not blogging from a super awesome destination. bummer, right? right. especially since i could be going to ireland this week. and by “could be going” i mean if i signed up and paid for the trip. but i didn’t. because my plan is to do europe again in 2014. every other year seems like a solid, smart, super awesome thing. agreed?

three years before that i was chilling {quite literally} on the sand in north myrtle beach with two of my teacher friends. we froze our butts off, but it was so great to hit the beach in march. so what if we were in bathing suits wrapped up in towels? totes worth it. although very hard to hold a book and read when you’ve got a death grip on a towel…

and before that, i don’t know when my last true spring  break vacation thing was. all i remember is chicago circa 2005, my senior year in college, with jess. at least i think that’s when we went. maybe it was junior year. i have no idea, really. everything runs together now {another sign i’m getting old or that my short term memory sucks?}.

anyone have a favorite spring break story? destination? travel buddy? tell me, please, so i can be jealous, and go there with you in my mind. sorry if that’s creepy. not intentional.

oh, and go bucks. can i get an O-H?! i love march madness. it’s super fun. especially when the buckeyes are on a heater. and especially when i get to watch aaron craft own people. that is awesome. and he’s going to marry my cousin {get it girl!}, he just doesn’t know yet. which is also creepy, perhaps? oh well. that’s how we do, right HMP?

and now, back to knitting i go…after i finish up some more coasters. c’est la vie.

 

spring giveaway: calling all runners!

hey kids. my new friend laura over at fit running mama found me on etsy and asked if i’d be a part of her fabulous spring giveaway. i couldn’t say no. well, i could, but that’s not my style {at least not in cases like this}. if you want a set of race bib {or other} elegant elliephant coasters, plus some other awesome running gear {like a skirt or a shirt}, head on over to laura’s blog and start entering. there’s some great stuff up for grabs!

the giveaway went live this morning and there are already over 60 entries. if you’re not one of these, high tail your buns into gear and get bizzy! i’m kind of blown away by the super sweet things people are saying about my coasters. talk about a morning high and putting a silly grin on my face…y’all are too sweet.

 

friday’s letters

i’m finally on top of things and linking up with ashley. please excuse me while i fist pump, jersey shore style. twice. i’ve been wanting to get on board with this link up for way too long. and i’m having a little moment that i finally made magic  happen.

dear ymca: walking on your track is great.
until i stop. then i’m hella dizzy.
what’s up with that?

dear self: you shop a lot healthier when you go to the grocery after working out.
you buy better food. like soy milk. and luna bars.
whomever you are, i’m okay with you sticking around.
you’re gonna be good for my bod.

dear united way: why must your breakfast begin at 6:45?
since i love you, i’ll come celebrate with you.
but please, don’t talk to me until i’ve had coffee.
it’s in your best interest.

dear march: you aren’t doing it for me.
quit snowing. start shining.
that’s all i have to say about that.

dear thin mints: you are my nemesis.
you are delightful.
you are the reason i go to the gym.

dear closet: i know, i’m sick of the winter wardrobe too.

dear bedroom: i promise you’re getting painted soon.
mama’s just gotta quit putting off the inevitable and march her happy lil tail into sherwin williams to pick out paint. i’m sorry i’ve neglected you.

dear o.a.r: your tickets go on sale tomorrow.
you’re coming to cbus with one of my favorite men {andrew mcmahon}.
for this, i love you even more than usual.
see you in july.

dear twenties: your days are fleeting. let’s live it up while it lasts!

TGIF, lovellies! any super fun plans this weekend? i’m a little stoked to spend some significant time with my bestie {that’d be my mama in case you’re just arriving at this partay}. this time last year we were getting ready to jet-set to italy, so we’re doing the next best thing…stocking up at palumbo’s {it’s an italian market in town if you’re unaware. and it’s mindblowingly fantastic}! then we’ll go on a treasure hunt for antique and vintage goodies, and celebrate brobie’s birthday on sunday. i’m really not excited at all. obvi.

smooches!

what you don’t know {but should}

Jac and I are working on a link up. But while we’re slackers slow, we decided we’d informally link it up today. Just for shiggles.

There are plenty of things you don’t know about me. That’s because you don’t know me. Or you don’t know me that well. Something like that. Sorry mom, none of these are new to you.

Allow me to school you on yours truly…
- I rarely finish a drink, there’s almost always something in the bottom of the cup. Like backwash, or floaters. Ew.
-  I may or may not still sleep with a stuffed animal I’ve had since I was like 10. I like to have something wedged under my arm. Sorry if that’s weird.
- I’m a wee bit obsessed with office supplies.
- I have a birthmark on the back of my left leg and a solitary freckle on the palm of my left hand.
- I hate writing in pencil. What of it? I don’t make mistakes…except when I put a sharpie in my coffee mug today. That was dumb.
- I cannot make big purchases without geeking out. But that seems pretty normal.
- I teach Facebook classes at the bank. It’s fun(ny).
- I love greeting cards and getting snail mail. Who wants to be my pen pal?!
- I’ll never, ever turn down a spontaneous dance party.
- If Ke$ha comes on the radio the station gets changed. Period.
- I don’t like hummus. I’ve tried. It’s just not happening.
- There are 4 books on my night stand. I’ve started each one but haven’t gotten past page 20. Abandon ship?
- My hair goes in a pony if I wear a scarf. Hair on scarf bugs me. And produces static like woah.
- I can’t do simple math in my head anymore. This saddens me.

That’s enough for now. Any surprises?

hairapy & forehead fringe

ladies, is there nothing better than a fresh ‘do? no. there isn’t. well, there is, but a hair cut is pretty high up on the list. i’m all for getting my cut on, as long as the locks can still be yanked up into a pony.

first off, hairapy nights happen with my mama. we always go together. so it’s a super great time. always. plus there’s the required stop at mission coffee for a super tasty skinny vanilla latte. it’s the best in cbus. really.

i’m busting my nuts to grow my hair out, and it’s taking forever. i have the luxury of slow-growing hair. it’s not awesome. then you toss in that i have crazy fine straight hair and i’m never exciting. all i do is hack it off, grow it out, or chop it up with layers. and i prefer having swoopy bangs so that there’s something on my face.

then this happened.

it wasn’t intentional. my all-star stylist amy asked what we were doing with my bangs, and i gave my typical non-committal, i have no clue but i know i need bangs. then i confirmed i trusted her, and she said i needed heavy bangs. guys, i thought that just meant more bangs. i really didn’t know i was getting forehead fringe. honest.

but i flipping love it.

it’s edgy. sassy. trendy. hip. has attitude. and kinda makes me feel a little like jessica biel. it gives me confidence. it makes me look older. it kinda makes me look like i need to play guitar or bang on some drums. and i kinda dig how it makes me feel more mature too. looking in the mirror, i really liked what was looking back at me. these stupid bangs reaffirmed my independence, reminded me that i really don’t need a man to feel good about myself, and i finally don’t look stupid rocking aviators.

a fresh look can give you so much confidence. are you with me?!

be daring, lovellies. dare to do something you wouldn’t normally. be awesome, because you are awesome. okay!?

oh, one more thing. get a spring manicure and get funky with your nails. the sun is out  and the nail polish colors out right now are super fun. so grab one of your girls and get your nails did!

 

enjoy your weekend…and don’t forget to spring ahead tonight! losing an hour of sleep is totes worth it. i’m all for more daylight!

 

 

i’m a concert junkie

i love live music. love, love, love it! thanks to my brother, i’m stupid spoiled, too. so when i go to concerts, or any live event, i want to be able to see up the performer’s nose. quite literally. i can’t help it. i want to be super close. and that’s hella expensive sometimes. which is why i don’t go to all the shows i want to, because i’d be broke as a joke.

tomorrow kicks off my 2013 concert series with a band i love: muse. i’m crazy pumped to see them perform. even though i’m not going to see up anyone’s nose, except maybe the people behind me. i shelled out $60 for a ticket to sit in the first level of the bowl and that’ll have to be good enough. rumor has it they put on an incredible show and my brother told me i had to go, so i’m going. and it’s an added bonus that a guy i’ve known since elementary plays bass for the opening band, dead sara. they’re not my style, at all, but i’m excited to see chris onstage. haven’t seen that guy since high school graduation.

i digress. back to my concert insanity. i dug out all the stubs i’ve kept since college and took a picture to get you a little insight {and this isn’t anywhere near all the shows i’ve gone to}, and so you get the point.

there are multiple layers of tickets there. maybe three. but who’s counting it’s obvious i wasn’t kidding when i said i love live music. i kinda feed off of it. you know, feel alive. all that cliche crap. it happens to me. i’m not ashamed.

so, these ticket stubs, i know you’re curious who all’s in the pile, and i don’t like to leave anyone guessing. plus, you just might find new bands you need to check out.

here goes:

the fray {my friend jeremy plays bass. no joke}
casting crowns
sanctus real
michael w. smith
gavin degraw
daughtry
quietdrive (maybe 10 times. seriously}
the four freshmen & the four aces {super old group; went with my nana}
foster the people
kimbra
the academy is {2-3 times}
bakenaked ladies
OAR {lots}
rascal flatts {4-5 outdoor shows, refuse to see them inside}
the killers
trans-siberian orchestra
jason aldean
dierks bentley
cartel {my all-time favorite}
randy travis
david cook
mae
coldplay
backstreet boys
guster {this is another one i always see live. at least 6 times}
jack’s mannequin {never miss them when they’re in cbus}
chicago
huey lewis & the news
the doobie brothers
colbie caillat
hit the lights
david cook
david hernandez, alexis grace, michael sarver & gina glocksen from american idol
the band perry
richard marx
vans warped tour
anberlin
the black keys
counting crows
howie day
dave mathews
john mayer
martin sexton
kenny chesney
one republic
katy perry
franz ferdinand
{i know i’m missing bands, but i’ve racked my brain long enough. i quit}

added 3/5…
jamisonparker
the who
ryan cabrera
sugarcult
head automatica
melee
taking back sunday
hawthorne heights
barenaked ladies
say anything
the early november
plain white t’s
maxeen

and when i get tickets this weekend, i’ll be adding bruno mars & ellie goulding to the list. i was really hoping to add twenty-one pilots too, but their hometown show sold out outrageously quick {should’ve seen that coming}. so, that’s a bummer with a capital b, but i get to see the guys at church and hear them do their thing there, and that’s better than nothing.

do you remember your first concert? or, which concert is your favorite? who are you dying to see this year?

kisses, kiddos. at this time tomorrow, i’ll be in full blown concert mode. and i’ll have no voice wednesday. and i may be deaf. eh. oh well.

he’s already there

A friend suggested I check out Already There by Casting Crowns. He knows what I’ve been up against lately, and he was right…this song hits the nail on the head.

Sometimes it’s hard to see beyond the end of your nose and believe in what your future holds. Especially when the big picture seems like a gigantic question mark. This gives me hope. And it’s my prayer that it does the same for you.

Enjoy, and keep the faith. Our mystery is just a memory for God.