The Truth

I got into a Rainbows and Butterflies, Kittens and Unicorns conversation with my sweet girl Al earlier today. I don't think we all necessarily try to paint the prettiest picture, but maybe you all are like me and just don't like to ruminate on the ugly side of life. You come to it, you conquer it, you move on.


The truth is, owning a home alone is hard. Not just financially, but physically and mentally. Every bill that comes in, any thing that breaks or needs fixed, all the projects I leave half-finished because I lack time, money, or just plain don't have the skills. It's been a huge adjustment going from living at home to being alone. Mowing grass, laundry, dishes, cooking, grocery shopping, everything. It's tough when there is no one else there to help you out.


The truth is, I don't like to rely on others. I hate that feeling. I don't like having to ask for help. I'm way too stubborn, and a lot of the time it just makes things even harder on myself. 


The truth is, I get burnt out on my job. Sure the industry is a blast, but I work my ass off all the time and it's still not enough. And a lot of time I still don't feel like I quite 'fit in'. 


The truth is, part of the reason I never mentioned LT before on here was because I didn't think he'd be around for long.  And when I started to realize he might, I panicked, and tried my hardest to push him away. Because I've still got it in my head that falling for someone just leads to heartbreak.


The truth is, sometimes it's a little daunting to look around and realize a lot of people your age are either climbing a corporate ladder or establishing families.


The truth is, friends are constantly coming and going from my life. Friendship is hard to maintain, it's not like high school where you saw each other 1st, 3rd and 5th period and at lunch in the Commons.  We're all going our own paths and struggling to figure out how to make schedules mesh up or find halfway points.


The truth is, I spend money I shouldn't on vacations because they are my vice. My peace of mind. Sure my 40year old air conditioner is ready to die any minute now but I figure in 20 years I'll have better memories of that week in the Caribbean than that time I sweated my butt off with no A/C.



The truth is though, I'm tough. I grew up watching strong-as-hell parents who never let anything set them back. They started with little and built the life they wanted, and that's where I'm headed too. No matter how many truths I struggle with, I guess the only one that matters is knowing I can handle it.
 

99 Things

99 things . . . I just stumbled upon this over at Jenn's blog, who got it from the Lovely Al Naturally, I HAD to play. 

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightening storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee


Not too shabby, I guess. Some of these were a little weird (how do you go from having a baby to owning a cell phone? apples & oranges people)
What could you bold from these 99 things?

 

put a smile on

What's graces your happy list?

Evolution of an outfit

I've begun to realize lately that I have a very particular way of getting dressed.

I always, always start with the pants. Why? I have no clue. But I always go into it with the mindset that it's a 'skinny jeans and boots' kind of day, or a 'bootcut & flats' kind of day, etc.

This particular day I deemed a boot day.

Then of course, one must decide on the actual boots! Once that was conquered I added a plain gray tshirt. It was comfortable and I was sick on this day, so I was determined to wear that tee! But a tee, jeans and boots... that's just too boring! How about a plaid shirt?

Meh. Wasn't feeling it. Swapped out the plaid shirt for a sweater, and a scarf of course.

 Nope. All wrong. Just wasn't feeling the cropped sweater. I liked the teal + gray though...

Different aqua sweater, different scarf. Not a fan of the scarf. Switch.

I like... but a bit too summery. It's a chilly, fall day. How about a pop of color.... and let's add a belt too

I was sorta digging the red + teal + brown but that teal sweater is really lightweight, and I knew I'd be outside... so I swapped out the sweater....

TaDa. Hit the nail on the head! Now off to do something with that mess of hair & make-up!

Does anyone get dressed like this or does this cheese stand alone?? I just can't stand walking out the door if I don't feel like it's JUST right... sometimes that means a LOT of different twists on the same combination.

And yea, this usually takes place every morning!

Questions & Answers : The Randoms

I'm finally getting a chance to post the last round of questions & answers from you all! I hope you guys got the answers you were hankerin for, it was a fun little chance for me to tell you about things I don't always think to blog about!

1. Chunky or creamy peanut butter? from Lacey

Definitely creamy. Chelsea no like chunky (side note: I spell definitely wrong every time I type it. EVERY time. Always a guaranteed red squiggly)

 

2. Do you drink rice/soy/almond milk or regular? from Lacey

Oh, plain jane here. Regular ol milk. 2% if you wanna get really personal!

3. What's your absolute favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning? from ~Haley~
Roll outta bed around 8-830 (I hate sleeping my days away), play with pup for a bit, enjoy a cup of coffee and then head out to the antique malls! Saturdays are usually crowded but I love the thrill of the hunt... most of my house is decorated with"old crap" as I lovingly refer to it=)

4. What's your favorite animal? from ~Haley~

How about top 3 -- Donkeys, Parrots & Polar Bears.

 

5. Besides Pinterest, where to get most of your crafting inspiration? from undomestic chica

I am are the queen of "I can make that myself!" I get a lot of inspiration from the 'made in Taiwan' things I see in stores. (Nothing against Taiwan...) I go into Pier1 or Anthropologie and walk out with 900 ideas of things to make

6 .I AM curious...what shampoo do you use? From Michabella

I'm not picky, but I am a hair product snob. My mom is a hairstylist so I only use salon brands but typically it's just whichever one she brings home for me! Right now I alternate between BedHeads' EpicVolume or Joico's Smooth Cure

 

7. What's your favorite beauty product? From Michabella

Johnson & Johnson baby oil. I use it every time I get outta the shower. I love the smell, love how cheap it is, love how soft it keeps my skin!

8. What can't you leave the house without (makeup/jewelry-wise). From Michabella

I don't really wear a ton of makeup, and am fine leaving the house without it.... but typically I'll throw mascara on atleast. Jewelry-wise, I almost ALWAYS have a watch on

 

9. What is your favorite movie? from Mateya

Easy. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. One of the ONLY movies I can watch over & over. Also at the top of my list: Dirty Dancing, Grease, Devil Wears Prada, and most other MattyMc movies

10. When are going to come to the farm and see me? :)  from Mateya

Whenever you invite me. Or whenever it's harvest time, so I get to ride in a combine and make hay cinnamon rolls. Whichever comes first

11. How about top 3 most-played songs on your ipod/itunes? from Crystal

Figures that I don't have my ipod on me today... please hold. I will have to update this later!

12. Who is your best friend and what did she get you for your birthday? :) from Jenn

Her name is Jenn, she lives in Las Vegas and she sent me a lot of minty chocolate candy (but not the tainted kind) and Martha and a little portion of a RT on a RedBelly!

13. Bang, Marry, Shovel: Matthew Mcconaughey, Brad Pitt, Prince William from Chelsea

Oh easy! Marry Prince William (what...  Michelle says I look like Pippa, and we all saw those two flirting like crazy at big brothers wedding), Bang MattyMc, shovel Brad Pitt (soo not an Angelina fan)

 
14. What's on your Christmas list for this year? from Chelsea

Eh I'm not a very good list maker. If it sparkles or makes me laugh, I'll take 2.  Please and thankyou

15. What item can you not live without?  from Amanda

Food. duh ;) I'd get pretty bored without spray paint or my sewing machine though. Not having a car would suck...

 

16. Do you enjoy reading, if so what's your favorite book? from Adrian

I love reading! When I go on vacation I have to take like 4books because all I do all day long is read while laying out (and I read SUPER fast!). I love Dan Brown books, I love silly chick lit, I love Chuck Palahniuk

17. If you could move anywhere in the US, where would it be? from Kelly

One time we were in Myrtle Beach and drove down to Charleston, SC for the day. Absolutely fell in love with it. I also made it out to SoCal this summer for a quick wkend trip but I could totally see myself fittin in there too.

I'm pretty content with Indy though, I don't see myself goin anywhere! 

18. if you could be any animal in the world, what would you be? From Michabella

Some sort of fish or bird, that has free roam to go anywhere I wanted.

 

19. Cold or hot? From Michabella

Hot! I'd prefer hot weather over cold anyday!

20. Beach or mountains? From Michabella

Mountains are beautiful, and snowboarding is a blast but beach. Hands down!

21. Who is your favorite person in FL? From Michabella

MICKEY MOUSE!!! Oh wait... I'm supposed to say you aren't I?

22. One celebrity guy, just one, who's going to be your number one pick? from Marian

Matthew McConaughey. As if you really had to ask. Or wait, I forgot about Ryan Gosling. Crap.

 
 

23.And hey, lets not be sexist, number one girl crush? from Marian

Hmmmm.... Mila Kunis

 
24. You are on a deserted island, what are the 5 things you want with you? from Marian

Hmmmm... 1. sunscreen (what, who wants a horrible sunburn!? 

2. a laptop with wireless (hello, music)

3. bug spray (not really ok with getting eaten alive)
4. a lounge chair

5. a plane, so I could fly my friends in ;)

 

25. What are your bingo strategies? from Whitney

I wish! I have none, I'm actually pretty terrible... I just got lucky that one time!

And that, my friends, concludes this session of Q&A. Because, really, how did all of you survive before you knew my #1 celeb girl crush?!