Um. Ew.

Day 7: 4 Turn Offs

1. Bad breath
Guh-ross!!! I don't care how pretty/handsome/rich/famous/funny/cute you are. If you have a case of halitosis, take care of it. Brush your grill. Ew.

2. Bad hygiene

• Take a shower. Every day. Just because you swam in the river today does not mean you are exempt from shower.
  
• Wear deodorant. All the time. There are no exceptions to this. Sorry, but religion shouldn't be an exception either since everyone else has to suffer from their lack of hygiene.
• Don't go out in public with greasy hair. By public, I mean around other people. Throw a hat on, dowse it in baby powder, or here's a hint: wash it!

3. "Me" People

• You know...the people who only talk about themselves, are only interested in hearing themselves talk, could care less about what you have to say, think, or feel, people you know never listen to anything you have to say because they're too worried about the next thing they're going to say. You know...someone that could wear this shirt and actually pull it off...
  
  

4. Unmotivated people

• Ugh, this is such a turn off, for both women and men. DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE! You were put on this earth for a definite purpose. Figure out what it is., write it down, and work towards it. What's a life with no purpose? Find out what motivates you and do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals. Don't wait for something to just happen or life just might pass you by.
  
  
  

Fave Five

Well, it's day 5 of the blogging challenge which means I have to list 5 people who mean the most to me. I'm pretty sure I've conveyed this in my previous posts but just in case you forgot them...here they are...in no particular order!

1. Daddio 0:)
He will always mean the world to me.
2. Aunty M

*She's gonna kill me for this one! ;) I couldn't resist! Look at her shakin' her bon-bon!!

3. Mom/Motha Goose/Madre/Mahjah

4. Chris: my not so little brother

5. Beau/Love of my life/lovebug/bug <3

I interrupt this blog challenge once again...for this...

My little angel, Tini, begging for food. So typical!


Hope you enjoyed her antics as much as I do! :)

Regrets?

Blog challenge day 5: What are 6 things you wish you could change or wish you would have never done?

Wow-this is a hard one. Besides the ultimate wish of having my dad back, I don't have too many regrets or things I wish I wouldn't have done. I somehow came up with a few though so here goes!

1. I wish I would have applied to dental hygiene school more than once.

• Although I love what I am doing now, I have always had a deep passion for teeth (weird, I know!) and for being a dental hygienist. Dental hygiene programs are very competitive, only accept a handful of students each year, and I knew this when I was applying. I had excellent grades and applied to 5 different schools in Texas and got rejection letters from all 5. Grrr...I was always told to apply again but I was so over being in school that I just wanted to graduate already. Now that I have to work, it's highly impossible to do the dental hygiene program AND work so as for now, I will just have to come to terms with my decision. I'm perfectly content with where I am now but maybe one day I will apply again...

2. I wish I would have never sold my Yukon.

• Gggoooddd I loved that car. Although it was somewhat expensive and guzzled gas like NO OTHER, I was STUPID for selling it. I sold it for less than half of what I bought it for and it was only a year old. It had everything except wings. The heated seats kept me warm in the winter and the navigation kept me from getting lost every time I pulled out of the driveway. The t.v.'s kept my passengers entertained and the back up cam prevented me from backing into, oh, everything. It was simply fabulous and I miss it SO much.

This was my baby. Her name was Tina.

3. I wish I would have never cut my hair.

• I'm kicking myself in the arse for telling my hairdresser at the time "I want my hair cut like Kristen's from Laguna Beach." Barf. I hated it. It looked awful and it's taken for-ever to grow back.
  

4. On that note, I wish I would have NEVER dyed my hair brown.

• I LOVE brunettes and brown hair. It's just gawgess...but on other people...not me. Sure my hair was super silky and shiny but I looked like Powder. It completely washed me out and I honestly feel like it took my personality away. SOOO...a year and a half later, I finally became a blonde again. Thank. Goodness.
  

5. I wish I never broke my ankle.

• Although it seems like not that big of a deal to most people, me breaking my ankle was the cause of a lot of my fears. Fear of doctors, hospitals, surgeries, IV's, allergic reactions, and most of all, the fear of playing a sport I spent my entire life playing and loving. I must admit, I was pretty darn good at softball. I mean, I played it for 12 years, which wouldn't have been possible if I were terrible at it. The two surgeries I had also caused two terrible scars, bad spider veins, loss of almost all my muscle tone in one leg, and worst of all, my version of a kankle. Yes, I have one kankle. Well, my idea of a kankle anyway and I hate it. I would have seriously considered a short wedding dress if it weren't for good ol' "kanks".
  
  

6. I wish I would have verbally told my brother how much he hurt my feelings by choosing to not come to our first couple's shower-which is next weekend.

• I just thought he would have known how much it would mean for him to come. I know-he's a guy and things like this aren't important to guys but I'm only getting married once and it would be nice if he participated...I mean...he's only walking me down the aisle. I also know the UT/OU game is important but when you go to every singe UT game and you attend the UT/OU game every year, you can miss one measly football game. I mean, they aren't looking all that great anyways. Sorry-that was mean but my feelings are pretty shot and I think it's a little ridiculous that my mother is on his side about it. ((Stephanie, you may not step down from your soap box...)) But...
  
  
  

Well, I guess that wraps up day 5! Lookin' forward to day 6! Until next time...

"You're Always On My Mind..."

Blog Challenge Day 4: 7 things that always cross my mind.

1. Where is my chapstick? As I've mentioned before, I get extreme anxiety at the thought of not having my chapstick with me all the time. It hurts to even think about it.

2. Should I workout today? This is an ongoing battle I've been having lately. "Yes, you should go to the gym" but whether I actually do or not is a different story.

3. Where are we going on our honeymoon? Beau planned and booked the entire trip! I have not the first clue as to where we are going besides the fact that it's somewhere tropical (he had to be able to tell me how to pack). I won't find out until I walk onto the plane April 17, 2011 and suprisingly I am perfectly ok with that!

4. What will my future be like? Where will we be living? What will I look like? When will we have babies? Will we still be working at the same companies? What kind of car will I drive? I could go on for days about thoughts of my future but in all honesty, that's the joy of life...the unexpected and the unknown!

5. What should I blog about today? Sometimes I have not the slightest idea as to what to blog about (hence my participation of this 10 day blogging challenge which GIVES me something to blog about)! So, sorry if you've read any pointless posts...sometimes my creative mind has to rest!

6. Why did I just eat that? We've all been there. You've already eaten enough at dinner yet you still manage to shove that triple chocolate brownie with ice cream down your throat. Sure, it tastes fantastic but you don't feel good about eating it afterwards and you think to yourself, "Why the helll did I just eat all that?"

7. My dad. I love him and miss him terribly. There's not an hour that goes by that he doesn't cross my mind.

What would I do without these??

Blog Challenge Day 3: 8 Things I can't live without.
(In no particular order.)

Lip balm/chapstick/aquaphor whatever you want to call it.

• You will NEVER see me without it. Ever. Just the idea of not having it makes me extremely anxious.
  

Fans

• Any kind: ceiling, osculating, box, tower, bladeless, desk, you name it...I've got it.
  
• I CANNOT sleep, or function, without moving air.

Ouchless Ponytail Holders

• I always have 2 on my wrist-always. Mom has always hated it and tells me it looks tacky but hey, you never know when you're going to need one. Plus, I've found alternate uses for them these days so they really serve more than just one purpose.
  

Post-its

• I need them. All the time. Everywhere.

Pink

• The color.
• I don't know who I would be without it. Seriously. I cannot even imagine a world with no pink. Sigh...

Cell phone

• Any kind, really, but preferably my iPhone for it's utter greatness. I cannot function without having everything in the palm of my hand. You know: clock, calendar, phone numbers (God, I would be screwed without my contact list), notes, text messaging, Twitter app, camera, etc. Gosh I could go on for DAYS!
  

Target

• What girl can live without Target??
  

These people:

(Yes-I consider Tini a "person".)

My fabulous Aunt Mary!

My handsome husband-to-be!

Mother Goose!

BrEaKiNg NeWs!!

I interrupt this blogging challenge for some muy importante wedding news!!

(For the record, I really was going to skip Wedding Wednesday & move right along with day #3 of the blogging challenge but I absolutely cannot NOT post what I'm about to post!)

Remember, oh, 2 days ago when I listed 10 things I wanted to say to 10 people? My #4 specifically stated:

• 4. Adriana (my bridal consultant at Ventura's Bridal Salon): Please call me sometime soon and say those 4 little words, "Your dress is in!" You said it would take 4-6 months for delivery. It's been 4 months and 13 days now and I lack patience. It's time.

Well, Adriana did not call me but someone else did (I don't even remember her name I was so excited when I got the call) to tell me...

MY DRESS IS IN!!!

I'll be trying on my very own wedding dress tomorrow afternoon for the first time! I am SO excited!! I was just looking at pictures of it yesterday and fell even more in love with it. It's so hard to keep such a huge secret and I'm an open book so I'll give y'all some "hints"...

• It's a Sottero & Midgely gown
  
• It's long
• It's some shade of white
• It's could quite possibly be one of the following fits: ball gown, A-line, mermaid, trumpet
• It is so "me"

Hope that doesn't give away too terribly much!

Day 2 Blogging Challenge: 9 Things Most People Don't Know About ME!

1. I wear knee highs.

• My work uniform consists of a solid black suit, a solid color shell, conservative jewelry, heels at least 1 inch high and HOSE! I do not do pantyhose, therefore, my "hose of choice" are knee highs!" HA! So funny. I'm 24 and can proudly say I own close to 30 pair of knee highs, 2 pair thigh highs and maybe 1 or 2 pair of full blown pantyhose. You know, the ones that start right under your boobs and go alllll the way down with a crotch that hangs closer to your knees than your hoo-ha? Yup. I've got all my bases covered!

Sexxxxxyyy....

• 2. I had my nose done in August 2007.
  

• I'm half Italian & I told my mom I would never get married with my old nose (I hated profile shots) which meant, no grandbabies for her. She hated the idea of it until I broke it down for her then she supported me 100%! End of story and I am SO glad I had it done!

3. I am obsessed with teeth.

• So much to the fact that I wanted to be a dental hygienist more than anything yet I applied to 5 schools and didn't get into ONE SINGLE PROGRAM! Talk about a shot to the ego...
  

4. On that note, I graduated Magna Cum Laude.

• Don't google it-it simply means that I kicked ass in college. My last year of college was absolutely horrible. My dad died that January, I was taking 21 hours, I had 2 internships (one at a dentist office and one at Planned Parenthood...don't judge me.) I was applying to dental hygiene programs left and right, I had to quit my bartending job where I had worked for 5 years and get a job in the so called "real" world. To say the least, it was a lot for anyone to take on, let alone graduate with high honors and still get everything accomplished.
  
• Now for my soap box: How on earth can someone graduate MAGNA CUM LAUDE with a degree in HEALTH and NOT get into ONE SINGLE DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM??? Doesn't make sense to me. Never has. Never will.

5. I take over 18 supplements a day. (I'm a vitamin consultant ok?!)

• To name of few of my favorites: MAGNESIUM, inositol, fish oil, biotin, hair skin & nails, and Dr. Hotze's Energy Formula. Can't go a day without them!!

These are just the supplements I keep in my desk drawer:

6. I'm a southpaw!

7. I played competitive softball for 12 years.

• Which resulted in this injury, scaring the hell out of me and my retirement from the sport altogether:

A girl 3 times my size slid into my ankle when I was turning a double play from second. I had two surgeries: the first surgery was to put a metal plate and 7 screws on my bone to hold it together and the second surgery was to take it all out because I ended up being allergic to the titanium. LOL. Not to mention, I was allergic to the medical tape as well so my entire foot was covered in blisters. Couldn't catch a break.
8. I love to shop.

• Ok-so most people know this about me but what they DON'T know is that almost everything I buy comes from a sale rack. I'm ALL ABOUT not paying full price for something. I will wait to buy something until it goes on sale and if it never does, it wasn't worth it to me!

9. I have a specific order in which I shower every morning. I never go out of order. I've done it once and it totally screwed with my head and I forgot to shave a leg.

• Shampoo, shave underarms, rinse shampoo, conditioner, while that sits I shave and wash my body, rinse conditioner, wash face. It's the ONLY order I go in.

10. I hate "things" in my nose.

• By "things", I mean "boogies" and I can't stand them in there. Ever. I get caught every once in a while digging for gold but hey, I like a clean nose and I'm always sure to wash my hands afterward. It's my nose (an expensive one, at that!) and my treasure so don't judge me.
  

Tomorrow's topic: 8 things I can't live without!

10 Days

Today's blog post (and, well, the next 9 posts) are inspiration from Jess over at Polka Dots, Pearls, and Pink...OH MY! She has committed to a 10 day blogging challenge about the following, and I'm always up for a challenge. Here's the rules:

Day 1: Ten things you want to say to ten people right now.
Day 2: Nine things about yourself that most people don't know.
Day 3: Eight things you couldn't live without.
Day 4: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day 5: Six things you wish you could change or wish you would have never done.
Day 6: Five people who mean a lot to you.
Day 7: Four turn offs.
Day 8: Three turn ons.
Day 9: Two words that describe your life right now.
Day 10: One confession.

Here goes!
Day one: ten things I want to say to ten people right now...

1. Case Keenum (UH Quarterback): Get your bum knee back in shape and get your @$$ back on the field. This is OUR season and we need YOU! Plus-I didn't buy season tickets to watch some red shirt freshman attempt to take us to the bowl game...

2. Tini (my chihuahua): Although you are the most precious thing I've ever seen, you're 5 now...well, 5 1/2, and it's TIME you become potty trained. Your floppy ears and sweet eyes won't win my heart this time...get with it.
3. Nancy (Beau's 86 year old neighbor): Thank you SO much for helping us with our garage sale this past weekend. Sitting with you as you collected all the money, listening to your love stories about you and your husband from World War II and hearing all about your ginormous collection of sea shells made my weekend sitting outside in the heat and then the rain and then the mosquitoes so much more enjoyable-really! It was so thoughtful of you to wake up at the crack of dawn both Saturday AND Sunday to help us organize and sell our "crap" all to help Beau and I raise a few measly dollars for our honeymoon.

4. Adriana (my bridal consultant at Ventura's Bridal Salon): Please call me sometime soon and say those 4 little words, "Your dress is in!" You said it would take 4-6 months for delivery. It's been 4 months and 13 days now and I lack patience. It's time.

5. Owners of both Mazda North American Operations and National Tire & Battery: tell your employees I said thanks for completely ruining my vehicle and not taking responsibility for it. Because of you, I am now in a long winded, stressful lawsuit. BUT-mark my word...I'm waiting you out! Good things come to those who wait and I'll be damned if I stand to see you do this to innocent consumers and not fess up to it. BRING IT!

(*I guess that last one counts for 2 so I'll skip to #6 to be fair.)

7. Kristen: I am SO happy you made me this blog! It is seriously SO therapeutic for me. Reading all y'alls posts everyday gives me something to look forward to and without it, well, I just might have to get a life!

(Classay Laday!)

8. Dad: I love you and miss you terribly. Tini says "hi" and says she misses her Popsicle eating, chip dipping sessions with you. I couldn't agree more.

You see, I was daddy's girl. I hunted and fished with him throughout my entire childhood and he was my softball coach my whole life. We spent every single weekend together out at the deer lease, the island or the softball field and he taught me so incredibly much. He was so patient with anyone and had a heart of gold. He would do anything for me and I just knew he would would be around forever. He was dad. He was invincible. Dad was the bravest man I knew. He had the sweetest blue eyes that could melt anyone's heart.

Dad died a little over 2 1/2 years ago and since then, life has been, well, different. It was traumatic, sudden, and completely unexpected. Chris, mom and myself were in shock for days on end-sometimes I think we still are. It was so surreal, and it still is. There is absolutely nothing more in the world I want than to have him back today. Not just for me and the fact that I wish he could walk me down that aisle. But for mom. For my brother. For Tini. For the kid across the street whom he sat in a baby pool with eating pickles with in the front yard.

I can't help but think of him constantly throughout each and every day but I have come to the understanding that everything really happened for a reason. Dad died of a heart attack. His heart was 3 times the size it should have been, many of his main arteries were over 90% blocked and he had the beginning stages of kidney cancer. I could have never seen dad go through and deal with cancer treatment, especially kidney cancer. He wouldn't have wanted to go through that either which is why I have come to terms with it all.

If you've never heard of "Pennies from Heaven", google it. It's so incredible and I believe it in 1000%. Although dad is not physically here, I know his spirit is and he's watching over me everyday.

Love you, daddy. Keep sending down pennies and watching over us. 0:)

9. Beau: (Of course!) Thank you for being my best friend and for never judging me. Thank you for always seeing the best in me and for making me always see the good side of everything. You are my rock and I love you.
10. Mom: You and dad put a good head on my shoulders (or so I'd like to think!) and have raised me into the woman I am today. You are the strongest woman I know and I hope one day I will have as much strength as you do. I love you and am forever grateful for you and our relationship.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's challenge: Nine things about yourself that most people don't know.

This could get real interesting real fast...dun, dun, duuuunnn....

The One.

Today Beau & I are celebrating our 5 year anniversary!

It's crazy to know that I met this frat boy when I was 19 who was dating some Zeta (who is now one of my very best friends) and here I am, 5 years later, getting ready to marry the man and I could not be ANY happier!

We go pretty far back and have hit our bumps in the road but hey, no one's perfect and we're definitely no exception to the rule. Though we may not be perfect, we're perfect for each other and when it comes down to it I wouldn't want it any other way!

He puts up with me and has made me grow as a person in ways I never thought possible. Beau has been my rock during the lowest, toughest times in my life and I am forever grateful for that. He is so patient and loving and is the sweetest man in the whole world, besides my daddy, of course. He comes from a great family and is a momma's boy to no end. He's handsome and charming and has this incredible way of sweeping me off my feet and giving me butterflies in my tummy every time I see him. Beau has made me a better person which, to me, is what makes us perfect for one another.

He's the yen to my yang.
...the vodka to my martini.
...the peanut butter to my jelly.

He's stuck with me when I'm happy and when I'm sad.
...when I was fat and now that I'm, well, not so fat.
...when I'm blonde and when I was brunette.

He is simply amazing and I am so fortunate God has put him in my life, for now and forever.

So join me as I take a glance at the last 5 years I've had the privilege of spending with the man of my dreams...enjoy!

(In absolutely NO order whatsoever...)

Engagement Pics July 2010 : Hottest Day EVER.

Caesar's Palace-March 2010St. Thomas-May 2009

Scissor Biscuits CoEd Softball TeamPuerto Rico-Nov. 2008

Frio River Road Trip-2007?

Our first New Year's Eve together

My 21st Birthday Party...we look like babiiiees!

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009

Halloween '08

My graduation party-Dec 2008

Kevin Fowler Concert-2009

Frio River-July 4, 2009

Isle of Capri for our 2 year anniversary (Sept 2007)-he's gonna kill me for this one-sorry babe!

Ranch House construction-2008?

Proposal day! February 13, 2010

Disney World 2007-Yes I had dark brown hair. Didn't last long.

Disney World 2006 - Animal Kingdom

Disney World 2006-A Bug's Life!

Beau's 21st Birthday!

Sigma Nu Little Sister Initiation Dinner

Sigma Nu 50th Anniversary

Sigma Nu-Delta Zeta Mixer

Sigma Chi Prom

Rodeo 2007-ew.

April 2005-or whenever "kissy faces" were in...

Halloween 2007

Delta Zeta Formal 2005

UH Football 2005

Vegas 2010!

Happy 5 year anniversary Beau! Thank you for being you and for loving me for me. I love you more than words can say and I look forward to many, many, many more fabulous years together! <3 I cannot WAIT to be Mrs. Beau Howard! :)