27 & Falling Apart

Mom has always told me that as you age, things naturally begin to fall apart and per usual, I'm already ahead of the game. All this "aging gracefully" talk is for the birds. It downright sucks and I'm barely pushing 28.

While I have yet to find a gray hair (thanks to an over abundance of highlights) and while gravity hasn't quite gotten a hold of my massive B-cups, I'm starting to see what they're talking about when they say "falling apart".

Besides the fact that I dislocated a shoulder earlier this year over something ridiculously dumb, I'm now dealing with quite possibly one of the worst things a woman could ever imagine...a ripped earring hole.

There. It's out.

No more earrings for me. Slap a baseball cap on me, give me a pair of boxers and consider me a boy. I'm done. Or at least, as a woman who can't wear earrings any more, that's how I feel. Talk about dewomanizing a girl in .4 seconds...

And to make matters worse...I'm in a wedding next weekend and the bride's gift to us? Kendra Freaking Scott earrings. Just. My. Luck.

So where do I go from here? Do I go the rest of my life without earrings? Do I have the plastic surgery done to fix my "elongated" hole, as they call it? Do I get it re-pierced higher up on my lobe or should I just end it altogether?

Seriously. Who rips their earring hole clean out of their head? Oh wait-I do. And I need your advice before I go Googling stuff and work myself up to think I have cancer of the ear hole.

Never in my twenty-something years did I think I would find #3 on my to-do list...

Clip-ons....SMH...

Life Currently

Currently...

READING: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I like it! I started reading it on the plane to the Bahamas and while I haven't finished it just yet, I know this is one I won't leave 3/4 read to never see again. Between vacation, a new job, an out-of-town bachelorette party, three weddings coming up and just life in general, it's been quite a whirlwind lately. The Happiness Project isn't for "sad" or "depressed" people. It's a light and funny read that inspires you to have more fun in your life...sing in the mornings, use your fancy stationary (don't save it) and to overall, be a more lighthearted, fun-loving person. Who doesn't want that?!

WRITING: This blog post plus a gazillion others for the new/old job. Hey-someone's gotta play with food and blog about it... ;) Ok but really how fun are these?!

LISTENING: Cole Swindell's "Chillin' It". Ob-sessed. Just take my word for it...

THINKING: about my next concoction to be created with this baby...(AKA: my new Vitamix)! I'm taking juicing to a whole 'nother level and could not be more excited about it! Blog post on this baby to follow...one day...

WEARING: This precious gold plated Texas necklace! I know I'm going to get a ton of questions as to where I got it from but I honestly cannot remember for the life of me what boutique I bought it at this past weekend in Wimberley! (Sorry!!)

WISHING: I was still in the Texas Hill Country. Girl's weekends are just good for the soul...that's all there is to it!

(Photo from my friend, Casey's, bachelorette party this past weekend.)

NEEDING: To get my booty back in the gym and back into a good rhythm again...Darn you vacation for throwing me off!

WANTING: To be curled up with this one. How she sleeps with her feet tangled in between her arms like this is beyond me...

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Having a few friends and neighbors over for our very first Halloween in our new neighborhood! I am beyond...like beyond excited to finally live somewhere that has trick-or-treaters!! Beau decided we have to be known as the "awesome house" every year by passing out candy to the kids and beer to the parents. I'll let you know how it goes over...

LOVING. THIS. PHOTO. Every bit of it.

I totally hit the aunt jackpot.

On another completely random note...how is it that Christmas is less than 2 months away? What the heck happened to you, 2013??!!

9 Months & 9 Things Oakley Has Taught Me

1. Though dogs make great subjects, they are not amused by your photography sessions. It doesn't matter how many treats you give them...apparently having a plethora of bacon flavored treats hanging over their head without actually getting to eat them is equivalent to torture.

 2. If you're furry, and cute, and love to snuggle, these eyes will get you whatever the heck you want. Pumpkin, carrots, ice cubes, bones, treats, extra food...you name it. Spoiled. Freaking. Rotten.

3. So will a coat of irresistible wrinkles...

4. No matter how much they sass their humans, they will always find a way to get what they want.

 5. I've found that I love having something/someone to care for. Here you have this living creature that depends on you for literally everything. Feeding them, bathing them, opening doors for them, loving them, taking care of them when they're sick, giving them exercise, making them take their vitamins, etc... If you think about it, there's not a lot a dog could do without you and likewise, your world quickly begins to revolve around this four-legged friend, too. 

 6. You will never be able to stay mad at them. They will probably, in some way, form or fashion, ruin just a about everything in your house. New couch, new bed, cabinets, doors...you know, all the important stuff. But you somehow always find a way in your heart to forgive them. If only I could learn how to just as easily forgive Beau for the stupid crap he sometimes does... ;)

7. You will spend a fortune buying them every toy/bone/treat/bed Petsmart stocks on it's shelves. They will only eat the finest, most healthy food on the market. You will drop as much on their training as you would a week-long vacation in the Bahamas. You will take them to the vet anytime they do so much as look tired. But they're your baby and that's just what you do.

8. No matter how much you try to tell yourself they will not be sleeping in your bed or getting up on the couch, you will be unsuccessful. However, those late night schnuggles with a dog the size of you who literally spoons her human will make up for your decision to let them climb into the bed every. single. time.

 9. Though they're a lot of work and they test your patience every single hour of every single day, there really is no love like that of a dog! 

The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. When all other friends desert, he remains. -George Vest

9 months ago this sweet and spicy ginger of a dog we have roaming around our house and rummaging through our laundry baskets, trashcans and whatever else she get her nose in was brought into this world and I honestly can't imagine our lives without her! She brings a smile to our faces every single day. She gives me sweet kisses when I walk in the door. She is THE best cuddler a girl could ever ask for and I just love her to itty bitty pieces! She's pretty well-versed in blog reading these days (What? Your dog can't read?) so I know she'll be happy today's post was all about her. 

Bahamas: Take Me Back {Part 2}

Don't mind me. I'm just over here posting a gazillion photos of our trip to Atlantis last week. Sorry I'm not sorry for the overkill. If you missed part 1, you might want to read here first. Or just scroll down and let the stunning blue oceans of the Bahamas amaze the pants right off of you. Whatever floats your boat. (Pun intended.)

Day 4 started out at Junkanoo Beach. It sits right next to downtown Nassau so while there were quite a few people there, it wasn't overly saturated with tourists. Plus-we somehow managed to snag free wifi, watch a few cruise ships roll in and take full advantage of cheap beer. #winning

Lunch was at the one and only Senor Frogs and for the first time in my life, I wasn't the most intoxicated person on the dance floor. Actually, I never even got on the dance floor. (There's a first for everything, people.) 

One may wonder why my dress is sopping wet whilst sitting inside a restaurant? 

Legit question, my friend. 

And here's your answer...

Hey-if you're gonna seat me at table that overlooks crystal - did I mention crystal? - clear water, don't think for a second I won't be the first to jump in.

Cheers to forgiving general managers. ;) 

By the end of day 4, we were pretty much regulars at the marina. This was also the day I realized I was tanner than Snookie and J-Wow combined.

After dinner we headed to the Atlantis comedy club where we witnessed quite possibly one of the most hysterical comedy shows either one of us had ever been to. 

Money well spent, Joker's Wild. Well...spent...

Day 5: Ahhh...definitely a favorite of mine because we ventured back over to the city of Nassau and hit up multiple beaches. My kinda day, without a doubt! And this guy, well he just makes any beach look that much better! ;)

Goodman's Bay 

And then...just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Cable Beach happened.

Later that evening we made a necessary pit stop for photo ops and obligatory drinks at the Ocean Club once again. We actually ate dinner back on resort property at a restaurant called "Bimini Road". Right on the marina (#yachtstalkers), decently priced and the best...I mean the best...baked macaroni and cheese you ever did see. (Now do you see why I literally gained 10 pounds on this trip?)

Seriously though. May I reiterate the fact that the sunsets and the views at the Ocean Club are one of a kind. If you're a sunset chaser (like myself), don't doubt me for a second here.

And then on day 6, we stumbled upon the Cove Beach and oh-my-lanta...let's just say it definitely gave Cable Beach a run for it's money! We spent our last two days in this glorious water, enjoying frozen adult beverages and even got to "attend" two beach weddings! A perfect day, if you ask me?

Later in the day, the below scenario may or may not have occurred:

Me: "Sir. Is it okay for me to jump in off these rocks?"
Sir: "No! It's dangerous! No lifeguard!"
Me: {Shrugs shoulders} "Ok! Perfect!"

#1 qualification on my resume: "follows directions"

#2 qualification on my resume: "listens well"    

Thank you, sir, for your kind advice...

Finally...and so so sadly...our last night was spent at (are you ready for this?) the marina (Shocker. I know.) and dinner was at Carmine's on Atlantis property. Oh, Carmine's how I loathe you and your "family style" dinner portions that are large enough and cheesy enough to feed a pack of wild indians. We later "kindly donated" the rest of our cash to the Atlantis casino to never be seen again. Atlantis casino - 5. Beau & Stephanie - 0.

Seriously, Bahamas...stop it with all your beautifulness!! Again-not a single photo has been edited. 

NOW do you understand why I once said "this was, by far, one of my absolute favorite vacations to date"?! I mean, really...no explanation needed.

+++

Just a tiny sidenote: Beau and I hadn't been on a vacation with just the two of us since our honeymoon so if you're in the same shoes as we were, I advise you to go on one. Just do it. It's like a weeklong date with your best friend (think "2nd honeymoon"), with beautiful scenery and delicious food on the side. ;) Travel...it's good for the heart and the soul, I tell ya!

Cheers to a wonderful vacation spent with a wonderful man!

And cheers to the longest recap(s) in blogging history! ;)