Jumping on the Bandwagon...

For as long as I can remember, I have always been adamant that I would never get married. It seems as if everyone my age is in some big rush to tie the knot and start their 'happily ever-after'. Not that I don't wish all of these love-sick puppies well, I just think it's silly personally.

Having a girlfriend who writes for a bridal magazine doesn't help much either. It's like everywhere I turn, I come face to face with the dreaded 'M' word. Being confronted with happy people makes me re-evaluate my feelings on the marriage topic. Lately, I have begun to think of what my life will be like years from now. Although I have goals that consist of being financially stable and happy in my career, I would also like to be happy in my personal life. And my current mood is telling me that I would be happy with a husband and a family.

Don't get me wrong, George is clearly a lifelong companion. However, the likelihood of him raising a family is slim to none. He poops in a box for goodness sake!

My recent change of heart on the marriage idea has led me to fret over a new problem: WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND A HUSBAND? Don't get me wrong, I am by no means out on the prowl interviewing potential candidates, but the idea has crossed my mind a time or two. I have just started to wonder how people meet each other outside of the college experience. If you think about it, in college you meet people of the opposite sex at bars (usually when you are under the influence). My friend, alcohol, is the perfect ice-breaker. Once you're out of college it isn't very appropriate to dance on the fireplace of Klondike (not that I have ever done that Mom).

But in all seriousness, fretting over my imaginary wedding has become an everyday issue. For those of you who know me, you know that I have never been very good with relationships, per se. I seem to jump into things without thinking and only once I'm in a situation do I begin to think things through (ME? NO WAY)! I suppose this is yet another hurdle to overcome in life. Growing up. I guess I will just have to sit back and let nature run it's course. Cross the 'marriage' bridge when I get to it (if I ever do). Maybe I am destined to be a cat lady, which would mean I need to start stacking up on my collection.....

In all honesty, I just want to be able to think of someone when I hear a sappy love song. And the song I simply can't get enough of during my 'wanttobeinloveandgetmarried' phase is 'Never Gonna Leave This Bed' by Maroon 5 (love). Until I find you Mr. Right, I'll be listening to this song on repeat.

Some Things Never Change

Howdy folks! Coming at you live from my brand new home in beautiful Boone-town. It's 1 in the morning (a little late for this grandma) and I'm a little loopy. After finally getting settled in after a short-lived trip to The City, my apartment is finally starting to come together. After getting everything unpacked and put away (because everything has a home), I needed a new project. You know, something new that I can buy. Big surprise. The focus of this new obsession became my bed.

Now for all of you who don't know, Anthropologie happens to be one of my favorite stores. I'm fairly certain that if my pocketbook allowed it, I would own one of everything from the store. However, this is real life and I am still a college student (sort-of). It is essential that I find a cute, yet sophisticated bedding set that still allows me to care for my tiny child. Anyway, back to the issue at hand here, I started perusing the internet to get some good mix-n-match ideas. Needless to say, I didn't even have to look far for bedroom style inspiration, I have a mother who has impeccable taste. Honestly, she needs to be an interior decorator. Her styling tips have been much needed, and this 'vision' is slowly but surely coming together.

After snagging a great duvet from Pottery Barn, I realized I would need a new sheet set to add on to this new look. What came to my mind? Monogramming. Duh. And unlike the sheet set I have now (with a dinky little monogram on the edge of the pillow), I plan to go all out on this new sheet set. If I could monogram everything I would. I have even seen a small child's dresser on display that I contemplated buying, for the sole reason that it was monogrammed. If I could get a hold of George for more than 2 seconds, I would probably try to monogram his initials into his fur. 

CWG. Curious George Washington, duh.

A classic monogram is something that will never go out of style. And as long as I have something that can be stamped with my initials, let me at it. Too much is never enough. 

Moooovin' on up

For as many years as I have lived in Boone, I have lived in a different location each year. At first this concept seemed like a fun idea; I get to redecorate every year, buy new things for the apartment, and simply get a change of scenery. However, now the idea has lost it's luster to me. For the sixth year in a row, and unfortunately not the last, I am in the process of moving. I used to like a little physical labor every now and then, but I am to the point now where I just want to hire a professional crew to do the dirty work for me. Although I wouldn't necessarily say my brother and his friend qualify as a "professional crew", their help was much appreciated nonetheless. 

George has also been traumatized by the moving experience (it is his first move after all)! Every time I go to take a new load to the new apartment, George runs to the door and "meows" as if to say, "Why are you leeeeaving meeee?" As if this little guy couldn't get any cuter, right? But his cuteness has recently been outshined by the fact that he has destroyed this once brand new apartment. He can't help the fact that he likes to dig up the carpet or scratch holes in the window screen. And certainly I cannot get mad at the tiny infant for doing what he was born to do. But phew, he is going to have to get a second job to pay for these expenses (and if you're wondering what his first job is, it's providing me with entertainment, which he never fails to do).

The only thing that is pushing me to keep on keepin' on is the fact that my closet at the new apartment is atleast twice the size of my current closet. This is essential due to the fact that I have a new obsession with buying practically anything that is on sale, but also comes with dire consequences. Extra room means extra space for extra clothes/shoes/whatever. Uh oh! But my motto has always been out with the old and in with the new. Haha, yeah right, this is my mother's motto that I have recently been referring to. Due to the fact that I have a mild hoarding obsession, I have accumulated a lot of, well, junk. After throwing away bag after bag of who knows what, and taking numerous bags of clothing to Goodwill, I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that I am a little less cluttered.

I am simply looking forward to getting settled in to the new place and giving George his first change of scenery. And knowing me, this definitely won't be his last change of scenery. Really wishing I could take him to New York with me next week, but he will have to suffice with Turtle Creek.

Give Your Ears a Treat

If you haven't heard of this West Coast based band... take a quick break to give your ears a little treat for the day. Now I know not too many people agree with my musical selections, but this is a band that has serious potential. A definite summer jam. Too all music lovers, enjoy!

 

A Serious Case of the Monday's

Someone's got a case of the Monday's... today. And that someone is me. Whether it is due to the amount of time I have spent at the workplace, the anticipation of an upcoming trip (and a few days at home), or the fact that everyone in any customer service center seems to speak broken english, I have a serious case of the Monday's.

You know the days when you just don't feel like interacting with the outside world? Well ladies and gentlemen, that's where I am today. Just a blah, yucky old day for me. Maybe I still have not yet gripped the fact that even some people will still only leave you 13% for the best service possible. Sometimes working in the food industry really turns me into quite the pessimist. 

However, just when I'm feeling like sitting down and having a good cry for no good reason, I open the top to a nice cold Magic Hat #9. And, no, this is not what made me feel better. For goodness sake, the beer wasn't even mine, it was for a customer I tell ya! However, if you're familiar with this particular brewing company, you know that they are known for putting little sayings underneath all of their bottle tops. Granted, most of the time these sayings either don't make sense or are silly, today's saying could not have hit home in a more direct manner.

Four simple words. "No rain, no rainbows." These four little words brought everything back into perspective for me. Life isn't always rainbows and butterflies, it's compromise that moves us along (credit to Maroon 5 for the lyric interjection here). Just when I am thinking how bad of a day I am having, I realize that it's not so bad afterall. I should be thanking the high heavens that I don't have more serious issues on my plate instead of complaining about the trivial things in life. Have I reached some sort of enlightenment today?

Whether it's the slogan on the bottle cap, or this delicious Magnum chocolate ice-cream bar, I'm feeling a little bit perkier. All I know is when you're down, just be glad you're not out. Be thankful for what you do have, rather than crying about what you don't. And for now I'll step down off of my soap box and get back to reading my book about Dewey the library cat.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

It was just brought to my attention that I am almost a quarter of a century old. A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OLD, PEOPLE! Next year I will be 25, and I cannot even begin to tell you how uncomfortable that makes me feel. Granted, my birthday isn't until the last month of the year, the timeline is approaching at the speed of light.

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was getting ready for a themed Friday night football game, or buying a new dress for prom, or having sleepovers with my best girlfriends, or even sitting in the parking lot of the local Harris Teeter (hey, I didn't say I had the most eventful high school experiences).

And now here I am, a quarter of a century old wondering what in the heck am I going to do with my future. I guess you could say it's crunch-time (I can only stay in school for so long.... or can I?), it's that time where the rubber meets the road and I need some direction.

I recently heard on the morning radio news that the number one way to becoming a millionaire is to start your own business at a young age. You just have to have some good ideas. And I, my friends, am full of good ideas. I suppose if I put one of these great ideas into motion, I won't have to grow up too quickly.

A wise person once told me, "You're only as old as you feel." And I suppose I'm just choosing to feel younger than my other quarter-century counterparts who have faced their destiny in the real world. And hey, who knows, maybe one day I will grow up....

This is How I'm Feeling Today

Rahr.