June Happenings...

So I haven't posted in a while...I don't know why I decided to start a blog when my life was going to begin to get so busy! I think also I have felt alot of pressure to produce these amazing blog posts since I have realized that I have readers.

It is sad that I am looking through my planner to try to figure out where exactly June went.

June 4th-5th. The Jeter Wedding
Ashley Abide married Will Jeter...it was so pretty, southern, fun and memorable. All of my favorite people were there and it was so fun to catch up on friends lives. There was lots of laughter and fun, oh and her the was amazing! I don't know how many tiers it was but we tried each of the many tiers and it was so yummy. Here is a photo from the bridal luncheon that was at McCrady's...the last "roommies" shot with Dr. Abide.



LOVE THESE GIRLS!



June 11th. MUSC OPEN HOUSE
Oh my the first day of school brought out many insecurities! So you are in a room full of 60 strangers that the professors swear will soon become your best friends...I pray that these people will not see me for the dork that I am and will be my friend. It was a little overwhelming all of the things they are throwing at you. Uniforms, books, parking, shots, drug testing...you get the idea, oh and it is all due in a month! Oh and yes did I mention that all of these things cost money (lots of money). I was also sudenly overwhelmed at the thought of having to wear regular (non-denim) clothes two days a week, the other days we wear lovely all white scrubs. Oh no! I am so unstylish, probably because I am so cheap and have refused to buy anything new for the past year. As I look around the room I see cute messenger bags, shoes and accessories...and that doesn't include the cute trendy outfits that perfectly coordinate. I immediately want to run out and go shopping but instead I have to go buy $700 in books and that is 9 out of the 12 total.

DEAR READERS PLEASE FROWARD ME LINKS SO THAT I CAN HAVE A CLUE IN AUGUST ABOUT HOW TO BE COOL!

I goggled cheap fashion blogs and it came up with this...I could maybe work with this even though many of these looks aren't "professional casual"

http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/P2.html

http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/fashion/2008/11/cheap-chic-carl.html

http://www.sheknows.com/articles/807666/5-best-budget-fashion-blogs

Well I almost made it through half the months happenings but I am going to stop so that I can go online "window" shopping...and the next post deserves it's own dedicated post.

Memorial Day with Great Friends! & co.

I have had a great past few weekends enjoying the Charleston Coast. I thought that I would upload a few photos from memorial day weekend. Saturday we took paddle boards out to Sullivans(and by we, I mean Sara made all of the arrangements and did all of the moving of the borads! Thanks Sae). It was really fun to be out there with old friends, husbands, and babies. It is a little strange knowing that I have gone to the beach with these girls for years and years and now we are all grow up. Here are a few of my favorites photos I took with my new camera, which I love!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Giles and I have been dating for over a year and it is hard to believe that we are beginning to celebrate things for the second time. An example of this would be Giles' birthday (he is now 32!). I don't remember exactly what we did last year. I do remember one of the things I gave him last year was a kayak rental for the two of us, which we used and it was so fun! So I did that again this year. I also gave him this sports watch that he had been wanting, it is like a little mini computer.
Giles also has a tradition in his family that they get pepperidge farm birthday cakes. I did try to doll it up just a little but I didn't want to take away from the simplicity of it.
This morning I began to look back on Giles' past year of life and think about all of the good memories we have had together. It made me appreciate how much I love him!
He is a do it yourself handyman, mountain biker, athlete, good listener, great travel companion, snuggler, brother, supportive fun loving man. I am so lucky to have him in my life!

I mean who wouldn't love to hang out with this guy? Notice his new watch?

What are you waiting for?

It is hard to believe that this time last year I had begun to consider nursing school. Next week I am beginning my last prerequisite at Trident and will be starting school in August. I cannot believe that I am actually doing this! I think back over the past year the fear, frustration, doubt, excuses and realize that all of that was on th ourney of doing what I really feel called to do. You would be suprised how many people my age as well as people older say " I always wanted to be a ___________________ , but it never worked out for me to do it". I wanted to _________ but never had the time or money. I thought the same thing! I never saw myself going back to school, only to get out and have all of the worst shifts and be at the bottom of the ladder, but this is my path. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

This isn't just for people that have a desire to make a carreer change or go back to school. As we approach the halfway mark to a year (what were my resolution again?) I think about my goals am I on the way to them? I am. Sure some of the goals have changed, some have been accomplished, but every morning as I am drying my hair I look at them and think about how I am going to accomplish those goals, what do I need to do today, tommorrow, next week, next month, next year. If you don't have something to aim for then you will never make it!

I am not saying that I have all of the answers or that I have figured out life, but this song has become an inspiration for me and maybe it will inspire you!

GO TO THIS LINK!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R3K0sqgfvM&NR=1

Running Topless!

I am hoping that just by the title I will get a few more readers for this one, it is a little more light hearted than my previous post...

So apparenly I write alot of stuff on here that people wonder but no one ever talks about or asks. I think that my chances of becoming royalty or the president are pretty slim so I am not going to hold back on my readers...

So I have always wanted to run without a shirt on. Mainly because it decreases the amount of laundry I would have to do, I would be able to get tan while I run, and because I always wanted to be that girl that could run in just a "jog bra" and have people marvel at my fitness. So Monday morning I decided it was the day! I put on my favorite jog skirt and jog bra and headed out. As many of yall know I have to have a supportive jog bra, half moon sells these great moving comfort bras with adjustable straps that I highly recommend. It is very supportive for you ladies that are livin large ;) So I ran for 45 minuites down mathis ferry through ion etc. When you are just wearing a bra I have found that it is easier to keep running because you want to look like a super star, and so that you can get home quicker.

I also ran without my muffin top! Yes it is true my diet/ excercie book is working. I have also tried to stop taking myself so seriously which I think has reduced my stress and therefore decreased my belly bulk. I read about that in the flat belly diet book I recently picked up at the library. It also focuses on reducing calories and I picked it up to give myself some more menu or snack ideas. Oh and it also has some fast food menu ideas too which is helpful for an on the go alternative, I will finish reading it and let you know if it is worth picking up.

A few other notes I bought new aveeno moisurizing lotion which was a disappointment, they missed the mark with this one! Also the "leg" cream that I use is called "Fat Girl Slim". I scrub the back of my legs every morning with st. Ives Apricot fiming scrub then put on the cream. To my 2 male readers...yes this is what girls talk about.

6 years ago...

Its hard to believe how much time has past, how many things have changed, how little time has passed, and how little things have changed. It was six years ago today that my Grandfather, William Simons, passed away. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday he was here, laughing and joking, but then I come to the reality that he has gone on in life. Today I heard this song on XM ad it made me cry. It is so true of my feelings about the situation and losing someone that you love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUjL6bVD2vw

I had thought all day about attaching photos of our family, but unfortunately none of them are digital and my scanner and memory card are not being compatible at the moment :( I will try again tomorrow for the photos that I cherish.

A few days ago I had my feelings hurt again by a friend (which continues to happen so I don't even really know why I call them a friend) and was going to post a passive aggressive post about how I felt. Instead, I am going to post a positive uplifting message about a great friend that I do have...hang on it all comes back around hopefully.

This time six years ago my heart literally broke. I will never forget the nights I cried myself to sleep, the drives from Columbia to Charlotte to be with my grandfather, the outbursts of anger towards God. I have never been at such a place of hurt, sadness and vulnerability. I really don't know how anyone wanted to be my friend Spring semester of my Junior year of college I was literally a mess! God allowed me to maintain lots of friendships during this time and that is because they were deep true friendships! All of which I still have to this day, and truly cherish. Again back to the point...

Brandi Drake (now Brandi Lanier) came to my Grandfathers funeral and I will never forget her support! I never asked her to come but she insisted, she was the one at my side during my darkest of hours. In six years she has graduated college and medical school, gotten married, and is now expecting a sweet baby girl! She will be the best of mothers, I know because she lifted me up of the floor, wiped my face and loved me in the moment I needed it the most! I love you Brandi, and will never forget your friendship and how well you continue to love me.

I almost forgot that I picked her up from Columbia so she could ride with me to go get Annie in Florence (and the drive back to Columbia!). I will always remember that and how nervous I was and how reassuring she was...another example of her amazing friendship!

I have readers!

As some of you know I have felt a little silly sometimes writing my blog because I have felt like no one was reading it. So last week I linked my blog to google analytics. The first day I had zero hits! I of course was distressed because people had told me that they were reading it, but I was afraid that the google analytics would prove I am writing this to no one...
So I checked the analytics again today. In one week I have had 74 unique visitors! I immediately justified my need for a new camera to spice up my posts for those of you that are reading this. So I went to my amazon shopping cart and bingo I will be receiving a new camera tomorrow. I signed up for their amazon prime trial so I got free shipping! No need to get crazy and blow my budget on shipping, I did pay a little more for a camera with a video feature, just so that maybe I could get really crazy and posts videos. It is Giles' birthday next week too so I felt obligated to document the occasion for all of my faithful fans! And to whoever is reading this in Alaska, holla!