The top five most annoying things you could do to me...

I have decided that I really like making lists for blogs (I stole this love of lists from one of my best friend's blog which is about 100 times more funny than mine so go read it now: http://abigailmichele.blogspot.com/)

The list I have chosen to make for this post is the top five things you could do to annoy me. They will be in reverse order to add to the suspense I know is killing you. Also, please do not use any of these things against me ESPECIALLY my number one most annoying thing you could do to me.

5. Chew with your mouth open

This is just gross. I get this from my parents always telling me NOT to do this when I was little. I guess some people just missed the memo. This also includes smacking while eating...just as bad. If you can't eat with your mouth closed, I never want to eat a meal with you.

4. Roll your eyes

Rudest thing you can do while I am talking to you. This happens a lot at work when I am telling a lifeguard to go do something. I do not need your sass little 15 year old that thinks every guy at the pool wants you. Newsflash...every guy at the pool is a. 12, b. a pool rat, or c. white trash. Not great options. So please get over yourself, grow up, and DO NOT roll your eyes at me.

3. Say "peeeeeench" instead of "pinch"

This drives me INSANE. You know exactly what I am talking about and if you don't then you probably are one of the many who says "peeeeench." As if we don't get enough crap about our country accents down here, people have to go and say "peeeeeeench."

2. Be late

If you know me then you knew this would be on the list. I HATE being late, but what I hate more than that is when other people are late. I am the nerd that gets to places 5 minutes early and has to sit in the car until someone gets there. It's a blessing and a curse. Ask anyone...I start having mini panic attacks if I am late. Of course though, all of my friends are really bad at being on time. The absolute worst is when I am late because someone else was late picking me up. It never ends well.

1. Come within 15 feet of me with a cotton ball

The world would be a better place without cotton balls. Is this an irrational fear? Why yes it is. I do not know why or how this came about, but cotton balls give me the creeps. I have to leave the room if someone even talks about them. I am getting goosebumps just writing this post. So if you ever want to do something really impressive for me, get rid of all the cotton balls in the world. I would owe you big time.

On that note, I will leave you with a picture because I think posts are boring without one...

I miss this place more than words can describe.

These are a few of my favorite things...

As I sit here watching CSI (which if you know me, is DEFINITELY one of my favorite things), I decided I should do a post about a few of my favorite things. These are in no specific order and are pretty random so get ready to learn a little more about me. :)

1. Cooking

I adore cooking. I try to cook several times a week. It always makes me happy. Cupcakes are one of my favorite things to make. Above is some bruschetta I made...it was delicious.

2. Watching t.v.

I don't really have a picture for this one, but I wish I had a picture of the face I make when I watch t.v. According to my old roommates (that was really sad to say), I look like I am concentrating sooooo hard on focusing. About 94% of the time, I will be watching Food Network. I love every show on Food Network. The other 6% of the time I will most likely be watching CSI (the original, duh.), Criminal Minds, Biggest Loser, Law and Order: SVU, Glee, LOST, SYTYCD, and if I'm super bored, pretty much anything. Wow, I watch a lot of t.v.

3. Spending quality time with my friends

This is broken up into two categories: my Sherman friends and my College Station friends.

These are my best friends, my coworkers, and my life. I would be completely lost without these people. If we aren't hanging out at the Splash, then we are most likely at the Shoemakers dying laughing while playing things.

I would literally have to post about 14 pictures to include every single one of my besties from cstat. I do have to give a shout out to Katie Haines because she should be in this picture. (love you khaines) Obviously, I didn't put Pi Phi on this list, but I definitely contemplated it. Pi Phi was only so amazing because of the girls that were in the chapter with me.

4. Doing puzzles

This is definitely nerdy and I am definitely ok with that. There is nothing I love more than finishing a puzzle. Not to brag, but I ROCK at puzzles. I am also very particular and territorial with puzzles. I have to start with the edge pieces and finish the outside before I can even start on the middle.

5. Taking pictures

Ever since I got my Nikon D60 for Christmas two years ago, I have started to LOVE taking pictures. I got a lot of practice in Italy and at all of the weddings I attended this semester. I genuinely just love capturing memories through pictures.

6. Children (not in a creepy way)

So basically if I'm not talking about Italy or the Splash, then I am most likely talking about my pre-kers. Children can make my day better no matter how bad it is. I can't wait to have my own classroom and 20 kids.

7. My Aggie ring

No explanation needed.

8. Italy

I spent 5 weeks in Italy last summer. Best 5 weeks of my life. It was the coolest experience of my life and if you have been around me for at least an hour, I have probably talked to you about it. I talk about it constantly because it was so perfect. I went to Rome, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Capri, Sorrento, Pompeii, Siena, Cortona, Arrezzo, and lived in the quaint town of Castiglion Fiorentino. If you have ANY questions about Italy, I would LOVE to answer them.

9. My dogs

These two dogs are my life: Patches (the border collie) and Jack (the fat one). I love them so much and don't want to imagine a world without them. They are pretty much like children. Jack is useless, but loves to cuddle. Patches is super smart and can do lots of tricks. You choose your favorite.

10. Frogs

Last but certainly least is frogs. Random...yes. Perfect...of course. I have always loved frogs and if you came to my house in Sherman you could see just how much I do. I have frogs every where. I had a pet frog named Fred for about 2 years.

Miami Vice

The Excellence Resort in Cancun, Mexico

My family took a trip to Cancun this past week. We stayed at this amazing all inclusive resort called the Excellence. It truly was excellent. Every person that worked there was there to make our vacation the best it could be. We were basically VIP because we were apart of the Excellence Club. It was legit. I felt like a famous person. Instead of giving you a play by play of the week, I figured I would just give you random facts about the resort and/or my time there. Oh and p.s. the beach was absolutely beautiful.

There are six pools. Six meandering pools as they say in all of the commercials for the resort. It felt like there were pools every where. I swear I found a new part of the resort every day. The only downside to this place was that it was ALL couples. My brother and I got some weird looks. We were frequently called Mr. and Mrs. Fallon which not only freaked us out, but also just made the trip a little less fun. Other than the couples overtaking the resort there was another slight problem...

GRACKLES.

• They were freaking every where. It was funny at first when they sat on trays expertly unfolding napkins to find the bread hidden inside, but then when they attacked my plate of quesadillas as I left to get a little ice cream, they began to be a bit of a nuisance. As my Dad said, "I'm pretty sure God was asleep when the Grackle was created."

We ate so much food and drank fun, fruity drinks on the beach. The trip was relaxing. I literally did nothing but read. I read four books on the trip...

1. Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin

2. Promises to Keep by Jane Green (my favorite of the four)

3. Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan

4. Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart

I would definitely recommend all of the four minus Commencement; it had some interesting plot lines that I wasn't too keen on. 1, 2, and 4 were all fantastic and I recommend that you read them. Reading is the best.

Laying on the beach, watching the waves, and listening to The O.C. Mix 1 is absolute perfection. If you have never listened to this mix, you need to ASAP.

The mix consists of:

1. Paint The Silence – South
2. Just A Ride – Jem
3. Honey And The Moon - Joseph Arthur
4. The Way We Get By – Spoon
5. Move On – Jet
6. How Good It Can Be - The 88
7. Caught Be The River – Doves
8. Rain City - Turin Brakes
9. We Used To Be Friends - The Dandy Warhols
10. Dice - Finley Quaye & William Orbit
11. Orange Sky - Alexi Murdoch
12. California - Phantom Planet

Go listen to it now.

***Look at my facebook for more of my pictures of the trip :)

I'm going to live in an igloo.

Anchorage, Alaska

So I am sure you are all wondering what the title of my blog means, welp I'm here to clear the air. I am moving to Anchorage, Alaska on August 17th with my best friend Rachel Athans. She was born there and lived there until she was 16. I went to Italy with Rachel last summer and we had the time of our lives. It will be hard to beat sitting in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy eating gelato, but I think freezing my butt off with the penguins will be great. :) We will be substitute teaching (but really just taking a year off) and we are living in an apartment with her good friend Jolene who goes to the University of Alaska at Anchorage. I plan to go salmon fishing, skiing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, hiking, and much more outdoorsy stuff. We have a super old suburban that we will be driving and by we, I mean Rachel. I am so excited to go on this adventure and I am definitely ready to get out of the heat. It's funny...every time I tell people that I am moving to Alaska I am asked/told 1 of 4 things...

1. Oh man, it's cold there.

Come on, really? You think I don't already know that. My new response is Oh my gosh, no way. I hate the cold. Is that going to be a problem? Do they honestly think I don't know it's cold in Alaska? I don't live under a rock people.

2. The ratio of guys to girls is like 10 to 1.

As much as I am excited about this, it is not the reason I am going. I am not that desperate.

3. Say hi to Sarah Palin for me!

My favorite of the three. I will most likely not run into her, but if I do, I will tell her hi from the 40 people that have wanted me to.

4. Are you going to live/teach in an igloo?

No, I am not going to be in an igloo. Anchorage is a huge city that is pretty much 7 times bigger than the city I live in now. They have electricity, running water, and streets. It isn't the 1200's.

So this explains the title of my blog. I am really pumped about moving to Alaska and hope to keep y'all updated about my adventures through this blog!

This is where I will be moving...

Jealous?

WEDDDDDDINGS!

I have officially been to four weddings since April 3rd. It has been a blast. Each wedding was very different, but each was perfect in their own way. I believe that each wedding fit the bride and their personality. That's what I love about weddings...each one is completely different, but beautiful. I decided to talk about all four and the things I loved the most about each.

1. J.R. and Stacey Cox

Stacey was one of my dearest friends in Pi Phi. We lived next to each other my junior year. This wedding was at Delaney Vineyards in Grapevine, TX. It was absolutely the most romantic place ever. The food was delicious at their wedding. I also loved that it was at a vineyard. There were wine barrels all over the room and lots of Pi Phis. :) I had a blast and enjoyed every second of the night.

2. Philip and Emmie Pippin

Emmie is my big in Pi Phi and I was so excited to go to her wedding since it was the first in our Pi Phi family. Their wedding was at a country club in McKinney, TX. I loved how Emmie did table seating. Each guest had their own little picture frame with a picture of the couple and our table number. It was a great favor and a great way to organize everyone. The ceremony was outside and the background was picture perfect behind it.

3. Josh and Kyla Raygor

Kyla is one of my good friends from my education classes. Our group of friends call ourselves the ECHE family. We've had classes together for 2 years so it was really exciting when we all got to go to her wedding since I missed the other ECHE family wedding in January. Her wedding was in Kilgore, TX at her house. Let's just say she has the most beautiful front yard ever. She had a candy table which was adorable and her table decorations

were my favorite. It was all outside and the back drop was breathtaking.

4. Brady and Janaye Behrens

Janaye and Brady are two of my best friends. I was so excited to get to be a part of their wedding. I was a bridesmaid and enjoyed spending the week at The Farm with them. Their wedding was at Brady's grandparents farm. My favorite part of this wedding was spending the week with everyone. The reception was super fun too. We danced the night away at The Farm and had a wonderful evening.

I had so much fun at each of these weddings and this is in no way a comparison of the four. Each one of these brides has had an impact on my life and I couldn't imagine life without them.

Brupper.

I love my friends. I love that we all work together. I love that we spend almost every day together. We have WAY too much fun when we all get together. Our fun adventure last night was brupper. Brupper is my new favorite word. If you haven't figured it out yet, brupper is breakfast for dinner.


We made chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, and turkey bacon/"sausage" patties. Luke made the yummy eggs, Maggie and I made the pancakes, and Stephen "made" the meat (he microwaved it). I felt like we were a family eating breakfast early in the morning. You should be jealous of how delicious our brupper was. It was the perfect ending to a LONG day at work.




After brupper, we decided to play a little bananagrams which was hilarious since we were all exhausted from work. We were delirious and concentrated more on making funny words than winning. Luke and I rocked at it. Stephen and John...not so much. At least we can have fun doing absolutely nothing. Below is an example of what the game turned into...creating funny phrases.


We then proceeded to all go into a half awake state where we all had the giggles. It was a great night full of laughter and artsy pictures from John and me.


I love my friends more than anything. Sherman would be even MORE miserable without them. If only we could eat brupper together every night.


*Photos taken by John Shoemaker and me. Just thought he deserved some credit. :)

I conformed and got one too...

So I got sucked into getting a blog. I figured I might as well get used to blogging now since I'm moving to Alaska in August. I'm warning everyone though, my summer is not going to be eventful haha. Unfortunately, I'm not studying abroad in Italy (gosh, I WISH) or anything like that. I will be spending my summer working at the Splash Family Aquatic Center. I'm sure you might be thinking...hmm, that sounds like it could be fun, but alas, it isn't. I'm basically a glorified janitor and babysitter. Luckily, I'm the boss this year. It's fine. I have a college degree from Texas A&M University and I spend most of my day telling 15 year olds what to do. It's funny...I'm actually 7 years older than most of the people that work there. That's a first grader if you didn't catch that age difference. It can be fun though. Look forward to funny Splash stories about rednecks and stupid kids. The crazy stories ALMOST make it worth it...almost.

Here are my coworkers. We are a mess, but we love each other.



Ok onto a completely random topic. I went to church this morning and the sermon was fantastic. We are going through Acts and today we talked about Acts 8. The focus is being an Acts 1:8 church. Pretty much it is about being a church that lives the Christian life in EVERY aspect of our life. We should all be doing this every day anyways, but I know I have struggled. Today though the focus was on breaking down barriers and biases. Philip continually breaks down walls in chapter 8. He talks and baptizes Samaritans and an Ethiopian. The way he ended the sermon was the best. He played a youtube video that you MUST watch. It is the perfect example of living life without bias. God loves each and every one of us on this Earth. There is no reason we shouldn't do the same.

Here is the youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNn7SXAyuhQ
(I'm new to this so you might have to copy and paste it.)

Just think about it. Think about how much good we could do in this life if we loved EVERYONE equally.