'Cause when you're fifteen..

I'm not the kind of girl that enjoys pulling out pictures from my teenage years. This experience is usually extremely painful because we all know how awkward being fifteen was. It's also followed by thoughts like….

"Why did you think you looked 'cool' wearing that?"

"Why did you wear green eyeshadow?"

&

"Why was making music videos so rad?"

The other day I was rummaging through old pictures on my computer in search of the perfect one for my Valentines Day craft. 

While searching, I found this. 

Pete was probably fifteen/sixteen in this picture and absolutely the most precious fifteen/sixteen year old on the face of this planet. Pete and I have been dating for three years. After dating so long, pictures really help you remember some of the faint memories of our relationship. I can't believe how much he has grown over the past three years. I sent this picture to Pete's mom over text message knowing I would get an "OMG" response. Of course, she replied with "OMG!!! HOW CUTE WAS HE?!" 

I thought I'd share this adorable picture with everyone. 

That was the then and this is the now:

WHATTA STUD ;)

A little more than an 'A-line' tailor

My uncle wrote this wonderful piece for "This Land" press this month.

"Mr. Ray Fits a Suit"

Sherman Ray, Photo by Jeremy Charles

This touching, article is a tribute to an amazing tailor who is based in Tulsa, OK. This man has survived more life than many of us could even imagine. Read about Mr. Sherman Ray, who is a survivor of Auschwitz concentration camps.

[BE PREPARED TO BE INSPIRED.]

A huge thank you to my uncle, Michael Berglund, for writing this amazing article!

Sometimes life calls for a crafty weekend

It's Sunday, which means my books are currently stacked next to me and I am wondering how long it could possibly take me to start my homework. 

I finally decided to clean my room this weekend and dump all the unnecessary items that have been shoved away in hidden places. I came across an old, uncharacteristic picture frame. Because I have the mind of a crafter, I immediately thought of a million things I could do to make the picture frame have a little personality. Also, because I am a poor, college student with no job, I needed something cheap!!

After class, I drug Pete to the used book store with me to grab a grungy book for my project. I know it seems strange that I made Pete go with me but when you live in Stillwater there is no telling what you will run into while taking adventurous journeys to new places. The only thing I knew about this place was that it was called Book Nook. Personally, I picked this one because of the fun name! I mean it sounds like a cute, little book store right? WRONG.

Everyone, welcome to the Book Nook.

After our experience traveling to used book stores, I came back home and started ripping the pages out determined to make the cutest paper rosettes possible. Pete and I started talking about the author of the book and wondering what she would do if she knew I was using her book to make paper flowers. As I ripped the pages out, I read some of them so I didn't feel absolutely horrible about destroying Calling Romeo. Let's just say after reading some of those pages I didn't feel too bad after all. 

That $2.50 was totally worth it. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Ben the Bachelor

I have a confession. I am a sucker for reality TV shows. 


Anything that has to do with anything/anyone that is remotely entertaining catches my attention. I am sure a lot of girls can agree with me that The Bachelor is their unhealthy obsession. I have watched The Bachelor for several seasons and continue to drowned myself in the drama every Monday night [or Tuesday afternoon]. Ever since my boyfriend has informed me that all reality TV shows are scripted, I sometimes get my much needed ab workout while watching these shows [especially The Bachelor]. I laugh WAY too much. 

If you don't keep up with Ben and his current, thirteen 'dreamy' women, here is a summary:


1. Ben was on The Bachelorette with Ashley last season.
2. Ben makes wine for a living. [could there be a better job?]
3. These girls are absolutely crazy.
4. Ben is waiting to find the love of his life while traveling to some of the most amazing places on this   earth. 


I watched the latest episode this afternoon during my two hour break in between classes. The highlight of the episode for me was this little piece of advice everyone should follow:


"If we can conquer the San Francisco bridge, I can't imagine what we can overcome in the future."


Although I cannot seem to NOT watch this darn show, I find myself dissecting it like the frog in my tenth grade biology class. I mean to be honest, who wouldn't have an attraction to someone while traveling to some beautiful places all over the world, living in a gigantic house and being paid thousands of dollars to appear on the show???? 


Even after all my complaints and misunderstandings about this show, I still watch it and tune in to every episode.

Thank God for reality television.

P.S. If you are wondering my favorite so far is Kacie B. 

MLK and MUFFINS.

PTL for three day weekends.

I know what you are thinking. Christmas break was just a week ago. Believe me, I'm aware. But it's the first week back that is always the worst. Monday is MLK Day. HALLELUJAH! 

I have riveting, childhood memories of MLK Day. Remember people, riveting does not mean happy. In second grade, I attended the MLK Day parade in Tulsa with my best friend, Amy and her grandma. I'm not sure why we decided it would be fun to strut the streets of downtown Tulsa in the freezing weather and watch people march down the road, but we did. Not only were we the greatest pair of best friends on the planet, we were also the most competitive. We raced down a hill that day at the MLK parade. Amy ended up winning only because I fell and busted my face on the concrete, sidewalk that lined the end of the hill. [How stupid do I have to be?] I chipped my two front teeth that day and lost a lot of blood. But look guys, you would have never known my two front teeth are half fake?! Dentists are angels from heaven.

In honor of MLK and busting two teeth, I get the day off school. I came home this weekend to see my wonderful parents [or to get my Scentsy that Pete's parents bought me] ! My parents just recently invested in all new appliances for the kitchen so my mom was determined to try out her new oven. Like any other creative girl, I pulled up my "Yummy in the Tummy" board on Pinterest. [Pinterest is so faithful.] We decided to make French Toast Muffins this morning. Boy, the picture on Pinterest looked terriffic. We pulled the muffins out of the oven looking forward to the 'melt-in-our-mouth' feeling. The picture inevitably LIED. The muffins tasted like cardboard. [Don't let the picture above fool you]. We were disappointed but forced the fraile, cardboard muffins down.

The muffins were a fail but the time at home with my parents has not been.

P.S. Betty Thompson should have won Miss America. I'm not complaining or anything.

Am I bookworm material?

I'm not much of a reader. A book is never my first pick when I am bored and searching for something to do. I could count the number of books I have fully read on two hands. [Yes, I understand that is extremely wrong] It's not that I don't like to read, it's just hard for me to get into a book unless it's extremely good. And for me, those extremely good books are hard for me to find. 

Pete's family are avid readers. It's not uncommon for his mother to pull out a book while the family is watching TV. They are a reading family. [Except for Pete, of course] My family on the other hand, we are not readers. I didn't grow up with a mother who was actively involved in a book club or a dad who loved to read mysteries. Therefore, I am not a reader.

I received The Hunger Games for Christmas this year. I recently started hearing all of the uproar about this book but never really thought to give it a chance. I gave in to the read mostly because I had the book on hand and when you are in the car for 12 hours you have got to occupy yourself somehow. I haven't been able to put this book now since Tuesday. The Hunger Games has kept my attention, people! My attention is something that is very hard to keep especially with a book. 

I am pleased to announce that I will continue reading The Hunger Games and the rest of the trilogy. 

Maybe reading isn't all that boring.

A New Year and New Expectations

Why are years going by so fast? It seems that the older I get, the faster time goes by.

Yesterday was my birthday! I am not a teenager anymore. I have lived for two decades. I am half way to forty. How ever you want to put it, I am 20. I spent my birthday in Nashville, TN with my boyfriend and his family. My mom was a little ify about not seeing me on my birthday. Thank goodness for Skype! I sent my family nothing but love over that small but oh so powerful webcam. Skype is a life saver.

My boyfriend's mother, Jenny, took me to a wonderful birthday lunch at a local restaurant in Franklin, TN called J. Alexander's. We were hoping we could see a star or two but no such luck. Lunch was still a blast. I am so thankful for Jenny and how much she has allowed me to be a part of her family. I feel so blessed to be able to be so close to Pete's parents. After lunch, we met the men back at the apartment. They had spent their morning golfing thanks to the amazing weather we have had this winter. Pete took me on a great date that evening. We went and ate a fantastic dinner and then drove out to the Opryland Hotel to look at the Christmas lights. My family has been giving me a hard time because I haven't seen anything while I've been in TN. The lights were gorgeous. Every little twig on those trees were covered with lights. I feel so sorry for those people that have to put the lights up. Too bad it cost $18 to actually park and walk up to the lights. That was the Debbie-downer. But because of the lucky couple we are and because it was my birthday, of course, we received a F R E E parking spot! Thanks to the sweet hearted gentleman who gave us his parking spot, we were able to walk around.

Later that night, Pete, his parents and I went to Aunt Kiki's house to celebrate the New Year and a new engagement in the family!!! No, it's not me. Pete's cousin, Shane got engaged last night to his new fiance, Margaret.

I was so blessed to be surrounded by a great family on my birthday. Although I wasn't able to spend it with my parents, I'm glad that Pete's parents do a perfect job on acting like I am their child. I am so excited to see what God has in store for me in 2012. I look forward to making some terrific memories with my best friend/boyfriend, family and friends.

                               Happy New Year!