"Thirty, flirty, and thriving...."

So, yesterday, it happened..... I turned the big 3-0!!

Usually, I schedule birthday posts, etc, but honestly, the past week and weekend was super busy. I just didn't. My family spent Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning over at Disney. I'll do some recapping of all of that below, but really I just want jot down a few of my thoughts on "turning a big one."

Ten years ago, my life was so, so, so different. Yes, I was still living in the same town as I do now and I had several of the same friends, but that is where the similarities end. My 20's were SUCH a transitional time... some of the best and worst times of my life have happened in the past decade. But, I feel like I've really started coming into my own. Everyone says that your 20s are your growing years and that 30s are better because you have a better handle of who you are. I can see where that would be true.

I still may do a post on all the things I didn't know then that I know now, but looking ahead, I can see such potential. There are still so many unanswered questions and only God knows where I will be ten years from today, but I feel like it will be a great place.

Some things have transpired in the past week that just proves that you NEVER know where life and God may take you. You think you've got it figured out.... that you're certain of the lay of the land. And, then, something happens to completely make your head spin and wonder what is next. Maybe something or maybe nothing, but there suddenly are questions and possibilities that weren't there a mere second ago. I'm trying to just take it all in and pray to God to take it over. He will do with it what is best.

So, here is to being 30! May it be amazing!

 

The Innaugural 3rd Quarter Princess Day

Do you know what I love about Disney? You can totally make up your own holiday and they will completely get into it!

Several of us were wanting a "Just Girls - No Boys or Kids Allowed" day at Disney and finally we found a time where it worked. 

August 11, 2013 became the very First Princess Day......

On the tram.... Let Princess Day begin!! Me, Megan, Sonya, and Heidi.....

As soon as we got into Magic Kingdom, Sonya insisted we get Celebration Pins.....

Yep.... That happened.....

As much as I adore the children in my life.... and love taking them to Disney... there is something SO awesome about just going with adults. We were able to meander, ride whatever, and just have a great time chatting without interruption.

Heidi and I on The Haunted Mansion....

We decided to head over to EPCOT..... well, since we could. It also helped that there were some tasty adult beverages that we could enjoy, sans children.

But, first.... let's get a group photo with some of Mickey's friends.....

Margaritas in Mexico!!!

 

Sonya really wanted wine in Italy, so we stopped there before heading to France to split a couple baguettes. While we sat and drank and ate, I think we probably laughed harder than I have in a while. We were tipsy off of adult beverage and freedom, lol.

And, you guys..... I saw the funniest thing I've ever seen at Disney. A little boy (maybe 3 years old) with HUGE, HUGE hair, wearing a t-shirt of a kid with HUGE, HUGE hair. I'm not lying. I'm still so sad that I didn't get a picture.

Champagne in France!!

We decided to eat dinner in England and also decided to cram into the telephone booth while waiting.....

Dinner was where the magic truly happened. All day long, castmembers would congratulate us on Princess Day. They were just delightful. However, our server took it to a new level......

YES! He brought us crowns to wear. It made our night, lol.

Sadly, Princess Day had to come to an end, but we decided it needed to become a Quarterly Occasion. Thus, August 11, 2013 became the first ever 3rd Quarter Princess Day. We are already planning our 4th Quarter outing.

As The Guy put it, "Do you realize that you were four grown women walking around Disney World, claiming to be Princesses?"

Yes. Yes, we did. But, where else can you do such a thing?

Weekend Shenanigans

This is my first time linking up with this, but I thought it would be fun!

Friday evening, I worked late and when I got home, my Scentsy Fall/Winter transition testers and catalogs were in! So, I spent most of Friday evening catching up on 'General Hospital' and organizing my brand-new "Basket Party" bags.

Then, because I'm a total nerd, I took a picture and posted it to the FB group I belong to......

Saturday morning, I got up dark and early for the final 5K race in a 4 part series from this summer (two in June, one in July, and one in August). My sister and BIL have also been racing, so it's been kind of neat to cheer each other on, this summer. Also, my mom came for the final race to watch us. She hadn't made it the others and was SO pumped to see us run. She immediately posted this to FB, which was totally cute.....

Also? My gun time was 33:37, but my chip time was 33:04 since I tend to let the masses go before I cross the start line. As this was the hottest and most humid race of the four (seriously, I thought I was going to get sick a few times), I was pretty proud of myself.

After we got home and showered, my mom, Megan, and I decided to go paint pottery and do lunch. There is something extremely therapeutic about painting for hours.

That evening, I had a work event to attend. Our largest client was having a huge anniversary bash and my presence was required. It ended up being a lovely event and I was able to hang out with some of my work friends. 

  

  

Sunday? I didn't get out of my pajamas until about 9:30pm, when I showered and changed into fresh PJs. It was a total veg day.

Overall, a fun weekend!

Sunday Social

1. What is something you've always wanted to do but are afraid of?

I can't really think of anything, at the moment. Generally, if I am afraid of something, I don't want to do it.

2. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully, married with a kid (or one on the way). Living life, loving my job, and spending time with my family and friends. Oh, and doing well with Scentsy. I have some goals in that area.

3. What are you looking forward to before the end of 2013?

I'm going on a New England and Canadian cruise in a few weeks and I CANNOT wait for that! I turn 30 in exactly a week. I'm running in a 10 mile race in October. Several family are coming down for Christmas. A lot of fun, exciting things are happening :)

4. What are your hopes for your blog?

I hope that I can just continue to journal my life and make friends, in the process.

5. Do you always see yourself living in your current town/city?

I have always lived in my town, so I could definitely see myself staying here. It's all I've ever known. At the same time, there are places that I've visited and they've felt like home, so I would be ok moving on.

6. What is your morning routine?

On running days, I get up run and then do the following except for snooze. On non-running days, I:

Hit my snooze button 500 times.

Drag myself out of bed

Make my bed (immediately... every single day)

Shower and wash my hair

Brush my teeth

Complete my facial care regimen

Dry and fix my hair

Get dressed

Grab coffee and breakfast

Drive to work

Eat on the first half of my drive

Start my make-up on the second half of my drive

Get to work

Do my eye make-up in my car when I get to work

Start my work day

The Guy in a Video

I'll be upfront about the fact that the title of this post is misleading. Regardless, just keep reading.


So, if you've been reading for ANY length of time, you've read about The Guy.

Small update: No update in that department. We live our lives. Mine in Florida and him in another state. Sometimes, we talk a lot. Other times (like lately), we just keep tabs on one another via FB. It's pretty much just how things are and I'm more cool with it than ever.

Anyway, he posted this video on his work page today. We actually both have two.... one for work/radio and one for personal. Our work pages are linked and our personal pages are linked. When he posted it, he said something along the lines of, "Ashton reveals his real name. Not only am I a fan of his real name, but his speech is amazing...."

If you can connect a few dots, then you will realize that I just let loose a little fact about The Guy.

While I was watching this video, I started chuckling at the realization at just how many things the person in the video and the person who posted the video have in common. See, way back when he lived here, this other guy who had a thing for me and HATED that I had a thing for The Guy would constantly compare him to AK. In fact, he would straight-up call him Ashton to me, just to needle me. I didn't really care, because I always have thought AK was a funny guy, but I never really thought about it.

Because, in my mind, The Guy was more of a Shane West and George Clooney. There were a lot of comparisons for both of those guys, for many reasons, and I just never gave much thought to the AK stuff.

Until today. When I was watching that video and it was like watching The Guy, lol.

I commented back to him, "Hahahaha.... You guys kind of dress and talk alike, too."

Then, I actually gave him a call. Because, while they DO dress (and stand and motion) eerily alike, there were a lot of other similarities. More important ones.

For all of his goofiness and apparent playboyness, AK made a brilliantly impassioned speech in front of all those teenagers watching. About hard work and not letting life pass you by and about what is really important in a person. About realizing your potential and the potential of those around you. About using your brain and your internal gifts.

And, he said it to millions of teenagers.

Watching that video, I'd never been quite so attracted to Ashton Kutcher.  And, in turn, had never been so attracted to The Guy.

I was showing the video to one of my coworkers and she said, "I've never realized how much they look alike."

I called TG and we were talking about how impressed we were by the depth of what he said. And, I told him about this other guy always ragging on me for "being friends" with him. And, I told him how the other guy always tried to call him Ashton as an insult. Since I'd never told him that, he was both surprised and amused, because he's not overly fond of the other guy either. I told him, "I was sitting there watching it and I started laughing at my desk because it was like watching you. Your clothes, your stance, and even the way you start speaking when you're really passionate about something." But, as I told him, after watching that video, it's not an insult at all, but more of a compliment to be so similar.

I know AK isn't perfect and has had some scandal surrounding him. So has The Guy to a lesser degree, lol. But that heart that you see in that video is what makes a guy like him so attractive.

And, I'm kind of proud to say that the same heart can be found in MY "Ashton."

So, if you have ever wondered what it was The Guy is like, you just got a solid clue, lol.

Flashback Friday: A Christmas Cousin Reunion

One of my most anticipated things about Christmas was the fact that my cousin Ben (Heidi's brother) and his wife Terra would be joining us for the holiday.

I hadn't seen either of them since their wedding almost 6 years prior and us cousins haven't spent Christmas together since we were small children. This was an EVENT!!!

They were driving in and all day long at work, I was giddy with excitement. Finally, they were here!!!! They came by my office to say Hi......

My Ben and I.....

His beautiful wife Terra and I

One of the first items on the list to do was go over to our Great Aunt Karon's house for cookie decorating and then go out to look at Christmas lights. Again, it had been over 20 years since Heidi and Ben had been in Florida for any holiday, so everyone was excited to see them.

Chilling at Aunt Karon's house....

We were the only ones of our generation for years, so when we were kids, we were SPOILED at Christmas. The last time we got a picture in front of a Christmas tree, we were significantly shorter.

The Original Cousins........ 

The Sisters..... Aunt Karon, Aunt Martha, Aunt Dot, and Ninny

During the festivities, I tried to soak up as much atmosphere as I could. Just getting as many pictures (even if they were low-quality cell phone) as I could. It was such a great night and full of sweet moments.

Paula and I....

Flashback Friday: Christmas at Gaylord and Disney

The first weekend in December, we had the opportunity to stay a night at Gaylord Palms. It is seriously one of my favorite hotels ever. Heidi's family joined us, as well.

Dive-In Movies in December..... Only in Florida.....

Me and my Little Bit..... She was so cold, lol.

The adults sitting by the pool, while the kids swim and watch 'Madagascar 3.'

Gaylord Palms is a BEAUTIFUL resort and is decorated so beautifully during the holidays. Late, late at night, they had live shows in the atrium........

The next day, we headed to Disney for a day of Magic.

First stop..... Dole Whip

Gorgeous girl.........

Yep, that was real.........

I always get excited when the huge trees go up......

So, that weekend was the official Grand Opening of the New Fantasyland. There were celebrities all over the place. At one point, I realized I was standing right next to Ginnifer Goodwin. Like, less than five feet away. No one else was even recognizing her. I'm still so mad at myself for not getting a picture.

When we went to Hollywood Studios, this was as close as I got to getting a picture of/with her.....

"Take a picture of me with this tree."....... Um, ok, kid.

At least once per season, we go see the Spectacle of Dancing Lights. It's one of my favorite things about Christmas in Florida............