My New Years Resolutions

1. Drink more water (at least 2 liters a day).
2. Choose 2 items of old/unwanted clothing to donate for every new piece of clothing purchased.
3. Learn how to crochet.
4. Organize the shit out of my room.
5. Do more yoga.

"THE List"

Okay, I know I make a LOT of lists, but we're going to call this one THE List. I think most-all girls at some point in their life have created their list of qualities they are seeking in their ideal guy. If we're speaking honestly, I rewrite this list about every quarter of the year (it's usually prompted by me having a new crush, getting over a crush/break up, or boredom). Girls (attempt to) use "the list" as a tool to check themselves - when dating men, are they up to their standard? I've had previous thoughts before that when girls make "the list" they're asking of too much, but I think that's part of the fun, and there's a good bulk of the list that is fairly concrete - things that we won't budge on... we all have our deal breakers. I do think it's important, when making your list, that you do include the silly/random things, because those are a reminder of the things that make you happy.

Anyway, the other day one of my co-workers and I were having a discussion about guys, and she asked me what kind of guys I liked. When I answered, she gave me the most blank of stares and pretended like she never asked the question. So here I am, sharing my own personal and current list of my ideal guy.

1. Someone that is NICE and gentle, but likes to cuss.
2. A gentleman, but has a backbone. 
3. Will watch and discuss reality TV with me. At least ONE of the shows is all I'm asking for.
4. Loves kids and wants them someday/is a family man.
5. Has a career and their own place.
6. Enjoys baseball, but not the Yankees. I mean honestly, you're entitled to be a fan of any team you want, but if you don't have love for the Texas Rangers, then you're probably wrong.
7. Can grill, because I can't/don't know how to yet.
8. Is okay with giving tough love/constructive criticism, especially when I ASK for it. I can take it. I ask for advice because I NEED it, not because I want someone to say what I want to hear.
9. Is Loyal and Honest (obviously ties in with #8)
10. Is not [always] smothering, but at the least takes the time to acknowledge me and my awesomeness on a regular basis.
11. Has dark hair and kind eyes.
12. Likes to spoon/cuddle
13. Doesn't have a jealous personality.
14. Is into karaoke and very loud sing-a-longs in the car. This is crucial.
15. Will accept/acknowledge that being around me gives them a good chance that they'll get glitter on them.
16. Is a good story teller (not in a lying sense, but has a good way with words that will paint a picture in your head)
17. Knows how to fix stuff - I only know how to fix things by either hitting it or piecing it back together with a hot glue gun.
18. Is happy to see me and appreciates me - obvious.
19. Can find the humor, or make the best of, a crappy situation.
20. Has a large repertoire of accents/voices - this is essential for a lot of things that I will not disclose at this time.
21. Will indulge me when I ask dumb scenario-type questions. I do this because I care about imagination, cleverness, philosophy, and laughing.
22. Loves dogs maybe a little bit more than cats, but I'm okay with a fair balance. You just can't be a dog hater.
23. Likes dessert and baked goods because I really like baking but I can't really eat like more than one bite of it.
24. Genuinely gets along with my friends and family and I get along with his.
25. Is comfortable with themselves and will own being the person that they are (assuming that they're not a douche, and this should not be a problem if most of the above is true).

I feel like I'm not asking for a lot.... right?? Is this why I'm still single?

Bitches Love Fall: My Favorite Fall items

Fall is a beautiful segue into the Holiday season. It's the time of year where we can dress down with hoodies (to hide our holiday weight gain), cozy into a sweater, create endless outfits with layering, and put on our most fashionable boots. In Texas, Fall is a little different than elsewhere; we don't get the change in foliage, and we don't always get such brisk weather. I went through this crazy phrase where I left Texas and moved to in Indianapolis, and my favorite part about living there definitely had to be experiencing a REAL Fall season. I spent all of my life living in Texas, so experiencing Fall was a real treat for me, and something I never took for granted. Fun Fact (actually an opinion, but as far as I know, it's factual to me): There's no where else in the world that shows off Fall Foliage better than in Brown County. You know it's legit when they even have a Leaf Cam!

With my cousins in Brown County last year (2011)

Fall means the line of Holidays/Season change approaching. Halloween, Thanksgiving (my favorite!!!), Christmas, and New Years Eve. The magic of the holiday season is that there's so many seasonal items - when they're gone, you really DO miss them! When they come back, you embrace them like an old friend. Some of these seasonal items remind you of happier times, or you might have a memory attached to them.

My Fall Favorites:

Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Coffee. My first iced pumpkin coffee of this season was definitely a large and I'm pretty sure I drank it in like 3 gulps. I could drink this both hot and cold. The fact that this isn't available all year long KILLS me. The fact that I no longer live/work near a Dunkin Donuts KILLS me.

Vanilla Bean Noel Scented items from Bath & Body Works. Other vanilla scented items DO NOT compare! I'm pretty sure I need to stock up on this smell for the entire year. I work with kids and wash my hands about a thousand times a day, so I've been using the MESS out of the hand cream to keep my hands from drying out! If you ever catch me sniffing my hands - I'm wearing VBN.

Another Bath & Body Works Favorite: Marshmallow Fireside Scented Candle. I have this candle currently burning in my room! It's a creamy, vanilla based candle, but has a smoky/woodsy undertone too! This candle, to me, reminds me of a warm cuddle. I have the Creamy Pumpkin scented candle as well that I'm going to burn when Halloween festivities begin!

Since I no longer live near a Dunkin Donuts, this flavored creamer has literally saved my wallet. I had been compensating with the Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks (I honestly don't want to spend 4 dollars/cup when I could be paying half as much for twice the volume), and any other time of the year, I LOVE lattes, but when it comes to pumpkin spice, I prefer just regular coffee. When paired with Dunkin Coffee, it's ALMOST just as good. The flavoring is pretty spot on, but some days I sprinkle on extra pumpkin spice. If I were a Spice Girl, I'd definitely be Pumpkin Spice.

During this time of year, I am willing to splurge on Martha Stewarts glitter, because it just LOOKS better than regular glitter. The size of the glitters are fine, and are perfect for crafting, and making the sparkles look smooth instead of clumpy. I swear I'm not a glitter snob.

When it comes to accessories, I buy things that are versatile and can go with AT LEAST 90% of my outfits. These Kate Spade gumdrop studs are my go to earrings. They go with EVERYTHING, and they're large enough to make a statement. My bow ring is another one of my favorites!

I bought this BCBGeneration Sweater AFTER the winter season, and I've been dying to wear it. SEQUIN STRIPES!

My Secrets to a Happy Life

1. Smile OFTEN - It's a good look on everyone. Also, people will genuinely take a greater interest about your sadness more if they never see you being sad. My favorite example is when I came back to work after lunch one day, and someone asked me what was wrong - complete with a shoulder touch and the most concerned of eyes. I'm pretty sure they weren't expecting to hear that the froyo place didn't have the original tart flavor that day.
2. Indulge yourself - Life's too short, and you deserve what makes you happy!
3. Celebrate ALL victories in life - big or small. So far today, I'm celebrating getting the smallest cookie with the most chocolate chips (guilt free?), and not getting into car wreck/dying, even though this asshole completely and blatantly ran a red even though my light had JUST turned yellow as I was turning left. I also accidentally swallowed a bone that was in my salmon, but I didn't choke - it just tickled? Either way, I'm alive, and no scars.
4. Compliment others. Some people don't know how to accept compliments, but for some others, it could be their small victory for today.
5. Leave work/school with some sort of positive experience from the day, and be happy and grateful that you have the opportunity that you get to do it all again tomorrow. If your days work wasn't as satisfactory, always look forward to the possibilities of the next day. Life's what you make it, right?
6. Go to bed remembering something at least 5 great things about your day, or something that you're grateful for; sometimes this goes hand in hand with #3. When I moved back home recently, I started writing all of these down in a notebook. The point of this is to never go to bed unhappy, or feeling like you didn't have a worthwhile day.
7. It's okay to have limits, but be willing to try something new and DO IT!
8. Laugh. A lot.
9. Make someone else laugh.
10. Be a great listener; your friends and family will appreciate this - One time this backfired while I was on a date and I fell asleep at the table.
11. Make lists - aside from a calendar, this is my only sensible form of organizing, but it's extremely therapeutic. I make lists for EVERYTHING - to do lists, pros & cons of why I should or shouldn't do something, reasons why I like someone, reasons why I don't like someone. Lists are fun. If you didn't notice, this post is a list.
12. If you see something that reminds you of someone, get it for them/share that with that person. They WILL/SHOULD appreciate it. Yesterday, I bought my niece a ribbon dancer. When I got back home from work, she was STILL playing with it. Totally worth it. If I listen to a song that reminds me of somebody, I'll send it to them. The point of this isn't to SPEND money, but to be thoughtful of those who matter to you.
13. Allow others to laugh at your most shameful moments - I actually never allowed this (my friends are rude!) and they laughed anyway, but I've learned to laugh about it too. Learn from your mistakes, and then laugh about it afterwards. Move on, and don't let your past weigh you down.
14. Envision yourself in a different life - just for fun. I once wrote a journal entry about what would happen if I ever became the Bachelorette (I also fashioned a picture of me holding roses), and whenever I watch the auditions for The Voice, I think about what song I'd audition with, and the moment where I get to choose Adam Levine to be my judge.
15. Put glitter on everything (these are MY secrets, so it works for me) - If you've ever seen me with a can of glitter, then you've seen my crazy eyes. I'd actually to take this moment to apologize to anyone who has contracted the craft herpes from me.
16. Get some fresh air.
17. Have a hobby - I like playing guitar, hula hooping, and glitterizing everything/making crafts.
18. Read a really good book - I love books that make me cry. Something sad might happen in a book, but at least that's not happening in my real life. It's also completely nuts how a sequence of words can give you a picture of something and give someone a voice and personality and take you through a journey without providing any actual visuals in the book.
19. Walk away from someone with a BAD ATTITUDE - there is a huge difference between a having a friend that's upset and dealing and acknowledging their feelings and a friend who chooses to use their negative feelings and take everyone down with them. Just because one person isn't having fun, doesn't mean that everyone else needs to have a bad time. Bad attitudes are contagious and it's a waste of everyones time.
20. Recognize the consequences/changes, but don't dwell.
21. Love with your whole heart.
22. If your friend asks for your advice, BE HONEST, but supportive.
23. Dance.
24. You don't have to be perfect person, you don't have to be a weak person, but you should be a GOOD person.