These are my CONFESSIONS

1.
I file and mess with my finger nails several times a day. I don't know why...weird habit I've formed that I can't stop.

2.
I wear ugly and mismatched pajamas. I know, the horror! Before your start judging, *remember* I'm all about comfort.

3.
I sing LOUDLY in my car when I'm by myself. I'm talking Broadway musical-style.



4.
When I online "shop," I always fill up my shopping basket with all of the things I want but rarely purchase any of the items. Ahh, a girl can dream.

5.
I could eat cereal for every meal. Special K Vanilla Almond, I love you.

6.
I really enjoy going to the dentist. I know, I know, who am I?

7.
I used to scrapbook in high school and college...and was actually really good at it! I need to start that back up again...expensive hobby, unfortunately.

8.
I love organizing. I have helped many friends move, and they think I'm doing them this HUGE favor. I love it. Sometimes I wish I was a professional organizer.

9.
I loveeeee to read, but I have the hardest time getting into books unless they are easy chick flick or fantasy reads. Hope that doesn't make me stupid...I like to think I have a smaller attention span than most!


Greatttt read

10.
I cannot lie. Really, I am the worst liar in the world. I got grounded so many times during high school when I would lie about where I really was because my parents could tell within a millisecond that I was not telling the truth. At least I can say I'm honest :)

OOTD and the end of the challenge

Well, I decided to do something a little different this morning! I was trying to catch a photo of the earrings I was wearing (for the post on Monday - something that means a lot to me), but I couldn't capture it up close. SO, I took a picture of my outfit instead...

I look a little like a horseback rider, but, hey, I'm comfortable and most importantly warm on this chilly Dallas Wednesday. White tunic is from Forever 21; black "shawl" is from Urban Outfitters; jeans from Nordstrom B.P.; boots and necklace from Banana Republic. Holla!


And now, the FINAL day of the challenge. Can you believe it's been 30 days already? Wow, this month flew by...

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

This is hard to answer because I literally miss all of my girlfriends every single day. I know that doesn't come as a surprise because I talk about them all the time on here and how I wish we all lived in the same city. BUT I'm not going to skip out on the challenge. Since this little lady just moved away from me, I'm posting a picture of one of my best friends who moved to Tampa this month and whom I miss to pieces.

My sister-in-law Shelby. Not just family - friends for life :)

Something to look forward to

I am a HAPPY camper today! My college girlfriends and I just finalized a reunion trip in the fall! Since none of us are getting married this year (boooooo!), we have had to take matters into our own hands and plan a little trippity trip. AJ and I decided that it'd be a blast to go back to our old stomping grounds in Gainesville for the Florida/Alabama game in October. I couldn't be more excited! I try to make it town to at least one football game a season, but I haven't actually stayed in Gainesville since college. Ecstaticccc. Swamp, Salty Dog, Balls, here we come. Hope you're ready for us :)

Smiling's my favorite

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

I've got to post my two favorite Florence pictures on here for this one!

Sarah, Hannah and I...no idea!

Karaoke night at The Lion's Fountain with Hallie and Suseph!

Methinks we probably drank a little too much on both of these nights...or every night we were there? Whoops. Miss you, Flotown!

Manic Monday

Well, it looks like I have a lot of catching up to do! As I've said before, weekends are difficult for me to blog since I don't have a home computer at the time. So, my apologies! On the bright side, it gives me (and, maybe you?) something to look forward to on Mondays!

First - the challenge (side note - I can't believe there are only 2 days left!)

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

UPDATE: Photo posted

Sorry for the awful picture from the iPhone...they are mother of pearl danglies with little gold starfish on the tops. LOVE them!

I'll post a photo of these later, but when Trey and I first started dating (I'm talking like a month), he went on a family trip to Grand Cayman and came back with this beautiful pair of earrings for me. The reason why I was so touched was because I wasn't even expecting a T shirt! He picked them out all by himself (without knowing how much I LOVE fun/big earrings), and they are SO me. It was one of those shocking moments where I thought, "Wow, we've only been dating for a couple weeks and he already knows me so well! This is going to work!" Anyway, I love them and love wearing them, and they remind me of the beginning of our relationship, which is always fun.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Spring Break in Key West - 2007

Gasparilla 2011

I'm going a little rogue with this one since I've already posted the Tuttle fam on here. This is a picture of me with my big sis in my sorority (Alpha Delta Pi), Miss Britney Bowen (I call her Bowen). We met the summer before my freshman year at University of Florida because she was dating my brother's best friend (they are now married!). Anyway, my brother and I had a big group of friends at our beach condo for the 4th of July, and I knew instantly that we would become really close friends and have been so ever since that day! She is a teacher in Tampa, and she and her hubby Crosby now live about 2 blocks from my brother and sister-in-law's new house! Love her and miss her terribly.

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

I've always been terrified with the thought of dying. Now, I know it's normal to think about death...how you are going to die, when, where, etc. But what I am afraid of is what happens after death. Of course I believe in God and and the pearly white gates of Heaven, but another part of me begins thinking about what else could happen after death? What happens to your soul? Do you just turn to nothing? Does time end? It gives me serious anxiety so I try to focus on the religious beliefs of what happens after death...or not think of it at all!

P.S. I tried to find the least creepy photo of the Grim Reaper, but it doesn't exist. Just so you know. Awesome.

Weekend Update: Took it pretty easy this weekend. Had a date night with T on Friday; went spinning and then to the Dallas Flea with Katie on Saturday morning (got the CUTEST painting...pics to come) and then to an outdoor jazz event I planned for a client Saturday afternoon; double date dinner with Molly and Justin on Saturday night; and ran errands/movie watched yesterday! Pretty productive and relaxing weekend - my favorite kind!

fill in the blank friday

1. My most prized possession is a diamond ring my parents gave me for my 18th birthday. Some background: my mom's family has a tradition of giving daughters a ring on their 18th birthday - goes back years and years.

2. If I could be one age for the rest of my life, I would want to be well, I'm 25 and don't have many complaints, but I wouldn't mind being 22 or 23 again - those were great years! Senior year of college, first job out of college, no real concerns about life. I feel like now that I'm 25, I have to be more serious. Boooooo

3. The best way to spend a weekend is outside with food, fun and friends! And of course some time to relax too. I hate the weekends where I have something to do at alllll hours of the day. Makes the time go by way too quickly!

4. My outlook on life is that life is truly what you make of it...there are always going to be peaks and valleys, but how you get out of each situation and who is with you along for the ride is what matters.

5. If you want to annoy me, just ooh, sorry to say I have many pet peeves. Over-competitive people bother me the most, though...Sorry but I don't care if your running pace is faster than mine.

6. I am completely defenseless when it comes to sweets...baked goods, mostly...or anything with pumpkin in it. Chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven? I'll take 4.

7. When dressing for the day one should wear what makes you feel comfortable and pretty! I don't follow any "fashion rules." If I want to wear white pants in March or October, I'm going to do it. It's all about feeling good about yourself in the clothes you have on ;)

day 25

A picture of your day

Well, rather then photographing my laptop screen and cup of coffee (boooooring), I'll just post a picture of where I wish I was on this lovely Friday morning...

Ahh, Florida beaches. Only 3 more weeks, and I'll be there!

I couldn't NOT post this

D.I.Y. oreo-stuffed chocolate chip cookies via picky-palate. These have Paula Dean written alllll over them....

Welcome to the ORIGINAL Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe! You’ll find my recipe that was taken all over the web, but please note, this is my original recipe. Thanks!!

Ingredients

2 sticks (1 cup) softened butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
10 ounce bag chocolate chips
1 package of Oreo cookies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, cream your butter and sugars with a mixer until well-mixed

Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract

In a separate bowl, mix your dry ingredients (flour, salt and baking soda).

Once these are well-mixed, slowly add them to the wet ingredients.

Mix in your chocolate chips.

Take a cookie scoopful of dough and place it on top of your Oreo Cookie

Do the same thing to the bottom side.

Press the cookie dough together until Oreo is completely enclosed with dough

Place cookies onto a baking sheet and bake cookies in the oven for 9-12 minutes

They’ll look a little something like this when they are done. Let cool then EAT!

I mean...WOW