Welcome Back!

It has been quite awhile since I have last blogged. You missed me didn't you? ;) So much to tell, so many characters met, so many new friends and new skills.

Summary of my semester in less than a paragraph:
      *Make new friends
      *Maintained pretty awesome grades while working full time and taking 6 classes
      *Going to be an auntie(super fun, you can call me Auntie M, like from the wizard of ox)
      *Had a boyfriend
      *Broke up with said boyfriend after two months
      *Decided to learn how to shoot a firearm, haven't gotten there yet, but the decision was made
      *Got a new job
      *Became an avid Tweeter @MSchafHouse
      *Got a smart phone that makes me feel really dumb
 -I'm sure a lot more happened to me than what I have listed above, but I won't bore you with every little detail. So I'm going to get back to my blogger week with all days included in this one post. So herererererer we gooOoooO!

First task: Your must do of the week!
My personal favorite blog post is back. What you have to do in the week before it is over.
     Your must do of the week is to laugh. Whoever said laughter is the best medicine was completely and utterly correct. And I don't mean just giggle, I mean find something that makes your belly ache and your eyes tear up. That kind of laugh that leaves you gasping for air at the end of it. You know what I'm talking about. So do it.

Second task: Listen to this amazing song!
I've always said that music is the best thing to ever be created. Something for every mood can be found in music. So here is just a few selections that have come to me throughout my semester.

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons--Quite a different sound from them, but its one of those songs that makes you want to do something epic

Let Her Go by Passenger--I don't know if I have put this one up before, but it still gets me every time. One of those songs for the hopeless romantics out there

Take a Walk by Passion Pit--That feel good song that literally makes you want to take a walk

And for all you country fans out there-------

Cruise by Florida Georgia Line--Again, it makes you want to cruise with the windows down, even in the winter time

Third Task: Wear this sweater!
It's really expensive, but that is what Goodwill is for. You get the idea....

 

Fourth Task: Your Motivation for the day!

 

“The fishing is best where the fewest go, and the collective insecurity of the world makes it easy for people to hit home runs while everyone else is aiming for base hits. There is just less competition for bigger goals.  If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is, too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.”
–Timothy Ferriss

So great....

Fifth and Final Task for the Week: Go have a drink!

Mexican Hot Chocolate!

Enjoy my readers. It sure feels good to be back! Happy Holidays!

Classes

So here is another reason why Metro State is a kajillion times, oh yeah, kajillion, times better than Marquette. I am being taught by real life police men and women. Not one of my professors is not working in their field. One of my professors is actually on duty when he is teaching. Which means that he carries around his gun. "Excuse me professor I forgot my assignment." No. You can bet that no one in this class will be saying that while his gun is in his holster. Sorry but no. Now obviously he would never pull it out. That would be dumb. And a veteran of a police department would never do that. But tell me this, how many of your professors have guns and badges strapped to their hips while teaching? My guess would be zero. And do to the fact that my badass factor is running low in these early weeks of the school year, this seriously ups my cool. By association, I feel cool. And no one can blame me for that. I need all the cool I can get.

Now again, if anyone was doubting that my life is a sitcom, here is another case and point of how I should be constantly filming my life. On Sunday, the glorious day before Labor day, it was Otis' birthday. In case anyone needs a refresher or if I've never mentioned him before, he is my giant mini horse of dog. He is the biggest cuddly puddle of mush on the planet and he turned nine. And I didn't even think twice about going to the store and buying him some totally rad items to throw him a totally rad birthday party. I even came close to buying a video camera so I could get his reaction to the GIANT bone I got him. And then realized that I'm too broke, so I didn't. Sorry, no footage of this totally pathetic but hilarious party I threw. Now I remind you that my parents yet again whisked themselves away to the faraway land of Canada. So its just me and my poops. So there I sat on my Sunday evening, with my two dogs who I forced to wear party hats in my completely over the top decorated porch for my dog, who didn't even know what was going on. And it was awesome. I even got them the yummy wet food for a special dinner, set up a table low enough for all of us to eat together and proceeded to light a candle, to make it even more special. Needless to say, that was a disaster. Miko got so excited at the idea of "real" chickena and corn he plopped it off the table, smeared it all over the floor trying to get it out and then went and licked the ENTIRE floor clean. I didn't even care. Otis, being a proper old man, remained at the table with me until finished, then when my back was turned, took his cup that it was in and ran away and tried to eat it. Still a little boy in there somewhere.

And it gets better from there. Last night, I cleaned everywhere and decided that it was just too hot to sleep upstairs. So I went down to my bedroom and was doing homework on the floor. The dogs were both laying at the end of the bed cute as buttons. Needless to say, I fell asleep on the floor. And when I woke up at 4am, Otis was sprawled on my pillows and Miko was sprawled on him. It was to cute to even care that I was on the floor. So I stayed there.

Now I would have pictures and video's of all of this if I had a camera. So feel free to donate to Mary's "Gotta film mah life" fund. Its open now.

Enjoy your life. Enjoy your dogs. Enjoy your vacations. And most of all, enjoy your classes taught by gun wielding certified badasses. Cause that's what I'm doing and everybody knows that I set the standard for cool....

Cheers to the School Year!

Well, I know it has been quite awhile, but I assure you that I am still alive and kicking. I have just been insanely busy working and wallowing in self pity about it. No, not really that, I just really haven't felt any inspiration to write lately. But here we are, at the end of August, and who knows how that happened. It was literally yesterday that summer was starting and now BOOM, Labor Day. Not bitter, just sad about how fast time goes.

Now when I was signing up for classes, I thought it was an amazing idea to go and cram 7.5 hours of school into one day. Now it hasn't been as bad as I was imagining, but it still isn't that fun either. Especially when each single class is 2.5 hours long. But that's life.  At least I'm done with school by Wednesday everyyyy week! So that's pretty baller. So far all of my classes are going to be really interesting. And this summer, after being told that I would make a good prosecutor, I've been thinking a lot about it. Law School. It kind of makes me cringe, but in a not so bad way. Funny how many career paths I've been down so far. And I'm only 21. A top notch business woman, a sad and depressed social worker, a juvenile probation officer, an adult  probation officer, a correctional officer, a police officer, and now maybe a lawyer. I am truly glad that I choose the right majors. There are so many paths I could potentially go down, and from the way things have been going, I may just run down all at once, crossing from one to the other, overlapping and just enjoying where the ride takes me.

It is still easy for me to think about my decision to transfer in a negative way. I still feel a twinge of longing when I see peoples pictures at school and see all my friends, or used to be friends, just going about their business in the college way. And then I come back here, and I look at all I've been able to do. In some ways, I don't feel like I'm in college any more. I'm a working adult female working towards a career without digging myself into a hole at the same time. I'm able to work a full time job while taking 18 credits. I'm able to make new friends every single day, and experience something new every week. I've been told a lot lately that my life is like a sitcom. And the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards buying a flip camera and strapping it to my head, because it really is. Sure, most of my life is just a regular working girl going to school, going to work, going to yoga, blah blah blah. But when things happen to me, they don't happen half-butted. (Yes, my norm for butt would be more offensive, but I'm working on being more "lady-like", I even shaved my legs last night. I know, the world truly is ending....) Anyhoo, off topic. I feel as if I am more prepared for what is going to come after college. I still get to go out, I still see people, but I'm not leaving my left leg and half an arm behind at Metro. I leaving with an education, and a dang good one at that.

So for all of you freshies out there, just moving into you closet sided dorm with your psycho of a roommate and brand new XL sheets, don't settle. Just because you think you have to be there doesn't mean your locked in. If you don't like it, change it. You only get to do this once. So enjoy it. Make it all it can be. Never stay in a Friday by yourself, go explore, have some PG fun. I know you've heard it a million times, but this will flyyyyyy by. So hold on and just try to enjoy every minute.
There you go, my wad of cheese for the post.

Enjoy this awesome start to the school year tune. Here's to knowledge.

One Year Ago

One year ago almost to the month, I had no idea where I was going to be from day to day. I didn't know if I was even going to be in the United States. I didn't have a school, I didn't have a direction. I was lost. Nothing made sense. There was an air of embarrassment I was feeling at somehow not cutting and having to transfer. I cried myself to sleep most nights and didn't know what the next day was ever going to bring. I hated it. Then, one day, things just started to get better. Everyday brought a new opportunity, a new piece of news, a new path being forged. The fall happened and nothing seemed to be happening again. My "dream job" didn't turn out to be so dreamy and the days brought more tears, more uncertainty at my decision and more trying to convince myself that I had done the right thing. I kept telling myself that it would get better, just wait until school starts. And its those words and my parents never wavering love that got me through. Again, things gradually started to fall into place. School started, I was meeting people, making friends, going out again, becoming closer to my sister and standing up for myself at work. I started losing weight, slowlyyyyyy, very graduallllyy, but losing none the less. Check out that story here. I've gotten a better job, taking more on campus classes, and making more friends. High school friends have come home and been around, my parents still never waver as a great support system. And sure, I still have my melancholy days and can slip into feeling sorry for myself. But I'm learning to control it. And to quote the king of cheese, Jason Mraz, "I dabble in the melancholy, but I try not to live there." Because people would die to be where I am and have the opportunities that I've been given. And there is something so satisfying about becoming more independent. Of knowing that when I come home every day, I've worked as hard as I can. Of knowing that contribute something. Of knowing that up is the only direction I can and am willing to go. But enough of the cheese. To sum it up, one year ago almost to the day I was sad and lost. Today, I have a goal, and I'm happy. Its amazing, the difference in a year.

Again, enough cheese. Here to me being back to regular blogging. Time is of the essence. In music news, here is something great.

In fashion news, here is more greatness....

These and more funny tees can be found here.

In my news. I'm good. Keep on keeping on.

Uncertainty

Happy 4th of July! I hope you get into the festive spirit, wearing your Amurica colors all over the place. Don't go cray cray with the fireworks, I would like all of you to be in one piece tomorrow! In fashion news, I seem to have a not so secret obsession with sunglasses and shoes. I found a website where you can customize your own sunglasses for only $14! Check it out here. In music news, Basilica Block Party is coming up this weekend and I hope you all got your tickets! Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend, even though the price is totally worth it. There is even talk that it may sell out entirely. Usually there are tickets available at the door, but with the way things are selling, it may not be the case! So get them while you can! For a free show, Tyrone Wells with be playing at Oake on the Water on Thursday starting at 3 at Lord Fletcher's on Lake Minnetonka! Check it out. Its a nice little preview to his show at Basilica!

On a sadder note, the Hill-Murray community lost another one of its own this past weekend. Adam Gott was a 19 year old sophomore at St. Johns. He passed away in a tragic accident on Sunday and my thoughts and prayers go out to all who knew him. He was certainly one of a kind. I didn't know him personally as I only met him once, but once was enough. His smile and kindness will live on forever through his friends and family. This just shows that the only certain thing in life is the uncertainty of every moment. Take a little time to tell someone you love them. Kiss a little longer, hug a little tighter, just be happy. Nothing is going to matter at much as this moment right now. So enjoy it.

Action

I Haven't Forgotten

I apologize for my absence. What a roller coaster of a summer it has been. Fun nights, long work shift, the adjustment to a seven day a week early rising, and all things weird that could have possible happened to me in these early months of what used to be lazy time. It isn't lazy time anymore. And while I love what I'm doing, its hard to recall the days of waking up at 10, going to work at 2 and being done by 7 at the latest. But I'm happy. For once I feel like I've got my stuff together. A great job, a fabulous internship, some very exceptional friends and re connections and some great and promising plans for the future. I'm not going to make up for last week or yesterday. I'm glad I let it go for awhile. And to be completely honest, I just haven't been feeling that creative spirit. But I'm trying and I don't want to get too far behind. Long story short, a summary of my life in last two weeks would plain and simply be crazy love.

Today, while driving home from work, I saw an old man smoking a pipe while riding his bike. No joke. People do that. No, it wasn't a full hookah like this mans set up, but there is just something about an old man with a pipe that makes him so legit. And the fact that he seemed to just be on a nice ride on a 97 percent humidity over 90 degree day just made it all the better.












I was introduced to some greatness last weekend. I'm sure most of you by now have heard of Ed Sheeran, but if you haven't, I present to you my two great loves. Rupert Grint and Ed Sheeran. Enjoy with a smile.

Do something great today, tomorrow, the next day. Come up with an idea and turn it into action. Do what you say, back up what you do, stop caring so much about what people think while you do. Just do.

Mhmmm

Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. I just found the greatest shorts on the planet with a cute blouse to go with it. H&M, so great. Enjoy......

*Blouse
*Shorts

Eyes

There is a moment when you first meet someone. When you are silently sizing them up, with them doing the same. For me I start at the feet, working my way up quickly, barely a glance really. It is then, when I finally reach their face that I look into their eyes. To me, there are a lot of ways to tell what kind of person someone is. The way they walk, the way they talk, the way they look when they think no one sees them. The main way though is through their eyes. That moment when a stranger becomes a friends, a friends becomes a lover, a wife becomes a mother. All of those moments can be drawn back to a single look. A lingering stare, wink of an eyelid, slip of a tear. No words are needed, no gestures made. It isn't any secret to people who know me that I love to meet people. I love imagining what their secrets are, what types of things they have seen, where they will go in the time to come. The greatest portraits and pictures in history are the ones where I can imaging what they were thinking at the time the shutter clicked, what they hopes, dreams, fears, goals, feelings were at that exact moment.

I know that it is only Monday, but I guess I'm in a sentimental mood. So Must Do Wednesday has become Must Do Monday. Look into someones eyes when you are talking to them. And really see, don't just look. Look at a photo of yourself, stare into your own eyes. Compare what you think you were thinking with what you really though, if you can remember. Do they match up? Meet a stranger. Reunite with an old acquaintance. Take your grandparents out to lunch. And this time, ask them a story about their past. And look into their eyes as you listen. How do they light up, go dark, glisten as they speak? And imagine you are there, experiencing it with them. All of this can be done by truly seeing what you are looking at. You may just be surprised at what you learn.

Realise

I became aware of something over this past Memorial Day weekend. Its okay to shut down, turn off and just be for a weekend. I gathered up some friends, packed the car and just drove. The cabin awaited for me with its pristine waters, every changing weather and the feeling of pure contentedness waiting for us. The cabin is true in every nature to its name. It is a cabin. The tv doesn't work except for VHS and recently DVD's due to the player we bought for it. The fireplace is wood, the size is perfect and when you visit, you are home. No worries, no cares, just fun, relaxation and the occasional dance party or epic bags tournament. No matter the weather, it is truly a great place to just get away. I shut my phone off and just enjoyed the company I was in. The real world was waiting for me when I got home, but I didn't mind playing catch up. Because the memories I made this weekend will stay with me forever.

To not so much make up for my recent absence, I'm just going to start from today. Today is Must Do Wednesday. And I think you can gather what my must do is going to be. Turn it off. Turn off the tv, the cellphone, the computer, the ipod, ipad, nook, kindle, anything else electronic and just sit there. Listen to the sounds of the silence. Go for a walk without your music and listen to the children laughing, the birds singing, the dogs barking, the lawn mowers running, the people talking. Take it all in. We are so quick to make everything faster, more efficient, quieter, that we forget to enjoy what we've already created. I tend to look at the future while my present is happening. I just got a great job, I'm working at an internship I love, I have the most amazing family and friends anyone could ask for and yet I still forget to enjoy it sometimes. Even if only for an hour, it is okay to shut down. To just be with doing. Your To Do list will still be one when you get back, you computer will still work, you music will still play, but you don't ever get the moment you're in back. So mental image it, really image it (I'll allow cameras), do whatever you need to do to remember that moment. Because when you do plug back in, that memory will be a save haven and a promise to what lies ahead.

Here and Gone

Well, the weekend comes and goes again. But the joy of summer is that Monday's all of a sudden take on a whole new meaning. Sure, I'm still working and doing a little bit of school work, but the weather is beautiful and the birds are chirping and its summer. So start enjoying them a little bit, you might just find a new found fondness for them. Cheers to a great week and fun and happy life!

Happy Birthday

That lovely lady on the right there turned 25 yesterday! She's the greatest sister anyone could ask for and certainly the best one that I have. Cheers to another healthy and fun 25 years!

Shoes, Friends, Basilica Rd 2

The creative juices just haven't been flowing for me lately, but then I had a little get together with some friends on Tuesday and just haven't had time to channel them. So Music Thursday has turned into the greatest shoes, the best friends and the Basilica Rd 2 with a few extras thrown in.

Shoes

How. Amazing. Are. These? They are from Target and they are 29.00$. Check them out here. Now, I usually don't have anywhere to where something like these, but it doesn't mean I can't look! If you are someone who has an excuse to wear amazing shoes like these every day, then there is simply no excuse not to get them.

Now fellas, I did not forget you this week. I don't know what your personal style is obviously, but these are great. They are 70$ from Zappos, and they have free shipping BOTH WAYS! So if you get them and don't like them, you can send em back for a full refund, for FREE! Who doesn't like free? If you don't, go to a doctor immediately and get a brain scan.


Must Do
 


 These are just some of my friends from high school. Believe it or not, this was three going on four years ago. And we are all still friends. On Tuesday, we had a very tiny get together at a friends house with just some of these people. And it was like we had been hanging out everyday when in reality, we have seen each other in months. There is something about friendships that keep you going. Things change. People you didn't think you would ever be friends with come out of the wood work and people you thought would be your friend forever just fade away. And that's okay.

 People change. Every single person in each one of these pictures has changed. We aren't the same people we were in high school and that is what's so cool about when we get together. Even though we are different people, we are better friends because of it. I am so proud of what everyone has done with their lives. I have had friends in Africa, France, Peru, Guatemala, New York, Colorado, California, Wisconsin, North Dakota and many more states and countries that I just don't even know. But some how, everyone comes back.

 Your must do of the day is reconnect with someone. Maybe the effort just hasn't been there, or something happened to cause a rift. In the grand scheme of things, that fight you had three years ago doesn't matter much to either of you. But you are both so stubborn that neither one wants to make the first move. Nothing that happened in high school matters anymore. You are who you are now and odds are, you both are better now. I love these people with all my heart and I know that I am lucky to still have all of them in my life. Effort is needed, but its worth it.

Basilica Round 2-July 7, 2012

 Sun Country Stage

The Avett Brothers

Fitz and the Tantrums

The Lumineers

Walser Stage

OAR

Graffiti6

Stuart D-Rozario

      I can't find a video for him, so he must be new!

Vita.mn Stage

 Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles

Farewell Milwaukee

The Boy N' The Barrels

Don't forget to check out  Skinny Girl Thoughts, brought to you by yours truly! There is a great drink, recipe and workout on there to keep you going towards your goals.

Just a little something extra for you....

Shout Out!

Tehee. Gotta love Mondays. A shout out to the graduation classes of 2012 from university's, colleges and high schools all around the country! You did it! Now go do some stuff! Another shout out to all the great, fabulous, wonderful mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers, mothers to be and people who want to be mothers. You are great. Its Monday, as I'm sure all of you know. A day after Sunday and the day before Tuesday. Lets make it great.

Glances

What a first week of summer! I slept till noon, worked out, basked in the afternoon sun, played catch left handed with my nanny kid and just relaxed. This is pretty much my only week of summer, then its internship and hopefully, fingers crossed, a paying job. But I'm okay with that. This is the time when everyone is getting done with finals, starting to study for finals, already on summer or just working. Make sure that you take some time to just be for a little bit, no matter what you may be doing. The sun is shining, the temperatures are rising, and friends you haven't seen in months are coming home. That project doesn't have to get done today. You room can stay messy for one more week. Enjoy the things around you while you can. Smile at someone today.

Happy summer, or near summer, everyone! Don't forget to check out Skinny Girl Thoughts for a little weekend thinspiration! What are you going to do to change your life today?

Basilica Rd 1

Personally, I am a huge fan of the Basilica Block Party, so I thought "why not do a piece on the bands that are going to be featured at this years block party?" So here it is! For music Thursday, I present to you the first part of the line up for an amazing weekend of music! Take it in. Love it. Buy tickets for it. Just do it. Tune in next Thursday for the second half of the line up!

Friday, July 6


Sun Country Stage
Train

The Head and the Heart

Mat Kearney

Walser Stage
Tyrone Wells

Cake

Imagine Dragons

Vita.mn Stage
Prissy Clerks

A. Wolf & Her Claws

Phantom Tails

Don't forget to check out Skinny Girl Thoughts this week brought to you by me! What are you going to do to change your life today? I'm going to listen to this amazing music and long for money to buy tickets for the wholeeeeee weekend. 

Life

Well that's it. My first semester at Metro is done. And as I look back and compare a semester at Marquette versus Metro, I realize that I finally found somewhere I'm comfortable, where I fit. I was a fish out of water at Marquette. And its something you don't really realize until you leave. I was trying so hard to please and fit in there that I was exhausted and tired all the time. I went and visited on my birthday weekend and it was a lot of fun, but I also realized a lot of things while there. Marquette is a bubble. I had no idea what the real world had in store for me until I left. And as hard I tried to keep the friendships I made there intact, the distance does its damage. People changed. I changed. People you thought would be there forever suddenly aren't. Best friends become once in awhile friends and friends become acquaintances. Its sad, but you really find out who your real friends are when you leave. No one likes change, and this change was especially hard for me. The fall was a lot of forced smiles and pretending to be happy about the situation. Then school started and I was succeeding and meeting people and it all started to turn around. The smiles aren't forced anymore. I get excited when I get to go to school. I don't "have" to go to class anymore. I "get" to go to class. And what made it truly special was being able to pay for it all on my own. Sure I'm getting free rent and food, but paying that last tuition bill was so satisfying. Marquette has become a period of my life that I'll look back on and smile when I think about the good times. But I'm not longing for it anymore. I want to see more in my college years than Marquette could have offered me. I get to learn how to shoot a gun in 6 months, and taser someone and offensive driving and all these cool things that Marquette couldn't offer me. I'm going to go into future interviews with more than just a fancy name behind me, I'm going in with skills. And what's even better is that I'm going to graduate with less debt than 99% of the people at Marquette. I'm happy, and I couldn't say that five months ago. I got straight A's this semester. The first 4.0 of my entire schooling career. That has to say something. I don't know exactly what, but I'm pretty darn proud of it.

Wednesday's are going to bring a little something extra to you from Life At Its Finest. I want you to get something from this blog. To read and say, "Wow" just ever once in awhile. Wednesday's are going to be "Must Do" days. I am going to suggest something, whether it be a concert, an event, a hike, a choice, whatever, its something I want you to do. It just depends on what mood I'm in on that specific day. Today, I want you to make a decision. It doesn't have to be big or grandiose like changing your entire life in a week and moving home and changing schools. But what I do want you to do is look at your life up until this exact moment in time. What stands out? What would you rather forget? Are you happy? If not, why? Because you should be. Your "Must Do" of the day is just to reflect. Write it all down, share it with someone, keep it to yourself, I don't care. Just do. Maybe you'll realize something that you didn't before and you want to do something about it. Who knows, you may just make the best decision of your life because of it.

You Need These

On Tuesday's, I'm going to tell you what you need. Or at least what you should want haha. These sunglasses are sooo cool and what a way to bring in summer but with a fabulous pair of sunglasses. ENJOY!

They can be found at Urban Outfitters for 16 bucks! Urban is great and super cheap. There are other selections for guys and gals on here too. Check it out!

Mash Up

Today, on the day where I will for the first time try this thing everybody raves about called "alchihol", I have a lot of presents for you. Yesterday started out as a not so good day then ended with a hundo percent on my group presentation and a numbah. Then the radio really came through for me and provided me some gems to provide to you. So imma holla at cha for a second. Just enjoy the ride. 

First, my current urbsession is Lady A's Dancing Away with My Heart. It just gets me. And while I usually don't go for the country genre, this one, and pretty much their whole cd is pretty ballin. And I would consider them more poppy country anyway so I'm not too worried about it. Enjoy the harmonies. I meannnnn, they just rock. And its nice to see them getting some recognition at award shows. They are certainly very talented. 

The next little number I will also admit is a country jam. Its from Glorianna and its [Kissed You] Goodnight. Its for the hopeless romantic in me. Suhge cuteness, I don't even need to explain. And how much do you LOVEEEE Tyler Hilton in this. And lets be honest, we've all been there....

Now, veering from the country and getting back home ot singer songwriters, I was flipping through the channels and whatdayaknow, the Current comes through again. Tom Waits. His voice. His guitar. His everything all wrapped up into an amazing little present for any time of day. ENJOY! He is by no means a new artist, but he should be a lot more famous than he is. 

And finally, a shout out to the Lumineers who I feature a coupled months ago and who my friend Meghan also featured on her blog as well. They are gaining momentum and now are heard on cities97! So thats really exciting because they are really amazing....

Everyone have a fantastic and above average day!

Yellow Light

When I was three, I wanted to be a princess. I was obsessed with horses and although I never got to ride one, the back of our old couch got plenty worn from me pretend riding it all the time. I wanted the prince, the castle, the fairy tale dwarves, and the animals who spoke to me. I wanted it all.

Then I turned five and I decided I wanted to be a "vegetarian". What I was trying to say was veterinarian but my little brain couldn't process what the word was. But that family I've talked so much about understood what I was trying to say. I loved animals and at the time I thought you just had to play with them when they were sick and that would make them better. Then I found out that you had to go to more school than was required and I was done with that.

When I was nine I started to play basketball. So naturally my next dream was to be a professional basketball player just like Katie Smith. I went to Lynx games, trained extra hard, went to every single camp imaginable all to make my dream come true. Then I found out that I wanted to do something other than that. Naturally.

Those in between years are fuzzy. I never thought about being a firefighter or an astronaut. But I know that I had goals and dreams. But high school was filled with being forced to make decisions about your future. But lets be honest, you don't know what you want to do with the rest of your life your freshman year of high school. It just isn't going to happen, unless you're one of those amazing people who has life figured out to a tee. I have yet to meet someone like that, but I admire you. So I started out my baby year at Marquette wanting to be the top international business woman in the world. Then I decided it was a load of crap. Screw desks and planes and motels and itchy business suits and men trying to faze you out. I'm not built to sit behind a desk. So I switched to Social Work. Went to the intro class I was required to take and got so depressed about the state of our country that I quit that too. So I landed on Criminology. I felt comfortable. There were lots of things I could do with it and lets be honest, I'm a little excited about the prospect of learning how to shoot a gun. I don't know if I want to be a cop or an agent or a probation officer or any of that. I'm getting the degree because its a requirement to go anywhere in our world today. But who knows where I'm going to be in five years. Someone told me I would make a good prosecutor. I asked them "Why because I'm a bitch?" And they replied, "No. Because you actually care"

So where am I going with this you ask? Let me tell you. Does you heart ever drop or your stomach turn over when your approaching a stop light and its green, then as fast as you can blink, its yellow. There is that moment when you have to decide if you want to beat or surrender to it. Now naturally there are some instances where you wont make it. But I'm taking about being in the exact spot where you can floor it or stop it. And your nervous. What if I don't make it? Should I stop? Do I have enough time? Will it be worth it? To me, stop lights represent life. There are moments when it brings you to your knees and forces you to surrender. Then are those times where its giving you the go ahead to maintain your course. Then there are the times when it proposes options. And its like its testing you. Playing chicken with you. Question is are you going to play it safe even though you know you can make it? Or are you going to keep your trajectory full speed ahead. Life presented me with a yellow light almost a year ago to the day. Am I going to make the leap into the unknown, or am I going to shell out thousands upon thousands of dollars to play it safe. I took that challenge head on and floored it. I am coming to the end of my chapters of college. I'm facing that yellow light and it could go either way. My heart is pumping, my palms are sweaty and there's an incessant knot in my stomach constantly pestering me to decide. The beauty of the situation is that there is still time. I can hit the breaks or I can push the gas. The excitement about a yellow light is being able to choose.

The Acorn

I bring to you two amazing songs I just want everybody every where to listen too. First is Glory by The Acorn. The classic singer/songwriter style with some piano and awesome funky drum thing in the back. AMAZE! This isn't the best version but they are pretty good live. There is the Glory Mountain Road album on Spotify is you're really diggin it.

The second, an amazing pure vocal and piano piece is by Tori Amos called Silent All These Years from her debut album in 1992. I'm sure some of you have heard it before but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. 

  

Luck

I want to tell you a story. When I was little, hell now as well too, I was really talkative. I had two spectrums on a car ride with my family, anywhere, no matter the length. I was either talking my brains out or sleeping like a rock. On a lucky day it was sleeping. But on other days, I was just so excited to be where I was or so annoyed that it was taking so long to get there. I had a phase that I went through when I wanted to rehash everything and anything that had ever happened to me ever. Except I didn't know how to say remember. It was "renember when I did this" or "renember when you" renember, renember, renember. I remember my sister getting so mad at me that I couldn't say remember properly. But to me, I was right and there was no backing down. It was renember. I was sure of it. But to my dismay, only weeks later I realized that alas, I was wrong. But I stray from the point. The point of this story is that my family would usually just listen and smile and nod, even when I went off on undistinguishable tangents that made no sense in the slightest. These are some of the happiest times I can remember. Sure, my sister and I didn't really get along, at all, when we were little. But then a time came when I stopped caring about what everyone around me thought and my sister stopped being a stuck up biatch (to put in bluntly, sorry Sare). We are closer today than I ever thought we were going to be. But again, I stray. I am lucky to have the immediate family I have.
I have two great parents who are more fun, more loving, more understanding, more everything than I ever thought two people could be. My sister is one of wakiest, smartest (when she wants to be), most loving, independent, dependent, bug drivin, teaching fiend you will ever meet. She's a storm and you can't help but be taken with her. I watching her the other day when we were out at a restaurant, and she was going to the bathroom and of course had to pass the entire place to get there, and it was so amusing for me to see every single head in the place turn to her and watch her too. There is a sense of pride I feel when we go out and I see people get taken with her. Just that "yeah, we're related" type thing. I'm so proud of her and how far she's come and where she'll go. All I'm saying is that you better watch out, because when she swoops in and steals your heart, you can't say I didn't warn you. That's how it is with my family. We have our ups, our downs, our in the middles, our periods of contents. But no matter where we are, I always flash back to those early days in the car. And when I think back on all the highlights in my life, they were a part of every single one.

We aren't a perfect family by any means. But we are to each other. And I can't help but feel that there was little luck involved. I would still like to believe that some stork dropped me off in this family. This family of no boundaries, bad table manners, crude humor and most of all never ending love. I can't help but feel a sense of pride when we are all together and just sitting. None of us are talking, but just sitting. Some sleeping, reading, writing, staring, but each still in tune with the other. I am lucky. Plain and simple. I have nurtured that luck, stretched it, loved it, discarded it only to gain it back seconds later. I hope that everyone else feels this at least once in their life. And if you don't, just know that its out there, and take that as a hope. Not everything in the world is bad, no matter how true the bad may ring each day. There are families like ours out there. Simply, we are a family of mutts, all brought together by some stroke of lucky fate.

Shivers in my Bones

Oh. My. Gosh. Now I know that I've raved about The Pines before, but they just keep amazing every single time I listen to them. The song I'm going to feature today is Check out their earlier albums, they are amazing! And I kid you not, I am not a crier, but the beauty of his voice and everything that accompanies it gets my eyes a little dewy. Enjoy! A note, they have some pretty awesome tour dates and really cool venues coming up in the summer and fall in MN!! Check it out! This is Cry, Cry Crow from their latest album, Dark So Gold.

In terms of my life lately, it really hasn't been all that exciting. I have a great internship for the summer, albeit unpaid, but amazing none the less. I am officially a double major, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, on my path to do great things in the justice system. I am rocking with my weight-loss, enjoying my time with my family and dogs, being so proud of my friends for all that they are accomplishing in their respective countries, schools, majors, jobs. I have a pretty remarkable group of friends. I know I've said it before, but I'm lucky to have established such a solid group in high-school, and for all of us to still be close and hanging out is quite a miracle in some peoples books. While we are off ad doing our own things, its not sadness, but pride that I feel when I can say, 'yeah, I know them'. And I hope they feel the same about me. While at first I felt as if I was taking so many steps back at first when I made my decisions this fall, it doesn't feel that way anymore. I'm proud that I was able to take my future into my own hands. I'm not a plan follower. I make them, but rarely do I ever follow them to a T. This is no different. At this time last year, I was planning my trip to India and finding an apartment in Milwaukee with a friend. Today I am more independent than I ever thought I would be at this age. Yeah, I am living in my parents basement, but it really isn't all that bad. For one, its free. Second, the food is generally pretty rocking. I have car to drive, a job, great schooling, and I'm saving tens of thousands of dollars in the process. I'm in a good place. While I'm not traveling the world like my friends or living away from home, I know that I'll get there. Its just taking me a little longer than I thought it would. But thats what this last year has taught me. To expect the unexpected. To embrace what is thrown at me. The little things that happen throughout my day like seeing the children I nanny grow and become more outgoing, or hearing that new tune I wouldn't have heard had I not been in the car. Like I said before, I'm untraditional. And truth is, while I'd like to think I would go back if I had the chance, I really wouldn't. This is only the beginning. 

Awesomenest Band Name Errrrr

I would like to introduce to Trampled by Turtles .... First off, that is probably the most awesome band ever ever. Don't deny it cause you can't. Why have me explain it when you can just listen to their amazingness. Enjoy my musicalites.

Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. You get the idea.......Love.

I'd Like To Think

I'd like to think this isn't it for me.

I'd like to think that one day, I will be content with what was given to me.

I'd like to think I'm different that everyone else out there.

I'd like to think that I'm not worried about the future.

I'd like to think I only think about the present.

I'd like to think that today was the best day of my life just because I said so.

I'd like to think that I'm luckiest person in the world. 

I'd like to think that I'll one day see the world. 

I'd like to think that peace is possible. 

I'd like to think that I think before I act.

I'd like to think that one day someday wont matter so much. 

I'd like to think that I really don't need to think so much. 

Maybe I'll just start doing instead.

Safe

Just when you feel like the world around you is safe, BAM, it hits you. You aren't. I'm probably being dramatic, but I would like to think that I live in a relatively safe area. I do live in a relatively safe area. My house is my home. But when I came home last night and there a man hunt going on in my front yard, I didn't really feel it. Like the cops didn't stop me from going into my home or let me know what was going on. I thought they were just there for the regular check of the neighborhood they usually do every so often. Then I looked out the window and there was spotlight scanning the woods in front of my house. Then the helicopters came, then more cops. So of course I'm freaking out. I'm running around the house making sure all the doors are locked, and by this time I'm hearing noises and I'm convinced that he's running around the house trying to figure out how to get in. I'm throwing things into my bag and packing the car and leaving. And all the while I'm hearing things. I'm sure they were just a figment of my imagination, but I'm used to the noises my house makes. And those weren't it. I'm convinced that when I open my garage door, he'll be there behind me all serial killer like just waiting to pounce. By this time, I'm shaking. Then I'm driving away from the chaos and the jokes start to come to me. I'm imagining people asking me why I want to go into the field of catching fugitive's and dealing with bad guys everyday. And the answer comes to me as quickly as the question. There's a big difference between an armed Mary and an unarmed one. So after I get the hostage situations out of my head while I'm running around getting my stuff, I go into attack mode. I'm imagining him coming after me and me hitting in square in the face with my computer then pinning him down and calling the police saying, "I think you lost something". But of course none of this happened. I ran away, scared, with my tail between my legs like any rational person would of done. Like I said, you feel safe, then you don't. The sad thing is, this isn't the first time something like this has happened in my neighborhood. Needless to say, I'm doing what I'm doing to prevent things like this from happening. Of course when I'm actually working the field, I'll be armed, and then you better watch out. Cause I won't be running then.

On a lighter note, my newest endeavor is starting a band. I have a piano player. I'm learning the guitar. I now know D and G. Now for the rest of the chords haha. But I'm excited. I miss singing, and I'd like to think I'm not half bad. So watch out! Todays featured song of greatness is by First Aid Kit. These ladies are amazing and this is not the first time I've featured them in my blog. They are just so good you can't get enough. Lion's Roar. Again, try and stay upright against the wind of greatest that will soon be entertaining your ears.

Alabama Shakin

I first heard this song on the current a couple months ago and it has grown on me ever since. An AhMaze-balls band with an even amazingerballer song. PLUS, it is currently the free download on iTunes. So don't wait to get your little piece of Alabama heaven. Here is Hold On, by Alabama Shakes. Try not to fall out of your chair....

Now usually, I'm not a big advocate for covers of Fleetwood Mac. They are just too good to be covered and Stevie Nicks has the most amazing and interesting voice on the planet. But leave it Lissie, who covered Kid Cudi's Pursuit of Happiness, to cover them. This is pretty chilling. Her voice is amazing, but not in the I'm going to trill you to death with it. It has Stevie's rustiness with Lissie's just totally badass-ness. I would definitely check out her stuff if I were you. Here is her cover of Go Your Own Way which is featured on her Covered Up With Flowers EP. Again, try and keep you feet on the floor. Or not...