30 Day Project - Day 14

A Picture Of Someone You Could Never Imagine Your Life Without

I could NEVER imagine my life without Brett...

The day I married Brett was the BEST day of my life. I knew from that day forward my life was never going to be the same. He is SO GOOD to me and is ALWAYS there for me when I need him most.  I know that I can TRUST him and that he will always work on making our relationship stronger. 

I spend majority of my days with Brett and picturing a life without him just does not seem possible.  I truly believe that we were meant to be together (as cheesy as that may sound).  I never even thought guys like Brett really existed... so on our first date I REALLY did fall head over heels for him.  I went into the date not thinking it was going to go anywhere (ESPECIALLY not down the isle!) because he lived across the country from the place that I called home and I had never even THOUGHT of a long distance relationship before.  Then, 6 months after meeting and only one month out of that spent together in the same zip code... we got married and off to California I went.  I know EVERYONE thought I was crazy (because so did I) but I can honestly say that when you know... YOU KNOW.

Brett is MY world, he is everything that I dreamed for in a husband and every day spent with him I feel SO lucky that he is mine. These past couple years have been WONDERFUL and I LOVE the life that we share together. I know we still have a LONG road ahead of us but I also KNOW that we can get through anything TOGETHER.

I Love You 

30 Day Project - Day 13

A Picture Of Your Favorite Band Or Artist

Aaron Lewis

THIS WAS SO HARD FOR ME TO CHOOSE JUST ONE!!

I love all kinds of music and it usually just depends on what kind of mood I am in that decides what's my favorite for the day.  I like country, rock, rap, jazz, you name it but today I chose Aaron Lewis.

I haven't been to too many concerts in my lifetime but I did get the chance to go see Staind for my birthday one year and that is when I fell in LOOOOVE.  I had all of his CD's already and had always enjoyed listening to his music but after I saw him in concert is when he became my favorite.  His voice is AMAZING to me and when he first started singing at the concert... I literally MELTED.  I don't think there are many artists who sound just as good or better when they preform LIVE but he definitely does, which makes him all the better!!

30 Day Project - Day 12

A Picture Of Something You Love

COOKING!!

When I lived at home, the most adventurous I ever got as far as cooking goes was Ramen Noodles and Macaroni & Cheese.  Then when I moved out and went to college my meals consisted mostly of Lean Cuisines and meals that only needed to be put in the oven.

THEN I got married and moved to California...  and I knew it was time for me to step up my game.  My mom made me a cookbook with all the recipes she used to make for me and my brother when we were kids and that's when it all started.  I realized how EASY it was to follow a recipe and I would get SO happy (maybe a little surprised too) when the meals I made tasted GOOD!!! 

After my cooking epiphany, I went out and bought new cookbooks (mostly Rachael Ray, she's my favorite) and started cooking EVERYTHING! I love trying new recipes and get very excited when I can cook for others.  Eventually I would like to make my way through an entire cookbook front to back (yes, like the movie "Julia and Julia)!!

30 Day Project - Day 11

A Picture Of Something You Hate

Westboro Baptist Church

These people make me SO ANGRY!  I disagree with EVERYTHING they believe in and EVERYTHING they preach.  I do not understand how ANYONE could be full of so much hate.

They protest at Military funerals with signs that say  "Thank God for dead soldiers" and believe that when service member dies it is God's way of punishing them for fighting for a country that supports "gays."

They believe that EVERYONE will go to hell except the members of their church (which is mostly made up of their family) and their church's website is http://www.godhatesfags.com/. They have made statements that the Holocaust was "minuscule" and that they wish 300,000 people would have died in the Virgina Tech shootings. 

Do I really need to say anymore...?

Disgusting.

30 Day Project - Day 10

A Picture Of The Person You Do The Most Effed Up Things With

Over the years I have DEFINITELY done the most "effed up" things with my best friend Kara...

From getting dressed up in Halloween costumes and roller blading around our apartment complex to swimming in a huge, nasty mud puddle on my 21st birthday... we never have a dull moment when we are together.

We've been to Cancun together, where most mornings started out with one look, a laugh and a "WTF?"

We will be the only two people in a room and we will just sit there making random noises at each other until we get bored.

If other people heard some of our conversations I am certain that they would think we are crazy.

We find all of the same things funny and are pretty good at knowing what the other one is thinking without even saying a word.

I could go on forever...

I get along SO WELL with Kara that in the 7 years of being friends we haven't had one single "fight."

She is the sister that I never had and every minute we have spent together has been a fun one.

She has seen a side of me that nobody else has ever seen and I LOVE her for being such a GREAT friend.

I think everyone should have a Kara in their life :)

30 Day Project - Day 9

A Picture Of The Person Who Has Gotten You Through The Most

My Mom

Where do I even begin...?

My mom has ALWAYS been there for me when I have needed her the most.  She has been there to pick me up every time I have fallen down, she has been there to tell me the truth when I did not really want to hear it or necessarily believe it.  She always has my best interest at heart and has helped make me into the person I am today. 

Over the years my mom has told me no, grounded me, took my keys away, and made me do chores... all of which made me SO mad that I would always say, "When I am a mom, I will NEVER do that to my daughter!" and now at age 22 I am already THANKFUL for all of those things my mom did. I know one day when I become a mother I will more than likely be the same exact way.

Sure we've had our arguments and misunderstandings, all of which we have learned from and they have made our relationship STRONGER.  My mom has been there for me through EVERYTHING and understands me better then just about anyone. 

I have so many great memories of her being my girl scout leader, days home from school watching Young and the Restless, shopping trips to Chicago, days spent working on scrapbooks, planning my wedding together, celebrating my 21st birthday, family vacations and so much more! All of these moments, I will remember forever. 

Today, we live across the country from each other but we make sure every morning at about 9:00am we start our day out with a phone call.  Whether we talk for 5 minutes or for 40, my day would not start off right without her.

I don't know what I would do without her.

I love you mom.

Thank You.

30 Day Project - Day 8

A Picture That Makes You Laugh

(She is laughing in this picture, not crying!)

For those of you who know my Grandma and her AMAZING sense of humor you will really appreciate this picture but for those of you who have not had the privilege of meeting my Grandma, I hope this isn't one of those "you had to be there" moments!

This picture was taken during our family trip to Las Vegas.  A couple hours after arriving to our hotel our family gathered in one hotel room while we waited for the other rooms to open up (so we had 13 people in one room).  Obviously there was limited seating and my Grandma was being the funny person that she is and making a joke about sitting on a case of beer... well little did she know the case of beer was full of EMPTY cans and there she went... falling into my brother, letting out her infamous little shriek. 

The best part about this picture is that I can hear my grandma laughing every time I look at it!! Her laugh is like music to my ears and makes ANYTHING that is somewhat funny... hilarious. Needless to say she made all 13 of us burst into laughter and this story is something we still laugh about today.

My Grandma is one of the FUNNIEST people I know (not to mention the cutest!) and I hope that when my mom is a grandma that she is JUST like her so my kids can experience all the good times and laughter that I have had!

:)

30 Day Project - Day 7

A Picture of Your Most Treasured Item

My Cell Phone

(that's what I am sleeping with in the picture... like it's a teddy bear)

Okay, I know what some of you are thinking.... REALLY?!?!? Your cell phone...?!?!? Not something a little more sentimental? Not something that has a little more meaning?

Nope, and let me explain why...

I chose my cell phone because it truly is something that I could not live without.  Living across the country from all of my family and a lot of my friends, my cell phone is my main way of communicating with them.  Being able to talk to my friends and family every day and to hear their voices makes it feel like I am not really thousands of miles away from them.  Being able to keep in touch so often makes times when I have to go a year without seeing them a little bit easier (well, as easy as it can be anyway).

Also, my cell phone is sometimes the only way I get to communicate with Brett for a week, a month, or sometimes 7 months.  If I do not have my phone on me 24/7 and I do miss a call from him... ugh, it's the WORST feeling ever.  Not only does it make me sad but I know the MAJOR disappointment on his end too.  During a deployment Brett may only get to call once every three weeks or so and when that phone call comes, that is when my cell phone becomes my most treasured item.

30 Day Project - Day 6

A Picture of a Person You Would Love to Trade Places With for a Day


(She's the cutie on the right)
If I could trade places with anyone for a day I would choose my mom when she was a child.  I chose her for a few reasons:
One being that I would like to see how it is to be a kid during a time that seemed to be more care free and simple.  A time when kids played outside from sun up to sun down,  played games like "Kick the Can" ,and could walk to the Corner Store without the fear of being kidnapped.  A time with no Xbox, Cable ,and Facebook.
I would also like to know how it would have been to have my Grandparents as parents and my Aunt and Uncle as my siblings.  I would also like to be able to spend more time with/meet my Great Grandparents, since I know how special MY grandparents are to me. When I look at pictures from my mom's childhood, their family looks SO happy and PERFECT (NOTE*I had a perfectly happy childhood!!*) I've just always wanted to know what it would feel like to grow up in their home.
Lastly, a reason that may seem confusing to some... I would like to gain a better understanding of what my mom went through when she had cancer.  Since she was diagnosed WAY before I was even an idea, I have always wondered what it was like for her to go through such a painful experience.  I only see the emotional and physical scars that the cancer has left behind and although I know she had a GREAT support system, it really bothers me that I was not able to be there to help my mom get through such a hard time and maybe for a day I could take some of her pain away.
I love seeing pictures and hearing stories about my moms' childhood, and although I would not trade in MY own childhood for anything, I would go back if i could and trade places with my mom for a day or two... IF THAT WAS EVER POSSIBLE!

30 Day Project - Day 5

Picture of Your Favorite Memory

This one was easy! Although I have had MANY great memories, one reigns superior to the rest and that would be our wedding. 

That day was hands down the best day of my life so far.  The day was not only the happiest day of my life but also the most amazing.  I felt as though everything went PERFECTLY and my friends and family made it completely stress free!

Walking into the church and seeing Brett waiting for me at the end of the isle and being surrounded by all of our closest family and friends caused a HUGE wave of emotions to come over me.  That moment right there was the HAPPIEST feeling I have ever experienced and I will NEVER forget that feeling.

I would relive that day over and over again if I could.

30 Day Project - Day 4

A Picture of Your Night

Pretty exciting huh?

Brett and I actually had plans to go out to dinner with some friends but he had another late night at work, so unfortunately we had to cancel.

So here we are, eating dinner (leftovers at that) on the couch while watching American Idol... (and although someone may not admit it a little Jersey Shore too!)  The total opposite of a fun night out with friends but this is VERY typical of Brett's work schedule (or the Marine Corps as a whole :).

But hey, a night in with my husband is ALWAYS a good one and with Deployment #2 right around the corner, I will take whatever time with him that I can get!!

Of course Diego had to make taking an EASY picture difficult :)

30 Day Project - Day 3

A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Sons of Anarchy

Brett and I started watching SOA during its second season, after hearing about how good it was from some friends.  Immediately after watching the first episode we were HOOKED.  We chipped in and bought the first season with some friends of ours, got caught up and haven't missed an episode since.  We don't get HBO so for us this is as close to an HBO type of show that we can get!! I LOVE Jax (played by Charlie Hunnam) and am a big fan of Katey Sagal who plays Gemma (Jax's mom).

The season finale of season 3 literally blew my mind. I probably talked about it for a good couple days after watching it. I like a lot of shows but for me, not many compare to this one.

I never want this show to end!!!
(And how great is it that the cast is supporting the military in the picture?!)

30 Day Project - Day 2

Picture of you and the person you have been the closest with the longest

SARRRRRRR.
Sarah and I started out as cousins (2nd cousins, but whose counting) so we have known each other all of our lives but we did not become close friends until she came to good ol' Napoleon Elementary School in 3rd grade. Luckily for me, we got to be in the same class!! Pretty much from that moment on Sarah (or as I like to call her, Sarrrr) and I have always been the best of friends! Grade school was just the beginning...

In middle school we played on the "All Star/Travel basketball team" together, she would come to my dad's house almost every weekend (where she insisted on cleaning my room because she was an aspiring maid) and we were in Year Book class together.

Don't we look great!? LOL

Our Freshmen year we got to go to CANCUN for spring break with some of my family and when we got to the Detroit Airport to leave for Mexico we encountered a minor problem... Sarah's dad had not signed the notarized letter to allow her to leave the country!! I was about in tears thinking that we were going to have to leave my best friend at the airport!! But thankfully, the woman behind the counter was SO NICE and let my dad forge the signature *WHEW* and then we were on our way. After that little hiccup it was smooth sailing for the rest of the week.

Sophomore year we were literally inseparable. We spent almost every weekend together (along with Carly Bellew) and laughed more then I have ever laughed in my entire life. I remember going through Mcdonalds drive thru backwards because Carly's window would not roll down, doing things that we weren't supposed to and thinking that we were SO COOL and the many, many nights spent at the Lake House... ahhhh, those were the days!!
And like I said, spending a lot of time laughing ....

Junior year we played Varsity Basketball together and this was the year that Sarrr caused me to tear my ACL at basketball practice with her quick fake-outs!! Okay, Okay... It wasn't really Sarah's fault but it just so happens that she and I were the only ones on the basketball court at the time and it really was because she was WAY too quick for me! (Don't worry Sarrrr, I forgive you)

Senior year, Sarah was the best friend anyone could EVER ask for. She was there for me during times when I felt as if the whole world was not on my side and I don't think she has ANY clue just how much that meant to me!

Now, Sarrr and I are still as close as ever and we live across the country from each other.  We talk every week and she is still always there for me.  She was recently a bridesmaid in my wedding and that is a decision I know I will never have to regret. She's been there for me through all the little things and all the big things and I know that that will NEVER change!!

I LOVE YOU SARRR!!

30 Day Project - Day 1

A picture of yourself with 15 facts

 1. (Although currently on hold...) I am going to school to get a degree in Special Education.

2. It literally takes me a full hour to do my hair... and that's just to make it look decent. (It drives BOTH myself and Brett crazy!)

3. I absolutely LOVE to cook.

4. I grew up in a town with one (pointless) stop light and not one fast food chain LOL.

5. I would choose salty foods over sweets any day.

6. I have been to the Jerry Springer show.

7. I hate when people clip their fingernails in public... Ew.

8. I am the most emotional person you will ever meet. (I can't help it, I was born that way.)

9. My grandparents are my HEROES.

10. I could put Franks RedHot on just about everything.

11. I love being a Marine wife.

12. I stayed all night in line for Destiny's Child concert tickets in 6th grade and it was the WORST concert I have ever been to.

13. I have had 5 surgeries.

14. I am a terrible speller and try to spell check everything.

15. I have been to Mexico four times and would go back 100 more.