five thoughts on friday

Happy first day of summer y'all!! I have been under the weather the past week and a bit so the blog has taken a back seat. My brain is mostly concentrating on coughing, sneezing and breathing as discreetly as possible so as not to gross out my co-workers. It's a big job. 

So since my head's too foggy to puzzle together a coherent post,  I'm linking up again for the 5 on Friday over here. 

one. On Wednesday, I got punched in the face.... by a big heavy door (major blonde moment) and it really rattled my brain. The swollen lip and a headache is another reason why you're getting a list today instead of a "real" post.  I mentioned this casually to my mom thinking she'd get a laugh out of it but of course she immediately pictured brain trauma, and concussions, and made me promise to get my Physician's Assistant roommate to examine me. She cleared me and my mom could sleep a little easier. 

two. Last weekend I went back down to Charleston. Three trips to SC in a month is my idea of a good time. Maybe all the planes and cabin pressure is a contributing factor to my cold? In between all my travelling I've completely used up all my anytime minutes talking on the phone this month. We are now in rollover minutes, something I've  never had to use before. A lot of good words crossing the airwaves people.

three. Tomorrow I am going to a Zac Brown Band concert with my roommate and her boyfriend. Kind of third wheeling it but I am so pumped! It's outdoors and the weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend. 

(lyrics from my favorite Zac Brown song, Free | print from here)

four. I made my first ever eBay purchase this week and had way to much fun bidding- I totally get how people could get addicted to it. I geeked out and bought a Nintendo 64 console and controllers and Mario Kart.  This totally takes me back to childhood and Mario Kart is one of those games that you're never too old to play. I get super competitive and just have this picture in my head of my roommates and I and maybe my future kids one day playing on the floor. 

five. I am still trying to do Beth Moore's Siesta Sister Scripture Memory Challenge but the past few verses have gone in one ear and out the other. I really love the ones I'm trying to memorize so I'm going to share this month's here. The more I write them down the more I commit them to heart...

"No one will ever stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5

"But let all who take refuge in the Lord be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you."  Psalm 5:11

The Hodgepodge

1. What do you think makes a good dad? 
Someone who will kill the spiders left trapped under a Tupperware container by his girls for 3 days waiting for him to get home from a business trip.
Someone who works hard but still loves to play restaurant with his daughters. (My dad was the number one customer at "Under the Sea Cafe.")
Someone who loves to hunt sea shells and hear about our day.
Someone who takes mom out on dates.
Someone who takes care of his family, and provides for his wife and children.
Someone who loves his family well.

2. What's something you learned from your own father? 
How to make friends wherever I go.
How to work hard and go after what I want.
How to be adventurous and not afraid.

3. It's your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having? 
Angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream.

4. When you're faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons? 
Oh boy... yeah... About decision making.... not my strong suit. See this post I wrote on the subject here.

5. June is National Dairy Month. What's your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item? 
I love whipped cream, or as I called it when I was younger "whooped" cream. And lucky me, I got to have some just last night while finishing off the birthday cake. This was Redi Whip which is great but I especially love the real stuff. The kind you help mom make and then you get to lick the beaters.

6. Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910....what's something you've recently discovered or something you'd like to explore? 

I have a confession to make. I'm embarrassed to admit that in the 6 years my family lived in England I did not visit Ireland. One day I really want to go over and rent a car and drive all through the green country and stay in bed and breakfasts and drink Guinness. And I definitely want to make a special stop in the town of Shannon in County Clare, Ireland.

(source)
7. Are you typical of your generation? 
According to the Time Magazine article I read the other day I am a part of the "me me me generation." The spoiled, over indulged, entitled, narcissistic generation. The first generation to grow up with cell phone that we haven't set down yet. The generation that documents every bit of our lives online and thinks people actually want to read it or see those pictures. Kind of offensive but probably not totally off base. I mean I have this blog, that's all about me so I'll claim the millennial generation as my own.

** Share your answers to this week's hodgepodge over here.**

What I Read in May

Ender's Game- Orson Scott Card- Go out and read this book right now. My roommate had been telling me over and over how I just had to read this book and I finally bought it at the airport on some recent trip and I finished it by the time we landed. It's that good. So good that when my roommate first started dating her now boyfriend, one of the reasons she listed for liking him so much was that he had read Ender's Game. And I thought she was weird. But now I completely understand. Also, they are making it into a movie this year and you know how I feel about movies based on books... so read the book first or I will be so mad at you. And then once you read it we can stand in line together for the midnight showing!

Ender's Shadow- Orson Scott Card- Basically as soon as I finished Ender's Game I went into a bit of a depression because it was so good and I missed it. Fortunately there are a bunch more books in the Ender series. This one is written as a parallel novel. The action takes place during the same time as Ender's Game but focuses on one of the peripheral characters, Bean,  instead. It's hard for me to say which one I enjoyed more. Both were wonderful.

Shadow of the Hegemon- Orson Scott Card- And once I'd finished Ender's Shadow I continued with the "Bean series" and immediately started the next book. Another amazing story! Can you tell I'm hooked?

World Without End- Ken Follet- So I'm technically not finished with this book but I am over 600 pages (a little over half way) through it. It's just too darn big and heavy to carry in my purse which means I can't read it on the metro or during my lunch break, just at bed time. It's the "sequel" to The Pillars of the Earth -sort of. It's set in the same town around the same cathedral but it's set 200 years later. I love Ken Follet's characters. He knows how to make you hate a "bad guy." They are so subtly malicious and deceitful and you instantly rally around  and the "good guy." It's taking me forever but I am loving this book almost as much as the first one!

Best Birthday Weekend

I have just been smiling all weekend because I am oh so incredibly blessed to have such amazing friends who made my birthday so wonderful!

My roommates... y'all...I have had the best roommates ever! Ever since I left my parents house and moved into the dorm and then to an apartment and then to a new city I have been nothing but lucky in the roommate department.

I got to have two visitors come to town this weekend and it just made my whole month! My roommate bought my bestie (my first and forever roommate) a flight up here. And another certain someone made the 9 hour drive to be a part of this weekend. These friends make the best birthday presents ever!

Friday work day was the longest day ever and I was counting down the hours till I could get home to all my people. Walking in the front door and having everyone there, I was just bubbling with excitement. It was gross and rainy all day but nothing could dampen my day. We stayed in that night and had BBQ pulled pork, baked beans, pasta salad, sangria and for dessert my favourite angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream.  They spoiled me!

The out-of-town visitors got to meet and hang out with my DC people and I just love watching my two friend groups merge together. We all share a common love of good food and county music- as evidenced by the "lovely" picture below of me singing belting Wagon Wheel...

After a fun Friday night we were all quite lazy most of Saturday. Naps were enjoyed after we stuffed ourselves again at brunch. Once we were well rested and showered and outfits were selected we headed into downtown DC. Between the busy metro, and the Capitol Pride parade we encountered, there was excellent people watching all around. I wish I could go into the city with this girl every weekend if only to watch her reactions to some of the displays of "pride." Let's just say we saw a lot more of some people than we would have preferred...

After we safely made our way through the rainbow crowd we went to the rooftop of my favorite DC Mexican restaurant for margaritas. It was sunny and hot so we ventured inside for dinner. They make excellent table-side guacamole but we decided to be adventurous and try the sampler... it was interesting. One came with a pork rind on top, another we fried grasshoppers. Me and this guy below were brave enough to try those critters. It mostly just tasted like guacamole, with a little extra crunch and a certain flavor I couldn't quite identify. But I knew... it was the grasshopper. Unless I'm stranded on a desert island or I find myself in some sort of apocalypse situation I hope I don't have to resort to eating anything with that many legs still attached.  I'll try anything once... but once was probably enough for me.

Saturday we headed into Old Town, Alexandria to wonder around the brick streets, grab lunch and snap a few pictures. We were trying to squeeze in as much DC as possible for our guest's last few hours so we then hopped in the car to check out some of the monuments before saying our goodbyes. 

 Usually I get all teary and mopey whenever I have to watch someone drive away or drop someone off at the airport. But this time... I knew I was going to see both of these friends in the not too distant future! I had such a happy weekend but I still wasn't crazy about coming home to a much quieter house. Which is why I later ate a big slice of left-over angel food cake.  You do what you got to do.

Hope all your weekends were filled with good friends and fun! Happy Monday!

Five on Friday

one. Today I am 25. The big two five. And you know what? This year is going to be a hundred times better than 24- I can promise you that! 

two. I have some special visitors coming in to town today and I just feel so blessed that I have such loving friends. Even though we all live many states apart, as soon as we're together it's truly like no time has passed!

three.  This picture just makes me smile and not just because of my very prim and proper front porch pose- I just look ready for a party, don't I? I remember my mom putting that banner on our front door for every birthday celebrated in that sweet house. There are some precious memories wrapped up in that banner she unfolded each year. Memories of  balloons tied to the mailbox, slumber parties with matching pj's, the paint boxes my grandpa made for my "art party",  the one we have to move in and out of the garage with the rain, a particular Star Wars themed 12th birthday, and the echo of many "happy birthday to you's..." shouted as I blew out candles on my favorite angel food cake.

four. as much as I wish birthdays meant a day off work I do love that my co-workers always make me feel special and that they know sweets are my love language.

five.  I am peacing-out early today to get mani/pedi's with my girlfriends! The perfect way to start the birthday festivities. Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and a happy rainy weekend!

(share your Friday Five here)

Monday Monday

Usually I am anti-Mondays. I mean really who isn't? In fact I propose we absorb Mondays into the weekend and always have 3 days off. Who's with me?

But today, so far, it's actually not that bad.

Even though I got up half an hour earlier than necessary (thinking it was Friday already and that I needed to be in early for a meeting)...and even though I got to the metro and saw the big yellow warning signs proclaiming a "MAJOR DELAY" and the huge accompanying crowds...and even though I had a confrontation over the phone with a disagreeable caterer....

...I have been nothing but smiles all day. My cheeks hurt from all the cheesing.

It probably has something to do with the fact that I have a certain birthday coming up on Friday.
And I have wonderful friends who have gone above and beyond to make sure I celebrate it right.
And I have the best dad who sent me beautiful flowers today so that I can enjoy them all week long.
And I got that text that wished me a good start to the birthday week.
Because birthday's should be drawn out affairs, enjoyed all week right?

So today I'm ok with Monday. But just this once.