Amen, People.

Currently experiencing my quarter-life crisis. And this article totally validates all my feelings.

Such a Big Day

Boyfriend and I both think you should all go out and purchase his debut album today - "The World From the Other Side of the Moon." 

Love you, babe.

Oh, and if you watch the video below, you can preview the entire album. I may be a little biased, but I think it's fabulous.

The Way to My Heart?

Random insight into me for the day? Dream come true - someone showing up on my front doorstep with a potted orchid. Maybe with baked goods too.

Friday Night Lights

I am a true believer that Texas high school football has a miraculous way of bringing communities together - especially in times of tragedy. I just couldn't help but feel like I was in an episode of FNL tonight. And it was awesome.

Judge me if you want, but I honestly believe high school football has healing powers and that it's good for the soul.

In what other way could two communities come together like they did tonight? Together we mourned losses and celebrated lives; together we learned to take joy in the small moments through a great game of football; and together we came to realize how blessed each and every one of us are.

Moments like this make me so glad that I come from such a wonderful place - yes, a place where high school football is the end-all-be-all and where it has such a profound effect on people's lives.

(P.S. I stopped the video at this point because after this the whole stadium became eerily quiet as the two teams knelt in prayer in the middle of the field. SUCH a cool moment. Only to be rivaled by the other completely silent moment when Coppell's band played "Amazing Grace" and I literally had tears streaming down my face - that was a first for me at a football game.)

So,

#TexasForever #ClearEyesFullHearts #GodBlessedTexas

If I Was Your Boyfriend

Just take a few minutes and look at some pics of my boyfriend. You won't regret it. I'll even give you a sneak peek.

They Have Returned

I got bored.

I mean, my hairstylist told me I have the face of an actress (more specifically J.J. from "Criminal Minds" and that I should have any hairstyle she does). 

How could I not cut them after that?

Our State Fair is a Great State Fair

I'm becoming more and more of a Texan with every passing day. (Which I know is weird to say because I was born and raised here.) First State Fair experience... CHECK. (Thank you, Slingshot.)

The Creative Group - just like one big happy family.

You're going to ask me if I had lots of fried food. And the answer is "no" because I'm recovering from the flu. But we ate and saw:

Turkey leg

Elsie the Cow

Lego Dirk

Butter Sculpture

Boris the Pig

AND a super creepy clown... like, SUPER creepy

Other menu items purchased by the gang included: fried bacon cinnamon roll, chicken fried bacon, doughnut burger, hot beef sundae, corn dog, fried pb&j, fried jambalaya.

Let Us All Take a Moment

to honor Shamu the Whale. In case you weren't already aware, yesterday (September 26th) was National Shamu the Whale Day.

When I was little, I wanted to be just like Jesse in Free Willy (obviously my favorite movie). I wanted to be a killer whale trainer at Sea World. And I wrote reports on killer whales probably 3 times a year. And now petting a killer whale's tongue is totally on my bucket list.

So, it only seemed appropriate to make whale-shaped cookies for my office and have everyone frost and decorate their whales in honor of this special day. Right?

Basically, it was awesome. And I felt really popular. And everyone loved it. EVERYONE. And to prove it all, here are pics.

 

Ok, so they were whale-ISH shaped. So sue me... it's the thought that counts.

It Only Took 24 Years...

But after being born and raised a Texan, I finally got my first pair of real cowboy boots for my birthday this weekend. I don't think I've ever seen my parents so excited as when I came downstairs and told them that's what I wanted to do for my birthday. (You know you're a Texan when...) So, without further ado, here are the beauties in all their glory.

 

Every year I start to feel increasingly disturbed by how old I'm getting because I definitely still feel like I'm 18 years old. So, turning 24 feels... bizarre. But I'm owning it - I think. However, I have definitely decided that for the big 2-5 something epic needs to happen. So let's all start brainstorming now. Please feel free to make suggestions below. 

And lastly, a big thank you to all of my family and friends who made my day so great. Birthdays do in fact get lamer the older you get, but it's always nice to get to spend the day with those you love the most. So, thank you for coming to hang out with me or for the calls/texts/Facebook notes. It all means the world to me!

My Deepest Apologies

I have been the WORST blogger in the world and I am so sorry for that. I was really doing well there for about a year! And then I got old and started working and my days started to blur together and nothing super exciting happened and so the blogging stopped.

But Fall is upon us people, and I always equate setting new goals with the Fall (even when I'm not in school any more). So, I vow to you to return to my regularly-scheduled blogging.

And to make sure I KEEP that promise and don't use the excuse that I don't do anything with my life, I'm making a list of things I want to do within the next few months that I can tell you all about via this blog.

So, without further ado... THE LIST. These are all things I am GOING to do in the next few months and WILL tell you all about. Drumroll, please...

#1: Texican Safari at Sharkarosa Ranch
#2: Drive-in Movie
#3: Pumpkin-Patching
#4: Cooking/Baking a la Pinterest
#5: Return to "The Bangs"
#6: More Rangers Games
#7: FMHS Football Games
#8: Final Lake Adventures
#9: Birthday Shenanigans
#10: Halloween at the Office

If time goes on and you don't see a post about any of these things, yell at me. No, but seriously. Because I really do love blogging - I just need people to tell me they like me blogging too.

So, until the first adventure. Over and out.

Story Of My Life

I don't think there's a post out there that could sum up my life any better than this one. Thanks for this gem, Aaron.

What to do, what to do?

Friends, followers, fellow bloggers. I need your advice. A few months ago I dyed my hair brown... loved it for winter but now I'm ready to make the transition back to being blonde. I've been searching for pictures of inspiration. Thank goodness for Pinterest. So far I've found the following pictures that I love. Let me know what you think and feel free to leave any suggestions!

I'd by lying if I said I wasn't a little scared about making the journey back to blonde-hood.

I'm thinking we start off easy with something like this...

And eventually get to this...

Thoughts?

Between You and Me

I'd like to share one of my biggest pet peeves with you. It's something I feel very strongly about and I want to share my theory on the subject with all 5 of you who read my blog.

Let's say you're getting engaged. Let's say your fiancee has saved up money since the age of 6 to buy you a beautiful diamond ring. Or let's say he didn't start thinking about it until a few months ago and has very little money to put towards a ring.

Ladies, tell your fiancee you want a fake ring. A nice cubic zirconium ring you can buy for a couple hundred dollars. Save the ridiculous amounts of money he would have spent on an ugly 1/100-carat ring to buy yourselves food when you're newlyweds. A nice cubic zirconium ring will look so realistic no one will know the difference. And then when you have disposable income later on, he can get you a real diamond ring for you anniversary or for Christmas.

I know some of you will disagree strongly with this idea but... I'm just saying. Between you and me.

Marriage Proposal

Yes, it's true. I'm taking matters into my own hands. And I'm proposing to this guy. After having watched this movie.



Yes, I'm aware that he's already married. And it's one of those situations where I unfortunately really like who he's married to. But you just can't control matters of the heart.

SO, John Krasinski, will you marry me?

Anyone know him personally and could pass this proposal along for me?

New Beginnings

It's a brand new year, full of new possibilities and new beginnings. And to be honest, I have a great feeling about what 2012 will bring.

But before I forget, let us reflect on some of the great things 2011 brought.

Graduating from BYU

Moving to NYC (well, technically Harlem) and working at BBDO

The Mavs winning their first NBA Championship

Rebecca Black

My epic return to the blessed state of Texas (Blue Bell included)

This fabulous Chrysler commercial

And... not surprisingly, more EFY

Thanks for being great, 2011. Lots of great memories. Lots of big milestones. Here's hoping 2012 just gets better!