This post is something that I have wanted to sit down and write for a while. However, today I found the motivation from a status on Facebook that let me know it is something I need to do.

It read: "Ladies, never take relationship advice from your single girlfriends."

Besides being hurtful, I can think of a million reasons why this is just plain ignorant. I am only addressing a few that come to mind.

1. Just because someone is single now, doesn’t mean they have never been in a relationship and can’t give advice from past experiences.

2. If someone is truly your friend, you should care what she has to say regardless of her current relationship status.  Which leads me to the topic I have wanted to address for some time now- singleness.

I know that the holidays can be a difficult time for singles. It is hard to look around at different friends and people I know who are dating, sharing in holiday activities, and yet I find myself at night finding things to do on my own. Alone. Not to mention that the internet and magazines are filled with weddings this and wedding that, making it easy to feel bombarded by the topic, and even more… alone.

However, having spent most of this year single I am more than confident than ever that I can be happy on my own. It is a beautiful feeling to not be dependent on someone else for my happiness. All I can say to those who are still waiting on “the one” is be patient. The best decision I have made is to use this time to know and trust Jesus. The world needs more young women who are willing to stand on their own and wait for the best. I look forward to the plan that Lord has for me, and all of you as well.

Love and hugs. 

ASU

It's official- I'm a Sun Devil and start classes on Tuesday! An added bonus: I opened a letter today notifying me that I have been awarded a $1,000 Merit Scholarship which is renewable for an additional three semesters. Say What!!? Hard work really does pay off? I'm so excited I am able to give this gift to my parents who have supported me, believed in me and provided me with every opportunity to succeed in life.  Now, if only I could learn to love the nacho-cheese-yellow color that is all over everything everywhere...

Quarter-Life Crisis

Is there such thing as a quarter-life crisis? Well I think I’m having one. Like most people in crisis, I am aware that there is something wrong but am I just having severe PMS or is it a quarter-life crisis? What are the signs? I have made note of my symptoms while going through this ugly process…

• Feeling extremely bored with your social life (otherwise known as “Oh my gosh, I will through myself out the window if I have to go to another house party.)
• Watching Say Yes to the Dress marathons and HGTV for hours on end to compensate for the desperate need to “settle down.”
• …Or conversely wanting to “escape”- like traveling the world or finding a nice hole to crawl into.
• Anxiety.
• Daydreaming about how much easier your life would be if you were a dog.
• Nostalgia for the days when you could find clothes when you went shopping but now you are too indecisive to decide between black and grey.
• Terror at the concept of getting “old.” The other night I had a dream I had a stroke, which left half my face paralyzed.  Turns out my hand fell asleep on my face but still.
• Wondering “is that all there is?”
• Random emotional outbursts.
• Split ends. 
• Bargaining. Give up coffee for a week so I can buy something expensive.

Naturally, some of these things are pretty common feelings and not necessarily indicative that you are going through a quarter-life crisis. However, when all of these things hit you at once it can be terrifying.

So I have done some deep thinking as to what one can do when they are put in this chokehold in order to breathe freely again. What kind of person would I be if I told you the symptoms but didn’t offer a solution? I’m not about to add narcissistic tendencies to the list. Here are some things to keep in mind if you start to fall victim:

Be positive.  Have faith in yourself & trust in the process. Life becomes much more marvelous when you don’t organize everything to death and let life happen.

Don’t be quick to judge. Maybe she is not a raging bitch. Maybe she is going through a quarter/mid/menopause- life crisis. You were there once, or will be so remember the way you felt and how you want people to treat you before you go all Jersey Shore on her ass and start throwing punches and ripping out hair extensions. 

Stay true to yourself. No matter how fun/cool/glamorous/right other people’s lives may seem just remember you are pretty rad yourself. Be authentic. If God wanted everyone the same you would all be like me. 

Take it slow. Your friends might have babies or sparkly engagement rings but everyone’s life moves at a different speed and no one is doing better or worse than anyone else.  Be thankful you can live a less chaotic and sticky life for the time being.

Family Photos

Two weekends ago, we had a professional photo shoot for our family pictures. We actually had a great experience, which if you have a dog or uncooperative family member you understand this is no small feat. Every year we endure the grueling process of getting everyone together in the same place, with coordinating outfits- all for the sake of plastering our faces on a card and sending it out to loved ones. Although ONE of us still had a hard time following directions, the rest of us were extremely grateful for how fun and easy it was to have someone else take our photos this holiday season.  Since we decided to forgo sending out Christmas cards last year, I’m sure you will all be happy to see our faces in your mail this year. You’re welcome.

Here are some favorites from the shoot:

(Can you guess who has a hard time listening? I'll give you a hint: you can find his name in the word uncooperative.) 

Photos were taken by Erin Roberts- you can check out her website HERE.  

Cheers!

I celebrated my 21^st birthday this past Saturday. Now I officially have a license to party hardy.. or will once I find a day I can dedicate to the DMV so my license can be horizontal instead of vertical. Hopefully I photograph better horizontally since I’m supposed to look this way until the year 2054.

We went to Toby Keith’s Bar and Grill for my birthday dinner.  My mom, dad, Sam, Kevin, Laura, Uncle Dave, Aunt Gail, Matt and Sara were all there to help me celebrate. My first drink was a Sun City Lemonade followed by a Scooby Snack shot and then Aunt Gail’s water because she told me that “drunk girls aren’t pretty” and who wants to look ugly on their birthday? After dinner we went to a bar on Mill where Kevin and Laura met called Rula Bula. They bought me an Irish Car Bomb and I made Sara do one with me because I wasn’t going down alone. A Cherry Fizz and another Car Bomb later (thanks to the bouncer who found out it was my 21^st birthday) and it was time to go home. Sorry Aunt Gail, I think this is when I stopped “looking pretty” but at least I managed not to barf, slur my words or pee myself.