Keepin' It Kate: What my Girlfriends Should Know

I recently posted a blog in which a girl gave '25 tips for every woman'. One of my guy friends txted me and said that the writing was so great, he thought I did it (ok, just kidding about the writing being so great) BUT he really did text me and he really did think I wrote it (it's just he left out the 'it was so great I thought you wrote it' part).

So, I got to thinking after he txt me. If I had advice to give young women (because I am a young woman and I could most certainly not give advice to older women for I have not lived their experiences or gained their wisdom) what would it be? Here are some things I came up with.

1-Not every one's going to like you. You are going to hurt people, you are going to make people mad, you'll probably annoy some people, and someone will probably always have something negative to say about you. So what? As long as the majority is in agreement that you are totally kick ass, then the few in the minority can 'you know what.' Do your best to be a good person, right your wrongs, apologize, be better next time, and at the end of the day call it square.

2-You'll probably always have something negative to say about your body. Do I want to look like a Victoria's Secret Model? HELLZ TO THE YEAH. Do I want to give up Taco John's soft shells, extra bacon with my breakfast on the weekends, any type of starch or carbs, or eating chocolate when that crazy little devil talks me into it? HELLZ TO THE NO! I've come to realize there's a stigma attached to  eating like a man. Well, I'm here to say I'm happier because of it. Do I need to exercise more and be more healthy? Yes. Will I start? I certainly have every best intention to. Be healthy and happy. Love yourself and enjoy yourself.

3-Which leads me to my next point. Learn how to dress your body type. I'm a curvy girl. I've got hips that don't lie. Whatami' gunna' do about it? I'll tell ya what. Dress to bring out my best features! I've really started focusing on expressing myself through my wardrobe. I have a 'I look so darn fly' day once a week. I suggest you do, too! Dressing the part is half the battle. Dress like a confident, attractive girl who has it all together and you'll be halfway there.

4-I literally froze walking to the office the other day because I realized I was turning 24 and that's close to 25 which if you round up-I figured out that I'm practically turning 30 already. While getting older has it's draw backs, I've never been more of who I want to be than who I am right now in this part of my life. With every year comes more mistakes, more memories, and more knowledge. All of these things transform me as a person and more importantly, as a woman. I vow to not look at it as turning older, but instead view it as turning bolder.

5-Do more of what you love. This one is pretty self explanatory but for some reason I don't think women do enough of this.

6-Be a strong, driven woman. Sometimes, I still feel like a child. I then proceed to look at my life the past five years, I look at the multiple college degrees I have, I note the big kid job I obtained, and then I think- maybe you're more grown up than you give yourself credit for. Nothing is more empowering than setting goals and reaching them. Don't be the victim. Repeat after me, "I am woman, hear me roar!"

7-Drinking isn't all it's cracked up to be. I've had very few sober experiences throughout my life where I thought, " WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?" However, I've had a couple intoxicated experiences where I thought, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?" I've never made a decision so bad that's it's changed my life forever, a decision that I've never forgiven myself for, or a decision that hurts others-BUT why put myself at risk to increase the chances of making a decision like that because I am too intoxicated to choose what I normally would? Go out with your friends, have fun, but realize you aren't in college any more. My days of party hardy are now a careful balance of drinking and hydrating (yes, while still at the bar) because although I could still party like a complete rock star, I cannot say I still recover like one (on all levels). You are leaving the year of the party dragon and are entering the year of the tigress. Be the empress you are and own your new maturity.

8-As you get older, I hope you become more of yourself, and I hope you fall madly in love with the person you are becoming. Once this happens, you'll find an amazing young man who will fall in love with that very same person-and there you'll both be in this crazy awesome love triangle. I don't think we truly know what we want or NEED in a partner until we know what we want or NEED to be ourselves. Adore yourself. Be happy with yourself. It is only then, that someone else will be able to. Trust me, you want and DESERVE to fall in love.

9-Embrace the weird. Bottom line, I'm weird, real weird. I often have an internal debate with myself always asking if I'm weird or if I'm just nerdy because I think there is a difference. And while I could explain to you all each heading, subheading, rebuttal, and closing statement that takes place in this internal debate-I'll spare you the details. I love Star Wars. I love The Twilight Zone. I've currently got a Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon poster above my bed. My laugh is way out of control, I make bad jokes and I make my boyfriend watch foreign films on Netflix. Embrace your weird. It might not be 'the best' part of you, but it's BY FAR the most interesting part of you. People like to be entertained. Dazzle them with how unique you are.

10-Be Kind. Be personable. Be observant. How great does it make you feel when someone stops you to say they love your shoes or that you did a great job on x,y.z? It always makes my day.  You, YOU have the power to make someone else's day. So do it. Be the most influential person you know. Remind others around you about the type of woman you are, and in doing so, remind them to be too.

Now that you've finished reading this:
1-Call up your best friend. Tell her she is more beautiful than Cinderella, smells like pine needles, and has a face of sunshine.
2-Have a drink (none of that Skinny Girl low cal crap)
and
3- Give yourself a pat on the back. It's not easy being wonder woman. The wonder isn't so hard-it's the woman part that gets tough sometimes.

You are all beautiful and loved. Never forget it.

An Interesting Concept

I find inspiration for my posts in various aspects of my life. I just sustained emotional trauma at the hands of a Netflix independent film. The movie I watched was "Keith." It is now easily in my top 10. I liked it so much in fact, that it brought about an interesting concept to which I plan to apply to my own life.

If you haven't seen this movie ( I highly suggest you stop reading this blog-because it's going to give some crucial plot information away) watch it, then come back and see what I have to say about it.

What attracted to me most about this movie, besides the witty exchanges between the main characters, were the moments the movie gave me. It gave me such beautiful moments. People always throw out the old "that only happens in the movies, that doesn't happen in real life." But this is where I beg to differ. Your life, this awesome gift, is what you make it. After watching this movie, I asked myself, "Are you creating the life you want? Are you creating the magic in your life that you desire?And, are you giving movie moments to the people you love?"

I couldn't imagine losing any of the people I love most 'too soon.' I couldn't imagine having time with these people cut short, or what I would do if they left this Earth without me being the best -daughter,girlfriend,sister,grand-daughter, friend, etc.- that I have the potential to be.

Just like everyone else, I get bogged down with life. I get bogged down with self centered-ness. I get bogged down with stress and various other things that deter me from being the best version of me. I'll be perfectly honest when I say that sometimes I entertain the selfish thought "well I try to do nice little things for others, oorrrrr I try to surprise people with little gifts, orrrr I put so much work into doing this for them...yet, I never get surprised. I never get called. He/She doesn't put in as much work for me." It's the wrong attitude to have and I am going to try my best to eradicate it from my life permanently. Ya know the quote, "Be the change you want to see in the world?" Well, I've decided I want to be the change I want to see in those closest to me.

Which brings me to my interesting concept.

I plan to bring magic. Yes, I said it, beautiful-irreplaceable-out of the ordinary-movie moments to the people I love. This is not impossible. People have just forgotten that it is.

The two people I plan to work most on this with (besides everyone in my life) are my mom and my boyfriend. These people usually take the brunt of my moods, the brunt of my arguments, the brunt of my temper, and together we shoulder most of the negativity that I find in my life. I am not proud of this, nor do I like that this happens, it just seems as the crazy world turns this is how things end up. I am going to try my very hardest to work on this. These people mean a great deal to me. Things aren't easy in any of our relationships right now, but with a little faith, a little elbow grease, and a lot of patience, I'm sure things will always find a way to work themselves out.

I am a hopeless romantic. I am a believer in all things good. I am a poet. I am a lover of rarities. I am eccentric. I am naive. I feel too much, but I am me. I don't know many who view the world as I do, and I believe that magic, romance, or beautiful happenings aren't just something you watch or read about. I believe you can create these things and take an ordinary life, and turn it into an extraordinary one.

Be a memorable. Beautiful, fantastic, odd, irreplaceable person to everyone you meet. We all only have one life to live. More importantly, we all only have one life in which we can give.

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All Bad Things Must Come To An End

I have been on a two day Breaking Bad binge in preparation of the final season premiere this Sunday. If you don't know what I'm talking about then you could stop reading this post, or you could redeem your cool card and cozy up to one of the best series of all time!

The biggest question that is on every one's mind is HOW WILL IT ALL END!? This has been a phenomenal series with such an unique storyline. I hope the series finale finds an equally great way to end what has been one of my favorite TV shows of all time. Here is my prediction for Walter White and friends.

I see this going one of two ways:

1) A Wyatt Earp, Armageddon esque shoot out where a ton of people die, including Walt

or

2) A quiet, yet powerful tell all moment with Walt on his death bed in which Schrader finally catches the illusive Heisenberg.

I could be all wet about these two theories, or maybe in my heart of hearts, I wish the series would end in similar fashion. Either way, I could not be more stoked for the final season and I hope it is as exciting as the first.

To honor Vince Gilligan, I thought I'd recap some of my FAVORITE Breaking Bad moments with all of you:

1) I dub the first memorable moment: The Ceramic Shank
I feel this moment was such a turning point for Walter White. It almost marks the moment he leaves all of his old self behind and crosses a line that he could never cross back over. I'm talking about the moment he kills Krazy-8 in the basement by choking him with a bike lock. You spend a good part of the episode thinking Walt decides to forgo the path of evil and will choose to save the life of his prisoner until the end of the episode when Walt completes a simple task: making a sandwich. Earlier in the episode Walt has a coughing fit and drops a plate of food by Krazy-8. When Walt comes-to he picks up the pieces of the plate, takes them upstairs, and throws them away. At the end of the episode, Walt happens to pick the pieces out of the trashcan when he realizes a piece of the plate is missing and that Krazy-8 has been plotting to stab him with the piece the entire time. Walt then decides to go where he's never gone before. This is only the first spot in the long line of black marks that decorate Walt's soul as his journey of cooking meth continues.

2) Moment number two: The Birth of Heisenberg
I was at a softball tournament this weekend and when everyone met at the bar afterward, a friend and I, agreed that this memorable moment was the birth of Heisenberg: the moment Walt blows up Tuco's lair as a retaliation for severely beating Jesse. This is the moment, I feel, Walt truly grows some stones and starts to become the BA character we all love to see in later seasons.

3) The next favorite Breaking Bad moment occurs in season 3, I call this one: Locked in a RV. For those of you who don't know, there have been many memorable RV moments, but this was my favorite. This list would not be complete without mentioning the RV AT LEAST once. Walt and Jesse cooked Meth in the RV for awhile before moving on to bigger and better labs. In this episode Hank, (a DEA agent and coincidentally Walt's brother-in-law) through a series of unfortunate events, traces the RV to the junk yard with Walt and Jesse locked in it. It's about 'game over' when Hank receives a fake phone call telling him his wife has just been in a terrible motor accident. Hank leaves the scene, rushes to the hospital, only to figure out he's been had. In the mean time, the RV gets destroyed along with all of the evidence and probably finds it's scraps being sent to a third world country. 

4) One of the most epic episodes ever, finds itself as number four on my list: Adios Cartel de Droga 'Bye Drug Cartel'.  This was an insane episode where most of Gustavo Fring's hated enemies south of the border are killed by poisoned tequila Gus serves everyone. All but a few bad guys drink the poison and one by one they drop like flies. There is a final shoot out where Mike gets shot, but he, Jesse, and Gus escape and live to cook another day. 

5) This is BY FAR MY FAVORITE BREAKING BAD MOMENT EVERRR! I call this amazing TV moment: Two Face. If you've followed this show, you'll get the play on words for several different reasons. One, this episode Walt tricks Jesse into believing that GUS poisoned Jesse's girlfriend's son, when really at the end of the episode you find out Mr. White was the culprit behind the almost nearly fatal event all along. And two, once Walt makes Gus a common enemy for he and Jesse the plot to end Gustavo is set in motion. Gus visits an old enemy at a Nursing Home with plans to berate an aged and mute Hector for speaking to the DEA. Hector communicates by ringing a bell attached to his wheelchair. As Hector begins to ring his bell one of the greatest moments in any TV series occurs, a bomb goes off. A giant explosion occurs and then the camera pans to the hallway. You think HE DID IT, HEISENBERG ENDED GUS' REIGN and then GUS WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM AND STRAIGHTENS HIS TIE...you then begin a downward emotional spiral in which you think, HOW DID HE SURVIVE THIS!? Then after he straightens his tie, he turns to the camera and you discover half of his face is missing!!!! Absolutely crazy!! Way to go Walt. Movin' on up.

6) I grant this TV moment: The Meth Father Pt. I. In this scene there is an all out Godfather pt. I prison killing spree that is absolutely BANANAS! It's partly scary, but mostly INSANE. Taking care of witnesses and anyone who might threaten Walt's climb to the throne.

7) The final amazing TV moment I'll leave you with is how they left me last season as I patiently await, the coming story. I will call this one: The Porcelain Throne. This is such a special scene because this is the scene that Hank (the DEA agent and Walt's brother-in-law) FINALLY connects the dots. This episode ends with a family BBQ, Skyler (Walt's wife) thinking Walt has given up the drug trade (when really we know he is just outsourcing to the Czech Republic -or that's my guess), and the kids moving back into the house. All is hunky-dory. Or is it? The very last minute of the episode we find ourselves in the bathroom with Hank as he's sitting on the toilet, relieving himself, and reading a copy of "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman. Hank then notices a hand written note on the cover of the book. "To my other favorite W.W. It's been an honor working with you. Fondly, G.B." Hank realizes that this book once belonged to Gail Boetticher (a former chem associate of Walt who was murdered in season 3) and then realizes that W.W. stands for Walter White and that he is Heisenberg. With this powerful revelation at his fingertips, what will Hank do next?

These are just a few of the MANY amazing TV moments that this show has provided its fans. I obviously could go on-and-on, about all of the moments I loved, but you don't have all day and either do I! So here were a few to pay homage to amazing writers, producers, actors, and other individuals involved that make this show so special. 

Make sure you check out the season 6 (the final season) premiere on Sunday August 11, 2013! 

And Remember

Mrs. Perfect but not Mrs. Right Now

Relationships are crazy things during this day and age. Relationships anymore are very unconventional,   they are entered into differently, and many people in my generation are choosing not to take a more traditional path or enter into a relationship at all!

There is nothing wrong with walking a path of self discovery or fulfillment. I actually highly recommend giving yourself that gift. To discover who you are without having to do that with anyone. However, there might come a time in your life when you feel you are ready to not only live your own life, but create one with someone else.

I cannot tell you how many times I've seen guys post the status "nice guys finish last," "always in the friend zone," and things of that nature. It's true, nice guys finish last but I've also seen a ton of 'nice girls' finish in exactly the same way.

I'm going to be straight up when I say I think there are more expectations placed on women in the dating world than there are on men. Any more, it seems like a guy wants you to look like Miranda Kerr, have the wit of Emma Stone, and the cooking ability of Rachel Rae. I've got 2/3. It's a shame I can't cook better. -Katie's Girl Code. 

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS

I talked with a girl awhile ago who told me one time she got dumped by a boy who told her, "You are the perfect girl, just not the perfect girl for right now." I'm sorry, I didn't think perfection ever ran out. I thought perfect was perfect whether it was today or ten months from now. I think guys want the perks of having a girlfriend without having to ever make a real commitment. I'm going to let all of you boys in on a fun, little fact: "When you walk out of her life, you better understand you just created a path for someone better to walk in." Amazing, beautifully souled girls don't happen a lot anymore. Whether it's society, the less traditional mindset of our generation, or just the changing times...nice, wholesome, genuine, unique, 'neat', and conservative girls are hard to find. Yet, this guy turned her away because, when it came down to it, wasn't ready to make that type of commitment.

Now, I'm not condoning leading someone on, but I do have an issue with guys entering into relationships when they have no business doing so in the first place. Maybe he wasn't ready or just too scared, but there will come a time when he is ready....and when that time comes he's going to regret letting go of something that is so hard to find.

The whole moral of this long winded, yet sometimes comical rant, is that I challenge the young men in my life to seek out and hold dear the rare qualities in women that are so hard to find. They also need to realize that great girls deserve great love and if they aren't 100% ready to make a serious commitment to a great girl, then they shouldn't even try to begin to.

They need to open their eyes to the possibilities of what they desire in a partner, realistically gage the level of commitment they are willing to give, and that every action has a consequence.

Always remember, you let an amazing girl go, chances are she'll find someone who makes her glad you did.

[Our]guments

Arguments. We all have them and most of the time, they are not pleasant. Arguments can be big or small, important or petty. Arguments any way you slice em', just stink.

I've found a consistent amount of stress in my life lately. Whether this be from transitioning from college into adulthood or my own perpetuation, I've lived with a smelly, unwelcomed friend. This friend of mine doesn't help me to the best person and consequently, affects the relationships I have in my life. The affected relationships lead to tension which in turn leads to (you guessed it) arguing. Some big arguments, some little arguments, but arguments none the less!

I am not good at expressing myself verbally and find my lack of communication skills compound many of the arguments I get into. I've decided to create five commandants for arguing with the people I love most in my life. I shall name them Rules for [Our]guments. Catchy right?

1st Commandment: Thou shall remember the difference between feeling and fact. 

I'm not saying it's not important to tell your loved ones how you feel BECAUSE IT IS (and I should probably do more of this) but you need not let your emotions cause you to say things you do not mean. Avoid name calling, yelling, and in extreme cases, signing up your loved one for Dr. Phil. Take a moment and talk about fact not let your feelings distort the overall purpose. If you would like to tell the other person how they made you feel place a fact with it. It's important people know when they hurt you and how to avoid the same situations in the future.

Try This: You hurt my feelings because you did not listen to me when I tried to apologize.

Not That: I'm so sick of you running your mouth all the time. You don't listen to a thing I have to say.

Both are conveying hurt, the second is just doing it more aggressively and more indirectly (and we all know if you are arguing with a male-he isn't going to pick up on that). Which leads me to the second commandment

2nd Commandment: State Your Purpose.

You have a brother, Dad, boyfriend, husband? Chances are, you've argued with him. We as females, can be very perceptive at times. We figure we're being obvious or better yet, IT IS OBVIOUS as to why we're upset right?. Like so obvious that if it were any more obvious I'd just come right out and say it (what a concept huh?). I don't know how many times I have to fail at this to get the point across to myself: Guys need you to tell them EXACTLY what is going on. They do not get indirect hints, or subtlety. If you want him to fix it or understand why he's hurt you, you've got to tell him.

3rd Commandment: Fix It or Feel It.

While we are on the subject of the great men in our lives, I thought I'd share this little diddy. One of my friends posted 'phrases that have made our marriage better' on Facebook. You are probably wondering why I read such things if indeed I am not a married lady, but really the answer is quite clear: this type of information can be applied to any relationship at any level. A husband and his wife came up with this and I am going to start using it with my boyfriend. Men have an overwhelming urge to fix things. I am man, I fix problem (that whole thing, ya know?) Well, the husband in this article spoke about how he always wanted to fix his wife's problem, when really she just wanted him to 'feel' her problem. She just wanted a listening/understanding ear. Someone she could talk to, vent to, someone to comfort her. When she gets upset he asks, "Do you want me to fix it or feel it?" He said, "98% of the time she chooses feel it." I think if we are a caring partner or good partner, we just want to help the other. I think we get so caught up in helping and wanting to give advice that we forget to truly listen. I know my relationships will benefit from me making more of an effort to just 'listen' and I think this was a great eye opener to that.

4th Commandment: If You Say 'I'm Fine' You Choose To Abolish All Feelings Of [anger, sadness, being upset, tension, hostility, curtness, how many times I could hit you with a pillow as hard as I possibly could until I felt better-ness, etc.]

What woman isn't guilty of this? I know I am! To our defense (or at least my defense) sometimes I say "I'm fine" because I feel the reason I'm upset is too petty to bring up to the person who caused the feeling. I think I need to get over it and not cause an argument about it, because I feel irrational for letting whatever it is be the cause of my discomfort. This usually just leads to arguing anyway or a silent void in which no one talks and feels miserable. If something is genuinely bothering you or someone did something to genuinely hurt you, and they try to apologize or speak to you about it and you reply with, "I'm fine." Then you have freely given up any rights you had to feel any emotions listed in the title above. If you say I'm fine, you better be prepared to let it go and be fine.

Try this: I am not fine right now, but I am trying to work through it on my own and decide if it's something that should be bothering me as much as it is. I didn't appreciate when you did--------.

Not that: I'm fine.

A big lesson I've also learned from my Mom that fits with this is: Let it go. Drop it. I think we should all afford the people in our lives to express themselves to us. I'm not saying cut them off and just tell them to drop it but what I am saying is say what you need to and then let by-gones be by-gones. Feeling crappy all the time because you hold on to anger just isn't worth it. As Sweet Maple Brown would say, "Ain't nobody got time fo that!" Talk it through, squash it, be fine with it, and let it go.

5th (and most important commandment): Thou Shall Not Let Your Praying Knees Get Weak.

or (for those of you who do not pray)

I promise to practice patience and positivity in my thoughts regarding my loved ones.

I pray to thank God for the people in my life, but I need to focus more on , 'praying for the people in my life.' There is a difference and I guess I didn't really dissect that difference until I was reading a self improvement article today. Just because we are around our loved ones all the time doesn't mean we know all of their struggles they endure. They carry their burdens around just like I do and sometimes these burdens do not make you feel good and lead to arguing. Pray for them in that they find peace and that you can become a better person with God's guidance and in turn, improve the relationships with the people you love.

Practice constant patience, positivity, and kind deeds for those closest to you even when you do not feel like being these things. Fake er til you make er! There are several instances when patience would've solved a lot of problems and I constantly strive to make sure I am those three things even when it's so hard to be. These are the best weapons in any argument because when you are arguing with someone you love, no one really wins.

Well there it is. My five commandments for having [our]guments. I cannot wait to practice some of these things, well actually that is a false statement because I do not want to get into any arguments any time soon, but I cannot wait to practice these to become better. Life is about always striving to grow. I am trying to grow into a better version of myself, and that's all I can do. So the next time you find yourself in a heated argument and it's hit ' Jersey Shore House Fight Status' take a step back and try some of these suggestions. After all, no one appreciates a bad 'Situation'.

Twelve Moments: 2012

I am kind of late on recapping my 2012 experiences! I post every year about things that went on, changed my life, or just where I found myself for those twelve months! I am a little late this time but better late than never right?


The Morning of January 1, 2012

I met one of the best blessings God has ever given me at the end of 2011; Gage. Gage and I went out to celebrate the new year. Gage stayed in the den at my home and had left before I woke up the next day. When I got up I saw this by my bed on the nightstand. I thought what in the world is that doing here? I don't remember using any paper towels (haha). Upon closer examination, I discovered it was a note. Gage couldn't find any paper so he wrote it on the first thing he could find. I guess he found a paper towel roll. His presence in my life has been unlike anything I have ever experienced. For the first time, I have found actual love. I cannot put into words what his love and our relationship means to me, only that I'll forever be changed because of it. I never expected to meet anyone like him but God knew what he was doing when he created Gage. I hope I am lucky enough and blessed enough to have many more years with him.

Moment 1: Hello 2012 and The Love of My Life, It's so Nice to Meet You

Grad School
When 2012 came knocking I was in the thick of things with my grad program. That spring semester was one of the hardest semesters of school I ever had. I remember this moment very vividly because I sat at my kitchen table studying thinking, "WHY DID I CHOOSE A MAJOR THAT REQUIRED A MASTER'S DEGREE!?" Looking back, I am so glad I stayed determined, stayed focused, and reached my goal.

Moment 2: What was I thinking? JK, keep going Katie. You got dis girlfriend.

Mom Turned 50

My Mom is so much fun. So naturally, she had to do something 'totally awesome' for her 50th birthday. She had a throwback birthday party. The year: 2012/the guests: the graduating class from 1980! So much fun! People thought I was really drunk, but really, I just love the 80s. Yes, there was some Cyndi Lauper sang in the garage.

Moment 3: Take Me Home Tonight: Wait, I already am.

New Beginnings

My little sister Tessa, graduated High School this year. I was one proud sissy watching her walk across the stage and get her diploma! I was so excited to see her begin a new chapter of her life and can't wait to see what the future holds for her! 

Moment 4: Get it Girl, Get it

Farming Like a Boss

I planted wheat in 2012! It was a LONG day in the tractor, nearly 12 hours, but it was so worth it! I enjoyed spending quality time with Gage and we never ran out of things to talk about! It was so great to be a part of something that benefited others and was/is the backbone of our nation! I have a great appreciation for our country's farmers and thank them for what they do!

Moment 5: If You  Can Spend 12hrs With Your Boyfriend in a Tractor And Not Kill Each Other, You Can Make it Through Anything

Colorado Bound

I brought my friends home from Grad School to meet my family, have some fun, and to see how the other half lives! I love these girls with all of my heart and it was so nice to spend time with them in one of my favorite places on this Earth...home. We had Tessa's graduation party, Baja, and ended the weekend with some sharp shooting in Peetz. It was the first time we had all shot a shotgun, and I can safely say, we made memories that day I'll never forget! 

Moment 6: Sniping Like It's Our Job

Just a Small Town Girl at Cheyenne Frontier Days

I got to see a Journey concert in 2012. IT WAS STELLAR! I HAD SO MUCH FUN! The music was great and the company was even better! Such a fun night with friends set to the music stylings of a legendary band!

Moment 7: Don't Stop Believing

Grad Girl Retreat

My friend Christina from Grad School, planned a little Nebraskan get-away for us girls to celebrate finishing up a crazy semester of school. She and her husband got us a cool little cabin outside of Ainsworth, Nebraska and we had so much fun! We spend the weekend relaxing, hitting up the local hangouts (hints the longhorn in the picture from the Longhorn Bar), and Christina's husband whipped up some great food! So much fun!

Moment 8: Small Town Big Fun

Karaoke 

Every summer the second year graduate students take the first year graduate students out before they start the program. I promised one of my friends that I'd sing karaoke before I graduated from the program and on the night we took the new upcoming grads out, my class got together and sang a song. I don't have any pictures of us singing because I was signing (obviously haha) but it was such a fun night and I miss my friends from school dearly!

Moment 9: Mic Check, Mic Check

China

My sister got a modeling job in China towards the end of 2012. It was so hard having her away from home for Thanksgiving, her birthday, Christmas, and New Years. She had so many wonderful experiences, life changing experiences, and discovered a new found appreciation for home! This was a picture from one of her jobs! 

Moment 10: My Sister is a Bombshell

Meeting Beautiful People

I did not meet Gage's family until several months after we started dating. I told Gage I would drive out early one weekend when I was home and help him with Morning chores. Gage lives 30 minutes away and he started chores at 7:00 am. That's right. If you do the math, I had to leave no later than 6:30 am to make it there on time. Little did I know, Gage made his entire family get up so that they could meet me before we did chores. Needless to say, I was embarrassed. I had no makeup on and was wearing flannel. Great first impression right? BUT everything went fine and I had an awesome time that day! Morning chores, waffles, board games, and a movie. I had a fantastic time meeting people that have grown to mean so much to me now. I love them all dearly and am blessed by their presence. I took this picture on my way out to Peetz that morning. It was such a beautiful, peaceful morning that set the tone for the wonderful things to come.

Moment 11: Peetz, CO: Home Away From Home

Losing My Dog

This was the hardest and most prominent moment of 2012. Losing my dog is something I will never forget. Having to put him down and be there with him during the last moments of his life will be something I carry with me forever. I knew I loved my dog, but I didn't realize how much or how deep that love was until he wasn't there anymore. I still miss him every day and I'll always have fond memories of 'my first dog'. I had a dream about six months after he passed. I was walking through a gorgeous old house to the back door that overlooked an amazing yard. I swung open the screen door, stepped out onto the sun lit porch, and when I turned back I saw Buster laying by the house. He looked up saw me, I saw him, and then we had such a nice reuniting. I think I got a glimpse of heaven in that dream [or at least my heaven]. Thank you Buster for all of the memories. I love you so much and always will. I will never forget you. Hope you are being good and keeping Grandpa company!

Moment 12: My Buster Brown

Well, there ya have it! Twelve Moments in 2012 that brought me to where I am today. Twelve moments that shaped my life into something beautiful, and above all, something unforgettable.