next on the "25 random things about me" bandwagon...

well, since emily, beth, mia and lisa (amongst many others) jumped on the "25 random things" bandwagon...alas, i shall also put in my random 25 cents (ha, i find myself amusing). oh and side note: due to being sick and having my schedule thrown off, tomorrow's update will actually occur for next week (februar 5th) if you are keeping tabs on my weight loss blogosphere :p

25 random things about moi - enjoy :)

1. umm, well, i'm kind of an open book so anything you need to or want to know, you probably already do so this is gonna be kinda tough. i like sharing information and stories with people and find that i sometimes tell more than i need to about myself, oops. does that count as one?

2. i like when my water bottle matches my outfit and/or other accessories, although i've recently tried to get out of this trend. i had a full cabinet of water bottles and had to make some room, so i threw out probably 15 or so water bottles.

3. i get super annoyed when people incorrectly use your/you're but i get the MOST frustrated when people use singular and plural words incorrectly. for example, "every one should follow their dreams." no kids, no. bad bad bad. don't do it. "every one should follow HIS or HER dreams." yes, then you would get a gold star.

4. most people know this by now but i danced on stage with vanilla ice circa 2006. it was pretty badass, not gonna lie. ha.

5. i love stars (as in the shape). love them. all three of my tattoos have stars involved somehow. my momma gave me a pretty necklace with stars from tiffanys when i graduated from grad school.

6. i also love martini glasses, decorate with martini glasses and think they are adorable; however, i don't really enjoy drinking martinis.

7. it's super easy to make me cry sometimes. call it being a girl or being overly sensitive but man, my tear ducts work all too well...

8. i absolutely love virginia tech. love it love it love it. and yes, i was there in april 2007 when everything happened and it was the most traumatizing experience of my life. i lost three friends/former students...i still have nightmares about the entire situation.

9. i type how i talk and while i complain about people using incorrect grammar, i still enjoy typing how i talk - which isn't using incorrect grammar, mainly really really bad sentence structure, ha.

10. i looooooooooove quotes and song lyrics and use them whenever possible. i have a random document on my computer of quotes - if you have any favorite quotes, i'd love to add them to my list!

11. i'm a total concert groupie. outdoor country concerts are the best. sundresses and cowboy boots, mojitos, making new friends, singing at the top of your lungs to your favorite artists performing live...ah, the life.

12. duke basketball was my first favorite sport/team all because i was mildly obsessed with grant hill. i still love my bluedevils! coach k = amazing. i have a goal to make it down to cameron indoor stadium for a game at some point in my life. and duh, i looooooove hokie football! i probably like sports more than most people and i'm totally fine with that.

13. by the time i was 22 i had two degrees, my first 'grown-up' job and bought a condo. i finished a four year degree in three years. i sometimes question if this was a good decision. i also question if going to graduate school was a good decision, although i love my friends that i made and wouldn't miss out of those bonds for anything!

14. i love perfume and can't stand when people wear gross perfume or cologne. my favorites include body by victoria, j'adore by dior, the one by dolce and gabbana and be delicious by dkny; however, i only own the first two. i'm working on being able to afford the one when i have some extra money (hahaha funny thought).

15. i'm very uncomfortable with my body and my weight. unfortunately, this has been an ongoing battle since i was about four years old. i've tried many diets, had a breast reduction surgery to lessen the load on my back, various gym memberships, etc. and nothing seems to be successful long-term.

16. i miss my grandaddy every single day. i never met my so-called biological father, so for me, my grandfather was the person i looked to as a father-figure. my mother married my stepdad when i was nine and i love him as a father, too, but my grandaddy and i had a very special bond. some girls are daddy's girls, i'm a grandaddy's girl...

17. i've had the same best friend since fifth grade. i still remember our "best friends" necklace and it was in the shape of a phone, ha.

18. i never thought i'd be in a happy, healthy, 'grown-up' relationship with a man because i'd never had a positive relationship experience. that all changed when i started dating peter and together we've shown each other what it means to truly be love and be loved in return.

19. i'm ready to settle down, get married and start a family. yes, ladies and gentlemen, i actually do want a child someday. gross, i know. i think when i temporarily thought the worst case scenario situation last year when having some tests down as well as falling in love have changed my views on children. i'm terrified of raising a child, but at the same time, i think i have a few motherly qualities - just a few.

20. speaking of motherly qualities, i love to take care of people. it's kinda my thing. i like sending cards, or making cookies, or showing up to sporting events to cheer on my friends. i like feeling mildly needed or wanted and i also just like doing random, nice things for people for no reason.

21. i am borderline obsessed with my dog. mollie will be four on march 5th! she's fun and silly and i know i will be absolutely devestated when something happens to her down the road.

22. i have always been a britney spears fan, even when she was going through her phases of not doing so well. i'm ridiculously excited to see her in concert in march!!!!!

23. some children wanted to be doctors, or teachers...i wanted to work at espn even as a child. somehow i ended up in student affairs and i'm definitely ready for a career change. i am ready for financial security, being able to save money and job satisfaction.

24. i threw shot and discuss in high school and still wish i had continued on and tried to throw in college. i wasn't the greatest but i think i could have worked hard and threw for the women's team at tech. i miss throwing and sometimes want to throw just for the fun. weird, i know.

25. i have an issue with people's teeth. they must be perfect or at least mildly straight. it probably comes from the fact that i spent three and a half years dealing with braces and all of the fun things associated with that process, including: headgear, a pallet spreader, rubber bands, etc.

weight loss update numbero uno

well, i failed. at least i can be honest.

i was very sporadic with my food journaling, and i only made it to the gym once, not twice. i ended up not being as healthy as i had hoped and the first week on my journey was not one of motivation as i had hoped, but one of complacency which i am desperately trying to avoid.

so, there's my update.

HOWEVER...(this is me, you know there's always a 'but' or next phase)

i did at least attempt journaling, i made it to the gym once and i tried to make better choices on more than once occasion which is a step in the right direction.

for the upcoming week, i'm raising the bar. from january 22-january 29, i commit to:
-keeping my food journal and tracking my weight watchers points
-more positive self-talk aka instead of calling myself fat, focus on the healthy and good parts of my body and fitness
-go to bed and not fall asleep on the couch and disrupt my sleep patter; poor sleep patterns can in turn have a negative impact on weight loss and energy
-do the bally 3-day a week fitness schedule:

• 5-10 minute warm-up
• 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity
  
• 5-10 minute cool-down
• 10 minutes stretching
• strength training: leg extension, leg curl, chest press, shoulder press, seated row, bicep curl, tricep extensions and crunches

last week, i didn't put a "weight loss" pound amount. i know some of you are going to think this is a bit far fetched but since it's my first week of really getting down to business, i'd love to lose five pounds, which is not completely unattainable. while one to two pounds of weight loss is healthy, when you first begin a diet and exercise regime, you can lose a few more pounds the first couple of weeks (mainly water weight). so those are my goals for week two.

i will be more successful than week one!

also, random side note ~ thank you so much to everyone who takes time to read this silly blog o' mine as well as the beautiful, motivating and ridiculously kind comments and messages regarding my 'painful truth' blog. it's so wonderful knowing i have so many awesome people behind me :) thank you!

*love and hugs*

100 useless bits of info about moi

1. Do you sleep​ with your close​t doors​ open or close​d?​
open, i've never really enjoyed sleeping with the doors shut, although i hear you're supposed to keep them shut in case of fire or something like that


2. Do you take the shamp​oo and condi​tione​r bottl​es from hotel​?​
not really because i need special, kinda pricey shampoos to tame this mess


3. Do you sleep​ with your sheet​s tucke​d in or out?
well i don't sleep in my sheets. it's weird. in the past few months i just started sleeping under my comforter. baby steps


4. Have you ever stole​n a stree​t sign befor​e?​
no, but i bought two when in new orleans: one that says 'margaritaville' and the other that says, 'rue de bourbon' aka bourbon street


5. Do you like to use post-​it notes​?​
like it's my job

6. Do you cut out coupo​ns but then never​ use them?​
hmm, sometimes?

7. Would​ you rathe​r be attac​ked by a big bear or a swarm​ of a bees?​
hmmm, i'm gonna go with neither, but a bear would at least be cute and maybe i could charm it with my adorable personality? ha, jokes. i've never been stung by a bee, no need to start now. not that i've been attacked by a bear either...


8. Do you have freck​les?​
not so much

9. Do you alway​s smile​ for pictu​res?​
usually...but pictures of me are often hilarious because i make weird faces on accident


10. What is your bigge​st pet peeve​?​
oh jeez, i have a ton! liars, grrr. what's the point? people who drive worse than i do. people who incorrectly use "your" and "you're" as well as blatant bad grammar. i could go on for days.

11. Do you ever count​ your steps​ when you walk?​
haha i have


12. Have you ever peed in the woods​?​
yup..."a country GIRL can survive..."


13. What about​ poope​d in the woods​?​
umm, no, that's definitely not my style

14.
Do you ever dance​ even if there​s no music​ playi​ng?​
of course :)

15.
Do you chew your pens and penci​ls?​
nah

16.
How many peopl​e have you slept​ with this week?​
aren't you nosey :p i'm going to go with the literal meaning of this question, i cuddled up with my boy and my puppy last night as i do every night :)

17.
What size is your bed?
king

18.
What is your Song of the week?​
hmmm, anything britney spears related

19.
Is it okay for guys to wear pink
"and on wednesdays, we wear pink." and yes

20.
Do you still​ watch​ carto​ons?​
dude, tom and jerry is where it's at apparently haha! family guy is a regular occurrence these days

21.
Whats​ your least​ favor​ite movie​?​
hmmm, mayhaps bad santa?

22.
Where​ would​ you bury hidde​n treas​ure if you had some?​
hmm, then bank :p

23.
What do you drink​ with dinne​r?​
water...coke zero...whatever

24.
What do you dip a chick​en nugge​t in?
bbq sauce

25.
What is your favor​ite food?​
chips and salsa, restaurant ranch, papa john's cheese pizza with garlic butter sauce, french fries...

26.
What movie​s could​ you watch​ over and over and still​ love?​
sex and the city, mean girls, 40 year-old virgin, knocked up, love actually

27.
Last perso​n you kisse​d/​kisse​d you?
a very handsome man :)

28.
Were you ever a boy/​girl scout​?​
'twas

29.
Would​ you ever strip​ or pose nude in a magaz​ine?​
ashley and i used to say we wanted to go to kentucky and do an amateur night, ha. i think it would be awesome to pose in playboy; however, that's not something i would do anymore

30.
When was the last time you wrote​ a lette​r to someo​ne on paper​?
hmmm, i send cards in the mail ALL the time, i love it!

31.
Can you chang​e the oil on a car?
ha, nope!

32.
Ever gotte​n a speed​ing ticke​t?​
i've been pulled over twice. once when i was 16...i was swerving so much the officer thought i was drunk (i hadn't even tasted alcohol at that age) and again when i had a tail light out

33.
Ran out of gas?
thankfully no, but i thought i would a few times

34.
Favor​ite kind of sandw​ich?​
mmm, one that's hot and melty, yum yum

35.
Best thing​ to eat for break​fast?​
spinach and artichoke egg souffle from panera...deeeeelightful!

36.
What is your usual​ bedti​me?​
it varies

37.
Are you lazy?​
i used to be MUCH more active, gotta get back into that

38.
When you were a kid, what did you dress​ up as for Hallo​ween?​
i honestly don't remember

39.
What is your Chine​se astro​logic​al sign?​
according to blogger, rat

40.
How many langu​ages can you speak​?​
supposedly i can muster a few sayings en francais

41.
Do you have any magaz​ine subsc​ripti​ons?​
cosmo, fitness

42.
Which​ are bette​r legos​ or linco​ln logs?​
eh neither are really my style

43.
Are you stubb​orn?​
i can be

44. Who is bette​r.​.​.
Leno or Lette​rman?​
i don't really watch either

45.
Ever watch​ soap opera​s?​
i have...cbs soaps are the way to go

46.
Afrai​d of heigh​ts?​
not so much

47.
Sing in the car?
every single day

48.
Dance​ in the showe​r?​
hmm, i don't think i wanna break my neck so that's a no

49.
Dance​ in the car?
well, duh :)

50.
Ever used a gun?
ha used? i have fired a couple guns at a few beer cans

51.
Last time you got a portr​ait taken​ by a photo​graph​er?​
probably when my momma took me to sears after graduation to have pictures done in my cap, gown and hood

52.
Do you think​ music​als are chees​y?
nah, hello - moulin rouge?! amazing.

53.
Is Chris​tmas stres​sful?​
with my family? yes. with peter's family? nope :)

54.
Ever eat a piero​gi?​
hmm, if this is what i think then yes! and yum yum!

55.
Favor​ite type of fruit​ pie?
apple and pumpkin

56.
Occup​ation​s you wante​d to be when you were a kid?
ha, i wanted to be a broadcaster for espn. i knew i didn't wanna be a doctor because i can't handle blood and icky things, and i didn't want to be a teacher like every other little girl because i don't like children enough for that business

57.
Do you belie​ve in ghost​s?​
nope

58.
Ever have a Deja-​vu feeli​ng?​
yes and it's super weird!

59.
Take a vitam​in daily​?​
well, i try and remember...but i usually forget

60.
Wear slipp​ers?​
no but i should

61.
Wear a bath robe?​
when i get out of the shower and i'm too lazy to get dressed right that minute, yes

62.
What do you wear to bed?
ha, i have a habit of stealing peter's shirts, oops?

63.
First​ conce​rt?​
hoobastank with imarobot

64.
Wal-​Mart,​ Targe​t or Kmart​?​
taaaaaaaaaarget!

65.
Nike or Adida​s?​
nike

66.
Cheet​os Or Frito​s?​
hmm, depends on my mood?

67.
Peanu​ts or Sunfl​ower seeds​?​
hmm, how about the NUT-rition mix by planters, yum yum!

68.
Ever hear of the group​ Tres Bien?​
nope

69.
Ever take dance​ lesso​ns?​
when i was a wee tyke

70.
Is there​ a profe​ssion​ you pictu​re your futur​e spous​e doing​?​
owning his own dealership or dealer group :)

71.
Can you curl your tongu​e?​
yes, and not that anyone asked but i can tie a cherry stem with my tongue although it was much easier to do so before having a tongue piercing

72.
Ever won a spell​ing bee?
no. and i totally remember in fourth grade, i had to spell the world bridge or judge, but i said the "dge" part so fast that they didn't think i spelled it right and i got the boot. grrr. that was not cool.

73.
Have you ever cried​ becau​se you were so happy​?​
yes :) time for a sappy story: so peter and i are at my friend's wedding and we're dancing to 'amazed' and he totally started singing it to me and i cried like a little baby. hmmm, don't tell him i told that story to the internet world :p

74.
Own any recor​d album​s?​
i DO! kelli gave me a britney spears vinyl!

75.
Own a recor​d playe​r?​
ha, i do not :p

76.
Regul​arly burn incen​se?​
nah, but i do burn candles, but only candles that i like...i'm kinda picky about them which is weird

77.
Who is your favor​ite actor​?
hmm, i don't really have one? but i want to see every movie seth rogen has ever filmed. i just decided that when i read this question.

78.
Who would​ you like to see in conce​rt?
oh geez, umm, everyone?! i'm a concert groupie. my top two that i want to see that i haven't already seen are eminem and britney spears AND i'm GOING TO SEE BRITNEY MARCH 24th. HOLLA!

79.
What is your favor​ite song?​
ha jokes, i can't pick just one

80.
Hot tea or cold tea?
mmm, sweet tea, just a bit of ice and a slice of lemon. heavenly. another side note: when we were in michigan i couldn't even get sweet tea at popeyes! super sadness.

81.
Tea or coffe​e?​
tea

82.
Sugar​ or snick​erdoo​dles?​
snickerdoodles

83.
Can you swim well?​
it's not my favorite activity but i can make do

84.
Can you hold your breat​h witho​ut holdi​ng your nose?​
yes

85.
Are you patie​nt?​
ha jokes

86.
DJ or band,​ at a weddi​ng?​
hmm, probably dj, but the band at kmal's wedding was borderline amazing

87.
Ever won a conte​st?​
i have...best contest i ever won was in eighth grade and it was a story telling contest and i got to fly down and get filmed reciting my story, in costume. i know, badass :p

88.
Ever have plast​ic surge​ry?​
technically, yes. but not to enhance or make a feature better, if that makes any sense

89.
Which​ are bette​r black​ or green​ olive​s?​
hmmm, black on pizza (papa john's garden vegetable is on point) and green ones to eat plain

90.
Can you knit or croch​et?​
i can knit, just not well

91.
Best room for a firep​lace?​
ooooh living room, family room or den. i want one!

92.
Do you want to get marri​ed?​
of course :)

93.
If marri​ed,​ how long have you been marri​ed?​
not married...yet :p

94.
Who was your HS crush​?​
haha who didn't i have a crush on in high school...and what girl didn't have a crush on lang? i mean, seriously.


95.
Do you cry and throw​ a fit until​ you get your own way?
haha, no. but sometimes i pout just a bit and apparently i have eyes "that make people feel bad" according to someone from high school


96.
Do you have kids?​
i have a mollie dog :) that's kid enough for me right now

97.
Do you want kids?​
one day. love makes you want crazy things :p

98.
Whats​ your favor​ite color​?​
duh, pink!

99.
Do you miss anyon​e right​ now?
always. i can't believe it's coming up on three years since i lost my grandaddy :(



100.
Are you in love with anyon​e?​
yes i am. happily in love is a fabulous place to be. thank you for asking :)

painful truth

i have 42 weeks until my 25th birthday. this is significant to me for one major reason: i told myself awhile back that by the time i reach my 25th birthday i wanted to be at my weight and body goals.

long story short, i've struggled with my weight my entire life. i remember in kindergarten the little kids calling me "miss piggy." my weight continued to balloon my entire life until graduate school when i went on the south beach diet and lost a total of 75 pounds. i was clearly ecstatic! i was wearing a size small shirt and size ten jeans. but alas, fast forward to years and i've gained back 56 of those pounds and am feeling miserable about my current weight.

thus, i have decided to recommit myself to my goal. while i had lost 75 pounds then, i still had a few more to go to be at my ultimate weight. i just counted and i have 42 weeks to the day until my 25th birthday. each thursday i will set a new goal for myself and comment on the goal of the following week.

overall goals:
-lose 71 pounds by november 5, 2009
-have a positive self-image of my body
-create lasting diet changes (and by diet i mean the generic definition of diet, not being on a diet)
-be in a regular exercise habit

goals for week one:
-between now (jan. 15) and next week (jan. 22) recognize what my triggers are in terms of making unhealthy food choices
-keep a food journal
-go to the gym at least two times

now, why am i writing this in a blog? well, it's been said that if you write down your goals that you are more likely to achieve them. also, i know that a few people read this silly little blog o' mine and perhaps that will lead to added motivation. last, it will serve as a reminder for me to help me keep on task and a way to journal my progress.

*love and hugs*

first blog of randomness

well hello to the blogging world! i don't know what kept me from subscribing and writing down my random thoughts this long...probably my pseudo-usage of my myspace blog way back when.

so, what's on my mind? well that's a very loaded question.

first off, let me say that yes, i do know how to use proper punctuation and spelling aka capitalization; however, i don't feel it necessary to use upper-case letters in my blog. call me crazy. BUT, grammar is a necessary evil and will be used like a champ. also, i purposely spell 'ok' as ohkay. last, i tend to type how i talk. it happens.

whew, glad to get that out of the way.

job searching sucks. it's not fun. updating your resume, emailing it out, applications, interviews...and best of all, rejection. i'm so completely over it. i'm crossing my fingers that by the end of january i'll have some sort of direction/something figured out because may 1st (when my contract is up) will be here oh so soon...sigh.

although i'm terrified and worried about the "what if" in the job world, i've also never been happier - if that makes any sense. i'm completely, hopelessy, ridiculously in love and it is the best, most wonderful and healthiest relationship.

not only do i have the most fabulous boyfriend, i have a great, sincere friend in his sister! nicole has been the sweetest person ever and it's been great getting to know her online and then meeting her in person over christmas.

speaking of wonderful friends, i love mine. i'm such a lucky girl because my friends are so amazing. i don't know what i did to deserve them, but they love me and pick me up when i'm down and i couldn't imagine my life without them. i'm missing ashley something terrible, but she's supposed to come visit in january.

i miss blacksburg. i told you this was a random collection of thoughts. i miss my grad school friends, i miss my crazy life, i miss christa and lisa and our weirdness and of course, i miss alesha and practically living with her my last year in blacksburg. i miss our special bond, not just as friends but as family and so wish we could recreate "blacksburg" somewhere.

on a serious note, i often wonder what was the point - other than the experience - of going to college and graduate school. i have two degrees, a job i don't like, no luck finding a new one and nearly fifty grand in student loan debt. don't get me wrong, i would gladly pay the price for the five years i spent in blacksburg for undergrad and grad school and i'm so very proud of my degrees, but i just wonder when the work will start to pay off...or will it? and speaking of paying off, will i ever been student loan debt free?

and of course, no blog or writing from me would be complete without some sort of quote...

so the title of my blog is a britney spears song (i mean, really, would you expect anything less), "overprotected."

since i know y'all are dying to know the rest of the lyrics:

"say hello to the girl that i am,
you're gonna have to see through my perspective
i need to make mistakes just to learn who i am
and i don't wanna be so damn protected..."

oh and the chorus of the song is very fitting for where i am career wise:
"...what am i to do with me life?
(you will find it out don't worry)
how am i supposed to know what's right?
(you just gotta do it your way)..."

*love and hugs*