weekend.

i had such a fabulous weekend my friends! i was so sad to see it end and so i thought i would go ahead and re-live my weekend by sharing my adventures with you all...

friday night after work and zumba i met up with my dear redhead friend natalie for a few drinks and laughs in downtown waynesville. things were pretty dead in our big city (ha ha!) so ended up going back to my apartment to catch up with an old friend- all while i drank red wine and fell asleep mid convo on my couch... oops! :)

saturday was my busiest day. i woke up bright and early to drive to franklin to see my precious pup and hand her over to the dog trainer/rehabilitator for the week- stephanie gilbreath! she is a God sent i tell ya! just spending 30 minutes in my parent's living room watching the way she worked with ava (and me) on a few things was so impressive. she knew how nervous i was to watch ava go, especially because she refuses to get into any vehicle, let alone a jeep (which is what stephanie and i both drive). stephanie took ava outside and practiced loading and unloading her into the vehicle... and ava listened!! after she got her in the car for the last time they drove off and my anxiety subsided. i was so excited at that point!
after ava was taken care of i spent time hanging out with my parents and getting ready for my bestest friend stephanie crane's bridal/lingerie shower. we had a BLAST playing games, eating great party snacks, overloading steph with sexy outfits (you're welcome shawn), and talking wedding details! i cannot wait for her big day, which is april 14th btw! steph is one of the most incredible friends a girl could ask for. she has overcome so much in just the past year and she deserves the world- shawn is quick to provide that for her as well. they are perfect for each other! here they are...

 too stinking cute right??

anywhoooo, moving on to saturday evening... i got to visit my adorable nieces after steph's shower for a few hours. you are going to hear a lot about these little girls, mainly because i'm obsessed with them. they are as follows... lexi- age 7. layla- age 4, mya- age 2, and sophia- age 3 months.

my sister was taking them to see a magic show at the smoky mountain center for the performing arts, so i helped get the army of little girls all dolled up! this is no easy task by the way. imagine chasing around 4 little girls full of giggles trying to get them dressed, fed, and ready to go. i don't see how my sister and her husband do it... but they do, and they do an incredible job!

once they were on their way, i got my own night started. i met up with my dear friends jennifer, nichole, and samantha for margaritas at monte alban... this is the best mexi restaurant in franklin and even though they now have a new name, they will forever be montes. mainly because we can't pronounce the new name, but whatev. after margs and too much food we went on to see THE VOW!! after so much built up anticipation to finally see channing's butt shot (which is the only thing we are not complaining about) we were actually pretty disappointed by the end of the movie. it just wasn't the romance that the previous let on to be. we were let downnnn. but nichole's "cold hearted" commentary made it quite hilarious!

jennifer and i decided to continue our evening by stopping by franklin's only bar- mulligans- and socializing with all of our old buds. it was a good time, as always! we then headed back for a sleepover at jennifer's because her hubby was out of town for the weekend. ultimate girl's night!!

sunday morning i woke up and went to church with my sister and her little family :) it was an incredible service at franklin covenant church!

our day continued on with lunch and an afternoon filled with playing softball with my nieces, swinging, sliding, running, and jumping on the trampoline. they wore me out! 

now i'm back in waynesville, back to work, and made it through another monday. i'm thoroughly looking forward to this next weekend though! i get my ava back on saturday... so stay tuned to find out how her week of training went! 

peace, love, and all things fun.

j.

it's ok.

we all need to sit down sometimes and think about how things are really just okay. you're fine, you have nothing to worry about, your world isn't going to fall apart because you forgot to do one little thing this morning. if we sit and realize that because GOD is in control we have NOTHING to worry about- everything else seems just a little bit easier. 

no material thing on this earth will matter in eternity and all of your worries, stresses, fears, etc. are really ok.

it's ok...

that i am eating an entire bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream- 

while writing this- while at work.

that i live 45 minutes from my family and i miss them, a lot.

that my nails aren't perfectly painted because i've been picking at them all day.

that i set my alarm for 6, 6:15, 6:30, and 6:45 but don't get out of bed until 7 every morning.

that i went all day yesterday with no makeup on- sorry peeps that saw me out.

that i'm 24 and single. (THAT i'm actually loving).

that i grocery shop at 5 different stores just to get the best deals.

that i miss my puppy dog who i'm debating on giving to a better home.

that i am having more anxiety about what to do with my dog than anything else.

that i have a check list of things to do every day and i have to be able to mark a line through it. i will even write down something i've already done just to mark through it.

that i used my dryer instead of an iron this morning (oh wait, that's every morning).

 that i miss ex boyfriends.

that i spent my lunch break cleaning the mess i made this morning.

that i re-arrange my thursdays for greys and private practice.

that i could go on and on about this list for hours.

but really people... you're ok, it's ok, we're all ok. stop worrying about everything.

what's ok in your life today?

j.

a smoothie a day.

ugh, it's monday. i hate mondays.

i especially hate mondays when i can't seem to wake up, at all. 

today is one of those days.

despite the fact that i haven't had much caffeine today and i didn't sleep well last night...

i think my tiredness has a lot to do with the fact that i had toast for breakfast.

i know i know... that doesn't seem like a huge deal because well, 

that's a normal thing for people to eat in the mornings.

however, i have been drinking smoothies every morning for my breakfast instead, 

and today i did not.

i have noticed a major difference in the way i feel and act throughout the day

if i don't get that smoothie in me.

it's like my entire appetite and even my attitude is thrown off because of this.

try it and you will see what i'm talking about.

oh and it comes from the infamous dr. oz so you know it's good for you :)

here is what you will need:

2 tbsp of Natural, Creamy Peanut Butter- 

this gives you the protein you need to start your day. i loooove me some peanut butter!

1-2 tbsp Cocoa Powder- 

this gives you your energy boost. i don't use as much though 

because i'm not the biggest cocoa fan

but play with it and see what you like best!

8oz Nonfat Greek Vanilla Yogurt- i use chobani- yummm!

1 Medium Banana

throw in your blender and mix! you can also try adding strawberries or any other fruits you may like. i've played around with this recipe and a few others for lots of different variety throughout the week. 

i have another one that uses chopped almonds for the protein,

and then lots of berries and even some honey!

i'll share it at a later time ;)

the best part is that i drink one on my way to work (around 7:45-8am) 

and it holds me until lunchtime!

no more meaningless morning snacking. 

try it and let me know what you think!!

j.

and then there was anxiety.

i never knew i had anxiety- until i got a dog.

this isn't just any dog though- this is my great dane/bull mastiff "puppy" - named ava.

she's almost two. but has been in the 'terrible two' stage for almost a year.
 i love her, a lot, i really do.
but boyyyy does she give me anxiety. my precious mother, whom i love more than anything and i take after in every way,

is babysitting her grand-pup this weekend for me.

that's how much i needed a break from this thing.

before i go any further... here she is...

now let me just tell you how i got ava...

 i was doing my internship through the social work program at western carolina university
and i got the opportunity to work with this little inspiration...

he was one of the most loving children i have ever had the pleasure of knowing and he taught me a lot about life.
well... his family and i grew very close and they got to know just how much i loved great danes. it just so happened that this little boys aunt breeds great danes!!
hello irony!
when the time came for me to graduate and move on in my life... i was GIVEN my ava as a gift from this little boy's family.

talk about the sweetest thing EVER.

so... ava grew. and she grew. and she grew.

and now she almost out-weighs me. i had this idea in my head when i got her that she would just grow up to be this lazy, easy going, and loving giant. well she is (sometimes) but definitely not as much as i expected. 
THIS is more along the lines of what she does... it's just lovely.

in november of 2011 was when things took a turn for the worse and i developed this INSANE anxiety 

over every little thing that has to do with ava. 

it all started with my parent's female dog attacking her out of nowhere.

the vet said something about territorial females (bishes) and ava running free (basically owning) their yard.

whatever the reason for it... ava is now on the defense ALL OF THE TIME!

it doesn't help that she thinks she's the size of a chihuahua.

i can no longer take her to the dog park or to walk the lake (our favorite past times) because she is so scared of everyone and everything... THAT turns out to make her aggressive

 and THAT in turn, gives me anxiety. like really bad anxiety.

not to mention she refuses to get into my car. that's another whole issue in itself.

it's now to the point where i can no longer handle her. she's too big and too stubborn for me to do anything with her, which just makes it worse on both of us.

she is now having to stay inside my apartment all day while i'm at work.

i don't crate her or anything so she's not technically "locked up."

-keep that in mind that's probably why my couch is torn to pieces.

let me just make sure everyone knows. i love this dog. she is my baby.

BUT i need some sort of help. i either need to find her another loving home

with a great family that is going to give her the training, yard, and attention that she needs and deserves.

or i need to find another place to live (reasonably priced) with a fenced in yard and find a gracious dog trainer to come and help me with her.

all of the trainers i have found simply are not in the area

or cost wayyy to much for my social worker's salary.

i had a woman tell me that it would be $150 for a consultation and doggie evaluation.

um no thanks.

ugh, so now you know why i have anxiety.
i'm getting anxious just sitting here thinking about the anxiety that she gives me.
i'm ridiculous.
please pray for ava and i. pray that i find the answer i need and some much needed peace about the whole situation.

or at least some good anxiety meds.

until then, here are some more ava snap shots...

doggie out.

a peak into my pinterest.

i have an ultimate obsession. it's name is pinterest.

if you have yet to open yourself up to the wide world of pinterest(ing) then you're simply missing out. in short... it is a fantastic website to compile all of your party ideas, best recipes, DIY projects, wishes, dreams, travel places, and all of the cutest outifts you will probably never purchase. it's awesome.

here is my pinterest profile ----> PINNNNNING

and here are just a few of my favorite 'pins'.

 

tons of inspiring words to be found, like this ^^



this is easily my favorite photograph that i have found through pinterest.
reminds you to praise GOD no matter your situation. powerful stuff.



gorgeous style tips and ideas! (love this one)



hair, makeup, dress. i want it!!



i mean, who wouldn't want this chair??



believe me when i say that EVERY girl on pinterest has a "dream wedding" board.
despite the no boyfriend and definitely no fiance part. don't judge.



and now you have officially had the pleasure of taking a peak into my pinterest

i sure hope you decide to get one of your own. once you do, your time will be consumed in nothing but surfing the web and 'pinning' ideas for your own life!

i hope everyone has a fabulous thursday! all week i have thought that the 'next day' was friday... which of course it wasn't because tomorrow is actually friday (if that makes sense). peace out girl scouts.

j.





a year later, well almost.

and I'm back.
a year ago in March i decided to embark on my blogging journey, however, my journey didn't make it past the first day (typical). i am hoping that i will be more inclined to keeping up with my blog on this next attempt. we'll see how that goes...

in the past year i have made quite a few changes. i bought a gym membership at the local rec center-specifically for my zumba classes, which i love. i moved (again) but this time into a quaint little townhome that looks more like a garage apartment than anything else... still in haywood county though. i'm working for DSS still (i got my job in june of 2010), but i am now working with both children and adults through placement prevention. we keep them at home and out of nursing home placement with the help of community resources and medicaid. i love my job.

one of the most exciting things that's happened within the last year is my sister and her husband blessed us with yet another baby girl!! this makes niece #4 and we could not be happier. her name is Sophia Burke and she is a doll. this picture was taken on christmas eve 2011...

stay posted for more. i'm pretty excited about my second blogging attempt :) you should be too!