not a fashionista.

some bloggers post pictures of their outfits. those ol' ootd posts.

(which by the way, it took me probably 3-4 months to realize what that stood for... i get it now).

don't get me wrong... i love you fashionistas out there in blog land, i really do. i love seeing how well you put stuff together. 

because sometimes i'm just not good at that.

i'm also really not good at self portraits. 

maybe my new iphone will help with that.

but let's not kid ourselves, it probably won't.

i also don't think you want to see me in my yoga pants, sweatshirt, and no bra that happens every day after 5pm. 

because let's be honest here... i don't have time before work to show you what i just dressed myself in, 

and i don't feel like you'd care either.

social workers aren't always the best dressed when it comes to those sort of things.

oh, you want me in business attire but i can't forget my tennis shoes in case i'm being chased by a dog out of a home visit? attractive.

and who wants to wear nice clothes when you're going into homes with dirt floors, mangy dogs, 

and people that smoke 20 packs of cigs a day?

not i said the little red hen.

and for the record, one time i found myself in a maxi dress and tennis shoes.

that was hott.

where am i going with this post today?

i don't know.

i guess just to let you know that i'm not a fashion blogger and probably never will be. 

maybe if i get a hus-bun that wants to buy me a nice camera and photograph me every day... maybe then.

but maybe not.  

on the weekends if i'm not too drunk i might be able to show you what i wore. but i will probably be posing with friends, and some wine, and my hand on my hip. this is if you're lucky.

anyways, tomorrow's friday and that's really all that matters.

toodles.

i'm not political.

i watched the debate last night along with the rest of america.
but i'm not here today to tell you what i thought about each candidate, try to persuade you one way or the other,
nor tell you who i am voting for.
(mainly because i am undecided at this point)
when you sit down and think about it, we all want the same things for our country in some way or the other. the fact of the matter is that we have to decide who is going to do the better job. who is going to stay true to our country and it's people. and so on and so on.
of course facebook, twitter, and every other form of social media was blowing up last night due to the debate. and honestly... i wonder how many of those people taking up my news feed are actually going out there and voting... or doing something to make a difference where they can with what they can?
ugh anyways...

a friend of mine, cory, posted this on facebook and it really hit home with me...

"If you want to know what is wrong with our country- look at the fact that everyone thinks that one person is going to change the fate of our country or life. The other half of this, is the fact that this one person (that we put our faith in) is a political candidate.....not God. If people were half as passionate about our relationship with God, our community, and stepping up to make a difference (instead of going on a political rant every four years and then going back into your hole)....we WOULD be a lot better off!! Period."

boom.

agreed.

the fate of our country is out of our hands anyways.

and as for the election?

i will be educated. i will vote. But first? 

i will pray.

a chili recipe (but not really) and a pretty pumpkin.

so my roommate and i have been talking about carving pumpkins for weeks now! it's one of our most favorite fall activities, but for some reason we just haven't gotten around to it. we decided that one night this week we would actually get on the ball and get them done. 

this one night just ended up being last night.

however, that ridiculous online hoarding website we like to call pinterest has been taking over my brain here lately... and i decided that instead of carving my pumpkin i was going to pinterest the darn thing.

one can of spray paint, one box of thumbtacks and one over-sized bow later...

this is what i got.

yeahhh buddy.

she so cute.

eventually i will actually carve a pumpkin so i can bake the seeds (mmm mmm mmm), but i'm loving my little prissy pumpkin for now.

and what goes better with a fall activity on a random monday night other than chili and cornbread?

that's right- nothing does.

the problem was that i had never made chili before... and i don't eat any red meat... so i had to get a little creative on this one.

3 recipes, 4 phone calls, and some random stuff later... we had chili.

good chili. reallyyyy good chili.

what was my final recipe? well...

1 can of chili beans (partially drained)

1 can of pinto beans (partially drained)

1 can of kidney beans (partially drained)

2 cans of diced tomatoes (don't drain these bishes)

1 glob of minced garlic

1 dash of cumin

1 dash of chili pepper

pre cook these babies in olive oil...

1 finely chopped onion

1 finely chopped green pepper

1 (attempted) finely chopped zuchini

throw everything together into one big pot (and cook it obviously), and voila...

you have chili.

i learned you can seriously throw anything into a pot of chili and it will be good. 

except maybe too much chili powder- you might choke and die from that.

but don't forget to top it off with cheese and sour cream. that's a necessity.

and yes, just in case you were wondering... my monday turned out to be pretty darn good. 

despite what i said yesterday about it sucking from the start. guess this monday showed me. 

hmmpphh.

weekend recappin'.

i'm just gonna go ahead and say that today sucks. it's raining and it's a monday. so yeah... we're going with the idea that today sucks. but hey, you never know, it may surprise us and turn out to be the best day ever. 

or not.

this weekend was great, but so is every weekend when you aren't working.

somehow i ended up getting very little pictures of all my happenings, which is very unlike yours truly the picture freak.

friday night we had a bonfire and a cookout at our house. lots of food, friends, punkin' beers, and laughs. 

saturday matt and i went into downtown to have lunch and ended up in the middle of a huge craft festival going on. we ended up having a lot of fun walking around, browsing, and enjoying the beautiful day.

and i ended up with a picture of the live statue... but nothing else? hmm... good job julia.

saturday night i got to catch up with some girlfriends, which was much needed! i don't know about you all, but i love girl time.

sunday was a bible study in my living room (with myself). i decided i needed some extra sleep and the rainy morning wasn't helping me get out of bed and into church. remember though... you can worship anywhere, anytime, and with anybody.

then i got to meet my mom and brother in the next town over for lunch and ice cream. little brother is growing wayyy too fast for my liking! but it's incredible how much closer we've gotten as we've gotten older.

the rest of my day was spent lounging, cleaning out my closet (yuck), and watching movies. 

i even had a cuddly kitty in my lap most of the night.

and let me just tell you, i used to seriously hate cats until i met Cordelia (my roommate's ball of fur).

how was your weekend?

make sure you link up with sami, at sami's shenanigans if you're recappin' and join in on the blog hop fun!!!

decide to be happy & friday's letters.

here we go again. another friday. some more letters.
i've found that i love wrapping up my week by writing to it... saying goodbye to any stress, anxiety, worry, and work load. and saying hello to a new weekend that will lead us into a new week. where we can choose how we're going to handle it and how we're going to make sure we remain happy. because it's always our decision, right?
thank you ashley for your amazing linkup every week.

dear bipolar weather:
you really gotta stop being three completely different moods in one day... it is screwing with my allergies anddd my wardrobe.

dear self:
one day at a time baby girl, one day at a time. quit over-thinking every little thing. its not up to you, so quit being so anxious about everything. and as always... let go and let God.

dear work:
ugggghhhhhhhh aaaahhhhhhh booooooo!!!!! stop bein so cray. that is all.

dear lake junaluska:
you are seriously my after work haven. no distractions, pure peace, and the best place to clear my head.

taken yesterday evening on my walk/run around the lake.

dear PLL:
i'm watching you from the beginning again and my obsession with you is only growing... however, now that i know who the (2) A's are i believe i'm only getting more confused. soooo i may have to watch you again after the next season comes out. but i'm okay with that.

dear heath:
you're one of our best guy friends, you really are, and we really love your company... however, the next time you decide to come over unannounced while we are in the middle of PLL (in a really freaky part mind you) please give us fair warning. last night when you knocked on our door, you had two girls running into each other around the house turning off all the lights and peeking out the windows to see who was there. it didn't help that you held the doorknob when we actually did try to open it. or that you refused to answer us when we asked who you were (like idiots). we did realize we need a guard dog... even though we kind of felt like ninjas.

dear weekend:
you're extra special this go around because you're starting at 3 instead of 5 this afternoon. and although i have absolutely no plans...
i'm ready for you.

if i were a boy.

okay, so, have ya'll met erin over at shades of gray and a pinch of pink?

if you haven't... you seriously need to go check her out. 

girl has me crackin' up on the reg. 

the other day i came across a post of hers titled "if i were a boy" and i honestly could not resist playing along. the only rule is that you have to pretend you're beyonce while you read this and sing along.

mmmk, thanks.

i would know how to change my own oil, and my flat tire, and my windshield fluid, anddd how to put air in my tires.

i would be a ninja chopping spider killer.

i would give out mass compliments to my lady.

and lots of big bear hugs, and hold her face when i kiss her.

i would never try to understand women. because it would never happen.

i would also never underestimate women. because then i would be in trouble.

i would wear a suit. women like suits.

i would play football like a boss. and i would actually understand the dang sport.

i would rap like lil wayne, and not sound like a little 12 year old white girl like i do now.

i would not be a sappy nerd who gives out candy and teddy bears. i would be a bad ass. because women like the bad boys yo.

i would also be very sensitive once you got to know me.

i would have a pinterest, and i would be the smartest man in the world.

i would then read fifty shades of grey, and i would love it.

i would eat whatever i wanted, whenever i wanted, because my metabolism would be that of a five year old's. (courtesy of erin)

and i would win beer drinking contests like a champ.

i would have awesome Halloween costumes... like the boondock saints, or a dick in a box, or the hulk.

i would be sexy. duh.

what would you do if you were a boy?
and if you are a boy- i'm sorry. 
i like being a girl.

well played abc news, well played.

so this morning i realized that...

I HAVE 100 FOLLOWERS!!!!

whoaaaaa, nelly furtado, that's exciting!!!

you all really have no idea how much happiness blogging has brought into my life!

or maybe you do have an idea, because it's done the same for you. 

whatevs. you get it.

i don't have too much for you today. 

only one little thing that had me cracking up yesterday courtesy of abc news 

(and my dear friend brittany that discovered this little gem on the interwebs).

wanna find out what it was?

go to google.

search: 50 most popular women on the web

click the first link.

check out #7. 

how that happened? i don't know, but you're welcome.

and in honor of jb's #7 recognition...