mind mush.

i don't have a lot of words for you today.

it's friday.

and my mind is in a mess.

i feel like there's a whirlwind going on in my brain and i just don't know how to stop it. 

or what to do with it.

i have way too much to think about and i don't like the idea of waiting on other people's decisions.

i don't like it, one bit.

not even my sundrop is helping right now.

so i'm leaving you with this, because i love it.

and also this,

because i have amazing friends who are always there for me.

and say exactly the right thing, at exactly the right time.

recognize that name? that would be this girl, and she's incredible. 

so you should go say hi :)

i hope you all have a wonderful, blessed weekend.

xoxo.

cold hard cash.

so guess what...

i didn't win the powerball last night. 

i know, i know, i'm shocked.

my chances might have been a tad bit better had i actually bought a ticket.

but i've never bought a lottery ticket before and i'm not sure i'd even know how.

seriously though... i always feel sketchy when i walk up to the counter to buy one and instantly change my mind and just pay for my pack of gum and 12 6 pack of beer.

but my guess is that none of you won either.

and if you did... i would hope you weren't sitting here reading my measly little blog. i would hope you were out buying your own private island and getting the heck outta dodge. because i'm sure everyone and their mother's uncle's brother will be contacting you for some moolah. i know i would. sorry, not sorry.

anyways, all this $550million ish has got me thinking...

what in the world would i have done with that money had i won??

i'm sure you've all thought the same thing.

if i won, i would...

-pay off my student loans.

because being in debt up to your eye balls for the next 30 years is something we all want to do.

-buy my parent's a house in maine. 

because my lovely little mother has always wanted to live there. she has a thing for cold weather and lobsters. my dad, however, would have to have his own built in sauna because he would freeze to death. poor little thing. i think he'd be happy fishing and coming home to a sauna- i know i would.

-buy my baby brother whatever car he wants.

i would say i would pay for his college tuition.

however, he's going to end up being a pro golfer- i just know he is.

so i'm not really worried about his college tuition. boy's gonna have a free ride one of these days.

or else.

-open an orphanage in kenya.

this is my dream. ab-so-lute dreeeeeeam. 

and i will do it one day whether i win the lottery or not!! 

i want these babies in my life, all day, errr day.

-bring my pinterest closet to life.

duh.

-travel to every winery. in. the. world.

this sounds like a fabulous way to spend my time.

-hire a sexy personal trainer to keep my butt in shape.

(sexy) key word right there.

-build my dream home.

don't ask me where i want this dream home to be. i may end up with 3 or 4 of them. 

because that's pretty standard for a millionaire. just tryin' to keep up.

-save the rest. 

you never know what could happen in the future.

and why not let those dolla dolla bills grow in interest??

i would love to hear what you would do with $550 million!!

PSA and some OHP.

so i want to give a shout out right now. a very important one mind you...

to rice cakes.

these things are heaven in muhhh mouthhhh!!
seriously. white chedder popcorn flavor? where have you been all of my life?

gluten free, low cal, and ultimate goodness.

however, these babies are messier than powdered doughnuts and a 5 year old mixed together. i'm talking do NOT eat these at your desk when you're dressed in all black like i am at this very moment. 

you WILL be brushing yourself off and lint rolling crumbs for ten years.

now that i've shared this very important public service announcement with you all... 

let's move on to more important things.

like online hoarding parties, or oh how pinteresting wednesday with michelle.
whichever you prefer.

because i don't know about ya'll but i've been pinnin' like a mofo here lately.

something about christmas and the holidays that makes me want to become such a great baker, craft maker, gym-goer, fashionista, interior designer... you know how it goes. i know you do.

via.

via.

via.

via.

via.

via.

via.

happy hump day, friends!!

xoxo.

firsts.

i'm such a sucker for these whole "get to know me" posts.

i don't know why but i love em.

so here ya go...

oh and i found this one courtesy of jenna and ashley.

(they're pretty cool too if you wanna check 'em out)

1. First thing you do when you wake up in the morning.

oh, you mean after i hit the snooze button for a straight hour? 

i guess at that point i groan, stretch, curse a little, and then go pee. 

pretty routine.

2. First thing you reach for when you open the fridge.

water, water, water. 

or olives. or pickles. yummm!

3. First thing you do when you go to the gym.

 scope out the hottie totties (haha, just kidding... not really).

hook up to the gym's wi-fi and get to runnin' (or whatever it is you do on an elliptical).

4. First thing you do when you get home from work.

change for the gym.

only because if my butt hits the couch i will NEVER move.

5. First car.

my precious little mitsubishi lancer... that i still miss to this day!

i thought i was such a badass in this car. mainly because the movie the fast and the furious had just come out and i always pictured myself street racing like they did on the movie (okay so not really).

6. First car accident/ traffic violation. 

i got a ticket for an expired tag.

that's it... to this day... knock on sooo much wood!!

  7. First thing you wanted to be when you grew up.

a princess, duh. i still think this may end up coming true one day.

8. First beverage of choice.

water. a girl's gotta stay hydrated ... ya diggg?? 

and then of course there comes wine. sadly i cannot turn water into wine, but the store bought stuff does alright.

9. First choice breakfast.

pancakes, veggie omelet, hashbrown casserole.

just kidding. i would weigh 300lbs if that was the case.

i usually stick with grits or a granola bar and water with lemon & honey.

10. First choice dessert.

chocolate. anything chocolate.

11. First song that comes to mind.

i don't know when flo rida got so good, but i'm liking it.

  

  12. First major purchase.

well i sold my lancer and bought a yellow pt cruiser. so technically that was my first major purchase. however, i like to block out the days that i drove a post it note for a vehicle... so i will go with the second car i bought on my own- my jeep grand cherokee.

that later ended up needing open heart surgery (or a new transmission- whatever).

so she is no longer mine. it was a sad day.

 13. First job.

perfectin' the ice cream swirl at my local Dairy Queen. that job was legit. free ice cream? endless possibilities? and a 15 year old metabolism? helloooo dream world.

 14. First time you flew on a plane.

because of the fact that my family is pro-road trips i did not step foot on a plane until my senior year in college believe it or not... and it has actually been the ONLY time i have done so. i flew from atlanta to dallas for a sorority conference (by myself keep in mind) and although i was scared shitless i loved it!

play along, why dontcha? it's fun.

anddd i was feeling some bloggers block today.

so this is what it came down to.

my baby, ava grace.

most of you have never heard me talk about miss ava grace, have you?

probably because you're somwhat new around here and i don't have ava anymore.

she was/is a great dane/bull mastiff mix. so basically a miniature horse in other words. she will always be my first baby.

all of you fur mommas out there know how much love you can have for an animal. they become your children, especially when you don't have children, and are an instant part of your family- forever.

to read about my struggles with ava, start here.

to read about what ended up happening with ava, end here.

where am i going with all of this?

well i finally went to visit ava this weekend.

her new family has sent me picture updates and emails on the reg. they have been so amazing when it comes to keeping me posted and making me feel welcome to come visit any time. well i have been extremely hesitant about going to visit.

will i cry? will i want her back? will i be too upset with myself to handle it? how in the hell will i react to seeing her again after 6 months?

yes, it took me 6 months to get over all of those fears and go see her.

and i will just say that i could not have been more happy with what i saw.

i saw my overwhelmingly complicated and crazy puppy running freely through an 11 acre farm with her 3 puppy siblings. no fence, no leash, nothing. complete and utter freedom.

the best part about it all?

she is the most well behaved dog i have ever met in my life... ya'll, this is a HUGE deal. she was pretty out of control when i had her. and out of control may or may not be an understatement.

this may have been the toughest decision that i have ever made in my life thus far, but i still believe that it was the right one. i have given ava the best life that she could have ever wanted. i know that she will forever be taken care of
and will forever be happy with the Welch family.

i still miss her tremendously and still wish i had her huge body to curl up with at night (yes, she slept in my bed with me like a person)... but we are both much happier.

and this just further confirms that God is ALWAYS listening. to EVERY struggle we have... and he DOES answer prayers.

my heart is full. so very full.

and i will be visiting my baby every chance i can.

 happy monday, friends!

now that we're all fat...

let's do some thanksgiving recappin'.

if you follow me on instagram you were probably overwhelmed with all of my pictures posted yesterday (and you've probably already seen all of these) but you should probably get used to that though... i'm a picture addict.

and i should probably stop saying probably so much. oh wellsies.

this thanksgiving i was reminded just how truly blessed i am and how much i take for granted every day. my heart goes out to those that were unable to be with their families yesterday and i pray for those that were not as lucky as most of us to have a warm home and a good meal to eat.

i often times don't know what i did to deserve everything that i have. but i do know i am going to continue to cherish the times i am able to spend with my family and friends.

now what did my turkey day consist of?

lots of family time.

morning mimosas.

watching catching my brother taste testing everything in the kitchen.

and eating the best food i've ever had in.my.liiiiiife.

playing with my adorable, amazing, inspiring nieces.

enjoying the last bit of leaves in my parent's yard.

and taking more family pictures.

all while wondering how my sister ended up so dang skinny after 4 kids.

i seriously better have those genes.

the night ended by FINALLY seeing Breaking Dawn, Part 2.
and holy moly... it was the absolute best one yet.
i laughed, i cried, i almost walked out i was so pissed at one point, but overall i became even more obsessed than i already was.
well played, Twilight, well played.
and the whole family went to see it, which made it THAT much better!

i hope everyone had just as wonderful of a thanksgiving as i did!!
and enjoy the rest of your weekend/thanksgiving break!!

xoxo.

turkey day etiquette according to me.

we all know that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. 

if you didn't... well than you might not be American... or something along those lines.

there is a certain form of Thanksgiving etiquette/ to do list i think we all need to discuss. 

and today just seemed like the appropriate to do so...

you are off work tomorrow. so get your butt off of the couch and celebrate this fact!! you also have more food waiting for you tomorrow than your hungover self is going to know what to do with. embrace this.

and if you're not off work tomorrow- my condolences. your life might be borderline sucky at this point in time.

wear leggings. i promise you will not regret this. no unbuttonin' happenin' here homeslices!! 

on that same note... wear a baggy shirt of some sort. don't try to be all skinny tomorrow. just don't. it will only result in failure and flab hanging out. and we don't want that.

make sure you try every dessert possible. duh.

bring hostess treats for your thanksgiving dessert contribution. people will love you. 

and lets be honest- you won't get away with it next year.

keep copious amounts of wine and/or spiced rum apple cider on hand (or both). if your family is as crazy as mine i promise you will need it. it will also help contribute to your napping that will take place after you stuff your face.

take that nap i just mentioned. it's also known as a food coma to some me.

get lots and lots of pictures. because we all know that if you didn't take pictures, it obviously didn't happen. haha... just kidding. we can thank facebook and instagram for this. but i really do love looking at all your pictures- so take some!!

dress your animals up like pilgrims and indians. and take pictures.

go to the gym friday, saturday, anddd sunday. you will need to.

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

i'm thankful for each and every one of you. 

and lil wayne. 

i'm thankful for him too.