Random Thoughts...

Okay, more like 2 random thoughts, but I thought I'd share.

Does anyone else think that Justin Bieber and Paul Wesley favor?



Also, does this commercial...



remind you of this from Doug? I am such a 90s child.



Any random thoughts you'd like to share?

abcs of me

I couldn't resist joining in on this post any longer...so here we go, the ABCS of Me :D

Age: 24

Bedsize: Queen.

Chores that you hate: I hate having to drag my laundry to the basement of my apartment building. So I usually try to get away with doing laundry only once a week.

Dogs: Zero. I lost my beloved Patches earlier this year.

Essential start to your day: Coffee and a phone call to my Mama.

Favorite color: I have a lot of favorite colors. When I was little they were "lime green and a sickly shade of orange". Now I love yellow and blue.

Gold or Silver: It depends on my mood. Can I cheat and say White Gold?

Height: 5'-10"

Instruments you play: I played the clarinet when I was younger. I also took guitar lessons, and I'm hoping to brush up on my skills (or lack there of) soon.

Job title: Graduate student and Curatorial Assistant

Kids: I love kiddos. I worked in an elementary school for 4 1/2 years and nannied over the summer. I'm not ready for my own kids yet, but I love "borrowing" them for a few hours.

Live: I live in Georgia, but I stay in the midwest.

Mother's Name: Mama, Mumsie Dearest...Linda.

Nicknames: Oh goodness, there are a lot. Elysie Piecie, Ese, Esies, Pumpkin, JD, OCJD, E, Lilster, Dipstick, Doodlebug, Angel Baby, Lyse, Goober Twin, Belyse...and the list could go on and on.

Overnight hospital stays: None...thank goodness.

Pet peeves: When people smack on their gum! Ugh. Oh and when people disrespect books.

Quote from a movie or tv show: "I've always felt out of step. Like literally stumbling through my life. I never felt normal. Because I'm not normal. I don't want to be."

Right or Lefty: I'm a righty...but I use my left hand sometimes too.
Siblings: I'm an only child.

Time you wake up: 6:45 AM on days I have to work...the other days, just whenever I wake up.

Underwear: From Target.

Vegetable you hate: English peas...gag.

What makes you run late: Deciding I hate my outfit, or watching too much tv while getting ready.

X-Rays You've Had: What have I not had an xray on? My foot, ankle, arm, chest cavity, back, head...you name it I've had it.

Yummy food you make: I think I'm a pretty good cook. I make some killer Italian food...homemade sauce is a must.

Zoo Animal: Besides otters...zebrahs of course! And yes, I spell zebrahs how phonetically.

You are Extraordinary

Over at the wonderful Sara's blog, I found a link to this lovely post. It spoke so much to my heart that I had to pass it on. Please, go read this...

"....be grateful of every breath, every step, every minute you are alive & blinking in this moment. Realize that beauty is just a concept. Keep it in perspective. Meditate on the miraculousness of your body, the cohesiveness of your insides. Those are the things that truly matter. Your body is beautiful, perfect, outstanding the way it is."

Finishing up the 10 day challenge

Day 8--Three Films

For a girl who doesn't like chick flicks...this is my all time favorite movie.

Day 9--Two Songs

Day 10--One Picture

Fail...

So I kinda screwed up on this 10 day challenge thing, so here's days 4-7 and then tomorrow I'll post 8-10.

Day 4: 7 Wants

1. I want to feel comfortable in my own skin.
2. I want my Mama to get better.
3. I want to be able to stop second guessing myself.

4. I want to learn how to play a new song on my guitar.

5. I want to lose 10 pounds by the end of this year.

6. I want to try to blog at least 2x a week. Sometimes it just feels like a chore.

7. I want to learn how to say NO.

Day 5: Six Places

1. Seattle, Washington. It is by far one of my favorite places I have ever traveled to. In fact, I don't know if I should limit this to Seattle Washington, or just put Pacific Northwest. So many happy memories here.

Picture Via

2. London, England. Or in other words "Fundon". My trip when I turned 16 was cancelled, due to various reasons...but I've been an anglophile for as long as I can remember. I'm afraid if I visit, I may not come back.

3. Georgia. My home state. I love it so much. There is really something charming about it.

4. The Jersey Shore. I swear it is not as trashy as the tv show makes it seem. I've had some lovely summers spent there.

5. Amelia Island, Florida. This may be my new favorite place to vacation. Such a quaint island, with a lazy feel. One of the most relaxing places I've ever been.

Picture via

6. Turino, Italy. It's wear my Great Grandma is from...well not technically there, but it's the closest big city. I would love to see her village and be able to spend time with my Italian cousins.

Day 6: Five Foods

1. Shrimp and Grits. Seriously, if you've never had them. Do it.

2. My Mama's spaghetti. Seriously, her homemade sauce is better than any restaurant's.

3. Icees. That counts as a food right?

4. Smart Food Popcorn...combined with an icee, it's like heaven.

5. My family super secret chocolate cake. SO STINKIN' GOOD.

Day 7: Four Books

Disclaimer...these are not necessarily my favorite books. But rather the last 4 books that I have read.

1. Lola and the Boy Next Door

2. Night's Child

3. Full Circle

4. Reckoning

10 Day Challenge -- Day 3

Day 3 -- 8 Fears

Picture via...

1. Aliens. Ever since the Hale Bop Comet and the Heaven's Gate mass suicide, I've been terrified of aliens. Doctor Who being the glaring exception to this world.

2. Asteroids. When Armageddon came out when I was little, I was terrified that I was going to die because an asteroid was going to come and take us all out. Yep, and the recent space trash flying at us brought this fear back up.

3. Dying alone.

4. I'm afraid that my worrying is going to push people away.

5. I'm afraid that I may lose myself and my identity.

6. I can be so much of an only child, that sometimes I'm afraid that when I do find my significant other, I won't know how to handle the relationship.

7. I'm afraid that something will happen to my family while I'm away at school.

8. Sometimes I can legitimately see myself with agoraphobia, because I tend to get paralyzed with worry sometime. This scares me more than anything.

9. I'm afraid that I'm not going to find a job when I graduate in May.

10. I'm terrified of my graduate exit project.

What are you afraid of?

10 Day Challenge--Day 2

Day 2...9 Loves

Picture via...

1. My parents. They are my best friends.

2. My besties...I'm not going to name names, you know who you are.

3. Icees. This girl loves her some 32 oz, Coke icees from RaceTrak.

4. Muse. Their music speaks to my soul...as cheesy as that sounds.

5. My collection of books. Please don't make me choose a favorite. They're all amazing. Each with their different typefaces, smells, page texture. Don't get me gushing about my books.

6. The sound of the waves crashing outside of my bedroom window, when my family and I go on vacation. I would be in heaven if I could hear this sound daily.

7. There is this smell my room gets when my childhood room gets really warm. It's hard to describe. It's not musty, but a really clean smell. It reminds me of being little and content.

8. British accents. It had to be said. There is nothing more beautiful than a good British accent.

9. Airports. Weird love, but I do. I love to make up stories in my head as I'm people watching. Where are they going? Who are they meeting? It's fun. There is such a wonderful sense of adventure at the airport.

10. The smell of the earth after it has just rained. That smell of the soil, the trees...it's just such a comforting warm smell. It's one of the happiest smells in the world to me.

What are your loves?

10 Day Challenge

I found this lovely challenge from Vanessa and thought it would be fun to play along. So here goes nothing...

10 Secrets

1. I say I'm not a stress eater, but I really am. Actually more of a stress drinker. Not alcoholic type of drinker...but an icee drinker. Icees cure everything.

2. I think Glee's first season was its best season. Last season was blah...

3. Fictional boyfriends (i.e. books/tv/movies) have not ruined my expectations for guys.
4. Sometimes I wish I could be more daring. I walk a pretty straight line.

5. I think sometimes, I worry just to worry, even though I don't know how to stop.

6. I sometimes think about getting a tattoo...but then the thought of not liking it when I'm 80 always stops me.

7. I think that if I lose weight, people will like me better.

8. That being said, I am very wishy washy in my self confidence. Some days I feel feisty and comfortable in my own skin...others I don't.

9. Sometimes, trying to be optimistic can be tiring. It's good to have a good mopey day every once in a while.

10. I believe in the power of my teddy bear, Cherry. When I get upset, she is still the thing I hold onto at night.

Let me know if you decide to play along :D

West Egg Cafe

When I was back home for the summer, I met one of my sorority sisters, in Atlanta for brunch. Since I hadn't been in town in a while, I decided to be nice (and because I'm so indecisive) to let her pick. After doing some research (she's my kinda girl), Danielle picked out West Egg Cafe.

The West Egg is nestled by the White Provision Residences, off of Howell Mill. If you're not familiar with Atlanta, I promise it's easy to get to. And it's totally worth it. Plus, the name came from The Great Gatsby...how can you get any better than this?


I ordered the Fried Green Tomato Wrap with Roasted Garlic Grits. And boy, was it yummy.




So was my lovely French Vanilla cappuccino. I've never had coffee art and I was so impressed by this. It's the little things people.



I cannot wait to get back home, and come eat here again. I'm thinking next time I'm ordering Georgia Benedict. Yum. Yum.

-Also on a side note, the lovely Kaycie is having a giveaway over at her blog, Redhead Memories. Have you entered yet?

It's that time of the week again...

Happy Friday everyone! If you want to play along, don't forget to link up with Lauren's blog.

1. The best thing I did all week was watch Castle with Dawn this Monday. It was so much fun to have somebody to fangirl with. I forever owe her for getting me hooked on this show.


2. Movie marathons are the best. Especially when you theme food and decor around them. (I.E. This Post)

3. Pets are amazing. They fill your heart with so much warmth and love. I still haven't completely gotten over losing my beloved, Patches, earlier this year. But one day, I'd like to have another dog.

4. My family and friends are the best thing about my life. I know this is a stereotypical answer, but it's the truth. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I'm nothing without them.

5. With the cooler weather I am looking forward to hoodies! I absolutely love hoodies and own way too many of them. There is nothing better than lounging around in a wonderful hoodie.

6. Something that's on my "wish list" right now is confidence and to stop worrying so much. I can give you a list of material items that I'd like at the moment, but these top even those material wants.

7. This weekend I am going to be doing homework. I'm also going to skype with my Mama so I can tell her happy birthday "in person". Saturday I'm going to my friend's cookout. I'm pretty excited. Yay for the weekend.

PS...I have this song in my head at the moment. It's old, but it's kind of relevant at the moment.

Fill in the Blank Friday!

It's a little late in the day, but it's still Friday...so here we go!

1. You should always take time to enjoy the little things...even if it is just a strawberry limeade before class, or stopping in a book store just for the smell of it. Random examples, but it is the little moments in life that are often forgotten. I try my best to remember to enjoy them.


2. Books make the world a happier place to be. There is nothing better than a good book.


3. I can hardly wait for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to go home and see my family and meet one of my bestie's new little boy.


4. Friday is my favorite day of the week. Currently I have Fridays off of school and work. So it is my me day. I love it.

5. Something totally dumb and ridiculous that I love is the "Party Rock Anthem" music video. I totally want to learn the dance. I'm stealing Lauren's answer for this. I sent out this video to my friends, insisting that we must learn it for our girl's night. They didn't go along with it.

6. If I could, I would hire a laundress to do all my laundry. I totally stole this answer from Lauren, again, but I couldn't help it. I hate dragging my laundry down seven floors to do it.


7. I rather like nicknames. I think they're a lot of fun. I also feel like a nickname has to be earned, and I love when I'm given one.

PS: If you want to play along, make sure you link up with Lauren's blog!

Also, this video was too good not to share. Thanks for sharing this with me, Jess.

Obsessed

So I get a little obsessed with things...at the moment, it's good songs. Well, I guess that's all subjective, but here are the current songs I'm obsessed with.

Kanye and JayZ dropped "Otis" some time in the recent past. But all I could think about is the original song "Try A Little Tenderness" and Duckie.


Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse. This song is beautiful.


Sail by AWOLNATION.


I am not a Beyonce fan, but I can't get enough of this song. I think it's because she's actually singing and not screaming. And the beat is so fun.


"The Next Episode" it's the radio edit, but it's not entirely clean. My friend, Kristina, and I have recently rediscovered this song. For some reason I'm always humming this or the Sanford and Sons theme song.


I resisted "Moves Like Jagger" for a very long time. It wasn't until this past week when the volunteers at work got it stuck in my head that I finally accepted it.


I know they're not all new, or the best things ever...but they're all pretty much on rotation in my head. I'm always looking for good music. Any suggestions?

So you've become a Doctor Who fangirl! (or boy!)...or you've noticed some changes in your friends...

Heyhihello, blog readers!


My name is Kat and I've put together a list of a few traits
that may appear once one becomes addicted obsessed a fangirl!


Going around arguing the Cool Factor of bow ties.

Acquiring TARDIS-blue accessories.

Display of "New Episode" face

Usage of Doctor Who reactions and graphics on unrelated things.


Cellphone ringtones and alerts become:
the theme song

the TARDIS

other soundbites




Adopting catch phrases into texts and conversations.

Display of "My Date Didn't Show Up in a TARDIS" face

A sudden interest in the rise and fall of Rome.



TARDIS-blue becomes a wardrobe-defining color.

Yes, yes... I am guilty of these myself... What about you all!
What other traits of a Doctor Who fangirl? (OR BOY!)

Thanks for playing along! I hope you leave more traits in the comments!
I also want to thank ElysiePiecie for letting me write my very first guest post!
IF you'd like to read more fangirl-y posts from me, I blog here.
Alas, I am way more loyal to tumblr, Twitter and YouTube!
Okey! Enough pimping of myself!

Allons-y, Alonso!

{ps. all images via tumblr}

The ABCs of Doctor Who

Hello! I’m Abbi from glam bam thank you ma’am, and I love Doctor Who.

(can you tell?)

I could literally go on all day about all the things I love about Doctor Who. But since I probably shouldn’t do that, here’s a little list of my favorite things, in alphabetical order.

Allons-y, Allonso!
Bowties are cool. (See also: Fezes are cool. Stetsons are cool.)
Come along, Pond.
Don’t. Blink. Blink and you’re dead.
Exterminate! Exterminate!
Fish fingers and custard.
Geronimo!
Harvey Wallbanger?!
I’m waving at fat!
Jack Harkness.
K9.
Late night marathons. We’ve all had them.
Matt Smith. (And David Tennant. And Christoper Eccleston. I love them all.)
New new Earth.
Ood! I love the Ood.
Ponds. The Ponds are amazing.
Queen Victoria. “I am not amused.”
Rose Tyler. And Raxacoricofallapatorius.
Sonic screwdriver (even though it doesn’t do wood.)
The glasses. And squealing every single time Tennant wears them.
Unicorn and The Wasp. It’s simultaneously the best and worst episode.
Vashta Nerada.
Wilfred Mott. And wibbly wobbly timey wimey.
X...I tried and tried and this was the only one I couldn’t come up with.
You just want to mate?!
Z-Neutrino Biological Inversion Catalyser (extra points to anyone who can get this one.)

I’m always looking for an excuse to fangirl anywhere and everywhere, so thanks to the always wonderful Elyse for giving me yet another outlet to do so! :)

"...nerds like stuff"

She's my the first of my lovely Who obsessed fangirls. You can follow her tumblr over here. Who is this girl you may ask? Without any further ado, here's the lovely Jess, as she professes her love for Doctor Who.

I live my life in a series of obsessions. Pick any point in my 24-year timeline, and I can probably tell you exactly what I was obsessed with at that moment. Although my obsessions have included music, sports, and places, most often, they revolve around stories. Characters. Fiction. (But is it really fiction when you love it so much? It becomes real, and you find its parallel everywhere in life.) When I find a new story or character to love, I really, really love it. It’s difficult to explain how much I can love something—how it can become ingrained into my head and and root itself into such deep-seated emotions. Luckily, I’ve always found that I’m not alone in my obsessions. No matter how crazy I know I am with my obsession, I know there is someone else out there who gets it. And it’s usually not just someone—it’s a whole group. A group of nerds with the same obsession.

Source

I’ve always been a nerd. I’ve never tried to deny it. I warn people I meet about it. But I’ve learned that being a nerd isn’t a bad thing. Not at all. Being a nerd is fantastic. You get to love things unashamedly and unite with brilliant, creative people who feel the same way. I think John Green said it best in one of his videos talking about Harry Potter (one of my many obsessions):

Source

Yes, nerds like stuff. We like stuff to the point where some people honestly cannot understand why. But unlike the conventional stereotype, a nerd will always have a friend. Because nerds can’t keep things to themselves. They have to find other people who feel the same. And they always do.

Source

My current obsession is, of course, Doctor Who. I can’t think of a better example of the classic definition of “nerd.” It’s a British sci-fi show about an alien who travels through time and space and defeats other aliens and monsters. But it’s so much more! Trying to explain this show to someone who has never heard of it is not easy. Because how do you explain, in so many words, your intimate love for and connection to the characters, or how complicated and brilliant the story is, or how The Doctor and his companions make you laugh, or how exciting it is to see where the Tardis lands, or how you become a part of this show every time you watch? You can’t. You really just have to make them watch it and hope they get it.

In Memoriam

Ten years ago, on this date, a great tragedy befell upon our country. I was in 9th grade and news of the terrorists attacks first came while I was in my homeroom algebra class. Being out in a trailer, we didn't have TV, so I was pretty much oblivious to the extent of what was going on. When I moved into the main building, in geography, my class sat in awe as we watched the World Trade Centers crumble to the ground. We watched as the Pentagon smoked, and heard of those brave souls who perished in Flight 93.

Ten years later I choose to remember the positive that came out of 9/11. Positive, you say? Yes, you must remember that "happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light."* September 11th is my Maw-Maw's birthday. I choose to not let the day of her birth be tainted by sadness. I choose to remember the closeness our country felt after the 9/11 attacks. I remember feeling a deep sadness, but seeing a country mourn together reminded me that if we stood united, that the United States of America could prevail.

That unity that we as a country felt can still be continued, even in times of normality. I found this list over at Kelsey's blog. I think it makes perfect sense with what I remember about 9/11.

Smile when you make eye contact with someone.
Hold the door open for the person behind you.
Send a hand-written thank you card to someone who assisted you with something.
Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need.
Give a compliment about a waiter, waitress, sales clerk, etc. to his or her manager.
Live each moment with enthusiasm.
Spend time with children and greet the world with wide-eyed wonder.
Eliminate the words ‘hate,’ ‘can’t,’ and ‘won’t’ from your vocabulary.
Volunteer. Get outside of yourself and help others. Your participation is needed.
Notice and appreciate the positive side of things and share this appreciation with others.
Share your talents with someone.
Forgive someone.
Think, speak and act in a loving manner.
Introduce yourself. Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.
Inspire others online.

Let us never forget the events that happened on September 11th. I will always feel a little off on this day, but it is what we choose to do on this day that truly matters.

*Albus Dumbledore

Let the Doctor Who Fangirling Begin!

In honor of Doctor Who starting back up again after summer hiatus a couple of weeks ago, my awesome fangirls and I have decided to give a tribute to the amazing Doctor. I hope you enjoy these next couple of fangirly posts, because I must say, they were a joy to work on.

Long ago back in 2005/2006, back when BBCA first starting showing the new series of Doctor Who, I was a freshman in college. Things were weird. I was all alone and had not quite found my niche of friends. Family life was a bit strange and I didn't know where to turn. That's when I found a this funny man with a blue box.

Picture via

The 9th Doctor and his partner Rose took me on a journey to far away lands and times. It was the perfect escape from reality that I needed.

Picture Via

I followed the Doctor as he regenerated and came upon different companions. The show, no matter how cheesy it may be, kept me captivated. The show has heart. Instead of going into reasons why I love the show. I mean hello, David Tennant and Billie Piper's relationship alone is a great answer. And Roranicus Pondicus is another...but I thought I'd focus on the lessons that I've learned from The Doctor and his wonderful companions.

The Doctor unites people. In the show the Doctor has united enemies together, made love connections, and has even united the whole of Great Britain. It is the Doctors ability to love and care about those in his life that helps the show have such great character. It has even brought myself closer to these wonderful girls who have posted. The Doctor just has this wonderful ability to bring people together.

The Doctor has also taught me that it's okay to be scared sometimes and to run away. Goodness knows, if you're going to be a companion, you've got to have a good pair of running shoes. But he has also taught me that there is a time to be brave as well. Just as in the real world, the Doctor is not always there to save his companions...despite his best attempts. When in those times, you just have to make due and face your fears. It is hard to explain this without there being spoilers for those who have not watched yet, but trust me. Courage is definitely something to be learned.

The Doctor makes things that appear uncool, very cool. Remember that post I did earlier? The one where I said I'm ready to be me? Well, the Doctor would be my biggest advocate. The Doctor would say "Hey! It's okay to be yourself." The Doctor is himself all the time. Who cares if bow ties, glasses, stetsons, or fezzes aren't cool? The Doctor says wear them anyway. We should all adopt this philosophy. Who cares if something we do isn't considered cool? Do it anyways for the sheer fact that it makes you happy.



I have a lot to thank the Doctor for. To put it all in one post would be too much for ya'll...and frankly too much for me to write. That's why I've recruited some pretty awesome girls to help me out. For now, I'll just leave it at this. While Doctor Who is science fiction, the emotions are real. You experience heartache, joy, excitement, all because of 900 year old man with 2 hearts.

To Being Me...

Please excuse me while I rant a minute...

I'm tired of feeling judged for being the person I want to be. Who cares if I'm 24 years old and still reads out of the Y.A. section? Who cares if I love Taylor Swift and Katy Perry? Who cares if I have the innate tendency to smile all the time...even when I don't realize I'm doing it.

I'm tired of having to defend myself and my actions, and feeling guilty when I don't live up to expectations. Life is about having fun. You only get to live once, so why try to fit into the status quo? I like what I like, and I'm not going to change for anyone. I've struggled for long enough trying to feel comfortable in my own skin and I'm tired of it. In the words of the wise Selena "I'm just beautiful me." I'm not going to let the naysayers get me down. I'm going to be me no matter what. Take it or leave it.

Happy Friday!

It's that time of the week again. It's Fill in the Blank Friday! I've been severely neglecting my blog...the first 2 weeks back in Missouri and I've been keeping busy. Plus I've been super lame and have been falling asleep at 8:30/9 every night. Don't' worry friends though, I shall return to my normal night owlness soon. Anyways without any further ado...

Picture via

1. One of life's most simple pleasures is the smell of a new book. It's such a lovely smell. I also love the laugh of a small child. It's pure delight.


2. When people speak down to me because of my age, it really makes me want to punch someone.


3. I like the smell of carbon paper because, it reminds me of going to the Delta Jet Base with my Daddy O when I was little.


4. Dawn is a funny word. Apparently with my southerness and all, I don't pronounce it correctly.


5. If I had to choose one beauty product to use for the rest of eternity it would be mascara. Hands down.

6. I'm happy that I survived my first week back at school. Yay for the weekend.


7. I would never intentionally be mean to someone. Sometimes people don't understand my sarcasm. If I accidentally hurt your feelings I beat myelf up over it.

If you want to play along, make sure you link up at the lovely Lauren's blog.

Looketh at my face! Amst I bothered?

This post needs no introduction...it is sheer perfection.

Fill in the Blank Friday!

It's been a while since I've done a FITBF and I've missed it so! I hope everyone is enjoying their Friday and has wonderful plans for the weekend.

1. My go to outfit for a dress-up occasion like a wedding is a June Cleaver type dress. I wore the most amazing one to my cousin's wedding and I looked like I stepped out of the 1950s. I love anything with a throwback look.

2. This week has flown by. I'm not ready to head back to St. Louis next Friday. Can't I just stay in Georgia forever?

3. When it's dinnertime and I'm feeling lazy I make breakfast for dinner. This usually includes eggs and grits, or pancakes.

4. My favorite pair of shoes is currently my zebra printed pair of Sanuks sidewalk surfers. They're super comfortable.

5. A random item that I own that is completely unnecessary, but that I could never part with are my stuffed animals from when I was little. I have memories attached to each one.

6. My favorite person is ... well I can't choose on this one. It's like asking to choose for me to choose between an icee or a banana milkshake.

7. If I were going to write my own blank it would say "What are you excited for this weekend?" and my answer would be...visiting my cousin in Charleston, SC.

If you want to play along, make sure you link up with Lauren's blog!

25 Things...

A couple of weeks ago, I turned the big 2-4. There are so many things that I thought I would have accomplished by the age of 24 that I haven't...but yet, there are so many things that I have done that just blows my mind. So I was thinking about those yet to be accomplished things and thought I'd make a list of it. These are my 25 things I want to do before I turn 25. I'm hoping to mark off all of these things on my list, but I'd be happy to accomplish, let's say 20 out of 25. Also, some of these items are fluff...just because it feels good marking things off of a list.

*Graduate from Grad School.

*Start planning a trip to Europe.

*Travel to a state that I have never visited. (I've visted to red ones)


visited 20 states (40%)
Create your own visited map of The United States Thanks Kelsey for this idea!

*Be able to run a mile without getting horribly winded. This is a big one, especially with my asthma.

*Lose 15 lbs...want to help motivate me? Here's my weight loss blog.

*Dance in the rain...it'd be even better if it was with someone. (And yes, I've done this, but not as a "grown up".)

*Meet up with an iBff. Meeting Kelsey was awesome and I'd like to meet more of ya'll!
*Read The Bible cover to cover or at least be almost finished with it.

*Learn more about my genealogy.

*Get my first kiss...preferably foot poppin' type ;)

*Become more comfortable in my own skin. Not just physically, but mentally too.

*Relearn how to play the guitar.

*Relearn Italian. Okay, so I never really knew much Italian, but I'd like to brush up and further my knowledge.

*Go to Georgia's Little Grand Canyon. Anyone want to come with me?

*Learn how to cook for one. I get tired of eating leftovers for a week!

*Go speed dating.

*Try to volunteer one day a month (or every other month) to a charitable cause. I was the community service queen in high school, and I miss it so very much.

*Be able to do 25 real push ups, not the girlie ones, without stopping.

*Paint a picture.

*Finish my cross stitching that I started 2 or 3 years ago.

*Have a picnic with my picnic basket.

*Go see a movie by myself...I've eaten at a restaurant by myself, but for some reason, I can't muster up the courage to go to see a movie all by my lonesome.

*Paint each finger nail and toe nail a different color. Silly, but it is something I've never done.

*Try to stop worrying so much.

*Accept that turning 25 isn't such a bad thing. Even if my Daddy O tells me I'll officially be able to call myself an antique.

I'll try to mark things off and update as the year goes on. Fingers crossed I can cross off 20 of them. What's on your bucket list?

Guest post by the lovely Kaycie

Hello readers of Elysie Piecie’s Peace of Mind! I’m Kaycie and I blog over at Redhead Memories.

My blog name says it all: I’m a carrot top that loves clinging to memories and making them! So, since the final Harry Potter movie just came out, I thought I’d show you some of my adventures with the series.

This is my husband, Scott and I dressing up on Halloween. Ginny and Harry, anyone? It was a good thing we dressed this simply because it turns out that no one in college really dresses up…



My mom and I made this cake for the premiere of the sixth movie. It even had glittery dust all over! Unfortunately there was neither a horcrux nor a resurrection stone inside.

And this is what I sported for the final movie. I went to a 20-hour marathon to celebrate it all so I had to be comfortable. Otherwise, I would have totally decked out in Hogwarts gear. But of course, I had my wand just in case.

It’s sad that the movies and books have come to a close, but there’s no doubt that these books will still remain popular. I can’t wait to share them with my own kids and to have marathons and dress-up parties with them someday.

Thanks so much for reading and thanks to Elyse for letting me visit!

90s Nostalgia...

I first found these videos over at the lovely Vanessa's blog and thought they were just too awesome not to share. Watching them was like reliving my childhood. How come TV can't be as good as it used to? I mean come on...what happened to TGIF? Enjoy this little blast from the past my friends.








PS: Don't forget to send me your address if you want a postcard... elysiepiecie {at} gmail.com

Who wants mail?

Hi ya'll! I'll be going on vacation next week and thought I'd send you lovelies some snail mail. If you want a postcard, just email your address at elysiepiecie {at} gmail.com.

XO.

PS...we're so close to getting to see Harry Potter!!!

Elyse, killer of fish

Before ya'll wig out on me about the title of this post, let me explain. I have the best dentist in the world. They play movies while you're in the waiting room. This time around for my biannual visit, they were playing Finding Nemo. I hadn't seen this movie in a while and cracked up when Gil says

"All drains lead to the ocean"

and Nemo decides to get himself flushed.

via...

Why might I find this line unusually funny? When I was little I had this goldfish who passed away at an unfortunate time. Poor little Flounder was floating upside down in his bowl and my Mama informed me that we were sending him back home to be with his family in the ocean. My Mama ceremoniously put Flounder in the toilet and flushed him down.

A couple of years down the road I decided to go on a crusade a to win fish at carnivals, fall festivals, etc., and send those poor fishies back to their families. Well how was Little Elyse supposed to release these poor creatures back home when I lived 3 hours away to the closest beach? That's right people, my name is Elyse and I am the killer of fish. It wasn't until later that I realized that these poor, innocent fish did not end up going back to the ocean, but rather the septic tank in my backyard.

There's No Place Like Home

Sorry I've MIA for a while. On the first of July I returned to my home land, aka the wonderful Peach state. I'm so excited to be home until the second week of August, but I'm already getting anxious that I'm not going to have enough time to do everything that I want to do. I do not like being home on a time limit. It just doesn't seem fair. But enough whining and complaining. I've decided to make a bucket list of what I want to do before I leave to start my second and final year of grad school. PS: I'm leaving on vacation not this Saturday, but the next. If you want a postcard email me at elysiepiecie{at}gmail.com.

Go to a laser show at Stone Mountain.

Get together with the lovely Jenn and go see Winnie the Pooh. Don't judge.

Drink as many Coke icees from Racetrac as is humanly possible.

Go to the lake and see my Aunt Patti and Uncle Jim for the day.

Read as many fun books as possible before I have to start reading the serious stuff for school.

Go to the Jersey Shore.

Not get sunburnt (I'm unusually pale for this time of year).

Not gain a bazillion lbs back (and actually lose some) while being at home.

Go to a Braves game.

See Harry Potter a bazillion times.

Go take pictures of "Mystic Falls" so I can show ya'll have close I actually live to it.

I'm trying my best to get together with all my friends and family before I leave, but for if I don't get to see you this time let me go ahead an apologize. I'm trying to spend as much time with my Mumsie Dearest and Daddy O as possible. I'll post as to why later, but I just feel like it needs to be done.

Well it's not much of a bucket list, but if ya'll think of something I should add, just let me know. And don't forget if you want a postcard send me your address or if I already have it, just leave a comment :D

Fill in the Blank Friday!

It's Friday! YAY! Hopefully I will be in Washington DC in a couple hours hanging out with my lovely cousin, Laura. I'm so excited. In lieu of getting ready, I'm actually doing this. I'm a perpetual dawdler.

1. The last movie I saw was Midnight In Paris. I've got Dali in my head saying "rhinoceros".

2. I want to learn how to stop worrying. It's hard and the harder I try, the more I worry.

3. Surprises are okay. I don't really like them. I like planning surprises, but I don't like people surprising me.

4. The best accessory is a good pair of shoes. And I don't mean a nice pair of heels. I mean, cute, comfy shoes. If shoes aren't comfy, it ruins my day.

5. My favorite warm drink is apple cider. I even love the instant apple cider.

6. My favorite cold drink is a Coke Icee. Yum! Can't wait to go home for the summer and get my fix of Racetrac Coke Icees.

7. Currently loving Katy Perry. I've always loved her, but I'm on a high after going to her concert. Seriously ya'll, she is amazing. Stay tuned for a post...

I hope ya'll have a lovely weekend! If you want to play along, make sure you link up here. And a special little shout out to my new followers! ::waveshello::

PS: I leave ya'll with what is currently making me happy/sad/nostalgic...enjoy!

Fill in the Blank Friday!

It's that time of the week again! If you want to play along, make sure you link up with the lovely Lauren's blog.

1. This weekend I'm going to play whirley ball with Kristina and some friends for her birthday and I'm excited to see how big of a fool I make out of myself.


2. My last vacation was going to San Diego in May.


3. My next vacation will be either visiting Washington DC next weekend (I'm hoping it works out) or going to Philly in July.


4. My favorite way to relax is with a good book by the pool. The combination of the two makes for a very happy Elyse.


5. When vacationing one should always leave room for randomness. I love finding little quirky places to go. Vacation shouldn't be rushed, it should be leisurely.

6. When vacationing one should never count calories. It's bad for the soul or something. Okay I stole this one from Lauren because it's too perfect.


7. The best part about a vacation is how you get to leave your regular life for a while. It's nice to have an escape.

PS: I'm leaving you with Katy Perry singing "Friday". This isn't from the concert I went to. Apparently I was too excited to hold my camera straight that night. More on that later...

O Solo Mio

The last day of my San Diego adventure was just a continuation of the awesomeness of the days before.

Karen and I started the day off by going to Coronado Island. What does one do when they go to Coronado? Well they go to The Hotel Del of course. I have been wanting to go to The Hotel Del since I was little. I first saw it on one of those haunted shows on the Travel Channel way back in middle school. It's beautiful and is very old Hollywood. One day, when I have some money and I'm not on a grad student's budget, I'm going to stay there.









After leaving the glitz and glamour of The Del, Karen and I went and had a date with the lovely Columbo. Okay, so it wasn't really a date, but he was our gondelier on our gondola ride. He took us around the bay on Coronado and sang "O Solo Mio" to us. So romantic. Haha, too bad I was with Karen (just kidding Karen).

After our ride, we decided to see what the tide was like at Point Loma since we missed the tide pools. Sadly we missed it again, but we did get to walk a little further than we had before. I think this place may be my favorite place to visit.





Finally, Karen and I went to the boardwalk for dinner and to ride rides. It was stereotypically Californian and I loved it. I loved seeing the rollerbladers and people exercising. I would rollerblade everday if I lived there. We also see this guy dislocate his knee and pop it back into place. It was gross, but kind of cool at the same time. So random.

We hit the bed early since we had to drop off the rental car at 6:30 am and hit our early morning flights. It was quite a horrid day of travel, but I didn't let that ruin my weekend.

San Diego, I will be back. And Karen, you've got yourself a travel buddy for life.

Fill in the Blank Friday!

So it's been a while since I've done one of these...if you want to play along, make sure you link up with Lauren's blog :D

I hope ya'll are having an amazing Friday and have a spectacular weekend!


1. I love Coke icees because...do I really need a reason? I mean they're a frozen version of Coke. And a 32 oz at Racetrak is $1.27. Seriously! That's cheap! I can afford to drink one every day.

2. A time that mama knew best was well, I am not sure. I'm an only child so I feel like I've always known her. Growing up she was always the perfect combination of mother and friend, and she still is.

3. My first kiss went a little like this ... well I wish I could answer this one, but honestly I can't. I'm 23 (almost 24) and I've never been kissed ::cringe::

4. My celebrity crush is oh, don't make me choose! I have so many of them. I did a post about it a while ago and I think they're still pretty true to my crushes. Just to name a few Rupert Grint, Rob, Tom Sturridge and David Tennant.

5. My splurge of choice would probably be on music. I'll buy albums upon albums and then go on a rampage and end up buying tons of concert tickets. Costly, but the memories are worth it.

6. My biggest accomplishment is moving to a far away city, all by myself. It's been quite the adventure with ups and downs, but I did it!

7. My dance jam of choice is oh, yet another one for me to be indecisive about! "Brass Monkey" is always a good one. So is Elvis's "A Little Less Conversation". At weddings I will be first in line when Cupid Shuffle comes on (don't judge). I'm always dancing...I never can sit still when there's music on.

Where the Wild Things Are...

The second day in San Diego was even better than the first.


The first stop of the day was at the San Diego Zoo. It's $40 to get in, but it was worth every penny of it. There is 100+ acres of land to explore with tons of cute baby animals. The zoo makes it easy to see everything with a double decker bus and a sky taxi. My favorites had to be the giraffes, zebras, polar bear,and the baby panda.

And for my Harry Potter people...I couldn't resist.

After walking about the zoo, we decided to go to Point Loma. It's absolutely gorgeous out there. We were too late to see the tide pools, but just sitting on the rocks, gazing out into the sea, made up for it.





There are two lighthouses there. One ran by the coast guard and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. I love lighthouses and fell in love. Did ya'll ever see the new version Yours, Mine and Ours, when the family movies into an old lighthouse. I would love to do that.






Our last adventure on Saturday was to meet up with the lovely Kelsey. Kelsey and I have been talking for a while and I knew I had to meet up with her when I decided I was going to California.





I wish we lived closer, because I could totally see myself hanging out with her. But since we don't, yay for skype!

Stay tuned for Day 3...