high and low

Day 30: Highs and Lows of June

I have had a ton of highs.  

• Show weeks went awesome!
• Elexis loved camp
• Saw New Kids on the Block, Boys II Men, and 98* last night for free
• My daughter and I have finally began summer 
• Saw some great movies

Lows

• sleep schedule out of whack
• giving myself whiplash

So, yeah; got to see New Kids last night.  I got a text from my friend on Friday night that said "hey, you want to go to the New Kids concert? I may have free tickets"  I am like "heck yeah!!  I never got to see them when I was younger."  She said she would text me in the morning if she could get them.  Yesterday at noon she said we are on for the concert.  Turns out we had awesome seats.  We were in a box suite with our own waitress and a table with extremely comfortable seats.  We had wristbands to get in our section.  The concert was all I ever wanted it to be and more.  Boys II Men were phenomenal.  98* were extremely attractive and New Kids....they still got it!!  Extremely high energy show.  It was awesome and I can't believe I got to go for free.  Tonight we are going to our city's movie in the park.  They are showing Despicable Me!  I cannot wait for the second one to come out on Wednesday.  

Photo Day 30: Handwriting

Messy, but mine

This completes the June Blog Challenge over at Paula's

Join us for July starting tomorrow!!

Goal!

Day 29: Goals for the next 30 days

Ok, so I tend to take things one day at a time.  Today's goal...laundry.  As for the next 30 days...I have a few.

July 3rd - Go see Lion King in Tulsa - goal: Have fun and relax
July 4th - My 16th wedding anniversary - goal: To find an anniversary present for my husband.
July 12 - Mini family vacation to Great Wolf Lodge - goal: They swim; I go to Ikea and hopefully get my anniversary present (not sure what it will be yet).
July 19 - Shoot my very first wedding - goal: Don't throw up, don't pass out, get as many memorable shot as I can. Weddings tend to intimidate me because these are people's memories and you only get one time to get the shot.  Breathe, Cristy, breathe...

That is what is set in stone for right now.  I have some other goals in mind, I will share those in a couple of days when I start the July Blog Challenge.  Speaking of which, I am hoping to see you guys join me.  I love getting to know you.  I will be hosting an August Challenge that I am putting together now.  I will be asking for a little help from you guys (it's part of the plan).  I am excited.

Photo Day 29: In my bag

I don't carry a purse.  I keep all necessary essentials in my car or in my pocket (hello 2 tubes of chapstick at all times).  Here is a picture of the cute little wristlet I carry.  I just got this one this week.  I paid a whopping $19.50 for it (thank you coach outlet for the awesome sale).  Inside of it, I keep my discount cards, my debit card, my driver's license and a few membership cards.  I love my new one because it's pretty much stain resistant.

This is almost the end of the June Blog Challenge over at Paula's Place.

Join us for the July Challenge as well.  

I miss...

Day 28: Something that you miss

I feel I have talked about how much I miss my grandma a lot (you can find here and here.  I am going to get a little more creative on this on.  Here are a few things I miss.

• Burples - My favorite was the peach. I don't know why these didn't stick around.  They were so much fun
  source
• I miss my stonewashed jean jacket and matching jean purse.
• My Strawberry Shortcake Lamp with nightlight.  I found one on ebay!!  Sadly I do not think I am going to spend $40 on it.

source

• My paper dolls.  I would spend hours and hours playing with these things.
  

source

• Saturday Morning Cartoons and weekday after school Cartoons: Flintstones, Jetsons, ShirtTails, Get Along Gang, Muppet Babies, Thunder Cats, Wuzzles, Pound Puppies, Smurfs, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Duck Tails, Tail Spin.... ahhh, the good old days (at least for this 80's/90's generation kid).  Cartoons weren't on all day on specific channels like they are now days.  

Of course I miss important people that have passed on, but I know I will see them again someday.  

Photo Day 28: Red

Round Barn in Arcadia, OK.  It's red.

This is part of Paula's June Blog Challenge.

Join us in July for the July Blog Challenge.

I like the prompts every day.  It gives me inspiration and keeps me blogging on a regular basis.  I cannot believe that it is already almost July.

I got 99 problems....not really

Day 27: A problem that you have had.

I have lots of tiny problems, but nothing really big lately.  I guess I could write about how I have way too many dreams and ambitions and not enough moolah to make them happen.  I think we all have that problem.  There are so many things I want and places I want to go; yet a very limited cash flow.

Today Elexis and I are going to beat the heat and go tour the capitol building.  I love that it is free.  We are also going to go tour a place called Overholser Mansion.  I am very excited about that because I love architecture.  I plan on taking a trip up to Tulsa during the summer and visiting Frank Lloyd Wright's only completed skyscraper.

Edit:  We had a great time today.  We played tourist in our own state.  The Overholser Mansion excited Elexis so much, that we have decided to volunteer there.  I can't wait until we do that.  The capitol building was awesome.  I haven't really been on a tour in about 20 years.  It was great to go back.  Especially since now the dome has been added.  Our original capital was suppose to have a dome, but they ran out of funding.  The builders made the ceiling to illusion that there was a dome.  In 2002, we finally got enough money from donors and stuff to get our dome.  I have so many pictures to edit and blog about...guess I better get busy.  :)

Also, funny story:  On Monday night, I gave myself whiplash by tripping on a step in my house.  I was carrying two plates of food and I fell forward hitting my head on the door frame.  I managed to not drop any of the food except a few chips.  I do have a love cluster of bruises on my forehead and one on my knee.  My forehead was swollen until yesterday.  My neck feels a whole lot better though.  My husband and daughter were quite impressed that I didn't drop the food.  Now if I could just work on my gracefulness....

Photo Day 27: Into the sun

This is part of Paula's June Blog Challenge.

Paula will also be hosting a July Blog Challenge in July.  More information can be found here.

My first attempt at a blog button.  

Attractiveness

Day 26: What kind of person attracts you.

Who I find attractive and what attracts me are two different things.  I find chiseled men very attractive, but that doesn't attract me.  Here are a few qualities that attract me:

• Integrity - hugely important
• Character 
• A great sense of humor and someone who gets sarcasm (my humor of choice)
• Friendly
• I prefer dark headed people (even though my husband is very blond)
• I prefer a guy taller than me (though not a requirement, my ex-boyfriend was my height)
• A man holding a baby and talking gibberish to it - so hot!!
• A man playing with a dog - like really interacting with it!
• A good heart - someone who is not afraid to cry
• A man who isn't afraid to eat - I like men who are a little bit squishy in the middle (I like to cook and bake and I need a man who will eat it)  My husband is a bit of a picky eater, but he loves baked stuff.

There are a few.  I am not hugely important on looks.  My husband was born with a double cleft lip and palate.  During our first date, he rarely looked me in the eye, because he thought I would find him unattractive.  What he doesn't know is I started falling for him because of the way he interacted with his nephew who was 2 at the time.  Also the way he interacted with his brother and the way he treated me. I could care less how he was born.  He is a great man who has integrity, character, and definitely a good heart.  Now if he were only dark haired....hmmm...maybe hair dye??? haha

Photo Day 26:
I have posted this before, but it's definitely empty

The hallway after strike.  For two weeks it was complete chaos back there.  

This is part of Paula's June Blog Challenge.

Who fascinates me

Day 25: Someone who fascinates you and why

I don't just have a single person who fascinates me, but a whole bunch of people.  Pretty much people in general fascinate me, but in particular: the older generation.  And by older generation, I mean people in their 80's and 90's and beyond.  These people have seen so much of our world change.  This past week, I have had the pleasure of meeting two people in their 90's.  The stories they told from WWII blew my mind.  One was the original Tuskegee Airman (the first all black fighter pilot squadron).  He was so lucid and hilarious.  The other was my friend's great grandpa.  She asked me to be a witness for him to sign over his power of attorney to his daughter (my friend's grandma).  He also was hilarious.  I told my friend's great grandpa that I would come hang out with him again and he asked if I was married.  He was adorable.  I love the older generation (as long as they are not behind the wheel of a car).  I go to the senior citizen center on Monday's to play dominos with my husband's Granny.  She still hasn't made any progress of making friends.  She has a couple, but not nearly as many as I do up there.  When I walk in, they call me granddaughter and they ask about Elexis.  They ask about the musicals and I know about their children and grandchildren.  I love to hear history.  They witnessed things that I have only read about and that fascinates me.

On a side note: at the Assisted Living Center (where I went to be a witness), they had the front entrance blocked off.  Apparently the day before a resident of the facility drove her car under the awning and it was on fire.  They were cleaning up all of the soot and ash from the car being on fire.  They are lucky the car didn't explode or she didn't kill anyone.  They need to revoke her driver's license.  Also, the elderly lady that drove her car under there, her dad was celebrating his 99th birthday in the same facility.  99...wow!!

Photo Day 25: Sharp  I am sure this guy has some sharp teeth and claws.

This is part of Paula's June Blog Challenge.

My favorite movie

Day 24: Your favorite movie and what it is about

My favorite movie is about a townsperson who loves to read.  Her dad is the town crazy inventor.  She has this man who will do anything to get this woman to marry him, even though he has his pick of women who want to be his wife.  All this girl really wants is adventure in the great wide somewhere.  Her dad sets off to a fair to show his latest invention.  On the way there, he gets lost and takes refuge in a castle.  What he doesn't know is this castle is enchanted.  Inside lives a beast that must fall in love before his 21st birthday.  When the father's horse returns to the cottage, the daughter sets out to find her dad.  She too comes across the enchanted castle.  When confronted with the beast, she offers to stay there as his prisoner if he lets the dad go.  The beast obliges.

The ridiculously good looking man devises a plan to get the girl to marry him, by having her dad committed.  The girl is starting to get settled in the castle.  She is befriended by a candlestick, a clock, a teapot, and her son a cup.  She teaches the beast to be more gentle and less temperamental.  When she finds out that her father is ill, she goes back to town to help him.  When the townspeople call them crazy, she brings out an enchanted mirror and shows that the beast is real.  Then the ridiculously good looking man feels he must kill the beast.  There is a fight and the beautiful girl thinks that the beast is dying.  She tells the beast that she loves him just as the last petal falls from an enchanted rose.  I will not spoil the ending.  

If you haven't guessed yet, my favorite movie (and has been since I was 13) is Beauty and the Beast.  Yes, I love other movies, but this movie is my go-to comfort movie.  It is also my favorite musical as well.  My favorite series of movies are the Fast and the Furious.  

Photo Day 24: Negative Space - Last night's super moon.  It was beautiful, though it didn't seem any larger than it does on any other night.  

This is part of Paula's June Blog Challenge.

Man Candy

Day 23: 5 famous guys you find attractive

YAYYYYYYYY!!  I have been looking forward to this day since the challenge started!!  It is no secret that I am boy crazy.  I love me a good piece of man candy!!

I have already talked about my love for the twins who do Property Brothers.  Since they are twins I am going to count them as 1.
Andrew (my fav) and Jonathan Scott

I really started finding this guy attractive in 13 going on 30.  I did not see Hulk though.  

Mark Ruffalo

source

He is way young for me, but he is over 21 so he is fair game:

Josh Hutcherson - yummy!!

source

Yummy Yummy Ryan Reynolds:

source

My favorite is last.  All of the guys from this movie, but The Rock is going to be my next husband (haha...I tell my husband this all the time).  I pretty much own all Dewayne Johnson movies.  I do own all of the Fast and Furious movies and I have seen the 6th one 3 times already.

I have many many more that I find attractive, but here is my top 5 (or 8...whatever!)

Photo Day 23:  last

This was the last picture I took at the zoo yesterday.  What a cute little meerkat.  

This is part of Paula's June blog challenge.

Ch Ch Ch Changes....

Day 22: How have you changed in the past two years

What a tricky question.  I don't feel like I have changed in the past two years, but I know I have.  I definitely know I have become busier since my kid entered middle school.  Two years ago I quit working at Sbucks and became an infant hearing screener.  I did that for a year and then I went to photography school.  I guess that would be a huge change.  I became a backstage mom (not a neurotic kind though, just merely location).  I made some really awesome friends who are almost like family.  I am definitely more active now.  I think I have it narrowed down what I want to do when I grow up.

I don't feel like a different person, but I know I have evolved.  I do things now that I have never done in the past.  I laugh more.  I let go of things more (for the the most part).  I dream  more.  I think overall I am happier.

Photo Day 22: Enjoying Life - We went to the zoo today with my husband's brother, his nephew, his mom and his Granny (and of course me and Elexis).  I love the zoo.  Here is are a couple of pictures of enjoying life.

Elexis with her favorite cousin.  They are 17 days apart in age.

My mother-in-law, her mom (Granny), hubby in the Yankee's hat, and brother-in-law.  

This is part of Paula's June Blog Challenge.

TV

Day 21: One of your favorite TV shows

Ok, as if you didn't know me by now... I can't limit this to one.  I will, of course, be breaking this up into a few categories.  So, here goes:

My favorite TV channel: HGTV - my favorite show/people on that channel - Jonathan and Drew Scott AKA - The Property Brothers.  They are twins and they are 6'4" and they are yummy to watch.  Watching Drew pop off a counter top with his bare hands....be still my heart.

source

My favorite current comedies: (yes there are two...I am such a rebel)

There are several that I watch.  I watch everything on the DVR because fast forwarding through commercials is awesome and I am not always home when the shows are on (in fact, I am never home when they are on).  I have narrowed it down to: 

The Big Bang Theory:  I love this show.  I will watch all reruns.  

I love Johnny Galeki.  I have since Roseanne.

Mike and Molly:   Love, love, love this show.  I love that the characters aren't stick thin.  Melissa McCarthy is golden comedy.  She is hilarious!!

source

My favorite comedies of all time:  Golden Girls and Boy Meets World

Both of these shows give me the warm and fuzzies every time I watch them.  Golden Girls is a show I used to watch with my grandma.  I wanted to be one of them white haired ladies.  

source

Boy Meets World - I have seen every episode probably at least 10 times.  Elexis and I would watch it every afternoon (again, thank you DVR...it came on at 5 in the morning).  I wanted Topanga's hair.  

source

My favorite reality show:  The Voice - two reasons - Blake Shelton and Adam Levine!  They are hilarious, plus Blake is from Oklahoma and Adam Levine is the front man for Maroon 5!!  I was happy Team Blake won again this season.

source

My favorite hour long show currently: Hart of Dixie.  I love that show.  It always reminds me of Sweet Home Alabama, a movie I will never grow tired of watching.  

source

My favorite hour long show that I own all the DVD's of (the only show I have ever bought the DVD's of):  Dawson's Creek.  Judge all you want, I absolutely love this show!!  I will watch through all the seasons again and again.  I still laugh and I still cry.

source

Ok, so again, I turn this what is supposed to be a short blog post, into a novel.  I can't help it, I have a lot of words to get out...haha.  

I only watch really a couple of hours of TV a day, sometimes not even that...but a few times, I will have marathon days (like when I am doing laundry or sewing).  I like to fold and watch.  My DVR has a lot of shows on it.  My husband and kid don't really watch TV so the DVR is all mine.  

Photo Day 21: Lunch time - Qdoba kids meal.  Chicken taco and applesauce - yum!

This is part of Paula's June Blog Challenge.

Education

Day 20: How important do you think education is

I believe everyone should educate themselves.  Even on the smallest topics.  Education doesn't necessarily mean go to an institution and let someone teach you; you can get an education from anything, including trial and error.

I also don't believe in wasting a bunch of money on college trying to figure out what you want to do.  I started college and changed my major three times and I still didn't finish.  I was wasting money trying to figure out what I want to do.  I did take some cake decorating classes, and I am now certified to teach cake decorating if I choose too (I don't).  I also went to photography school that wasn't at a major institution and I am now a certified graduated photographer.  I don't use either of these certifications to actually make money, I got them because I wanted to know more about the processes.  I have made money from both of these endeavors.  I just don't actively pursue a business out of either one of them because I barely have enough time as it is.  I think I just like learning as much as I can about a subject and then moving on.  I did find out more about myself and what I am interested in while I was in photography school though.  I know I like photographing architecture and food way more than people.
I think I do know what I want to do, so I think I will be going back to school soon.

My husband graduated college and immediately went to work for NASA.  He knew exactly what he wanted to do in college and worked everything toward that.  He didn't waste any money trying to figure out what he wanted to do.  He is now learning all he can about the stock market (something that is more a mentor program than actual go to school learning).  He has gone to a few seminars has mentors all over the world (not just in the US) and he is doing pretty good at it.  He says it is a constant learning experience.

My daughter wants to go to college.  She wants to be a scientist and inventor.  More specifically she wants to go to an Ivy League School (Yale or Princeton) and she is doing everything she can to help get scholarships for these schools.  We have always been encouraging to pursue her dreams so we will do what ever we can possible to help her achieve these.  She is another one of those already determined what she is going to be and knows how to get there.

With all that being said, I think everyone should at least finish high school.  What you do after that whether it be a trade school, college, see the world, or just go to work, just make sure you keep educating yourself.  When you stop learning, your brain begins to die (I totally don't know if that is true, but it sounds good).

Photo Day 20: Cute

This would be my squishy faced pug...sleeping on my leg.  Some people don't find pugs cute...I am not one of those people.  I think pugs are very cute.  

Join the June Blog Challenge over at Paula's.

Children these days

Day 19: Disrespecting your parents

Since I am currently a parent to a 13 year old girl; we have now entered battlefield category.  When she doesn't want to do something and we do want her to do it; she gets a bit stubborn (I have NO idea where she gets this from...oh yeah, me.  I have tons more years of experience than her though).  After many words discussed and lots of foot stomping and whining; it gets done.  Elexis for the most part is a highly respectful kid; especially to other people.  She knows though, that I am her parent first and her friend second.  She knows that when she is punished that I do it out of love and to keep her safe.  She has disrespected me on a few occasions (usually the only thing she really gets in trouble for).  I know she does it to push her boundaries and all teens go through it.  She has been popped in the mouth (not rough, just to get attention) when she sasses or is rude.  I've only done that twice.  But, like I said, Elexis is a good kid.  We taught her manners and respect from when she was very young.

 I don't think that kids today get nearly enough discipline.  They are disrespectful not only to their parents, but strangers as well.  I have been known to parent a child not my own in a store.  Not setting boundaries with your kids leads to disrespect.  This will cause them major problems down the road in their adult lives.  Manners and respect go a long way in life.

I am working on a post about everything Music Man.  I already miss it.

Photo Day 19: Currently reading - Just one of the books I am reading.  It was the closest one.

Coincidentally I used Lightroom 5 to edit this!  Ha!

This is part of Paula's June Blog Challenge.

If you just believe

Day 18: Your Beliefs

I am going to split this up into a couple of categories.

Things I think everyone should do at least once (hopefully more than once):

Dance in the rain - get soaked and jump in puddles
Eat cake for breakfast - especially on your birthday
Eat dessert first - sometimes you just want to
Play make-believe as an adult - be someone your not for just a little bit
Stargaze - Take a blanket and just watch the stars
Surprise a friend and take them out for a treat
Stay in bed and eat crumby food - all day
Sing your favorite song with the windows down in your car
Take a bus and just people watch

I believe in:
Love - love with you whole heart, even if there is a chance it will get broken
Kindness - smile more
Respect - to give is to receive
Character - be the person you want your child to see
Integrity
Justice
The impossible - You never know when it will become possible
Letting go - holding on to emotions hurts your more than them.

I leave you with the lyrics from "Believe" by Josh Groban

Believe in what your heart is saying, 
Hear the melody that's playing.
There's no time to waste, 
There so much to celebrate.
Believe in what you feel inside,
Give your dreams the wings to fly.
You have everything you need, if you just believe

Photo Day 18: Street

I love this brick street.  It's so rustic.

Join me for Paula's June Blog Challenge.

High's and Low's

Day 17 Your high's and low's of the past year.

I don't know why I am finding this post so hard to write.  I have been thinking about it all day.  Alright enough whining on my part, I'll get to it.

Low's:

Losing my great aunt
Tornado season this year and my poor state.
Losing two relationships of people really close to me
Not being there when my latest nephew was born

High's

My daughter and all her accomplishments this year - THE BEST!
Working on the musical's
My real life friendships I have maintained.
Volunteering where and when I can
Starting this blog and meeting all of you - HUGE HIGH!!!

My high's have far exceeded my low's this year.  I am so very happy about that.  I am just so stinkin proud of my daughter and her amazing year.

Starting this blog has been one of the best things ever.  I have met some really great people that I have gotten to know through the months.  I feel like you girls are almost a part of my family.  I talk about you all to people I know, like I actually have laid eyes upon you.  I cannot wait to get to know you all even more.

Day 17: Centered - Two things that relax me and center me....

Baking and taking pictures.  This was my very first food picture I took for photography school.  The school loved it so much that they have it hanging in their break room.  I feel centered while baking.  Oh, and the cookies are in the center of the plate (just to cover all the bases of 'centered'

..ha)

This is part of the June Blog Challenge found over at Paula's Place.

Mainstream Music

Day 16: Your views on mainstream music

My dad was a DJ for proms and wedding and stuff for years.  I have always grown up with mainstream music (which is considered oldies now)  And now, I am around pre-teens and teens a lot.  Having a daughter that age as well, I am pretty up to date on mainstream music.  I am not fond of most of the rap.  I do like some, but nothing too hardcore.  My husband listens to alternative and christian rock.  I pretty much like all of that.  My daughter and I listen to a lot of just pop music.  We listen to XM radio in the car.  We listen to channels like Radio Disney (some of that crap I cannot stand...it is too fabricated and all starts to sound the same).  I like most of the pop stuff.  Pink and Maroon 5 are my favorites.  We listen to country as well.  Both 90's country and today's stuff.  I pretty much like anything that has a good beat and I can sing along to.  I love flipping over to the 90's channel and jamming out to some Vanilla Ice, Smashing Pumpkins, En Vogue, etc....  I do not encourage my daughter to dress or act like any current artist.  Taylor Swift being an exception, I believe she dresses modestly and like a young person in the spotlight should.  Whether these people want to accept it or not, people look at them for guidance on how to act and dress and treat people.  OK, I am off my soapbox.  I don't like a lot of profanity in our music, because my daughter doesn't like it and I am okay with that.  We don't really watch music videos so I can't really comment on that.

I leave you with my current favorite songs right now.






Day 16: Family

I will share what I made for my husband for Father's Day.  My family

The center picture was taken Friday night. 

Join us over at Paula's Place for the rest of the June Blog Challenge.