Louisiana State University

People... you know it... I LOVE THIS PLACE! And I'm going back tomorrow for the LSU-Florida football game. CAN...NOT...WAIT!

Tiger Stadium is literally one of the greatest places on earth. It's so loud and it vibrates and I get goose bumps when the band starts playing! Even the great Bear Bryant thought it was the most intimidating place to play as the opponent. It's a huge bowl of 100,000+ people. Someone once said it's like being inside of a drum, and that's probably pretty accurate.

This will also be happening again... for the first time in 9 years. This is the last time Amanda and I were at an LSU game together. She was a freshman and I was still sneaking in with my college ID on a student ticket. 

Tiger Stadium quotes:

"It was like the Colosseum in Rome and we were the Christians." -- The late Bobby Dodd of Georgia Tech.

"Baton Rouge happens to be the worst place in the world to be a visiting team." --  Paul "Bear" Bryant

"There is a 25-yard-long sign that reads, "Welcome to Death Valley'' mounted below the pressbox. Those are the little touches at which LSU excels. Most schools wouldn't even put up such a name. Others would just say, "Death Valley" and leave it at that. But not LSU. Here, it's "Welcome to Death Valley." That's beautiful. It's like descending into Hell and finding a sign that reads, "Satan Invites You to Enjoy Eternal Damnation." 
-- Jim Caple 

So off I go tomorrow, to the greatest place in the world. 

Nicknames

Do you nickname people? If you do, do you ever refer to them by their real names again? Because I don't.

This is AC and I (AshHam) last week. She is a true love of my life, my spiritual stronghold, and as crazy and unstable as I am; we HAD to be friends. She and her husband stopped to see me on their way to Corpus. He is "The Hubbs." As in I have never referred to him as Shep or Sheppard since they got married. Literally. And I do this a lot! 

I prefer nick names because I adopt people into my life and heart and I feel like it singles them out as significant and necessary in my world. Also, once someone had a nick name you are forever bound. They cannot go away.

My boyfriend thinks this is very weird. Conversation after lunch with AC and The Hubbs last week:

G: How was your day, baby?

Me: AWESOME!! I got to see AC and The Hubbs!!

G: What?

Me: I had lunch with AC and The Hubbs.

G: Who is that?

Me: Ashley and Shep. I told you they were driving through.

G: Yes, I know that. But The Hubbs? I thought you went to see a band or something,

Me: No, his name is The Hubbs. I never call him Shep.

G: OK... do you ever call people by their real names?

Me: No. Why would I do that?

Examples:

My sisters: Kae and Mana

- Mana hates this. Kae lets me do whatever I want -

Roommate

S

G or Boyfriend

- I do refer to him as German sometimes. But he's still newish. - 

So there you go. When I assign people highly important roles in my life, they get nicknames... never again to be known by their actual names. It's a quirk. I have lots of them. 

Louisiana Warrior Dash

I am so awesome, people!

Seriously. I don't even know how to tell you how awesome I truly am.

I did the Louisiana Warrior Dash with Niki and her family. And I was pretty sure I would
#1: die
or
#2: not finish.

But I did neither! I made all of the obstacles, finished in an hour and a half, and LOVED it! I was pretty nervous the week before. See, up until 3 weeks out I had no idea there were obstacles... or fire...or barbed wire... I thought it was a nice, fun, stroll through the mud. And I love mud! Nope- it has 12 obstacles and is described as 3 miles of pure hell on the website. I am a clumsy oaf, folks. I was scared!

And then they send the release form, which informs you that you must have insurance, the obstacles are extremely dangerous, there will be fire, barbed wire and other forms of torture (my words, not theirs), you have to swim through water of unknown sources, there may be harmful plants and bugs... and, of course, they are responsible for nothing that may befall you. It was a good read...

Let's review:
It started off as about a mile of trekking through knee to ankle deep, slippery, sliding, mud or muddy water. That alone was quite an accomplishment. Then there were 12 obstacles and more running (walking in our case) through sand and mud:

Capsized Catamaran:
We had to jump into muddy water, swim up to, and climb on some floating plastic "stuff". Then you balance your way across and climb down.

Teetering Traverse:
This was my first big challenge. It was a (muddy) balance beam about 8 feet off the ground. Sounds easy, but I am afraid of heights. Almost barfed, but I made it. This nice girl named Kathryn held my hand. :)

Trenches:
A crawl through a dug-out trench with barbed wire. The bad part was you were crawling over pebbles. My knees have scars to prove it!

These nice people got hay to crawl on!

Warrior Wall:

I dreaded this all week! I have zero upper body strength and I am petrified of climbing and heights. But I wanted to at least try. The guy in front of me saw me quaking in fear and told me to use my arms only to hold on, and push myself up with my legs. I made it!! I was ridiculously proud and Niki and I hugged and jumped in circles after we both made it. 

The little "steps" are not even half an inch deep! And our wall was taller than this. 

Storming Normandy:

This was more under barbed-wire and net crawling. 

Barricade Breakdown:

This obstacle was under/over hurdles. Which doesn't sounds too hard until you remember you have been going for a while and your legs really don't want to push you over!

Hard Rain:

A wall to climb up with water pouring down on you the entire way. The worst part for me was having to jump 10 feet down on the other side. I almost crawled back down and walked around.

Tipsy Tightrope:

This is two ropes, one about your head and one under your feet. You have to shimmy along the rope to the other side. 

Cargo Climb:

This one was fun! Climb up, over and down a cargo net. There was a camera projecting to the finish and waiting area so I took the opportunity to wiggle my mud covered booty at everyone!

Junkyard Jump:

Run through tires and climb over junk heap cars. This is pretty fun because, really, when else do you get to jump up and down on the top of a car?

Warrior Roast:

Poor Niki almost didn't go for this one- you jump over fire. We held hands and screamed the entire way. Luckily, there were photographers at this one so I'll be sure to post those lovely shots when available. 

Muddy Mayhem:

You have to scramble/swim through muddy water under even more barbed wire. These people loved their barbed wire. 

This is our post race victory photo!

The Pink Warriors: Niki, Ashley, Mama Ruth and Staci (team captain)

I have never done any kind of a race (and seeing as I hate running, I don't plan to)- but this was an absolute ball! It's a great thing to do with friends and go it together for some laughs. I was a little sore the next day, and I think it was three showers later before I got all of the mud, leaves and grass off- but it was completely worth it! 

As one lady behind us commented: "This is just an excuse for adults to play in the mud."

Yep! 

"I'm With You" and "Fight Like a Girl"

I love music. It's an utter tragedy that I am not Jennifer Nettles because I would be an awesome her. I am so serious.

Most of the time it's the lyrics that get me. I can find something deep is the most ridiculous songs sometimes! Yesterday I listened to two songs that really made me think.

I'm With You
http://youtu.be/NHZZyNGvOVY

This song is so utterly moving to me. My sister sent it to me once when we were going through a rough family patch. She reminded me that we always had each other. Haven't you ever felt like you were just trying to scrape up yourself and hold on? I have. But every time, every single time, God has sent one or all of my friends to stand next to me and face whatever it was. This song always lifts me up and holds me, and I listen to it and sing it as a prayer for my own friends- that I can be this for them as well. Women are powerful. And when we face things bound together we are a force.

Love is a hurricane in a blue sky,

I didn't see it coming, never knew why,

All the laughter and the dream, all the memories in between, washed away in a steady stream.

Love is a hunger, a famine in your soul.

I thought I planted beauty but it would never grow. 

Now I'm on my hands and knees, trying to gather up my dreams, trying to hold on to anything.

We could shake our fists at times like this, when we don't understand,

or we could just hold hands.

You and me, me and you, where you go, I'll go too,

I'm with you, I'm with you.

'Till your heart finds a home, I won't let you feel alone,

I'm with you, I'm with you.

You do your best to build a higher wall.

To keep love safe from any wrecking ball.

When the dust is clear we will see the house that love rebuilt,

guarding beauty that lives here still. 

You and me, me and you, where you go, I'll go too,

I'm with you, I'm with you.

'Till your heart finds a home, I won't let you feel alone,

I'm with you, I'm with you.

Who can say I'm left with nothing?

When I have all of you, all of you.

In the way you've always loved me,

I remember, He does too...

You and me, me and you, where you go, I'll go too,

I'm with you, I'm with you.

'Till your heart finds a home, I won't let you feel alone,

I'm with you, I'm with you.

Me and you are gonna make it through, me and you.

I'm with you, I'm with you. 

Fight Like a Girl
http://youtu.be/V96r2046qjE

Niki had on the music station on her TV last night and a throw-back one hit wonder country song (Sorry, S) came on. I loved this song when it was out and I think I still do. I have been conducting an inner debate with myself lately on my strengths and what I am good at. I am good at my job right now. I get by. But I was great at my last job. Like- really, really good. But I didn't like the person it made me. That's a weird place. It's kind of hard sometimes to find your spot and balance what you can do with where you want to go with who you want to be. Plus- I really was the second verse here. I fought and fought and kicked ass and just hit the ceiling. That "glass ceiling" has my finger prints all over it. A lot of this song is who I want to be.

...You're brave and beautiful.

So hold your head high.

Don't ever let them define the light in your eyes.

Love yourself, give 'em hell,

You can take on this world.

You just stand and be strong and fight like a girl...

She was wheeling and dealing. 

Kept on hitting that same glass ceiling.

She was never gonna be one of the boys, no.

She could have given up her ambitions,

And spent the rest of her life just wishin'...

So hold your head high.

Don't ever let them define the light in your eyes.

Love your self, give 'em hell.

You can take on this world,

You just stand and be strong and then fight like a girl.

Oh, with style and grace, kick ass and take names...

(You just have to love that last line!)

Triathlons (An Instructional Post)

I have recently became a triathlon fan. Not because I think exercise is fun, but because my friend Allyson decided to start participating in them. Let's be clear: she is completely nuts! There is entirely too much exercise involved in these events. And all before 9am. Not rational. However- in my ever present effort to make all things fun (even waking up at 5:30am on a Sunday to watch people hike and bike), Marissa and I have worked out a system to make these races entertaining for ourselves as well as Allyson.

First and foremost, sign making is a must. This is how your evening should look the day before a race:

Signage must be bright and involve glitter, and if you are getting up before daylight on a weekend you owe yourself a glass of wine. 

Do not use standard signs. Customization is a must.

Our first attendance was a Mother's Day race, thus we thought it'd be funny to pretend she was our mom.

Standard "Fan Club" signs are OK if they have glitter.

Signs that involve alcohol get comments from other racers as well. One we received: "Can complete strangers get a mimosa?" Uh- yes! But only if you hurry because Marissa and I are good drinkers, there may be none left.

On the way to the race, get coffee. A lot. You are going to need it and you'll kick yourself if you think you can wait until after. You cannot. 

Do not follow the directions for parking a half mile away. Whatever! Do YOU look like a triathlete? No. Leave the exercise to them and drive into the neighborhood next to the event and park on the street. 

You are going to be waiting around a lot, so your best bet is to bring a friend. 

Generally, you hurry up to get to the first part (swimming), see the racers and then wait for the next section (biking or running). You might get to see them going for the transition, but the best idea is to get to the point where they'll be coming out on the bikes. They're going to need the encouragement to get going. Yell, jump and act a-fool to get them going. Their faces should look something like this:

The goal is laughter on their way off. But if you get this:

It's OK. She's just trying to figure out #1: WHY she puts up with you and #2: WHY she signed up for this crap.

After they are off for round two you wait. Find a comfy spot, sit down, and get out your cooler.

Don't bring a heavy one because you need to be mobile. This one's perfect- has handles, keeps things very cold and has a pocket to store stuff in. It's also monogrammed, so that helps. 

Be sure to bring water, because you're going to need it. Conceal any alcoholic beverages inside the cooler. You're probably somewhere that open containers aren't allowed. However- I recommend bringing the alcohol. It really helps when you're kicking yourself for being awake. 

While you wait, people watch! You will be surprised at the people who participate. You have a few of what you'd expect: buff, steroid-ed, crazy people going all out. But a lot of the people are just doing it for fun (???) and there's a lot of older men with beer bellies. Who knew?

Every good triathlon needs a bag pipe player in a kilt. 

In the mean time, keep an eye on the people coming in from the current leg of the race. You don't want to miss your person! A good tip is to watch the numbers on their arms. It'll help tell you what wave they are in and you'll get an idea of when your athlete is coming. When you see them coming, be sure to start creating a huge ruckus. Jump, leap, yell, cheer! Glitter should be flying from your sign, folks. Just be careful, if they're coming in fast on their bike they're about to have to dismount. Wouldn't want to distract them so much they nearly miss the jumping off point and fall (Sorry Allyson). 

While they are transitioning RUN (this is the only exercise you get, it's OK) to the next starting point (biking or running- whichever hasn't been done). To be a good fan, you HAVE to be there to cheer them into the last leg. Commence acting a-fool again.

Wait again.

This little girl is a good example of how you might feel after watching hundreds of people run around as the sun comes up. 

Make sure to run at your athlete, yelling their name, after they finish. This is a nice touch. Also give huge hugs, regardless of sweat. I mean, come on, they just swam, biked and ran. They earned it!

Honestly- I have really enjoyed the two I attended. It's a lot of fun to cheer on a friend and you can nap later. 

Jumping on Birthday Bandwagon

Glamour magazine has been pushing their book about 30 things women should have and know by the time they are 30, my friend Sarah did a blog series titled, "What my 20s Have Taught Me," and I read a blog post on the Huffington Post this week about turning 30 and what you learn by getting older. All of this comes at an interesting time for me because I will be 30 next week! I'm not really worried about being 30, I'm excited, actually. Turning 25 was a bigger shock for me. But it does make you look back, and think, and see how far you have come; and how very, very far you have to go! I have so little knowledge compared to what I need to learn through years of life.

After all my reading, I've decided to take part in this little exercise. Some thoughts are mine, some are stolen, some are gleamed from other people's thoughts. Here we go...

Sometimes people are jerks. 
I don't mean this as in on some days we all act like jerks. I mean this as in some human beings are not nice people EVER. Really, it's true. I am sure each person has something about them that is likable, but there are times in life where we are in situations where we never, ever see this in a person. And unfortunately, some times you can't just leave them behind. Today, I took a tongue-lashing from my boss about an incident that was not my fault. But my coworker blamed me, and drug me under the bus, and since he is the salesman he does no wrong in this office. There are times in life where you have to just accept that a person in a jerk, you are not going to like them, and there is nothing you can do about it. And that's OK. It is how you act that counts. You can't control their actions, and you probably can't win. All you can do is be who you want to be.

Growth is really hard
People who say they just tra-la-la through life and learn happily as they go are lying. Some things do come easily and are fun. But growing and changing are hard. Battling yourself and the world to figure out who you are is a rough process. You are going to come out a little beat up and bruised. You will probably have scars. That's how it works. Life is hard, guys. We were not created to live in this kind of world- we are making it through this world until we get to our permanent home. Just when you get settled into a spot you think is good, something changes. I don't mean this as a downer- you are better on the other end of a struggle. You are good, you are strong, you have learned. But to believe that if life gets rough you have failed is setting yourself up for a lot of heartache. Know that life will get bumpy, but you will be OK. Handle yourself with grace, learn from what happens to you, and be grateful you have made it through.

Friends can fill the gaps
I lament a lot about my gratefulness for my friends. That's because they are important. Every one of us has gaps in our life that aren't filled. Friends can fill most of those for you. Let your friends walk through life with you. Allow yourself to lean on them, and them on you. If they are good friends, real friends, it will not be a burden because they will return the favor. Nurture and grow your friendships. God did not create us to live alone, and there are things that will come up that you can not do or face alone. That's OK, because you have friends. Let them be your friends.

Your dreams and goals will change
As you age and grow, your ideas about life are going to change. The things you want and don't want will change. Sometimes you may even be like me and fight so hard for something for years only to discover it really isn't what you want. That's OK- just allow yourself to change. Just say you changed your mind, pick up, and go in a new direction.

Take risks, but plan well
Take the risks you want to take. Go out there and try whatever it is you want to do. But be responsible. If you want to take time off of work, do it! But save first. If you want to up and move, do it! But find yourself a new job and a place to live before you go. If you want to start your own business, go for it! But have a business plan. Follow your dreams and take chances, but be smart too. Don't risk yourself or your own future.

Understand what makes you tick
You really need to take the time to know yourself. If you act a certain way in a situation, take the time to think through why. Don't just beat yourself up over your actions, figure out why you do the things you do. You can use that information to help you make changes or to just accept who you are. But one of the worst things you can do to yourself is to not really understand who you are. I have learned that I can think a lot of things about myself that aren't true. I may think I am big and bad and tough, and I did for years. But what I really am is afraid of failure and worried about being abused by others.

Be OK with who you are
This sounds cliche, and maybe it is. But it is also vital. We all have quirks and angers and hangup and habits. We're all a little wacky and a little off. We all have different talents. Don't just know this, accept this. You are who you were created to be. Some things you will be able to learn and do, some things you won't. That's OK. God has created you for something and He will use you for that. Stop spending time pining away for things you can't have and can't do. Just be you- you is pretty fun!

Have faith
It is beyond my ability to comprehend how people survive this life without God. If you believe you are only here by chance, then you believe that you don't matter. You do matter. Someone did create you. It's OK to find your way to this knowledge in your own way, but find it. Whatever happens to you, whatever is going on, what ever hurts and whatever helps- it is all a part of something more. There is something bigger and better than you. Have faith that you are loved and cared for. Understand that one day everything will be OK, because you were created for more than just this life. Have faith in the One who created you, and have faith in those people he puts in your life.

So, Maybe I'm Back...

I fell off of the blog wagon. I know; it's true. Here's what happened: I started living my life and got so caught up in enjoying it that I stopped taking the time to write about it! And let's be honest, who really reads this? It's not a blog about fashion or pop culture or weddings- so who cares? Well, I just decided that I did again.

Here is who inspired me:

Her name is Melanie Notkin, and she is the original Savvy Auntie. She realized that there is more in children's lives than just a mom, dad and grandparents. There are others that adore these children, interact with them, and mold their daily lives. Aunties unite!! But what really inspired me to blog again was an article she published in the Huffington Post about how women are defined by marriage and children. It's true; even now in good ole modern 2012. Now, I want marriage and children. Believe me- if someone will just point out where all the sexy, Christian, land-owning cowboys are I will go find me one! But until then, I am making another life for myself. Because I'm not just going to sit around pining for what I don't have when I can live in what I do have. And hear me right- I love my life! 

That being said, I do live quite the different life from most Southern women my age (and even from most Yankee women, I think). I have very few friends who aren't married with kids. Very, very few. And seeing as my best friends are all married, two with kids, and I don't plan on ceasing our friendships because we now have different lives- my life begins to form around those children too. Thus creates Auntie! And I love this Auntie person I have become. She's cool and fun and relaxed and settled! She has found a role she loves, and she's happy in it. But she is also lonely and sad at times. And she struggles to find a balance with being single surrounded by married, parental friends. 

So as I prepare to enter my 30s (in May!) as an unmarried, not even dating, childless Auntie... I think I'll blog about it! And maybe you'll even find it interesting now and again... 

A Week with My Lover

Shannon and I met almost five years ago at work. Well, technically we met eight or so years ago but I was scared to death of her because she is the dominatrix of the editing world. Seriously. She scared the crap out of me. I remember thinking: I will NEVER be as in control and on target as she is. And then, turns out I learned to be. So we decided to be friends and then we both discovered that we really weren't bitchy career women (at least not all the time). We had work personas and real personas. Both of our personas worked well with each other's. So there you go.

S is pretty much the exact opposite of me, except when it comes to our love of our dogs (Our friendship really clicked when, after knowing me for 3 weeks, she informed me that she couldn't go on her honeymoon if I didn't keep her dog). A few examples:

• S is a vegetarian and I am a true carnivore
• S doesn't drink and I am a total wine-o
• S doesn't consume any caffeine... like, at all! Obviously, I live on it.
• S always had a plan and a mission. I pretty much go with the flow
• S is very, very driven and I'm fairly lazy
• S is extremely artistic and musically inclined. Me...uh...no.
• S is a true Northerner and I am Southern to the core
• S hates football. This was almost a parting-of-ways point for us.

So you can see, we're really not alike at all. And yet- here we are... five-ish years later and we're in love (thus the "lover" in the blog title). S pushes me out of my box, she gets me to try new things and go new places. She's almost exotic to me is a really cool, relateable way. I feel like I learn something new every time I'm with her. And she is always the call I make when I need to be "analyzed" or can't think of the word I want to use. 

Today I head off to spend a week- a WHOLE WEEK- with S. First we're going to Cape Cod for four days then back to her house near Boston to hang with her hubby and the kids. I haven't seen my adorable niece in so long or met my new nephew. 

Our girl trip to Apalachicola, FL

York Harbor, Maine 

You won't hear from me for a while (tragic, I know) because I'll be playing! Here's to friends that sweep into your life quickly, stay forever, and change everything!

Tired!

You guys, I am TIRED! Physically and mentally I am done. It's been a whirlwind the past few weeks with going home, visitors and now getting ready for Cape Cod. Oh yeah, and I've been working. Full time. No time taken off for these events. (I am taking off for Cape Cod, just not for packing for Cape Cod). I am desperately looking forward to sleeping on the beach and by the pool in Massachusetts! And I am really hoping to see a seal even though Shannon says I won't.

So here I was, in a state of exhaustion and really trying to work (although I posted our blog post for work today with multiple typos. Genius) and the most incredible thing happened! I got this:

I won it! For realz! It's flags flying over the Rhine in Switzerland and I just love the colors against the perfect sky. It soothing to me for some reason and that's all I care about. Anyhow, you don't need my artistic commentary to love it, I am sure. So I will just tell you that it's from Sarah Tucker Travel Photography and I also have this:

How cute are those cows? I remember before she had an etsy shop and she just posted this on her blog and I loved it. Then I got it as a b-day gift. So I now have a little collection going which I plan to expand. They're special to me because I have met the beautiful Mrs. Tucker (before she was even Mrs. Tucker) and she's one of those precious souls that God puts on earth to fill us with sunshine and mushies and happiness and hope. So yay for pictures of cows and flags in a blue sky and friends you just happen to meet and get attached to.

This weekend I will be doing this:

(Probably for real because I'm a terrible packer)

And a lot of this (I hope):

Sorry if there's typos in this. I'm out of it.

Birthday Take 2 + Fashion!

Friday night Jade kept the kids so Niki and I could go out and have a girl's night. LOVE HIM!! We shopped on Market Street and had tapas for dinner. It was awesome to be together, just the two of us. And the food was delish.

Niki and her sangria. I'm sorry- is she note perfection?

Katie and I were talking about her on Friday and Katie informed me that Niki was completely perfect- Niki and Jesus. We got a good laugh out of it- but the general consensus is that Niki is, actually, perfect. 

I had champagne since it was my b-day! Mmmmmmm

Hot pink limo! Uh, hello!

Goat cheese over fresh tomato topped with figs. Oh so yummy!

Hehehehehe. Oops!

OK, can we take a moment to talk about this outfit? I have been dying to wear this skirt, but haven't been brave enough. I didn't think I was quite stylish enough and the tops I kept trying it on with didn't seems right. But then I found this one in my closet and decided to try it out. I was so proud of me! Loved it!!

Top: Banana Republic

Skirt: $3 from the Goodwill

Necklace: B-day prize from My AC!!

A Day of Blessings

Birthday Party, Take 1

So the deal is- for the past three years I have had to fly to Texas to spend my birthday with my best friend. This year I was already here! So Niki , the kids and I had a little party after work. It was a ball! There is nothing like celebrating with a three year old to make it really, REALLY feel like your birthday.

Best Friend Ever Reason #1: Niki sprayed Nate's hair with Lime green & glitter. It was completely and utterly awesome!

Purple & Lime Green cake. These are the colors of mine and Niki's room in the sorority house senior year. 

Being the amazing Auntie I am, I just let Nathan dig in.

Cake face!

There's not many things as cute as babies eating cake.

Best Friend Ever Reason #2: She took me to Coldstone to have ice cream for dinner.

Birthday Cake Remix

Birthday girl!!!

Best Friend Ever Reason #3: She also bought Coldstone ice cream for Van, as in her very OWN ice cream.

People inside the store: She's feeding her dog her ice cream!

Niki" Oh no, that's HER OWN ice cream! 

It was a completely great day! I am so completely in my bliss here. 

Tonight Jade is keeping the kids and Niki and I are hitting the town for tapas! Then Monday is indoor bouncy castle fun. Can't wait!