I'm leaving on a jet plane...

    Hi all! I just got back from a trip to Ft. Lauderdale, FL with two girlfriends (Kim & Meike) for a conference.  This was my very first time flying without my husband, the traveling/airport/flying expert.  In fact, he travels so much for work that the dogs and I sometimes forget he lives here (just kidding). 

   I had a little trepidation about flying solo, even though my friends were there, I wanted to seem confident on what to do all by myself.  You know, fake it 'til you make it sort of thing.  I got myself checked in at Delta without an issue. $25 for a piece of checked luggage? Fine.  I wouldn't need to check luggage if I didn't have so many hair products that were over 3oz of liquid.  And yes, my 1 allowed ziplock airline regulated bag is STUFFED full of liquids under 3oz, including: Purell, chapstick (is that a liquid?), a teeny tiny bottle of hairspray, and toothpaste. I never flew before the regulation, so I guess it's best to not know how it was flying "back in the day". 

 
   When we got on our first flight, the first thing I noticed was that people were ordering alcoholic drinks right away, as soon as they could order. I assumed this was either because they are:
1.  Afraid to fly, 2. On vacation and want to start drinking as soon as possible 3. Just plain alcoholics.
Either way, does flying give you a pass to day drink as early as humanly possible? Adam and I have been on flights as early as 7am and people were drinking.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging, I'm just impressed by your ability to get drunk on a 45 minute flight and still make your connecting flight in ATL without ending up in the wrong terminal.  I would be passed out and never make it off the plane. 

   The first leg of the trip, I sat at a window seat next to an older man making his trip to Omaha, NE.  He
entertained me for a bit with a story about his "vacation" with his wife to visit friends in Colombia.  At first I thought, why would someone visit Columbia for a week's vacation? But when he said they flew into Bogota, I got it. He described this "vacation" as a week long trip to see long lost friends that lived near the Amazon River. They were excited to sleep in beds with nets (this was to keep bugs and the huge tarantulas away), without any electricity until 3-5pm everyday when everyone charged their cell phones. 
    I'm pretty sure he just described my own little pit of hell.  Any bed that requires a net saving you from gigantic spiders, snakes and who knows what else, does not a vacation make. He wife needs a medal or at least a small trophy for surviving that trip.  Needless to say, I told him I rode an ostrich on my last vacation and therefore, I was too cool to speak to him. j/k He read some John Grisham book and I delved into the luxurious Sky Mall Magazine.

    Sky Mall has EVERYTHING! And at 50,000ft. everything is super interesting!  I am obsessed with the iPad paintbrush (I'm not sure what I would paint or what app I would even need, but for only $49.99, I can paint a masterpiece!)

I don't see Adam carrying this at all.  First of all, Beau would be a pain in the butt to drag at 120lbs.  And at $95, I'm not sure why you wouldn't just put your dog on the leash and walk him? 

And for only $29.95

Maybe I should have shown the guy seated next to me so that he'd know he should have been afraid of the tarantulas.  *shivers* On the other hand, the t-shirt is in App State colors. Go Mountaineers!


    By the time we made it to ATL, we literally had about 10 minutes to make our next flight. My friend Kim and I were practically running and made it!  I turned around to ask where is Meike and she had texted me she was stopping for a crepe. I've never had a crepe, but it looked delicious!  We made it onto the flight and Meike got upgraded to a fancier seated section with her crepe.  Kim and I were on the LAST row on the plane, next to the bano.  The flight attendant said she'd thought we were trouble.  Perhaps.  And trust, there would have been trouble if we didn't get our free pretzels because I was "hangry". 

   Our flights back were exhausting and we were just ready to come home. I started reading a book by Beth Harbison, When in Doubt, Add Butter, a delicious chick lit easy read.  Although I have to say, if you're reading it make sure you have a snack handy because the main character describes her meals a lot and you're likely to get hungry. 

    The last flight was so turbulent we didn't even get a drink or snack! I sat next to a pilot and since he wasn't panicking, I wasn't going to either.  Am I the only one that likes that stomach drop feeling?

    Of course there is a lot of other stuff that happened on the trip, but I'll have to tack that on to another blog another day.  Time for dinner.

   Also? Sky mall has this available for $1999  - I'm thinking about getting it for Adam for our 5th anniversary.  5 Year traditional gift is wood, so it would be appropriate.  And who wouldn't want a life size growling grizzly bear? 

Until - we meet again .... ciao!  xoxo, Becca

"Airline food is the tiniest food I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Any kind of meat that you get — chicken, steak, anything — has grill marks on each side, like somehow we’ll actually believe there’s an open-flame grill in the front of the plane" .Ellen de Generes

Waterbeds and such

   When two people merge into a marriage, you also merge all of your belongings into one space.  While Adam and I quickly got rid of his sloping black leather couch and nasty, decrepit, covered in salsa stains 80's recliner that came apart in two pieces (that he amazingly got $75 for on Craigslist!), we have somehow hung on to his "this end up" furniture from when he was 3 years old and my bedroom dressers from when I was 13. 

   Coincidentally, my old bed was ruined in a tragic loss at a storage unit several years ago when I moved from college back to my hometown.  There had been a small hurricane which sprung a leak in the roof, creating moving day morning at 6am a fun treat and surprise for me and my dad, who was helping me move at the time.  Moldy mattress anyone?  ugh.  So I ended up getting a new bed and mattress and box springs that day!  Well, I ordered it anyway, my beautiful sleigh bed didn't show up for 14 weeks!!!!! I guess now we know why Rhodes Furniture went bankrupt and out of business. 

   Unfortunately, the storage unit disaster didn't even touch my 17-year-old dresser, chest of drawers, mirror and night stand.  I remember picking this furniture out like it was yesterday!  Being the youngest in the family, I had all hand me down furniture and nothing matched.  Apparently, I was OCD even back then, because the non-matching furniture really REALLY bothered me.  So I ended up getting a beautiful, Charleston gate like, iron cast, hunter green daybed, with matching pop-up trundle of course.  The furniture that matched was briefly used and returned to the furniture store because whomever bought it had a dog that chewed a few of the edges of the drawers. I remember my Dad negotiating a special price and then the furniture was all mine! I remember the pieces had a matching queen sized bed, but we didn't get that, as I already had my daybed.  

  There is a reason that our tastes change from when we are teenagers into adulthood. There are no words to describe the hideousness that is this furniture to me now.  Adam despises it; as he should, considering he's a grown man stuffing his socks and t-shirts into a 13 year old girl's dresser.  The furniture isn't white, but rather a creamy, off-white shabby chic, if you will.  It has a beautiful stenciling of a floral design and scrolls on each outer edge.  Wait.   I'll just take a picture and show you.  Before I show you though, in my defense, I once babysat for a family who had this EXACT SAME FURNITURE (including the fancy queen sized bed to match) in their master bedroom.

Behold... the dresser in all it's glory!!

Notice the fancy scroll, ribbon and rose motif. 

Adam really can't stand these ribbon details on the side.  I think its a wee bit too feminine for him. 

Where the previous owner had some bite issues, or perhaps it was some s&m party into biting? Or misplaced vampire?  I guess we'll never know. 

    Needless to say, Adam and I are looking for new bedroom furniture.  Did you know Paula Deen has furniture?  It's at Infinger Furniture in Goose Creek.  It's actually really pretty, but also a bit pricey. Also, I'll never be able to go back in that store again because after I told Adam my parents had a king sized water bed back in the 80s/90s, he found it to be hilarious to ask, "Where are your waterbeds?" to the sales lady when we walked in.  He acted dead serious too, I had to tell her we were kidding.  I'm sure my face was bright red.  I live in the Creek, so I feel comfortable saying this, but I'm actually quite shocked that they DIDN'T have waterbeds. HAHAHA

   Of course, he was just kidding, we've found our perfect bedroom furniture and now we're patiently waiting for it all to go on sale soon. 

  Until then, I guess we'll have to just keep living in the a teenage girl's room.  At least I don't have a WHAM! or Madonna poster taped to the wall. 












 

Weekend things

  I haven't written since November?  Well, either nothing interesting has happened since then or I have been majorly slack on writing.  I'm going to go with the latter. Especially because over that time I've been busy working, holidays, I turned 30, had a surprise vacation to Grand Cayman and did I mention work?

  I just read an article on Yahoo! that is titled, "Things you should never buy used", it's number one "thing" was a used mattress. I certainly hope that no one in their right mind would think it would be clean to grab a used mattress out by the road to take home and "clean up" for their own use.  YUCK! I am pretty sure no one has yelled out while driving near a dumpster, "OHH!! I mattress!!". 

  I don't know about you, but whenever the time changes it messes me up for at least a week, sometimes two.  I am a morning person, and while I love the longer, sunnier days, I absolutely hate that it's darker in the morning when I wake up. 

   Saturday night, Adam and I went out with my sister and brother-in-law to Wild Wings in North Charleston. I'll be the first to admit that I am not the drinking partying college kid I once was; taking naps at 3pm so I could pre-game at 10pm and go out with my girls by 11:30pm to Klondike or a house party.   These days I'm perfectly happy watching a Dateline segment on a Friday or Saturday night or wonder if the 48 Hour Mystery really is a  "mystery" because the guy they are interviewing is already in an orange jumpsuit.   So when my sister told me we'd be going to see one of our favorite local bands, Soul Fish, but they didn't go on stage until 11pm, I knew I was going to have to rally!

    I don't normally like hanging out at the Wild Wings in North Charleston because it's usually filled with smoke.  Thanks North Charleston for not joining the rest of the state in the smoking ban.  We started the night with some beer and sitting at the bar, waiting on the band to get started.  After a beer, I headed to the bathroom.  The scenario in there was that there were 3 stalls:  1 where the lock didn't work (WHY!?), 1 where the door was so close to the toilet no one over 90 pounds could ever get in and out because the door opened inwards, so I chose door number 3, it seemed normal until I shut it.  The back of the door had a sign that said, "TO OPEN DOOR, PULL HANDLE UP".  It was then that I noticed the door handle on this side was just kind of hanging there.  I semi-panicked, pulled the handle up trying to get it to open and sure enough it just kept swinging around and around.  The stall was "bricked in" from door to ceiling and the bottom of the door was almost to the floor, so there was no way out. Needless to say, after a 10 minute battle with the door, I finally made it out safely, vowing next time to use the bigger stall that doesn't lock.

     - On a side note, why don't the doors lock!?  It is my biggest pet peeve in a public bathroom that doors don't lock! The door handle had a lock on it, which apparently stopped working in 1993, so they decided to put one of those latch locks on, where you slide the lock over to fit into the loop and click down.  They NEVER match up to lock in the loop.  NEVER!   Who is putting these locks on the door that they can't match it up properly!? I wouldn't think it would be THAT difficult!  And don't get me started on the automatic flushers that don't automatically flush.


     Once the band got started, Adam and I were doing a great job of staying awake and lively. That's when a group of women sat next to my sister and ordered the largest order of garlic wings I've ever seen.  An entire plate of garlic wings!  The smell was so strong that I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping vampires away for a few days and I didn't eat any garlic wings. 

  We made it home at 1am (or 2am if you've already set your clocks forward like we had!). I only had one beer, but the staying out late and getting up early (I can't sleep past 7:30am ever), made me feel slightly hung over and my voice was hoarse.  Adam and I agreed that we'd stay out late again sometime next year.   haha  I don't blame it on being 30, but I do enjoy being home hanging with my husband and dogs way more than a smoky bar.

  OK, time to get up and get moving! Hope you're having a great week! 

  

True Statements

I got an email from my friend Cameron that I just HAVE to repeat to everyone and if you're like me and automatically delete forwards, then thats why I didn't forward it on to you in an email! So the email was all about "True Statements" and with the exception of #23 I agree with all of them! I've decided to add my own comments next to them.

True Statements
1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. (I have nothing to hide - check my history!)
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to take a nap when I was younger. (seriously! I discovered naps during college and they are fabulous!)
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. (YES YES YES!!!! Lets make this happen!)
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet? (If you've seen my facebook page, then you know I was on the quest to learn, but alas - I still have no idea)
6. Was learning cursive really necessary? (the only B I ever got in elementary school? handwriting - darn you cursive!!!)
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. (hehe, our neighborhood is so new that it confuses GPS's they don't know what to do!)
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories. (remember that time we went to the Dog and Duck and decided to drive over to someone random's house and... yeah... they do make good stories! HAHA)
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. (HAHAH This is SOOO true!! Sometimes I'm alllllll work work work, then it hits and its like, LAZY - and thats where it stays).
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again (I think Adam wouldn't like me to agree with this one, we always have to be on top of the electronical trends)
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to. (sadly, I agree and instead of just "saving", I "Save as" just incase its a change I didn't like!)
14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.
15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away? (SOO SOO TRUE!! happens almost everyday!
16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. (ie. my mother!)
18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well. (why wouldn't it?)
19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay. (kisses begin with Tiffany's)
21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it. ("Dirty Dancing", wow, had NO idea the girl had an abortion, I just thought she had a tummy ache!)
22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in. (to the point where my fingers feel like they will be cut off! hahaa)
23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text. (I don't text and drive and you shouldn't either! Oprah will come after your ass!)
24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger. (since its raining and I'm bored, I've eaten three packs of strawberry gushers....)
25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent an A-hole from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?
29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far. (tee hee, I don't do this, but my husband does and its funny to see his face...)
30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.
31. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is. (I ALWAYS do this!!!! I'm not sure why. And? It doesn't help that my watch has no numbers on it either)
32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Becca's Christmas Traditions

"It's the MOST wonderful time of the year..." Sing it with me now!


Many of you I'm sure have a ton of old family traditions like decorating the tree together while listening to Christmas music and reminiscing of years past. Which, sure, I do too, but this list is of the contemporary traditions I have and plan to share with you.



1. Every year I try to find some sort of different variation of wrapping paper that says "Ho Ho Ho" and then find it hard not to giggle when I strategically wrap my sister's gift in it. haha Not that she's a "ho", but its just funny to see if she notices.


2. Fried turkey. There is no other kind of turkey to eat on Christmas day.


3. One gift is to be opened on Christmas eve - and its always always ALWAYS pajamas to wear that night. Well, once it was a fish tank that my parents got for me and Charlotte, but thats another story.


4. Said pajamas must always have somewhere that says: Naughty or Nice.


5. Starting when I was in 9th grade, I woke up before everyone else in my house - showered, did my hair and touched up with a little makeup, threw my pajamas back on from the night before and was ready to roll as if I just out of bed. lol And yes, last year I woke up at 6am and since everyone else was still sleeping - I showered and got ready.


6. Most people love traditional Christmas songs, "Oh Holy Night", etc. and while I LOVE all Christmas music - here are the songs that are my Christmas jams:
- N'Sync's "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays"
- Mariah Carey - "All I want for Christmas is you!"
- Wham's "Last Christmas"
- Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas"


7. During Christmas day after you've eaten the feast - try to find out something about a family member you didn't previously know. For instance, last year I found out that my mother-in-law never knew George Michael was gay! (see above, Wham! reference)


8. Shopping during this time of year is a joy too, isn't it? All the crazies out and about, in such a hurry to pick up Hickory Farms baskets and bath and body works lotions that they nearly side swipe you in the parking lot. This is why I do almost ALL of my shopping from online and random catalogs. I swear I get the weirdest catalogs in the mail. Uncommon Goods, A Touch of Class, Body Central, Things you never knew Existed!, Victoria's Secret, LL Bean, Home Decorators, Lakeside Collections and ABC distributing. With the exception of A Touch of Class, I actually recommend these catalogs.


9. I always give a calender to someone for a Christmas gift.


10. You must watch a classic Christmas movie every year. I love Christmas movies, but my absolute ones I must watch each year usually fall on the Family Channel or Lifetime. I do heart National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.



I will update more later! I have been working on quite a few blogs, but haven't posted them. :)

Unwritten Rules of the South, according to a "Belle"

It has occurred to me this summer that there aren't too many folks from Charleston these days. In fact, most of the people I meet on a daily basis at work or elsewhere are from somewhere up north and on occasion, Florida. I pride myself that my family is from Charleston; I was born and raised here (with a minor move to Walterboro in between). Even if you don't ask people where they are from, you instantly know by the way they carry themselves and act in different scenarios. There are certain rules in the South, unwritten rules that separate those who move to the South and those who were raised here.


For example, last summer Adam and I attended a Hootie & the Blowfish concert that was sold out. We had incredible seats, but unfortunately our seated neighbors were yelling profanity, had gelled hair, the men were wearing thick gold necklaces; the women they were with were dressed for the "club", neckline down to there, hemline up to here. I instantly knew they were not from around here.

As a Southern Belle myself, I know most of the rules that aren't said, but should be known. Being southern isn't ALL about drinking sweet tea, but Lord knows it doesn't hurt! Hell, half of the stuff down here is "sweet tea" flavored, we've dedicated a vodka to it and I'm pretty sure if some people could get it intravenously, they would.


Southern women are a different breed. We are taught at a very young age that you do NOT leave the house without making sure your hair looks good, makeup is touched up - including lipstick, and for Pete's sake put your pearls on if your outfit calls for it! Don't wear white shoes after Labor Day (I don't care WHO says its ok, it is not). Your nails should be neatly manicured and classic. Southern women should command respect from all men, doors will be opened, dinner checks will be paid, and don't expect a southern belle to call you...a man should call her first.

These are all the rules we already know... they've been instilled in us since we were born. But what about a modern day Belle? We have to put up with this new stuff in the internet age.
- It is unacceptable for a man to text message you to ask you out, he should call you.

- Furthermore, no one should be calling your home before 9am or after 9pm, it is completely inappropriate (unless of course, there is an emergency or a time zone difference). Anyone calling you after midnight isn't someone you should be responding with.

- Emails?! No. What happened to hand written thank you letters, snail mail and care packages?

- And what is with women letting their children dress like they are 25 years old?! I literally saw a girl in the mall with her mother begging to get these little high-heeled booties and she was wearing a *gasp* shirt that showed her belly! I'm not saying put them in a "romper" that my mother forced me to wear, but a little skirt and cute top will work just fine!


I'm not saying there is anything wrong with being from the North. I love the NY Yankees more than I can say and I WILL make it to New York one day to visit. It does sadden me, however, that things are starting to shift and change in our culture. Gone are the days where mothers give their daughters a copy of "Are you there God, its Me Margaret?" by Judy Blume to explain the "birds and the bees" (ps, this is a topic I need to go into further, but on a different blog. my mom actually DID buy me this to explain what getting a "cycle" was all about).
Everyone is in a rush now to get everywhere, when we used to take our time. My neighbors don't take pride in their lawns, women allow men to booty call them at all hours of the night, kids don't run around catching fireflies in jars and people don't sit on their front porches anymore. It saddens me.


Ok, I'm done. If you need more advice, watch the movie, "Shag".

The "I hate working out" playlist

This month has been a great month! For 27 years I have never understood how people would voluntarily want to work out. I seriously thought they were crazy. Ultimately it comes down to the fact that I hate to sweat, uh, I mean "glisten". As I have mentioned in a previous post though, I have become a more active person. I can't say I'm there yet, but I can say that I don't quite "hate" it anymore, in fact, I'm starting to crave working up a sweat! Sorry, I won't get all Denise Austin on you, you still won't see me smiling while working out, that will NEVER happen.

However, I do try and visualize fat melting off my body with the sweat. And seeing as I eat dessert all the time, its easy to do.

My favorite working up a sweat activity is walking very briskly; I want to be a runner, but I'm soooo not there yet. I get to walk my dog, Beau, and listen to my awesome Zune (Microsoft's answer to the Ipod). I have a playlist specifically set on my zune for my morning walks and I'd like to share with you the randomness in my mix.
Feel free to steal some of these for your workout routine!

1. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" - by The Proclaimers: who else wouldn't want to start their walk off with "and I would walk 500 miles...."? Its got a great beat and I instantly want to go go go!!


2. "American Girl" by Tom Petty - Need I say more? Its upbeat and you can't get any better than Tom Petty


3. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin - This song takes me back to my childhood in the 80s., hanging out at the Pizza Hut in Walterboro. well, not that you want to be thinking about Pizza Hut while working out, but still!! Whistle with me now...

4. "Shut Up & Drive" by Rhianna - While I'm not a huge Rhianna fan, I just can't but love this song!! It makes me want to run!

5. "Whats Golden" by Jurassic 5 - This song reminds me of fraternity parties at App. State, drinking cheap beer and dancing the night away.

6. "Freedom" by George Michael - I visualize the video to this song and it motivates me to move. The video is filled with supermodels from the 90s.

7. "Bonnie & Clyde" by Jay-Z - "you ready B? lets go get 'um!" Thats right.. I'm B. haha This song reminds me of spring break with Kristel, circa 2003.

8. "Disease" by Matchbox Twenty - Had to put my boys on the list, I love them!! This song is the ultimate break up song, its a pissy song and I love it. I've used it to get over many a boy in my past, but now I use the "disease" as me trying to overcome the key lime pie I ate last night. OK, OK,.. and the 4 sugar cookies I ate after breakfast this morning.

9. "New Shoes" by Paolo Nutini - I fell in love with this catchy song when I went on my first plane ride to Key West two years ago, it was on the Delta playlist. It makes me think about traveling to some new exotic place. Suddenly everything is right with new shoes...

10. "Black or White" - by Michael Jackson - (are you done laughing?) One of many Michael Jackson songs that could have made the list, but b/c this one has a lot of bouncy-ness to it, I picked it. Plus it has an awesomely cheesy rap in the middle of it.

11. "Ain't to Proud to Beg" by The Temptations - its upbeat, its moving, its in "Remember the Titans" and if its good enough for football players on a movie, then it is for me too!

12. "The way you make me feel" by Michael Jackson - "go on girl! ohh!" haha All I have to say is if you've seen the movie "Center Stage" then you understand why I put this song on my list. And if you haven't seen the movie, you MUST see it!! Also, who doesn't love a Michael Jackson song?



13. "Feeling Alright" by Joe Cocker - this is towards the end of the work out. I LOVE Joe Cocker and this song is my theme song!


14. "Peace, Love & Happiness" by G. Love & Special Sauce - this is fun a song, but lets be honest, I only downloaded it b/c I thought the name of the group was hysterical!


OK, there is is!! An a little over an hour's worth of music to work out to! Here are a few of the songs that didn't quite make the cut:

C+ C music factory's - Gonna Make you Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)

Heavy D and the Boyz - Now that we've found love

"Bust a Move"


What is on YOUR playlist?! I'm curious!!! leave me a comment!



ps. Even though I am the QUEEN of sunscreen, applying 70spf like its my freakin' job, I went outside today for 30 minutes and now I am sunburned!! ouch.


pps. I figured after 10 years that it was time to buy new tennis shoes too and they MAKE me want to wear them all the time b/c they are soo pretty!! Hot pink and grey Adidas -

what are you OCD about?

So I haven't been diagnosed or even tested for that matter for OCD, but Adam is pretty sure that I have the disorder, based on a few simple "weird" things that I do on occasion about the house. I'd like to take this moment and share a few with you, in hopes that I'm not the only woman like this that I know....hopefully someone can identify! haha I try not to tell too many people about these things because some are seriously silly I know, but I'll just let you in to how my mind works sometimes. And just in case anyone reads this and takes it too seriously, I don't think there will be any impending doom if these things don't happen and ultimately that's what separates me from actually having a ritual type of OCD.

- Due to a science guy, (think Bill Nye, but less dorky), speaking to my 6th grade class about recluse spiders, I now shake my tennis shoes harder than one should before placing them on my foot. ( I also think that after reading this, if you don't do this one, you will)


- My fridge has to be pristine! All labels facing out, drinks out of the 12-pack box they came in, and for goodness sakes, all left over containers need to be put in a drawer so I can't see them until they are eaten. Also, the top of the fridge needs to be cleaned at least once a week. Living with someone can make this one quite difficult. I usually put away the groceries as to avoid any conflict.


- My closet is color coordinated. I came to this conclusion AFTER I went through several "rough drafts", if you will, of how I'd like to organize my closet. I went through a long phase of coordinating by style, length, etc, but in the end, a color coordination in the scheme of ROYGBIV is the most aesthetically pleasing to one's eye while getting dressed in the morning. And yes, I do notice if someone places a piece of clothing where it does not belong.


-It drives me crazy if the hot/cold handles on a sink aren't turned off to be perpendicular with the sink, rather than turned to the side,etc.

- In the house I grew up in, my bedroom door opened right in front of where the attic opening was in the ceiling, I would have to jump up and hit the rope hanging or else I wouldn't let myself out of my room.

- I have a weird thing about counting things. I count everything. For instance, when applying deodorant, I count in my head as I swipe, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - stop - switch arms, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. - stop - switch back 1, 2, 3, stop , switch back - 1, 2, 3. And if you've ever had the pleasure of getting a facial from me, I spray the toner 6 times too. If I lose count? I start over. I also count stairs each and every time I go up and down them. At one time, I had every stair case number memorized on Appalachian State University's campus.


- If I've seen your car, chances are that I have your license plate memorized. Try me sometime.


- I have an aversion to eating square shaped things, such as, square shaped pizza and hamburgers. If you hand me a square pizza slice, I will refuse to eat it. yuck!


- I have a thing with the number 555. Whenever I look at a clock, I swear its always 5:55! I think everyone has this time of thing happen to them, like is there a specific time you always wake up?


Alright, I think that's enough for now!!!

Also, important note, you should be able to leave comments now without having to sign up and get an account. :) ok, I'll post more tomorrow I'm sure. Until then...

xoxo, Bec

I'm hilarious.

Since Adam's birthday & Valentine's Day I have been planning to send something to Adam by mail, by delivery, by person, by WHATEVER and today I finally went ahead and decided to send it. Will it come in the mail? Will someone find him on the beach kiteboarding and hand deliver it to him? Or will it just be me baking cookies for him? WHO KNOWS!! I could be sending a beer bouquet!!

Anywho, I'm laughing soo hard right now that I could snort b/c what I sent him is just so darn funny!!!! You know I like to send "nature's post-its" message through bananas, well, I found a creative new way of sending a message. haha Stay tuned to find out what it is! I had to warn him it was coming b/c I want to make sure he gets it...but he has no idea what it is. hehehe

I will update soon with details.

OH, I GET IT!

Super blonde moment that I must share...


Has anyone else heard the new Britney Spears single, "If You Seek Amy"? There has been a tremendous amount of controversy surrounding the song lately. I heard the song several times in the car and I thought it might be about these topics:

- Amy Fisher (perhaps it's the story of what could have been, if of course there were no shootings)

- A metaphor for some girl, not necessarily "Amy", but maybe someone like Natalie Holloway. Perhaps people would find it controversial that she would sing a song about missing persons.

- I also thought, maybe its Britney's way of speaking to the media about how they hassle her, "if you seek Amy" might be more about if you want to see her "media persona" or get to know the real Britney.

Well, as I'm sure you already know, none of these are correct. I heard the song again this morning, so I decided to finally look up the lyrics and then read an article on what was so controversial.

For those of you that don't know the reason already, Britney is NOT as deep as I was trying to make her. The song is code for: If = F You = U Seek= CK Amy = Me
Did you catch that? Yeah, after reading the lyrics, it makes a little more sense than her trying to talk to the media. haha

You're saying the lyrics aloud now aren't you? hahaha Next time you hear the song, you'll totally be singing the other words.

ok, I must go , but until next time...

xoxo, Becca

Rebecca's ammendments to the SC Driver's Manual

Why is it that it seems more and more people in the state of South Carolina are incapable of driving by the rules? I'm sure everyone took the driver's test at one point or another, so when exactly did they forget what to do? Adam makes fun of me for driving like a "grandma", but I maintain that I just follow all safety precautions and am a mindful, alert and defensive driver at all times. My dad was the colonel of the highway patrol, so I learned from the best!

Here are just a few minor suggestions (or pet peeves, whatever you want to call them) that I think should be added to the handbook.

1. IF you insist on driving a loud, noisy, and annoying motorcycle, please have the decency to get the hell out of my way so I don't get scared I'm going to run you over with my SUV. Also, please wear a helmet. There shouldn't be an option, the only other option is your brain being on pavement. And thirdly, please do not pop wheelies on I-526 on, near or around me as I'm driving.

2. If you are going to turn into my lane, I recommend indicating that! I think there's this thing called a ... blinker. Down is for left, Up is for Right, please use it. Also, make sure you look before heading over to my lane too!

3. If I can hear your radio, while I'm inside my vehicle with the windows up, then yours is at a decibel that is uncalled for in my standards. No one needs to listen to rap that loudly, unless of course, you've been shot and can no longer hear through your eardrums.

4. If I can feel your bass in my car, then you are also listening too loudly to your music. *See #3.

5. If you must pass me because my going 10mph over the speed limit is too Slllooooowwww for you, then please do so quickly and don't look over at me while doing so. Also, I reserve all right to laugh at you, smile, and wave as the policeman that you didn't see pulls you over right in front of me.

6. Since when did putting a tribute to your dead relative on a window decal for the back of your vehicle become the proper way to pay your final respect? Jojo will be forever remembered because we have immortalized him on our crown vic, with the tinted windows, and the ultimate vehicular accessory, "Dubs".

7. Whats with all the damn Beanie Babies on the back of someone's vehicle? Seriously. They are stuffed animals... is this your form of car alarm?!

8. Is there a law that says if you drive a truck and live in Summerville or Goose Creek, SC, you must tint your windows with a confederate flag in the back and put your names on either side? Thanks Brooks & Tina for clearing up just who's truck it is!! Bet it confuses you when Tina drives, doesn't it?

9. If you are a truck driver for an 18-wheeler please do not honk your horn over and over trying to get my attention while driving in the lane next to me. I am pretty sure my car is not on fire or has a flat, so I could care less that you think my legs are sexy. I am noticing your incessant honking, I'm just pretending to be turning up my music and therefore, drowning you out. (And yes, this happened to me... recently. Gotta love North Rhett)

10. And lastly, what's with the people who pass me going 100mph that are reclined in their seats? RECLINED!!!!!! Is the lumbar on your heated leather seats so comfy that you feel the need to lean back and relax to the fullest as you barely put one hand on the wheel?

ok, thats it for now.. not necessarily amendments per Se, just pet peeves. haha

Crazy Baby Lady

Let me start by saying, that I normally do not get in political or other debates on here b/c I like to write funny, witty things about my life, but I can't ignore this one....

I haven't commented on this yet because I wasn't going to force my beliefs or thoughts on to any of my readers, but I can't NOT saying something anymore! I'm sure by now most of you have heard of the woman that just recently had eight babies. I usually try to stay Switzerland on baby topics because as a woman that doesn't have any and probably will never have children, I feel like my opinion doesn't get to account for as much as a mothers would ....in the topics of children. But I cannot stay quiet about this any longer.

So, the Crazy Baby Lady (Aka, Nadya Sulman) said in her interview on "The Today Show" with Anne Curry that she was NOT on any sort of welfare. She got kind of rude with Curry, going on to say that she will be able to provide for her 14 children with lots of love, etc. and that after she is done with school she will be able to afford them.

Perhaps she was stretching the truth just a little? This morning on "The Today Show", Anne Curry sorted a few things out for the viewers. Apparently, Ms. Crazy Baby Lady doesn't think food stamps or public assistance is welfare. Excuse me?! She receives $490 a month for food (that was before the 8 babies were born), she also receives federal public assistance for three of her children that are disabled.

Let me be clear here, I am NOT criticizing those on welfare, I am putting this woman under the microscope because she knew she was in financial need and STILL made the decision to have more children through fertility treatments!! That is like me saying, "I think I'll go buy a Cadillac today, even though I don't have the money for it, the government will be there to help feed me!". This woman is in la-la land!

They showed a video of her and the babies this past week on "The Today Show" and it showed something that really gets under my skin. This woman has 14 children, she's in school, she is getting assistance, she claims to be responsible and mature enough to handle all of the children...yet, she has time and money to go get a French manicure?! I have no children and work in a spa and I don't have time for such luxuries! Watch for yourself below.

Am I the only one that thinks this woman should have stopped with her 6 children? I'm sure she will love them all very much, but sometimes its hard for parents to show the attention, love, & support to just one or two children, I find it very hard to believe that one person will be able to support, love and attend to 14 kids! unbelievable.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's my birthday!!! You can guess how old I am b/c I'm not telling. haha I love my birthday!! I especially love that its so close to Valentine's Day!

I am an Aquarius, which, if you've read up on anything about Aquarius then you know that my sign fits me to a tee.

Anywho, I am being somewhat lazy today on my birthday b/c I have gotten a sore throat and fever... (lets hope that goes away soon!). Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I will write more later!

Something to think about....

Just some random thoughts and things....

- if it is part of a cow, then why do we call them "Hamburgers"? this bothers me.

- My neighbor with the Christmas lights FINALLY took them down this weekend!! Way to go!! Its only January 26th!

- The salon where I work has this awesome new website, which also has a blog! You should go check it out and then call and make an appointment b/c you're missing out on a great salon & spa experience if you don't! :) Bellezza Salon & Spa

- I'm starting to panic JUST a teensy bit about the wedding. I'm solid on the marriage part, I know Adam is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, I'm panicked that I won't get everything organized and done on time. I keep trying to brush it off saying everything will be lovely, but I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday and perused the wedding aisle. Every book has some other detail that I had forgotten about and it has me slightly stressed. I'm trying to stay calm b/c honestly? If nothing goes right, it will be fine b/c we will still get married and our friends and family will be there to help us celebrate, even if I DO forget to order chairs or don't buy shoes that match my dress.


- Speaking of wedding stuff, we are meeting with the cake lady, Wilma Tyler, today!! I am soo excited!! First off, she's making us a cake for our "tasting" to take home! I mean, I just love cake! haha I know exactly what I want for the cake and I found several photos of ideas to take to her. Here's the thing with wedding cakes, you should keep it pretty, but simple. No one wants to eat raspberry filling, lemon filling, or chocolate mousse torte with a ganache icing on each different layer. No one cares! No one will care at your wedding about the small details, but you! I don't want people to eat the cake and then make a face and set the plate down (been to a wedding where everyone did that!). I want them to say, "more please!". haha I'm a southern girl, we're having "pink" velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing! Sure, it might not be "traditional", but we're not having a formal or traditional wedding!


- My two favorite holidays are upon us; my birthday (Feb. 9th) and Valentine's Day (Feb. 14th). I can't wait!! I'm starting to not really care for the whole, "getting older" part of my birthday, but I still love it! And Valentine's Day, omg! I love all the pink and hearts and lovey stuff.


OK, I need to go, I'm rambling. I will write more later.

The Great Hair Debate

Not too long ago, I attended Cosmetology school. I graduated first in my class with a cosmetology license. I started school because I had a passion for wanting to do hair. I would watch tv shows and critique everyone on what they needed to do to their hair, eyebrows, make-up, & wardrobe to look better overall. I was giving everyone I met "mind" makeovers. All of my sorority sisters would come to me before a formal to get their hair and makeup done. I took pride in all of my work, I loved making them feel special and beautiful! I wanted to make a difference in other people's lives; to possibly one day write beauty articles for magazines, local newsletters, and be asked to go on live television shows to answer beauty questions!

My passion was lost. It got lost in the long, grueling clocked hours at school. It got lost on the clients who didn't give a shit about me because they preferred an African American student to do their hair instead. It got lost on the anxiety I felt about attending the school I went to every evening for two years. It got lost on giving up on a dream just so I could focus on graduating and getting the hell out of there. I got lazy in the process, searching for short cuts and different avenues just to say I finally accomplished something. I never learned anything about hair at all. I lost my passion. And instead of feeling great about my accomplishments, I felt like I had lost two years of my life with nothing to show for it.


The dream of becoming a stylist dwindled. Even thought I lost my passion for hair, I DID find a passion for doing skincare, so it is not all a loss. But I often wonder how things would have turned out for me had I become a stylist. Would I be known locally for my exquisite bridal updos? (something I wanted to specialize in while in school). Would I have already built a clientele? Would I be able to do everyone's hair b/c I was skilled in doing everything from corn rows, sew ins, quick weaves to foils and pivot point haircuts? I don't know.

Since I told people for two years that I was going to cosmetology school, everyone that doesn't work with me assumes I do hair. Its so aggravating! Its like shoving a dream that I once had into my face saying I couldn't cut it because I lost sight or got anxious, or scared about the dream. Its a constant reminder that I failed to follow through with it.

And while I did lose the passion, it doesn't mean that on occasion I don't like doing hair, because I do! I still do my family & friends haircuts and color. I have also been told I give one of the best scalp massages too!

And I can't regret going to cosmetology school in the first place because I never would have found skincare. I am now focused to be the best skincare therapist I can be! I love to do facials. Waxing is so much fun! I get to teach people how to take care of themselves everyday. People put their trust in me to make them look younger, more beautiful, tan, etc. and I'm proud to say that I truly enjoy helping them!


I guess the lesson learned here is, follow your dreams because even if they don't end up the way you expected (or the way others expected), you may find another dream on the way.

Happy New Year!!!

So I've been slack on updating, I know, I know!!! And I will be even more slack this evening b/c my fav's are back on tv tonight, "Desperate Housewives" & "Brother's & Sisters", and lets not forget, "Rock of Love - Bus Tour". And its a good thing b/c I've been watching "The Wedding Date" 3 nights in a row on TNT. (I can't believe I just admitted that). But trust me, I have plenty to write about soon, very soon.

Possibly tomorrow, so be sure to check back. And oh yeah, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

'Tis the season!

Ladies & Gentlemen, it is officially the holiday season, GET READY! Its the most wonderful time of the year and I can't wait to decorate my house! And just as soon as Adam gets home long enough to pull the things out of the attic, I'll get right on that! (Just a side note, I have always been unable to get into an attic, not really for fear of the attic, but more of a fear of plunging to the floor from the rickety ladders attached to them). I've got my Christmas music and I even went shopping yesterday!

After my shopping experience, I now understand that this is also a season for drinking.


Heavily.


Yesterday, I ventured out to Best Buy to buy a few gifts. It took me over an hour to purchase one item. I pressed on! I then went into Micheals, assuming that I could make some gifts this year. Pfft! Yeah right! Micheals lures you in with the hopes and dreams that YOU TOO can paint glass and it look professionally done! I get sucked in every time! Last year I decided I could "bake cute cakes", which ended up with crumpled, burnt, un-edible items with somehow uncooked dough and a seriously messy kitchen. The year before, I thought scrapbooking was soo cute, easy, anybody can do it! I have $200 worth of scrapbooking stuff and no one is scrapbooking in this house. Its sooooooo easy that I just keep putting it off and besides that, it would actually mean that I'd have to print out the photos I want to "scrap", and that ain't happenin'. I've also tried the whole stamping thing. I mean, any idiot can stamp, even children can do it! And last year for Valentine's day, I stamped away on some homemade stationary to send to all of my friends. Valentine's day came and went....and I never sent them.

So this year, YES, I vow to complete my holiday venture. I vow to at least use the paint I bought yesterday at Micheals and put it to good use!


I also vow never to enter the K-Mart on River's Ave. ever again. Yesterday to end my shopping adventure, I stopped briefly at K-mart for some Martha Stewart wrapping paper and such (apparently she does still sell there too, hmmm). Thats when, out of freakin' nowhere, a strange man thought it appropriate to stroke my hair like an animal and tell me, "I just have to say that you have the most gorgeous hair! Just the way it lays, its beautiful! I love the cut!..etc. ". Now, don't get me wrong, I'm used to people commenting on my hair. I DO work in a salon for pete's sake! I just have never had anyone go to such lengths to touch it before. I was fearful he may try and swipe a locket of my hair to perhaps fashion his own wig later, (I swear I felt a tug!). I was on the cell phone with my dad at the time of the incident, so I wasn't able to say what I WOULD have said in this type of situation. Also, does anyone else think its weird that his wife was standing with him? Yeah. She's probably plotting my death as we speak. Perhaps a voodoo sort of doll with my hair strand on it.


I also stopped at Bath & Body works. A staple for me every Christmas. I don't know why I go because I usually just end up buying stuff for myself. Which is exactly what I did. New soap? yes!! Now antibacterial hand wipes? yes!! New peppermint sugar scrub? Why, don't mind if I do. *hangs head in shame* - I'm such a product whore.

I'm now reminded why I did all of my Christmas shopping online last year. No lines. No people. No waiting. Free Shipping and Handling. And it already comes in a box!

SO, just remember this... When you're out shopping for Christmas presents with the rest of the crazies: just say NO to crafting, its more work than its worth!

when it doubt, pack your own flask and drink your way through the holidays!

AND most importantly, retail therapy is the best kind of therapy there is...so merry shopping! oops, I mean, "Happy Holidays!"

I'm NOT McLovin' It.

Oh, don't get me wrong, McDonald's has the best damn fast food French fries known to man, but its not worth it to deal with this crap. To demonstrate my love/hate relationship with McDonald's, I must first go back a few years.

On a random trip to Wilmington, NC, Adam and I stopped at a McDonald's in Myrtle Beach for dinner, just passing through. When we showed up, I ordered my "usual" McDonald's treat, chicken nugget meal with French fries, sprite and plain honey for my dipping sauce. The girl on the other end of the speaker yells back, "We ain't got no honey here, we got honey mustard." Pffft!!! No HONEY?! What the hell?! I then tell Adam to just leave, we're not eating at a McDonald's with no Honey! (Plus, I had conveniently remembered there was another one about 5 miles down from where we were and we'd just stop there). Meanwhile, the whole way to the other Mikey D's, I was explaining how worthless the customer service in this country has become and how honey is a staple of McDonald's dipping sauces and its a travesty that they have taken it away!

So we stop down the street at McDonald's 2.0. I ran off to the bathroom, letting Adam go ahead and order for me. I walk out of the bathroom and Adam and the little guy behind the counter both look like I'm about to hurt them. Adam cautiously tells me that they don't have any honey, but that the guy heard my story and felt so bad that he didn't charge us. Fine. WHATEVER. I'll EAT THEM PLAIN!

Two weeks later, Adam bought me my own bottle of honey to keep in my purse/car just "in case". I wrote a letter to corporate and several months later I got an email explaining that honey is no longer that popular, so they had cut back. Did they send me a "sorry coupon", no, they sure as hell didn't.

But even before that, when I was rooming with my ex-roommate, Angela, we had an experience with the elusive McDonald's. Which ended up with us going to 4 McDonald's within a 10 mile radius JUST to find one that's ice cream machine wasn't broken. And P.S. why the hell do we need 4 McDonald's that close to each other anyway?! No wonder we're an obese nation.

Now....lets forward to this week. On the way back from our Thanksgiving trip, we stopped at McDonald's. Chicken Nugget Happy Meal please. Drove around to the front, and what sauce would you like? "Honey, please". NO HONEY! wtf? Adam drove off, I'm sure I looked like there was a bee in the car my arms were moving about so furiously!

Then today, I wanted a "pick me up" after shopping and thought, ooh a McFlurry would be on point! We stopped. The ice cream machines are broken!

Its a conspiracy against me, I swear it is! I mean, doesn't anyone else eat plain honey on their chicken & French fries?! Doesn't anyone else eat ice cream!? what the crap!

Also, by the sounds of this post, it looks like I eat a lot of McDonald's, but I really don't...especially now. If I'm going to eat fast food, its going to be Chick-fil-A, where they are actually nice and know how to treat customers! I would boycott McDonald's, but I think we all know that won't be happening. haha

Cheesy 80's movies....

Today as I was prancing around the house, I turned on the tv to see what was going on in the world of boring Sunday tv. One of my favorite 80s movies was on, "Teen Witch" and since I haven't seen it in such a long time, I figured I better stop what I was doing and tune in to what I used to love!

I was quickly reminded that Louise (the main character), is the sole reason I wanted to get a perm!! She went from a dorky nerdy girl, to finding out she had magical powers and wanted to be "the most popular girl..." so she could get a guy. Of course, all they really did was get rid of her glasses, change her wardrobe to the super funky 80s-ness that it needed to be and topped it off with a frizzy perm and a perky side pony tail and VOILA! POPULAR!

And apparently being popular also has its perks for breaking out in random rap whenever needed. Below are the cheesiest clips I could find. I never realized how incredibly cheesy this whole movie is, until now:





And I LOVE Louise's sidekick in this one, her little "Blossom" hat and all! haha


"Look how funky he is..." (gosh, with scenes like this, how did this movie NOT have a sequel?!)

and PS, can I just say.... the perm did NOT make me popular. If anything it hindered my social status right until college. thank. you. very. much.

Boy Meets Girl

And here ya have it... the story of me and Adam. Well, sort of anyway:



ps. I LOVE this program on my computer! I'm now obsessed with making musical picture stories! haha