Sweet Victory

Tonight was perfect for many reasons. First of all the evening started off with a seafood feast! Crab legs are one of my all time favorite foods (even despite the fact that I may have developed an allergy to shell fish). Let's just say that dinner ended with my face solid red and swollen to about twice its normal size. In my opinion all that matters in the end was that it tasted amazing! 

The second reason tonight was perfect was because I was able to spend some quality time with my family including my 2 grandma's, 2 aunts, dad,mom, brother and sister. We played TV Scene it, a classic family get together game. The most fun part of the game was that we had a bet going on throughout the game. If my team won the other team had to go to the cheese cake factory and bring home dessert for everyone. Of course my team won so my night ended with eating some amazing chocolate truffle fudge cake. 

This cake was unbelievable. The cake consisted of layer upon layer of cake, fudge, and truffle filling. The best part of the cake was that the slice they gave me was about half the size of a normal cake. I couldn't even get 1/4 of the way through my single piece of cake because of how rich it was. It's going to be quite a challenge to make it through the one slice of cake but I am definitely up for the challenge!!!

I am so thankful for family, the time we get to spend together, the smiles and laughs we share, and of course chocolate cake. Now that's what I call a sweet victory! 

Homemade Luxuries

During the last few years I have encountered this strange phenomenon. My mom’s cooking always tastes better than mine. We can use the EXACT same recipe and it doesn’t matter. It goes to the extent that her spaghetti tastes better than when I make it even when we use the same brand of pasta and the exact same pre-made pasta sauce. It makes absolutely no sense.

 I have a theory they taste better because they are made with a little extra love.

Whatever the reason I am grateful that I am now home for awhile and I have the luxury of indulging in family favorite, childhood, home cooked meals. Thank you Mom!!!

One of my favs! Homemade beef and vegetable soup :) Yum! 

Wrapping up the week

Well these past few days have been craziness. So let's recap:

1) Got to visit my handsome horsey
2)Spent 2 days in Novi and got to visit 7 amazing friends
3)Had a safe trip from Novi to Alabama
4) Unpacked and got moved into my new home

I am so happy to be home with family and cannot wait until we make our journey east!

In the mean time I will be Chirstmas shopping, gift wrapping, and putting together a package for a special guy in South Carolina!

I hope everyones preperation for Christmas is going well!

Cotton fields are the closest thing we have to snow down south! Not quite the same, but I'm ok with it!

1200 Pounds of Unconditional Love

Two years ago I made the very hard decision that I had to put my horse up for sale. I simply just couldn't afford him with school and it would have been very selfish to keep him somewhere crappy or put him somewhere where he wouldn't get ridden and get the attention he needed. This decision absolutely killed me. Just ask my mom. I spent countless evening crying on her should about it. For those of you that have animals you understand that they are like having children. And when you have to let one go it's the worst feeling in the world. This feeling was intensifed due to the face that Koda was 1) my first horse  2) I got him when he was young and really put a lot of training into making him the amazing horse he is today and 3) I spent hours and hours with him riding, showing, and evening bringing my homework to his stall just to spend some extra time with him. It also doesn't help that he is amazingly sweet and has puppy eyes that make you melt now matter how much trouble he caused at times. We had arranged to have him picked up for an auction ( NOT for slaughter...for people looking for new show horses) and it just so happened that there wasn't enough room for him to go.

It wasn't until the next day that I realized this situation was going to be a total God thing.

It just so happened that my friend from school was looking for a horse to use. It also just so happened that she lives on a farm and has two other horses. After a few minutes of talking she made the decision that she wanted him. Only she wasn't going to buy him. She just wanted him for riding.

And this is when things got super crazy. Not only would she take Koda, her and her family would feed him, house him, and take care of all his farrier and medical expenses for me in return for letting them use him.

In case you aren't involved in the horse world I am going to clarify that this NEVER happens. Horses are extremely expensive animals and having everything for him taken care of was nothing short of a miracle. I was extremely happy that I knew where he was going and knew that he was going to be loved and taken care of properly. But I also felt horribly guilty that morning as I loaded him onto the trailer knowing that I would be saying goodbye to him for quite some time and he had no idea that his life was going to be changed quite drastically. Although I knew he was still mine and that I could move him back home anytime I wanted I still left with a tear in my eye and a tremendous feeling of guilt. I knew that it would be quite some time before I would come back. Being a college student I was strapped for money and simply couldn't afford the time ( 18 credits and 2 jobs).

Today was the first day in a year and a half that I got to see my Koda-bear. I honestly thought he was going to hate me when I showed up after leaving him in the dust 1.5 years ago. Instead I was reminded of his unconditional love that he has always given me. Funny how animals do that. He was in the back of the field with the other two horses but as soon as I called him name to come to the gate ( like I often did when he lived close to me) he came running to greet me. It was like he had never forgotten. It was the best feeling in the world to be able to scratch his neck, kiss his soft velvet nose, and let him nuzzle into me.

(Koda after running to the gate to see me)

Today I smile because I got the chance to see my horse who has been a large part of my life and has left many hoof prints on my heart over the years. I can't wait until I can afford to take him home where he belongs!

Why Advertising?

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of why we've taken certain paths in life. As I finished my last semested at school today I did a little reflecting on why I chose to be an AIMC student.

My degree is the perfect combination of art, imagination and endless opportunities with the security blanket of a business degree.  It’s a balance of being able to find myself, my purpose, and my passion while at the same time being able to get lost in the mystery, excitement, and new adventures of an ever changing industry. It gives me a sense of structure but is not bound to rules and textbook answers.  It’s taught me to think and see things in a different light. It’s exposed me to a whirlwind of wordplay and imagery that has allowed me to see things that are universally invisible to others. It’s an industry that encourages dreaming while you’re still awake and gives you the opportunity leave a mark on the world we live in.  It’s an industry that attempts to bring order out of chaos and makes it into something that resonates with an audience. It’s a fine art of discovering what moves people and why it moves them. It allows us to connect with the vast amount of demographics and psychographics that make up the human race. It’s an industry that submerges in you past inspiration, present technologies, and future possibilities. It’s a place of invention, collaboration, and new interpretation. It’s the rock and roll of the business world.  It’s a place where I can bring my dreams, thoughts, and ideas and turn them into realities.  And most importantly it’s a place where I can be myself. 

And that is why I chose advertising. 

Little Blessings

This week has been,to say the least, amazing. It's a week of wrapping on final projects and presentations, participating in my last AdGroup fundraising event and meeting, and celebrating that fact that I am now finished with 3 out of 6 of my classes for this semester! 

It has also been a week of being constantly reminded of how lucky I am to have certain friends,family, and activities in my life. This week has really put into perspective how many amazing things I have been able to be a part of over the years and how many people I have that love and support me through everything I do. 

Monday night I got to say goodbye Leah, Tiffany, and Jubilee. I met Leah and her beautiful horses this Fall and my only regret is that I didn't have the chance to met them earlier. Leah provided me with the opportunity to work with Tiffany which turned into an amazing experience. Because of this I was able to make a new friend, ride an amazing horse every week, and buy groceries and pay my electric bill which is very important! 

Wednesday night we had our AdGroup Christmas party. It was pretty epic. From ugly sweaters, to white elephant gifts and amazing food it was such a good time! Seeing everyone there was another reminder of the support I had of my classmates that elected me as fundraising chair for the group last spring. You guys gave me the opportunity to grow as a person and gain a lot of valuable experience. This year had its ups and down but we got through them and it has made each and everyone one of us into a better person. 

Wednesday we also started our Sit On Santa fundraiser. This is such a fun event to put on and it ended up being very successful. And you saved me the trouble of having to write out my Christmas list and send it all the way up to the north pole!

Today my campaigns team received an A on our plans book. For those of you that have never taken a campaigns class or for those of you that have never written a campaigns book, you should know that it was an extremely tedious and draining project that took the entire semester to finish.  The book turned out absolutely beautiful and I am so proud of the work we into it. An A has never felt so good!!!!

Today I also came home to a package from Mrs. Klug (Matt's mom). It was a total surprise and was filled with so many awesome little treats. From homemade caramels to pony socks it was exactly what I needed going into finals week.  There is something about a package that someone puts together especially for you that make you feel really special. Thanks for the pick me up! 

I challenge you today to make someone feel loved and special today. Even if it is a small text letting someone know that you appreciate them. A small thing can go a long way! 

What's a Christmas gram? I want one!

There are few things better than watching Elf,( my all time favorite Christmas movie) making turtles, and drinking homemade white chocolate mocha's with friends. I love Christmas time and I am so grateful I have been able to spend the past few days getting into the Christmas spirit with some awesome friends! 

Decorating time! 

For those of you who haven't ever watched the movie Elf please go rent it or your life will never be complete. For those of you that have watched the movie let's take a minute to remind ourselves of how awesome this movie is with some movie quotes:

• The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear
• We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup
•  I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite 
• You stink. You smell like beef and cheese! You don't smell like Santa
• Have you seen these toilets? They're GINORMOUS!
• Watch out, the yellow ones don't stop! 
• "I'm sorry I ruined your lives, and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR." 

Good times...Good times....

Homemade white chocolate mocha!

To make:

Add a half cup white chocolate chips to a half cup whole milk. Melt together in a double boiler.

Add to a half cup of strong black coffee.

(You can add more or less according to your desired taste)

Enjoy!

1st step- cover pecans in caramel!

2nd step- cover pecans in chocolate

3rd step- EAT!

I hope you are enjoying this magical time of the year! 

The Road Not Taken

I snapped this picture today with my IPhone as Kevin and I took the boys out one last time before I head home to Alabama. While uploading this picture onto my computer and studying it for a few minutes I remembered the words of one of my favorite poems, The Road No Taken by Robert Frost. 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

I realized how real this poem has become in my life. Our lives are shaped by the paths we take and the people that influence us as we wander through them. I met Kevin, Charlie and Rocky's owner, by chance last fall. I had no idea how much that encounter was going to change my life for the upcoming year. Kevin gave me the opportunity to try something new and develop new skills. While my friends were working at the school cafeteria or applying for a job a McDonald's I was learning to drive two beautiful Belgium's in order to work on his farm. Those of you that know me know that I am much happier hanging out with giant horses than working in a retail or drive through fast food environment.

The message that I believe this poem is trying to communicate is the fact that we shouldn't hold ourselves to the beaten path of life. We need to explore and try new things without fear. Jump head first into something even if you aren't completely confident in what you are doing. 

Live, learn, explore, try new things, have adventures and NEVER doubt your own abilities.

I thank Kevin, his wife Julie, and my buddies Charlie and Rocky for inviting me into their lives and making me part of their team. 

Remember today to thank those who have never doubted your potential, put complete trust into your abilities, and help you to continue to grow and learn new things. I am unbelievably BLESSED.