National Pet Day

Today is National Pet Day! We celebrated all day at work with viewer submitted and employee submitted pet pictures. My dad is such a KTXS facebook creeper that he sent in a picture of my puppy (in the care of my parents) to work as a surprise.

She made the slideshow cut!

It was so sweet of him to surprise me with a little bit of puppy love. I miss my sweet girl and don't get to see her often enough!

Now that I'm off work, I want to celebrate National Pet Day with the blogging world! 

We love our puppies! 

And because I missed it... I have to add this one in...

Happy (belated) National Sibling Day, too!

Hoppy Easter

"Hoppy" (belated) Easter from us to you!

One Year Timeline

One year later...

It's been awhile since I was on the blogging sphere. I've kept up with blogs but I guess mine just fell by the wayside. I'll blame it on the stress of my senior year and trying to live life to the fullest. Now that my life has calmed down, I think I'll be here more often sharing my small adventures that I go on across Texas. 

To recap... Here are the highlights of my life since last March.

 I went on a cruise for spring break. Katy (roommate) and I planned it out down to the little details. The cruise stopped in Progresso and Cozumel, Mexico. Along the way, we met fun people at our dinner table and we came to call them our Cruise Family.

 We learned to Salsa dance and we swam with the dolphins.

Wishing we could go back in time and relive that amazing week one more time!

In between pictures, I was offered and accepted a job at KTXS in Abilene, TX. It was my dream job and I was over the top excited to come back to Texas! But more on that later...

As soon as I got back from Mexico, it was crunch time to co-host Lynsie's bridal shower! It was fun planning all the details and I hope she enjoyed it!

Then time kept flying. Lynsie turned 24 on April 30th and I turned 22 on May 1st. We did our annual co-birthday lunch with Sara and Katy!

12 days later, I graduated! Adios, Mizzou! Thanks for the memories!

Literally 3 days later, I packed my apartment and moved to Abilene, TX! 

One week after I graduated, I started my first day here! KTXS! I am the 6:00 and 10:00 producer and I work mostly with these two! My anchors -- Braid and Wayne! I love both of them dearly and don't know how I would get through the hum drum days without the laughs we have together!

One of the best things I got out of my close friendship with Braid (literally) is this little man. Bennett! He was born shortly after I started at KTXS so I've been able to see the drool monster grow! I'm absolutely in love with him! He makes my heart melt!

 Then in August, my cousin Halley moved to Lubbock (2.5 hrs away) to start school at Texas Tech! We grew up together as younger children but because I moved so much, we were separated for years at a time. Luckily, we're back together!

It's nice to have family close by. I consider her more like my sister than my cousin!

 

In September, it was back to Missouri to help this little lady get hitched! I was lucky enough to be able to take almost a week and a half off. I still feel blessed that Mrs. Lynsie Upton asked me to be her Maid of Honor and to let me share in her special day! It was a blast!

 

Did I mention I love her photographer? He did her engagement pictures too! I look at other people's engagement/wedding pictures on facebook and they just don't compare to D Co. Pho!

I fell in love with this little guy. This is Brody. He is Lynsie's nephew and he stole my heart!

Soon after I came back from Missouri, I met and fell in love with this guy -- Dustin. Technically we've known each other since May, but we didn't start talking until October. Since Dustin and I started dating, I've noticed that I'm the happiest I've ever been. 

He's a small town boy from right here in west Texas.

 

 I love him more than I thought could ever be possible and I'm excited to see what the future has in store for us!

He even got me into cowgirl boots! He's teaching me how to be "country". So far I'd say he's a good teacher.

Now that I'm not focused on homework or studying, life is mostly about finding little fun things to do in and around Abilene. Dustin and I don't have the same days off (I'm Monday-Friday while he is Wednesday-Sunday) so when I can, I take Mondays or Tuesdays off to spend some extra time with him. Luckily, our hours are similar (2 or 3-11). When it's impossible for me to take time off, we try to do things in the mornings before work. Recently, I've taken a liking to golf! With the help of Dustin's grandfather, I'm slowly learning the basics. So far so good! We're in the process of planning a few small things in the next few months so we can go on adventures together! Hopefully they pan out!

We also started attending church (almost) every Sunday! It's such a refreshing start to the week. And it's a small town church so everyone is so friendly and welcoming! I look forward to it every week!

I'm hoping to get better at taking more pictures of the things we do so I can stay on top of this blog. Fingers crossed!

Day 14 - 30 Day Blog Challenge

Day 14 - A picture of you from last year - How have you changed?

Then:

Now:

Physically, not much has changed. My hair doesn't have so many layers as it did last year and it might be a little longer. 

Internally, a lot has changed. I'm much less dependent upon guys. I don't need them in my life. They're fun, but they're not required. I'm also a lot more emotionally hesitant. I don't feel like I fall as hard as I used to.

But I'm also much happier. I'm incredibly happy with where I am in life and where I'm headed. And that's what counts. 

Day 12 & 13 (Catch Up) - 30 Day Blog Challenge

Day 12 - Something You Don't Leave the House Without
Day 13 - Something That Means a lot to You

I'm combining these days together because the only thing I can think of for both of them is the same exact thing. So instead of writing two separate blog posts on the same thing, I'm cheating and putting them together (and it'll help me catch up faster).

This is a picture of the ring I bought (straight from the website) when my grandfather became ill in March of 2008. Like I've said in previous posts, he meant the world to me and I miss him dearly. I wear this ring every day. The finger I wear it on sometimes changes, but I still wear it. Even if I'm laying around the house on a lazy day and don't have my normal jewelry on (I also wear a watch, pearl earrings, and diamond stud earrings every day), I always have my ring on. It's taking a little bit of him everywhere. 

Day 11 - 30 Day Blog Challenge

Day 11 - Favorite TV Shows

FINALLY. I'm caught up on blogs. The last few days have been crazy with making sure my school work got done, finishing up some things for Lynsie's bridal shower, and packing/getting ready for going out of town for the weekend to my favorite place in Missouri!

So without further ado... my favorite TV shows to finally be caught up!

Now I'm off to enjoy the fresh country air! I can hear cows from my bedroom! 

Day 10 (Catch Up) - 30 Day Blog Challenge

Day 10 - Something You're Afraid Of

My biggest fear is the dark and I'm not going to lie, I feel like I'm 5 when I say that. But my fear is much different than the boogie man under my bed (although I still run and jump into bed). I'm more scared about the people that lurk in the dark. I'm petrified of being attacked in the dark and kidnapped or worse. I've also recently had nightmares where people are breaking into my apartment and getting me while I'm sleeping. I have to calm myself down at night when I turn off the lights or I start freaking out that there is something out there. So for multiple reasons, I'm petrified of the dark.

Day 9 (Catch Up) - 30 Day Blog Challenge

Day 9 - A favorite picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Mathew Alexander

I can't imagine life without my baby brother. He was my baby to play house with when he was born and took his first steps into my arms. I love him with all of my heart and it's amazing to see the young man he's becoming. Although, I'd be a little happier if he wasn't so tall already. He's only 14. 

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Mimi and Pap

I love my grandparents. They were there when my parents needed a break on weekends, for every birthday, every t-ball game and every recital. They've been there since I was born and I love them both very much. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away on March 27, 2008. His death was the hardest thing I've ever dealt with. We were inseparable. We'd go for walks, mow the lawn, and eat things Mimi didn't like me eating (it would ruin my supper) in his shed. But because my Mimi is the best Mimi in the world, her house still feels the same. It's still full of so much love and amazing cooking. I love going back to visit. 

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Aunt Haley

Talk about inseparable - my Aunt Haley and I were partners in crime. She was there just as much, if not more, than my grandparents. She was my preschool teacher and would take me home most of the time and usually in a different outfit than what my mother put me in. I was her Maggie Magooster. Now, she has two daughters of her own but I still try to see her every time I go home. 

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Kathryn Rose

Kathryn has been my best friend for nearly 19 years. We met when I was 3 years old. We've spent years apart sometimes but every time we see each other, we pick right back up where we left off. It's nice to have someone who has known you almost as long as you've been alive. She truly is my sister. No really, we've been mistaken for sisters before because of our similar physical features. 

Her mother is also a woman very dear to me. She's like a second mother and is always there if I ever need to talk. 

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Kathryn Michelle

(Yes, I have two best friends named Kathryn). 

Katy has been one of my best friends since sophomore year of high school. She was there during the hardest moments of high school and I can't thank her and her family enough. It's going to be weird not living with her in a few months. 

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Lynsie Rochelle

I've only known Lynsie for a year and a half but I knew she was someone I could count on within a few days of meeting her. She's an amazing friend and will do anything to make sure you're happy and safe. She's also an amazing cook and I love her gravy. She's getting married in September and I'm her Maid of Honor! I'm so excited and things are starting to finally pick up and her wedding seems more and more real!

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And of course, last but not least, 

Dutchess Madeline

The best and cutest puppy I've ever had!