From A Proud Daughter

You know when you were a kid and you had to fill out “fun fact” information sheets about yourself at the beginning of each school year, and you were asked the question: “Who do you want to be like when you grow up.” And several years later the question became a little more sophisticated: “Who do you look up to.” And after that is was: “Who is your hero?” And then years after that, the same question would come around: “Who is your biggest inspiration in life?” This was always a question I never stumbled when answering. My answer has ALWAYS been the same and will remain the same for the rest of my life: My Father

He is an inspiration; a loving father; an amazing husband; and a dedicated friend. Even though I am already 25, I still want to grow up to be just like my father. The compassion that he has for everything he does shows in his work and with his relationships. The respect I see that his friends and family have for him is what everyone wishes to gain from others. My dad is exactly who he is and never tries to be anything else – it’s admirable.

Dad has been there for me in ways that I know he doesn’t even realize. My heart has been broken several times and the comfort that I find from my father in a long tight hug and several encouraging words means more than he will ever know. Dad is a man of few words, but when spoken I know they are true. Always encouraging to move forward, but always my personal cheerleader – I could never ask for better support. Dad is the backbone of our family.

Bless the poor fella’s heart that ends up with me because they have some pretty big shoes to fill to take the place of the “man in my life.” Dad can do everything; I mean EVERYTHING. Dad has set standards that I don’t think my future husband will ever be able to meet. I hope one day I find a man that loves me and my children the way my Dad has loved me, mom and Blair.

For everything that my dad has taught me in and about life, I will never be able to repay him. Even though he ran a tough ship when Blair and I were younger, the older I get the more I appreciate these “silent” lessons. I feel that I have grown up with a solid foundation and a realistic grasp on finances, values, responsibilities, and integrity. My wish in life is that in everything I do I make my dad proud because I could not be more proud to have him as my father. I hope he knows the impact he has had on me the past 25 years.

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." -- Clarence Budington Kelland


HAPPY FATHERS DAY POPPIE!

I Love You

Back The Pack - ALWAYS and FOREVER !

Young NC State fans pose with signs on a car outside of Reynolds Coliseum in 1971.

....................

So I was checking out the NC State Alumni blog and came across some pictures they posted on Flickr of NC State many years ago. These pictures make me proud to be an Alum of NC State simply for the deep history that is rooted in the college. Take a look at the blog here: http://www.alumni.ncsu.edu/blog/

Check out Winston Hall in 1910. In the basement of this building is where I had my very first class as a freshman at NC State at 8am – and it was the one and only English class I took in all five years of college!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/520021465/

This picture is dedicated to my “fabulous” Frisbee faces of my senior design project. How many times do we have to eat at Two Guys while working with Rube! It’s kind of scary that this restaurant has not changed at all! Sanitary check?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/3368528664/

Really 1896…really?! I started to school at State over 100 years after these dudes were teaching? GEEZE!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/2899346232/

Looks like the Hillsborough Hike had a different meaning back in 1917!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/2899345736/

And Hillsborough Street in 1921. Crazy to think about. Do you think our great great grand kids will look back on pictures from Hillsborough street in 2009 and wonder what a Starbucks, Mitch’s Tavern, and Bruggers Bagels is?!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsu_scrc/2899345606/

We’re the Red and White from State and we know we are the best!
Hands behind our backs we can take on all the rest!
Go to hell Carolina, Devils and Deacs stand in line,
The Red and White from NC State, go State!

What Is This World Coming To?

Do you get more emails than phone calls at work? Do you find that majority of communication with your friends and family is done through facebook, emails, text messages, and BBM? Has technology taken over and our communication skills slowly dwindling? Honestly it has gotten ridiculous, and I will admit…I am part of the crowd.

I have never liked to talk on the phone. In middle and high school, I was not the kid to sit around and chat it up with my friends or boyfriend. I would call my friends, make plans and go do it. I didn’t have my own house phone line… and if I was on the phone and we got a “beep”, I had to answer it and…. if it was for my parents, we had to give the phone over (even if it was one of their friends that just wanted to chat it up!). I didn’t get a cell phone until I started driving and even then it was only used for an emergency.

When I got to college there was AIM, and to me, the best thing that came along since water wings! I didn’t have to talk on the phone to see what my friends were doing and I didn’t have to waste a text message (since mom put a cap on how many texts we could use each month!) We found ourselves in the sorority house AIM’ing to each other down the hallway to see if one of the girls had a cute top to wear out that night! GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND WALK DOWN THERE! If we were out at the bar EVERYONE would text because you couldn’t hear if you were trying to call someone. I came to depend on this technology every freaking day. No wonder kids out of college have such rough times with job interviews. With online classes and technology attached to our hand, who needs to communicate verbally. Too bad we can’t conduct an interview through email! I could probably respond ten times quicker with my typing skills before the words could come out of my mouth professionally.

Now, several years down the road, I own this amazing little thing called a BlackBerry. In ways it is the devil. I am too “plugged in.” (I actually have two phones: one for work and one personal) On my personal BlackBerry I receive my personal Gmail and on my work BlackBerry, my Duke email. As soon as I receive an email, it comes right through to my phone. Rarely do I log on to my computer to check my mail! I can send texts on both phones and I can get on BBM with both. If you don’t know what BBM is, it might be the devils first child. BBM stands for BlackBerry Messenger and it provides BlackBerry users with the familiar look-and-feel of a desktop instant messaging program right on your phone. You use BBM to chat with other BlackBerry users in an easy-to-use instant messaging format. So …pretty much my favorite communication tool on my computer in college is now in the palm of my hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week. DANGEROUS!

I went out with a guy the other week that I had never even talked on the phone with! I gave him my number while we were out on a Saturday and two days later he texted me to see if I wanted to do something the next weekend. I said OK and then throughout the week we would BBM each other back and forth just to stay in contact…then Saturday came and I meet him out for dinner. This has become the norm – There isn’t that time for awkward conversation on the phone when all you have to do is send a BBM or text; I guess I am sparing myself that uncomfortable silence , we can encounter that when we meet face-to-face!

Even sitting at my desk at work, I find myself instant messaging people a question before picking up the phone and calling. No one uses their phone! Not really sure why we even have them! I get emails from my boss asking me a question and he actually sits directly in front of me (no more than 20ft away!) I AM DEAD SERIOUS! What is this world coming too?! How sad is all of this?! Some companies have started rules that on Friday’s, it is no email day. If you have to do anything, you pick up the phone and call the person directly. No one is expected to check their email or send emails. I think I like this idea! Oprah had a challenge this past season to see who could go weeks without their “technology.” Weeks would be hard, but I wouldn’t mind trying to go a day without using anything except the phone! Could you do it?!

Anyway, this blog entry came to mind after seeing this article- probably the saddest thing I have seen! They actually have a competition for this cr*p!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31395457/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/

Another One To Add To The Line-Up

Bridezilla is an understatement. These girls are simply bit*hes. The show should be called Bit*chzilla because let’s be honest, these girls don’t act like this just because they are getting married! Wake-up dude; look at what you are getting yourself into!

I used to watch this show, 'Bridezilla', casually as it would come on WeTV. But a new season started two weeks ago on Sunday night and it’s become part of the weekly line-up. Your wedding should be one of the happiest days of your life but somehow these girls turn it into a living nightmare for not only themselves but their bridal party, family and friends. The show follows two girls at a time through the ups and downs of planning and executing their wedding. The behavior of these girls is unimaginable.

The first episode started out following Valerie. Valerie, 25 years old, is from Southern California. She is a student and her Groom, Jessie (27) is an electrician. Valerie wants to prove to the public that she has money and is going above and beyond for a wedding that her and her fiancé cannot afford. Valerie crashed her fiancé’s bachelor party, that is, only after a two hour fight that ended in the conclusion that the wedding was off. RIIIGHHHT. No one supports their marriage and says the couple rushed into it too fast after having their daughter. Valerie has the mental attitude that she doesn’t need to marry Jessie because she could get any man she wants. Valerie pitches fits as if she were 5; throws flowers and smashes cakes at meetings with her vendors.

Our second bridal bit*h is Christina. Christina is a 27 year old property manager from Texas and her Groom, 21 year old Jeffery, is a student. Christina has planned an outdoor wedding – in the middle of December! So that overweight Christina can feel better about herself on her wedding day, she has a weight MINIMUM for her bridesmaids – 200lbs! On the last episode, Christina admitted to picking these five girls as her bridesmaids because they were her ugliest and biggest friends - that way all the attention will be on her! She demands the bridal party “stuff their face” so that they can barley fit in their dress. Great Friend she is! (Oh yeah, and no SPANKS allowed!) When her maid of honor comes down with a cold, Christina secretly starts slipping cough medicine into her maid of honors drinks to “help” clear up her cough so that she doesn’t ruin the ceremony.

Throughout the show, they interview the Groom and he admits to marrying a bridezilla! Hey buddy – she’s going to be yours in “T minus 24 hours”! Are you retarded?!

Great Show, definitely check it out!

"No tellin' where it'll take ya"

It was one of those weeks of thinking. At some point I felt like I was standing still and the world around me was rotating faster than I could catch on. I was in such a routine of getting “life” done. I wasn’t able to do social things because of other commitments. I found myself sitting there wishing that I could catch dinner with a group of friends or go out with several guys I just met and now feel like I am totally neglecting. I found myself wondering if I am doing the right thing at this point in life. Am I focusing my attention in the right areas? Is it the right time for me to go back to school at night or do I need to get my life a little more settled? But then, what exactly is “settled”? It is that point in time where I have friends in all walks of life – single, married, some ready to have kids, some not even looking for a relationship. I have friends who love their jobs, hate their jobs, out of a job and back in school full time. What is right for me now? Where does the balance of work, school and relationships come from? There are bits and pieces from all of these lives that I want to pull together for me; but is it possible?

I kind of feel lost in the game of life. As I was driving home last night from walking Bear at the park with Preston, something came over me. This is MY life. I support myself – I pay for school, food, housing, car etc. I choose to live in Charlotte (which is probably one of the best decisions I have made so far); I choose my friends; I choose my activities and I do EXACTLY what I want and need to do at every second of the day. I have had this freedom for the past two years but this is the very first time it has become a realization. Maybe it is an inner excitement that I honestly don’t know what tomorrow brings that left this calm feeling over me as I drove home. I lost a lot of myself over the past year and I am beginning to get it all back. I am becoming who I want to be, not someone I feel like I should be. There were times in college and after moving to Charlotte that I formed myself to fit a certain crowd or a particular boyfriend. Although I learned a lot, I can say with certainty I wasn’t 100% happy. I wasn’t me. But, in the past three months, I have become exactly who I look forward to being for the next 90 years. I am happy and motivated; I am blessed to have the opportunities I have been given and the support system that surrounds me – but I guess I am striving to find an answer to the stirring question: What’s next?

Zack Attack

Mark-Paul Gosseler, Zack Morris, was on the Jimmy Fallon Show the other night, complete with a rousing revival of 'Friends Forever' with The Roots...and it is as good as it sounds!!! ha ha Watch it below!!!
I'm not going to lie - I can't say I still don't watch this classic every now and then!

Tea It Up

There has been a slight change to my morning routine. I started this habit several months ago and I honestly feel the pay off. I have switched all my morning coffee to green tea . Many coffee drinkers say they love their coffee and never switch to drinking tea instead. However there are numerous reasons why making that switch to tea can really improve your life!

Although recent research has shown that coffee does have some benefits for the human body such as helping to fight diabetes and that it is a strong stimulant, green tea has considerable more health benefits than coffee. For example, while coffee drinking can make your teeth brittle and discolored, tea drinking can actually greatly benefit your teeth, helping to prevent cavities and improving bad breath!

Ancient Chinese people knew the benefits of green tea for health. They have always used it for medical purposes. However, in Ancient China, it was used especially against the headaches and depression. Green tea has a great importance in China history. It is produced from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis by some special processes. Unlike black tea, it has little amount of caffeine which causes to insomnia and nausea.

This is the list of benefits of green tea which I've found during my research:

-It is used to treat multiple sclerosis.
-It is used for treatment and prevention of cancer.
-It is used to stop Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
-It is used to raise the metabolism and increase fat oxidation.
-It reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks by reducing the risk of trombosis.
-It reduces the risk of esophageal cancer.
-Drinking green tea inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells, reduces the level of cholesterol in blood, and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
-It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases
-It is used to treat impaired immune function. .
-Some researches show that, drinking green tea regularly may help prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria which causes the dental plaque.

Not Sure what kind of green tea to try? I suggest several of my favorites – all found at your local grocery or Trader Joes :

(I am not talking about the kind of green tea you can get in a Lipton bottle! Check the nutrition labels and ingredients on those – not what you may think! These are all tea bags!)

- Yogi: Green Tea Super Antioxidant (organic)
- Taxo: Envy Green Tea (organic)
- Bigelow: Green Tea with Pomegranate
- AriZona® Green Tea with Ginseng & HoneyAriZona Green Tea with Pomegranate and Acai

I like my tea strong so I use two tea bags in a "to-go" coffee mug with hot water (not boiling!)

Enjoy!

Ride or Die

Investing in a Car
Congratulations! Your car pulled through a whopping four years, and then some. Sure you’ve dinged it and banged it until you’re almost glad to see it go, but who has the kind of money it takes to buy a car these days? But you’re screwed six ways 'til Sunday. Your friends singing Adam Sandler’s “Piece of Shit Car” when they hop in just isn’t funny anymore. You need a car, and that’s that. Before you head to the dealership, here’s what you need to know.

Of all the investments you could possibly make now or in the future, a car is the absolute worst one out there. Why? Good investments accumulate value—you start with an initial investment, and it grows from there. Cars don’t work that way. In the instant you drive your shiny new ride off the lot, it declines 20% in value. As far as investments go, it doesn’t get much worse than that.

Fortunately, you have options. And with all of those other amazing things to do with your money out there (pay off your credit cards, save for retirement, pay down your student loan balance), it would be smart, smart, smart to avoid overspending on transportation. For that reason, here are a few ideas for you to make sure this puts minimal strain on your shiny black patent clutch.

Ain’t Nothin’ but a Green Thang
If you live in a big city, you should seriously consider the mass transit options. Now, mostly because of the initiatives towards the “Green” movement, there are numerous available alternatives. Go to http://www.publictransportation.org/ and see what systems are available in your community.

Can You Pay My Bills? Can You Pay My Automo-bills?
While lease payments are often less per month than loan payments associated with buying a car outright, a car lease is one of the most foolish commitments you can make. Don’t be deceived-- However luxurious having the option of driving a new car every few years may seem, it’s going to be more expensive in the long run. Plain and simple: You. cannot. afford. it.
Here’s why:

At the end of your lease term, you have a few crummy options:

1. Purchase the car for a “discounted” price, which is usually higher than the actual value of the car (especially when you lump in the lease payments you’ve made)
2. Turn over the previously leased car and lease another (a vicious cycle in which lease payments never end and you never have an asset to show for it)
3. Buy another car

If you resort to either of the last two options, keep in mind that there is no way in the world you’re going to get the trade-in value you want. Car companies have it worked down to a science—they’ll get as much out of you as possible.
Two things to keep in mind:Every little scratch counts: Any little blemish or imperfection on the body of your car is going to cause the trade-in amount to decline.
You’re only allotted to put a certain number of miles on the odometer each year-- Go over that number, and be prepared to empty your piggy bank

.…which is why you should consider taking out a loan and buying car in the first place. After a few years of paying down your car loan, you actually have something to show for it, and don’t have to negotiate through the gimmicks with a car salesman.

A New Car!
You’ve perused the mass transit options, and none of them will work. You’ve realized you’d rather walk 500 miles in a pair of Jimmy Choos than sign a car lease. It is officially time to buy a car.

Something New, Something Used
You’re not going to like this, but hear it out. Purchasing a new car instead of a used car makes zero sense. Remember how it was mentioned that car’s value declines 20% just by driving it off of the sales lot? Apply that logic, and take advantage of it. The misfortune of the gal who wasted her money on the new car can turn into one heck of a discount for you. And with all of the car companies focusing on selling “gently used” cars lately, it’s not tough to find a “new used” car. Your goal: find one that’s 2 years old (or younger) and has no more than 10,000 miles on the odometer, and put the money you save to use elsewhere.

The “Loan” Ranger
While the dealer selling you the car will likely want to provide you with financing, it’s not a bad idea to check out your options outside of the dealership. You can get a car loan at a number of websites such as http://www.eloan.com/ and http://www.lendingtree.com/, or contact banks and credit unions to see what kind of interest rates you can get.

Covering Your Ass(et)
Buying a used car can be scary. But to calm your fears, here is a list of things you can do to put the kebosh on anyone screwing you out of your hard-earned money.

1. Purchase a “Certified Pre-Owned car”: They’re used cars in such great shape that the dealer is willing to sell it with a warranty.
2. Request the car’s inspection from the dealer.
3. Hire a mechanic. Get him to inspect the car before you purchase it.
4. Go to http://www.carfax.com/ and get a report on the car’s history



great advice pulled from Chiconomics 101: http://www.chiconomics101.com/ Check her out!

Summer Shrimp Rolls

Such an easy recipe! And fool proof! The recipe serves this "shrimp salad" on hot dog buns, but so far I have had it on wheat bread, hamburger buns and even wrapped in a pita with lettuce and cheese! Maybe even try it as a "dip" on top of a cracker?....the sky is the limit!

Summer Shrimp Rolls (Shrimp Salad)
Serves: 4
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 3 min
------------------------------
1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound large shrimp - peeled, deveined and chopped
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels (from about 2 ears)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Pesto (recipe below)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 scallions, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper
4 hot dog buns
------------------------------
1. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until opaque, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the corn and let cool.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, pesto and lemon juice. Add the shrimp-corn mixture, bell pepper and scallions; toss. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in the hot dog buns.



Pesto
Makes: 1 cup
Prep: 15 min
------------------------------
2 cups basil leaves
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
-------------------------------
Using a food processor, finely chop the basil and garlic. Add the Parmesan and pine nuts and pulse into a coarse paste. With the machine on, slowly add the olive oil until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week.)

A Little Weekly Re-Cap Of Random Odds and Ins

-Alive After Five got over ruled last night due to inclement weather so we went to Nolan Kitchen and then to Brazwells! Brazwells is a new pub on Montford Ct.. Excellent atmosphere and fun people! A younger crowd. Definitely a place to try on a rainy Thursday night. Nolan kitchen is a great little spot for a glass of wine and fried zucchini chips!

- Set my coffee cup on the trunk of my car Wednesday as I went to get my keys out of my purse. Found my keys and pushed the trunk button to put my computer in the back…sure enough, the coffee went everywhere - and being the person I am (thanks to my father!) I immediately hit up the AutoBell!

- Going to the lake again tomorrow with friends! The sun, water and a beverage in my hand will cure any rough week. (This was the first full week I have worked in three weeks)

- Went Monday night to the cheer gym with Leann to do some of my clinical observation and it took me back to the gymnastics days as a kid. Oh how I wish going to gymnastics was all I had to be concerned with in life!

- Tried a new recipe which turned out to be one of my favorites: Very Easy! Give it a try!

Whole Salmon “Slashed and Stuffed” with Basil Butter

Ingredients
Olive oil, for grill
Compound Butter:
2 bunches fresh basil leaves, divided
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (4 pound) whole salmon, cleaned and scaled
2 lemons, cut into wedges
Extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt

Directions
Begin by preheating a large outdoor grill. Using a paper-towel folded in 4, wipe down the grill with olive oil to clean it and also create a nonstick surface.
Prepare the compound butter by roughly chopping 1/2 the basil leaves and adding it along with the butter and salt and pepper, to taste, to a food processor. Pulse until fully combined and creamy.
Using a chef's knife, make slits in each side of the fish, place a few slices of lemon and basil in each of the slits. Stuff the remaining herbs and lemon inside of the fish and head. Paint the whole fish with the basil butter and refrigerate the remaining butter to serve with the finished fish. Carefully place the fish on the grill and grill for 10 to 12 minutes until it lifts off easily - use 2 large spatulas. Turn the fish over and grill for 10 minutes more. Serve on a large platter family style and dot with the remaining basil butter. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh basil leaves. Serve with lemon wedges.

Another Reason To Love Charlotte!

I know what I am doing for lunch tomorrow!

This year marks the 11th Year of the Annual Taste of Charlotte Festival! Taste of Charlotte allows you to go downtown and try all kinds of foods from over 40 different restaurants in the Charlotte area! Not only is there amazing food, but live music on two separate stages, comedy acts, dancing, and ice cold “beverages”!

Admission to the event is free and while inside, you may buy cups of coins to be used at the restaurant tents for food samples and drinks. There is a Market Place with vendor booths as well as Tavern at the Taste. Tavern at the Taste is presented by Blue Moon Brewing Co serving over 12 different brews.

The festival is open rain or shine on Friday, June 5th and will go through Sunday, June 7th! It’s located in uptown Charlotte on Tryon Street and spans 5 blocks from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd to 6th Street.

All restaurants are entered into the Best of the Taste Competition. Judges spend a few hours on Friday afternoon sampling over 100 menu items to determine the winners. (I have to figure out how to become a judge!) The Winner of each category receives the Silver Platter Award. Look for the Silver Platter displayed in the Restaurant’s booth throughout the weekend and in their restaurants throughout the year.

Below are some of the restaurants and items that Taste of Charlotte 2009 will be serving up to its guests – these are the ones I will not miss this year!

BlakFinn American Saloon: Classic Beef Slider, Cookie Slider, Campfire Hog Wings
Boneheads: Skewered Shrimp & Rice, Lemon Herb Piri Chicken & Rice, Fish & Rice
Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza: Spinach Artichoke Dip, Chicken Penne Pasta, BBQ Chicken Pizza
Caffe Siena: Chilean Sea Bass Cake w/ Curry Aioli, Black Bean & Corn Quesadillas, Braised Lemon Chicken w/Couscous
Caribbean Hut: Beef Patty, Jerk Chicken w/ Rice & Peas, Curry Chicken w/ Rice and Peas
Chen’s Bistro: Sesame Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken Sticks, California Roll
Dilworth Neighborhood Grille: Crab Cakes w/ Aioli Dipping Sauce, Chicken Spiedie Sandwich, Pizza Frites
Dixie’s Tavern: Red Beans & Rice, Cajun Pulled Pork Sandwich, Death By Dixie Brownie w/ Ice Cream
FlatRock Grille: BBQ Shrimp, Hickory Glazed Salmon, Key Lime Pie
Matt’s Chicago Dog: Gourmet Vienna Beef Chicago Dog, ¼ Pound Italian Sausage, German Bratwurst
Outlaw BBQ: Beef Brisket Slider, BBQ Slider, Rib Sampler
RiRa The Irish Pub & Restaurant: Guinness BBQ Wings, Potato Cakes, Shepherd’s Pie
Sticky Fingers RibHouse: 3 Bone Rib, Smoked Wings, Pulled Pork Slider
Village Fudge & Candy Shoppe: Fudge, Bloomin’ Apple, Strawberry Chocolate Dipper
Village Tavern: Shrimp Bayou, Chinese Chicken Salad, Crab Cakes with Tartar Sauce

I might just have to go everyday !

So Funny I About Wet My Pants !

The sport of shin kicking has been around since the 17th Century. First established by Robert Dover in 1612. Shin kicking unfortunately died out in the early 1900’s, although I can’t imagine why? It was reborn in 1951 at Chipping Camden, England. Although the games are not quite as brutal as the earlier versions, I’m sure players are secretly rejoicing that they now prohibit iron capped boots. Players used to prepare for the games by smashing hammers into their shins.

The London Olympics may be still three years away. But in the rural parts of the west-country a humble community is keeping a local tradition alive. However, these sports most certainly will not appear in the Olympics.

Dover's Hill in the English West country recently played host to the time-honored Costswold Olimpicks.

The games feature a variety of unusual disciplines. Including the tug-of-war and the wheelbarrow race. But, the highlight for most is the bruising sport of shin-kicking. It's been a while since I've seen a good shin-kicking.

This game requires strength, technique...seriously, and of course a good pair of legs. The idea is to kick your opponents shins until you literally leave them without a leg to stand on.
The harder you hit, the more likely you are to win.

Here is a sneak peak of the Championship in 2008

Watch Shin Kicking Championship 2008 and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

Who Share's Your Birthday ?

So yesterday was another day on the “funny farm.” If I could only allow each of you to be a fly on the wall in the office, you would honestly think you were watching an episode of “The Office”. It gets comical in here sometimes because we all sit SO freakin close together. Un-luckily, I have a corner desk that faces the entire floor so I have a grand view at all times. I could tell you what everyone’s kids had for lunch today, whose wife went to get an overpriced manicure, whose dog broke through the shock collar this morning, who hasn’t done laundry in three weeks, whose wife made him watch the Hills etc. etc. I could imitate any of my coworkers because I have to watch their every move for nine hours a day. Scary (and Sad)!
Anyway, it was a normal afternoon yesterday and we got on the discussion of who in history we shared our birthday with. (Don’t ask how we got all the way there; another story for a rainy day!)
We all hit up Wikipedia and immediately the comparisons started flying! I was very impressed with my findings and very proud to have a birthday on February 6th! Blair and I share our birthday with some pretty influential people!!! Check it out below!
I also now know the theme for our 26th birthday based off of a holiday observed in Jamaica! Get excited sister!

BIRTHS
1665 – Queen Anne of Great Britain (d. 1714)
1732 – Charles Lee, General in the American Revolution (d. 1782)
1895 – Babe Ruth, American baseball player (d. 1948)
1911 – Ronald Reagan, 4oth President of the United States (d. 2004)
1940 – Tom Brokaw, American news anchorman
1945 – Bob Marley, Jamaican musician (d. 1981)
1984 – Blair Higgins Howard, Sister (ha)

HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES
Bob Marley Day in Rastafarianism (Jamaica and Ethiopia)
Waitangi Day (National Holiday) in New Zealand main holiday in New Zealand – also called New Zealand Day.

Who shares your birthday?!

The Universe is the stage on which you dance, guided by your heart.

No longer is art limited to painters and musicians. Each of us in an artist, endowed by our Creator with skills and talents that can make our world a more beautiful place. Every good mom is an artist, molding her children as a creation of God. Every teacher makes a mark on the young people in his or her classroom. Every ethical businessperson leaves a legacy of people seeing God through his or her careful and honest work.

The artist’s mandate five essential components of life-artistry:
Get great at something

Do something with that talent

Invest yourself in things that will last and that others will benefit from

Work for an audience of one, because sometimes our best work is seen only by God

Finish what you start


If everyone is an artist then life itself is a grand work of art.

What are you creating?

We all long to be great at something because God who created us is an artist, and we are created in his image. The problem is many of us are trying to get great at the wrong things – and some of us are trying to get great at everything. We battle to become great at so many things that it seems like we focus on things in which we are not proficient to the exclusion of that one thing that is really our gift. We will have the opportunity to be good at many things in our lives, and most of the time “good enough” really is good enough. But in a few areas of our lives, God really does equip and call us to be great.

A little reflection:

Every day we have the opportunity to apply this principle. We have the opportunity to get great at something and to narrow the focus of our effort in every decision that we make.

What are a few things that you do well?

Which of those do you feel has the most influence on others?

Which of those do you have to manufacture energy to accomplish?

How can you narrow the focus of your life to the one with the most influence?

What would it take to be great at that one thing?

I need to go to Salads Anonymous

I have a problem. I have become addicted to “Blain’s Special Salad.” Recently, I got so tired of always making a single vegetable to go on the side of a meat for dinner. I could not possibly force another turkey sandwich or bowl of soup down my throat for lunch and it was not an option to spend $10 to walk up the street to Quizno’s to get a sandwich that would be soggy before I could get back to work. One day after work I pulled a stupid move – I went to the grocery store hungry. At least while I was there, I controlled myself enough to stay on the outside isles as much as possible (otherwise I would have come back with a cart full of Sun Chips, Goldfish, Cereal and Oreos!). Being as hungry as I was, I loaded my cart with one of everything from the produce and cheese isle. I then had a coupon for Ken’s salad dressing and one for any Ocean Spray brand product. While on the dressing isle I came across two of the most amazing concoctions! Ken’s Lite Accents Asian Vinaigrette Dressing and Ken’s Lite Accents Honey Mustard Dressing. They both are unique, light and to die for!
Using my Ocean Spray coupon I purchased a bag of Craisins. (Honestly at the time I thought I was buying a bag of raisons!)

I then proceeded to the isle to buy almonds when I ran across a bag of pumpkin seeds. I remembered as a kid how much I liked these so I JUST HAD to buy them! (My stomach was definitely talking over my head at this time because these little suckers were not cheap!)

I checked out and headed home. As soon as I walked in the door, I had to have a bite of everything! You know how it is when you buy something new from the grocery; you want just a taste of it all before putting it up! I made two small salads (one for each dressing! Ha) with just about everything I bought. Immediately I was addicted. This was not like any other salad I had ever had. They had unique taste thanks to several special ingredients! Since this day I have had a salad of this sort at least once a day – always with a new twist or kick. This salad has repeatedly taken over that turkey sandwich or bowl of soup for lunch. Some days I will load a scoop of tuna on top while others I will cut up a piece of chicken breast! The sky’s the limit!

What makes this salad so great? Several special ingredients marked with an **

Baby spinach leafs
Baby Portobello mushrooms
Chopped Carrots
A small cucumber sliced
Yellow onion
Baby roma tomato
Sprouts
Athena Feta Cheese crumbled **
Craisins OR pumpkin seeds **
Ken’s Lite Asian Vinaigrette OR Ken’s Lite Honey Mustard Dressing (both are sprays) **

Try these three/four ingredients on your next salad and you won’t go back to that bag salad ever again!!!

"Diamonds Are Forever" (ha, love you lady!)

Too-Tall and Smashley
Their getting hitched! 191 Days to go!

Two of the most precious people in the world are getting married on December 5th, 2009 and I am headed to Raleigh, NC on Saturday to celebrate their engagement!

Ashley is one of my sorority sisters from NC State and Paul is a friend from high school (who also went to State)! Together they are amazing!

On their wedding website Ashley gives me credit for “How They Met” but I will have to say that I just introduced them to each other and they did all the dirty work from there!

I love it when two of my friends get together which makes the wedding day even more special! (Which side of the church do I sit on?! – ok don’t be crazy, girls always stick together!)
A little info about them and the big day….

About Ashley:
Ashley was born on September 2nd, 1985 in Raleigh, North Carolina and Garner, NC. Ashley attended NC State University and graduated in 2007 with a B.S in Biochemistry and Chemistry. She works now as a manufacturing associate at Biogen Idec.

About Paul:
Paul was born on February 23rd, 1983 in Raleigh, North Carolina and grew up in Pfafftown, NC. Paul graduated from NC State with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2005 and a Masters Degree in Structural Engineering in 2007. Paul works for The Steel Network as a Structural Engineer in Raleigh.

When They Got Engaged and How It Happened:
December 20, 2008 – Paul and Ashley decided to take a trip to Myrtle Beach for the weekend. Paul woke Ashley up early Saturday morning to watch the sunrise on the beach. After complaining for 15 minutes, Ashley reluctantly got up. They went out on the beach and sat down and before Ashley could fully open her eyes Paul had dropped down to one knee and proposed!

About the Big Day:
Paul and Ashley will be celebrating their wedding in Garner, NC at Aversboro Baptist Church. The reception will follow at the Grand Marquies Ballroom.

ASHLEY'S ATTENDANTS

Lauren Vincent , Maid Of Honor

Tammy Boyette , Bridesmaid

Leslie Resnick , Bridesmaid

Ashley Leadon , Bridesmaid

Jackie Pate , Bridesmaid

PAUL'S ATTENDANTS

William Lackey , Best Man

Matt Lackey , Groomsman

Lance Bullard , Groomsman

Tim Bell , Groomsman

Justin Partin , Groomsman

Jeff Vaughn , Groomsman

A Must Read!

I finally finished a book! Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guild to Loving Yourself and Never Settling. Ok, so it might sound cheesy but honestly one of the best books I have ever stumbled across. I was in Barnes & Noble back sometime in early 2007 and this book had just come out. At the time I was in a very “weird”, on and off relationship, but something drove me to buy it. I brought it home, read through the first couple chapters, (maybe going over the words more then I was taking in the information), put a bookmark in it and set it on top of my night stand. From the top shelf of my night stand it slowly made its way to the floor and under my bed. (Must have just grown legs and walked away J) The book made two other house moves with me in the time being and ended up once again on the bottom shelf of my nightstand at Eastover. As I was doing some cleaning several weeks ago, it caught my attention. That night I snuggled down in my bed, pulled out the old bookmark and started the book all over from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down. EVERYTHING made perfect sense. It was like I was sitting there talking to my smartest best friend and she was telling me exactly what I needed to hear. “She’s so right,” I kept saying to myself. “That’s so true.” “Why didn’t I see it?” These phrases were coming up over and over again within me.

The information I was reading wasn’t some new found discovery that Jenn found cave searching in the desert. Honestly, it was all very basic but it just takes reading it over and over again for the concepts to sink in. These concepts that were being stated through this book were things that women in every stage of life need to have repeated to themselves daily.

Let's be honest. No woman really wants to be alone for the rest of her life. But does being alone mean you're doomed to be miserable forever? Definitely not! And does being single have to equal lonely? No way! You can have the best time of your life when you're single, but you wouldn't know that from our relationship obsessed society, where celebrity magazines devote the majority of their content to who's dating whom and the wedding industry is a $100-billion business. Yet more than a third of marriages end in divorce, and countless other couples languish in unions that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Don't become a statistic—love yourself and never settle!

Jen Schefft knows that better than almost anyone. In 2003, she got engaged in front of millions of people on television's The Bachelor, only to see it end nine months later when the relationship just wasn't right anymore. A year later, she turned down an engagement on The Bachelorette, and the backlash was relentless. She was labeled a "spinster" by a celebrity magazine, and a noted national talk-show host remarked that she would be "a bachelorette for the rest of her life."

This is a terrible message to send to the millions of sensational single women out there, and in Better Single Than Sorry Schefft makes it her mission to let women know that it's better to be single than to be in a relationship that doesn't make you happy. With testimonials from women of all ages—single, married, in committed relationships, with children (even single moms) and without—this book tells you how to let go of your fear of being alone and how to love yourself and never settle for a relationship that is anything less than you deserve. (You will find one you deserve!)

Written in a conversational style, as if talking with your best friend, Schefft helps you navigate the pressures of a culture that places an unhealthy importance on being in a relationship and shows you how to find happiness in work, home, and the simple pleasures of everyday life. Above all, she shows you how it's far, far better to be single than sorry. Being single is a time to have fun, learn new things, grow, and blossom—not a time to feel desperate or depressed, so cherish it!

This book isn’t here to tell you that you should be single forever – It just gives you some insight on what to focus on when choosing your relationships and how to make the right choices!

Suggestion: READ THE BOOK NO MATTER IF YOU ARE SINGLE, MARRIED, DIVORCED…! And read it at least once every couple of months to make sure you still know what you want!

Strung together like a floating trailer park, anchored out, and getting load all summer long…

Sunday’s trip to the lake made me realize why I love living here in Charlotte!
I was out on the lake with four of my favorite diva’s in Miss. Laura’s boat. We chased away the rain to find a fabulous sunny spot at the Sandbar. There were several other boats already there so we threw out the anchor and joined them. We floated as a single boat for awhile, and as I was sitting on the front I hear “Blain, Blain!” I turned around and it was Downer, Tommy, Lauren, Christina, Brant, Ryan, and several of my favorite friends from college. A couple minutes later, another boat came with more friends from NC State and slowly our line of Wolfpack graduates was increasing! Even though Charlotte is a bigger city, and Lake Norman is a pretty large lake, there is still comfort in knowing that’s it’s possible to have friends everywhere! I don’t need to move back to Kernersville to have the small town feel! Somehow this happens even on an open lake! It’s a small world!
Overall, it was a wonderful afternoon with some of my favorite people! We all had a great time – especially Miss Resnick!! :)

Congratulations Griff!

Congratulations Griffin!

Tomorrow night Griffin graduates from Milton High School! I am very proud of him and his dreams are coming true – he will be a bulldog this fall! GO UGA! It’s scary to think that Griffin will be in college next year. Honestly, it doesn’t seem right! He is still little – he will always be little! I guess it shows me how old I am getting :(

CONGRATULATIONS GRIFFIN – I hope you can look back and completely enjoy all 4 years of high school! You have such an exciting time ahead of you in college at UGA but NEVER forget the friendships and what you learned in high school! You will be pulled in thousands of different directions in college to be someone that you are not – stay true to yourself and don’t let others influence the amazing guy that you have become! Congrats Griff! I am proud of you! You truly deserve everything in life that is ahead of you! Love you dude, Blain

And on a SIDE NOTE:
LAKE ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH THE GIRLS! Can’t wait to see all of your faces!!! I love memorial weekend!!!

Guard Your Heart

So today's post comes from an older blog post made by the pastor at my church. It can speak volumes if you really take in what he is saying. Today it just felt appropriate for many many reasons....

" I love Proverbs 4:23:
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

I always use this verse to teach about purity. Specifically sexual purity.
Ok, sure, the verse works for that.
But it applies in so many other ways.

Don't just guard your heart against lust.
Guard it against discouragement. Guard it against pride. Guard it against doubt. Insecurity. Jealousy. Distraction.

Be selective about who gets backstage access in your life.

You can't let just anyone into your world to speak into your soul.
Be careful who you share your dreams with.
Their negativity can contaminate the possibility before it ever has a chance to become a reality.

Be careful who you take advice from.
Their immaturity or ignorance might confuse the issue and create needless chaos.

Everything flows from the heart.
Put it on lock down....like Fort Knox.
You've got valuable stuff in there."

One Thumbs Up, One Thumbs Down

Last night Mr. PS came over and we tried a new recipe for dinner and watched a new movie. One of these got a thumb up in my opinion, and one got a thumb down.
Let me begin by saying how much I LOVE seafood, I LOVE to cook, and I LOVE Paula Deen…but I was a little disappointed last night after trying her Seafood Pot Pie.

Recipe: (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/seafood-pot-pie-recipe/index.html)

Maybe I was spoiled from the amazing seafood we had at the beach last weekend, but this pot pie tasted extra fishy! Mr. PS said he liked it, but I think he was just trying not to hurt my feelings! What was more disappointing was that it was expensive! All of that seafood wasn’t cheap and there were tons of ingredients! I still have so much of the mix and veggies so I am thinking about trying it again tonight but with chicken – I will let you know how it goes!

But, the thumbs up goes to the movie…’Taken.’ Excellent Movie! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/
It is at the Red Box now so if you need a cheap activity for your Memorial Day weekend, check this one out! I will have to admit though…I will second guess traveling somewhere by myself! This movie is a little reality check! You really can’t trust anyone! Kind of scary.

Moist, Mango, Commode

Three girls, Three boys, one bedroom, one bathroom, one fabulous time! I love you friends !
I’m back :( This weekend went by WAY to fast but I honestly had the time of my life. I don’t think I could have asked for a better weekend and I don’t think I have had that much fun in the longest time! I have never laughed that much in my entire life. I think we were all in such need of a vacation that no one really cared what happened! The weather was gorgeous, the seafood was fabulous, and the “beverages” were tasty! This little trip was exactly what I needed :)
Several thoughts from the weekend that Cameron, Alan, Jamie, Ryan and Dustin will all appreciate!
People watching at Revolution with Ryan
Fried seafood and crab legs
My 32 year old baseball player trying to tell me he was 23.

Haunted ghost houses on tv
Jamie’s text: “wanna do lunch or something” “ok guess not” “great answer”
Dustin and I losing our flippy floppys (honestly a mystery)
The words moist, mango, commode
Alan’s graceful pool entry for the lazy river!
My white bathing suit top and yellow bottoms! The pieces I never wear but thought it would be a great idea for the lazy river!
Dustin’s $25 bud light and his favorite waitress
The Hall’s love banana pudding
Cameron insisting Jamie sing to the neighboring hotel
Watching the sun come up Saturday morning with Dustin
Sleeve tattoos, dirty, backwards hats, hoodies, pink button ups
Someone uses the restroom sitting down!
50 feet walks on the beach with the “children”
Cameron’s tramp stamp
“Go tie a bloody steak around your neck and jump in the water”

Bright Sunshiny Day!

Yesterday was Mr. Alan Parker's birthday and it is time to celebrate! In less than two hours I am in the Honda and headed to the beach! Cameron, Alan's girlfriend, has invited a bunch of us down there to celebrate the passing of another year for this old man!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER! Get ready because here I come! This vacation is long overdue - I might need a vacation from this vacation when I come back!

Dustin and I are already celebrating!

Going To See My Muse!

The ticket is bought and my bags will be packed! I am going to see my Homey G Funk in August. This trip is loooong over due! Thanks to a little vacation day and a Friday summer day off we will have an extra long weekend to live it up! Last week in August - Muse here I come!!!! Prepare yourself for a repeat of last year!

I love you my lady!!!

A Little Obsession

So I have a slight obsession - no it’s not a pretty pair of shoes or a gold bangle bracelet. It is National Geographic! My 7th grade social studies teacher had EVERY copy of the National Geographic magazine that ever came out and instantly I was hooked. The articles and photography was absolutely amazing! I then started watching the National Geographic specials they aired on TV. The one that really got me was an episode on truck drivers in the Arctic that traveled thousands of miles on nothing but sheets of ice! That’s right, no concrete pavement! These were 18 wheeler trucks running at a normal speed but not on a road; they were over big frozen bodies of water! Obviously a very risky job! I fell in love with the photography from this show which had pictures taken from below the surface of the ice looking up on a passing truck! Ask me how the photographer did it – I don’t know, but it blew my mind! (This show is now on the History Channel!) The things that can be captured on camera are true talent! I then got addicted to other shows like ‘Man-Made’ where on each episode they show/describe/discuss different engineering marvels. Some include the Bering Strait Bridge, Channel Tunnel, Autobahn, San Alfonso Del mar, Dubai Islands, Project Genesis, and Olympic Stadiums! (Honestly, GOOGLE some of these!) Maybe this is why I did Industrial Engineering and loved working at GE Aircraft because I could watch this stuff or hours! Ask any of my past roomies…these shows and “How’s It Made” were on the top of my list! At least on those nights I knew I had the living room to myself :)
Link: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
Link: http://www.history.com/minisites/iceroadtruckers

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Yesterday was Mothers Day and God could not have blessed me with the most amazing mother in the world. Without exaggeration she is more then just my mother; she is my best friend. She has given me more then anyone else could possibly think of. She has made me the woman that I am today and with constant support and encouragement, she has and will always be a driving force behind me. I love you momma!

"Thank you mom for providing me with the stability to keep me confident, the knowledge to help me accomplish things...

Thank you, Mom for providing me with the strength to conquer difficulties, the dedication to help me grow and the enormous amount of time you spend to keep us close. Thank you for always being there to help, for always being there to understand, and for always being there to care. You are a very rare person because you put your family's needs far ahead of your own. I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do. I want to thank you for being such an important and beautiful person in our family and I want you to know that you can depend on me for anything that you might need. I love you more than anything in the world."

Nothing Beats Family !

Good News! Granddaddy came through his surgery well and is doing fabulous!

He is at Forsyth Hospital and will be recovering there until Monday.

He's a trooper!!! Love you Granddaddy!

Oven Fries

I made this recepie last night for a cook-out we were having with some girlfriends for Anna's birthday. It was super easy and really good! It was ten times better then opening a bag of frozen french fries!

Cook Time: 35 min Level: Easy Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients
2 russet potatoes, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, halves cut lengthwise into fourths to make 16 big, fat wedges

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Preheat a baking sheet in the hot oven for at least 5 minutes.

While the baking sheet is heating, toss the potatoes with the olive oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Then dump the potatoes out onto a baking sheet, spreading to a single layer. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, shaking the pan every now and then, until the potatoes are cooked through, brown and crispy. Toss the fries in a big bowl with the parsley and cheese. Serve with ketchup for dipping!

Like A Kid Again...

I have lived in Charlotte for almost two years now. I have several wonderful groups of friends who I do everything with but...you can never have enough friends! So several weeks ago I decided now that the weather is pretty I want to do more activities outside. Therefore I went online and found a group that gets together at least two or three times a week to do outdoor activities, dinner and drinks, movies and even weekend trips. This is a pretty large group so it might not be the same people for every activity. Well last night we met at 5:30 at Freedom Park to play kickball! If you live in this area you know the weather was “iffy” all day long, but at 4:00 we received a text that said “Kickball is on!” So, about 20 of us met in the drizzle by the train at the park and played Kickball for about two hours! Honestly, it was like taking it back to fifth grade again. I have never laughed so hard in my life and had the best time with 19 total strangers who I now hope to stay in contact with. I also learned something about myself last night. On my way to kickball I was on the phone with my mother. The first question she asked was, “Who are you going with?” and my response was “by myself.” My mom seemed kind of shocked. She then asked, “Do you know anyone there?” and I answered with a “Nope.” Last night I realized that I don’t need someone to hold my hand everywhere I go. I am a “big” girl. I can go someone where on my own and meet new people on my own. If I sit back and wait until I had a friend to try something new, I might never branch out. Coming from a small town, going to college where I already knew several people, and moving to Charlotte where I already had friends – I never had to seek out people to do anything. I always just called up someone I knew if I wanted to do something. Well….. Sure for someone like me it might be intimidating to walk up to a group of 20 people and not know anyone, but to be able to do that allows you to walk away with ten times more confidence. Try it! Go out and do something that you want to do on your own. You will be surprised!

Never Underestimate The Importance Of A Birthday !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROOMIE!

This past Saturday was my roomie Anna's birthday! She was out of town this weekend but we are officially celebrating Wednesday at our apartment as we grill out with some girlfriends!

LOVE YOU LaANNA!

Pray For The Lamberths

As I was reading a blog I check frequently, I glanced at the sidebar and noticed another blog that this person follows. I clicked on it and I came across the following blog. I later found myself reading EVERY post: http://prayforthelamberths.wordpress.com/

I am almost speechless right now because never in a million years could I imagine putting myself in Angie's shoes. My heart truly goes out to her and her son Nolan.

Even though neither you or I personally know the Lamberths, every prayer counts.

In Angie's most recent post she says something that I do not think could have been stated better any other way:

"it's been said

it's hard to read my blog

because I am living many people's worst fear -

losing their husband

it was definitely

one of my worst fears too

but, honestly

not the worst of all

because I know where Mark is now

I think my worst fear of all is

losing a friend or a family member

who is uncertain

or undecided

or just who doesn't want to

give up their life for Christ

beause that's what

this life

is all about

giving up your claim to this life

and gaining it back and then some"