I'm All Shook Up !

You know when you want something so bad you can taste it?! That's me right now! More details to come later...hopefully positive, but we shall see.
Cross your fingers and just pray! I need this right now!

Bathtub II from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Using tilt-shift lenses Keith Loutit created some really neat videos that make it look like we are viewing Lilliputians enjoying a day at the harbor and zooming about on their boats…their tiny tiny model boats! Enjoy! Could have had me fooled!
Check out more of his stuff here! http://vimeo.com/keithloutit

The Things They Should Tell Us But Don't

I sit in an office that has two large flat screen TV’s on ALL DAY. I watch the News (CNBC, FOX, and Local); you name it and I see the headline all day long. I feel like I am personal friends with Captain Sully who landed the plane in the Hudson, best friends with Michelle Obama, diagnosed myself twice with Swine Flu and the talking heads on Squawk Box – they better be glad I am not in Chicago or NYC because those people are straight up rude and annoying.

Anyway, again this morning was a headline about fast food. Several months ago there was similar coverage about all the fillers being placed in fast food. To be able to hold onto the 99 cent menus with rising food prices, fast food restaurants have started incorporating even more fillers to keep the price of these “mystery” meats down. As I was discussing this with several friends, the topic of the Burger King Veggie Burger came about and surprisingly it was pointed out again today on the news. For those of you that opt for the “Veggie” burger because it seems to be healthier then beef or chicken, you might want to think twice when ordering it at a fast food restaurant. At Burger King, the Veggie Burger with cheese has more calories and more fat then:

Chicken Tenders (8pc)
Original Chicken Sandwich w/o mayo
Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich w/o mayo
Flame Broiled Hamburger AND cheeseburger
Whopper Jr. with or without cheese

Now if you eat the Veggie burger because you are 100% totally vegetarian – you still might want to think again. Found at the very bottom of Burger King’s nutritional menu in very fine prints it states:

“Burger King Corporation makes no claim that the BK VEGGIE Burger or any other of its products meets the requirements of a vegan or vegetarian diet. The patty is cooked in the microwave.”

I think I just caught something in my throat! UGH! Not only does it contain some sort of filler but it is cooked in the microwave! Enough said.

If you want to eat safe and healthy, always opt for the salad (but watch the dressing and croutons on top!)

One Of Those Songs

Many of you have asked why I named my blog "The Sweetest Thing."

I don't want to disappoint any of you when I say this because there is pretty much no creativity behind it.

The morning I started the blog, I had just returned back to my apartment on a gorgeous Sunday morning after church and the entire way home I had the sunroof open and windows down and U2 blaring "Sweetest thing." That's it. The song got caught in my head for the rest of the day and it came out through my fingers as my blog title. That's how it appeared! Its one of those addicting songs but great for warm weather riding!

"Blue-eyed boy meets a brown-eyed girl

Oh oh oh, the sweetest thing." - U2

Put Your Party Panties On!

Happy Birthday to two of my most precious friends in the entire world!
19 years of friendship - what would we have done if we never went to preschool?! (besides go to kindergarten not knowing how to use scissors! Lou knows about this one!)

Happy 25th Birthday to my little love Sarah and my Home G Lauren!

I love you girls more then you will ever know!

Party like two of the hottest rock-stars! I miss you both!

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not forever friends.”

Ruffles And Polka Dots To The Rescue

It's that time of year again here in Charlotte! One of my favorite activities offered here in the Queen City - Alive After 5 is back for 2009!

(Don't know what AA5 is, check it here: http://www.aliveafterfiveatepicentre.com/)

Anyways, I always seem to have a struggle with what to wear to AA5. Some girls leave straight from work and head to the Epicenter wearing their office attire. Some girls run home and throw on their "Go Out - Bar clothes." Since I get off work at 2:30 I have the time to do what I want before the festivities begin. I refuse to put back on my dress pants and blouse from that days work, but I am also not ready to put on something a "fancy" because it is only 5:30pm. Therefore, last Wednesday I made the purchase above. It turned out to be the PERFECT AA5 and dinner/drinks after work attire. I usually do not even consider pulling off items with ruffles and polka dots but I figured I need to start thinking a little more outside the box. It turns out, I could not walk 50 feet without someone stopping me and asking me where I got my dress and giving me a compliment. I was excited - SCORE!

If you want to get in on this purchase you can find it here: http://www.express.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=18670&parentCategoryId=2&categoryId=22&subCategoryId=243

Lists

Yesterday was just one of those days. Only one word I feel can explain it: Overwhelming.

I don't know what came over me but as soon as I got home after work I was mentally, emotionally and physically drained. Not sure why, but I some how felt lost.
Over the past year I had let myself fall back into such a routine that for the first time it caught me off guard and I did not know what to do with myself. The things I used to think about, plan for, expect in a day have shifted. The attention is now all on me. My time is MY time. I do what I want, when I want and I am the only one I have to worry about. I am not used to this and for some reason it is very difficult for me.
So I grabbed the mail (which, since Anna is out of town has not been picked up in two days!) and headed up to the apartment. As I sorted through the various coupons, flyer's, and bills I found two letters addressed to me! One from Raleigh and one from Galax, VA. (ps - i love "real" mail if you don't know by now. Sometimes emails, facebook messages and texts are just impersonal!)
As I opened each envelope, one from family and one from a wonderful friend....my day was renewed. Each card had a specific list in it. These specific lists brought smiles as I read through them. Each made me think deeply and appreciate this time that I do have for myself. It also made me soooo appreciate the family and friends I have been blessed with.
Thanks to those two special people for thinking of me and sending me just what I needed on this day!
Below are the two lists; each unique in their own way!

10 Simple Things to Remember
1. Love is why we are here
2. The most important day is today
3. If you always do your best, you will not have regrets.
4. In spite of your best efforts, some things are out of your control.
5. Things always look better tomorrow.
6. Sometimes a wrong turn will bring you to exactly the right place.
7. Sometimes when you think the answer is "no", it's "not yet."
8. True friends share your joys, see the best in you, and support you through challenges.
9. God and your parents will always love you.
10. For all your accomplishments, nothing will bring your more happiness than the love you find.

10 things I just wanted to let you know
1. You're the bomb
2. Thinking 'bout you
3. End of March/beginning of April was tough...but you triumphed!!
4. Warm weather is here, holler.
5. I'm still working on moving to CLT. one day....one day....
6. Matthew McConaughey has a new movie coming out!
7. It's one day closer to the weekend.
8. I love you!
9. Lots
10. And Lots!!!!

(little things mean the most!)

Highly Recomended !

Last year I purchased this bible while I was in the FAMILY Christian Store in Matthews, NC getting several Christmas presents. I received a bible when I was younger after confirmation at my hometown church, and there it still sits, back in Kernersville on a bookshelf in my room. The bible for me was something impossible to pick up and just read.
Well after attending Elevation church for over a year now, I have become eager to find out more about how the stories in the bible can relate to my everyday life. Pastor Furtick does an amazing job every Sunday with pulling out small pieces of scripture and relating them to things that are happening in the lives of younger adults. Whether it is about finances, relationships or tough times, he ALWAYS seems to hit the nail on the head with what I am experiencing at that very moment in my life. (Sometimes I wonder if he has a camera somewhere in my apartment giving him ideas about what I need to hear that upcoming Sunday!) I always walk away from Church with a new found sense of who I am and what God's purpose for me really is. It is a feeling that is indescribable. So......
I wanted more of this; more scripture, more teaching, more understanding, more of the amazing messages I am receiving on Sunday, but.... I wanted them everyday.
So there I sat, on the floor facing the 'Bible' shelf at FAMILY Christian Store thumbing through every devotional bible that claimed to be "The Best". There were bibles for Women of Faith, Women of Family, Single Women, Catholic Women, Divorced Women...you name the type of woman you are and it's out there. But as I read several devotionals out of 'Women's Devotional Bible by Zondervan they really hit home. It was not directed to a specific type of woman but really to a woman's mind and how we think. IT IS AN AMAZING BOOK! Every night it brings me the same feeling that I receive from Pastor Furtick on Sunday but I can now enjoy the lesson everyday of the week! Mission accomplished!
TRUST ME AND TRY IT!
(if you want several samples from the book to see if you want to purchase it, let me know and I can make some copies and email them to you!)

Craigslist Funnies

So the following is a post found on Craigslist in California under the 'Wanted' ads. It had me rolling on the floor! Take a look:

Wanted: Military Tank (Culver City)
Reply to: sale-jd7x2-1130740607@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Wanted: One fully functional military tank. Ideally an M1A2 Abrams model, with or without the 120mm canon upgrade—preferably with.

It is absolutely necessary that the tank feature the following: An embedded version of the US Army's Force XXI command and control architecture, new Raytheon commander's independent thermal viewer with second-generation thermal imager, commander's display for digital color terrain maps, DRS Technologies second-generation GEN II TIS thermal imaging gunner's sight with increased range, a mini-fridge, and a bathroom.

I am willing to trade my ’90 Toyota Corolla—straight across. There is a dent in the front right bumper from when I accidentally jumped the curb and hit a bike rack. That also messed up the alignment a little, so it pulls to the right now. Other than that, it’s fine. (pictured below)

I live in Culver City (right next to Beverly Hills) in Los Angeles, so I’m looking for a seller fairly close to me, as I don’t want to have to take the tank on the 405 or the 10 since its top speed is probably only 45mph.

Please respond with answers to the following questions:

•How many 120mm canon rounds come with the tank? (And do you know where I can get more?)

•I’ll be using the tank as my daily commuter. Is it registered in CA?

•Has the tank seen previous combat? (I don’t want one that’s been previously shot at or blown up.)

•How many miles per gallon does the tank get? Both city and hwy?

•Does the tank come with the optional flame thrower turret (pictured)?

•And finally, does the tank come with crewmembers? Considering I will be the commander, I will need to fill the driver, gunner, and loader positions. If the tank you’re selling comes with a crew, all the better. Though I’ll likely evaluate them myself.

Serious offers only. Thank you.
Location: Culver City
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

TO ALL GIRLS !

I got this blog forwarded to me from a friend and so far have found it very entertaining and very beneficial. Below is a little "blib" from the blog's creator Debbie on the thought behind the blog. ENJOY!
Blog Link:
Chiconomic - The Fun, Fabulous Girls' Guide to Making Smart Money Moves

From Debbie:
As a girl working in finance, a lot of my girlfriends are constantly asking me how much they should be saving, how they should be saving, how to address student loan or credit card debt, etc. I found myself wondering why magazines like Cosmopolitan and Glamour were educating women on fashion, fitness, eating well, sex, love, and relationships, yet they all somehow neglect to assist twenty-something women with regard to personal finances. And this is where my idea comes in.
I've created a website that's all about the empowerment of women through personal finance education. However, most twenty-something ladies are not intrigued (rightfully so) about the subject matter. My idea was that maybe, just maybe, if you spoke to women in terms and concepts (i.e., relationships, fashion, etc.) they readily identify with, they'll pay attention. Anyway, several focus groups and polls later (thanks to some very dear friends working in marketing and advertising), it actually freaking works!

A Girls Worst Nightmare

I need a new pair of jeans. Seems simple right?. I love to shop. But shopping for a pair of jeans last week totally took me down. If I had to change sexes for any reason, the ONLY reason I would want to be a man would be the ease of finding a pair of jeans.

Who in the world designed women's jeans to either be just one length, or ....'short', 'regular', 'long'? Who do these designers use to come up with the "one length fits all"! It's absurd! No matter what style jean I like, I am going to end up with a "skinny jean." When I get any style hemmed I always have to take out any curve the pants have at the bottom (or don't get them hemmed and wear "stripper" shoes everyday to the grocery store so I don't walk on the back!)

Why can't someone come up with women's jeans, sold like men's jeans - Waist size x length. It would make life so much easier for those of us that are vertically challenged!

At the end of the day, I walked away with two pair of jeans (neither of which I can wear right now with a flat pair of shoes without having to cuff them up) but... I did find some I like.

Thanks to those brands for making my day some what easier!!!

Gap - The Low Rise Boot cut (Above)

Express - Denim Editor Pant

Welcome !

So many exciting things going on in life right now, stay tuned to find out the details!