All in the Family

20th July 2014

rooftop

We can make choices and decisions every single day. One thing, we are never able to choose is the family we come from. Today, I was able to spend a decent amount of time with family that I really don’t see too often. Some of them live here in Indiana, just a few miles away from me, others traveled from West Virginia to visit Indiana for a few days. I really find it humorous how versatile people from the same family can be, but at the same time, so happy to know that I am related to such unique people, who I hope think the same thing when they look at me.

I started today with a family photo shoot for my cousins. We had so much fun, especially with all the children (all under 4-years-old). To my surprise, they all cooperated despite the beaming heat. The best part about the photo shoot was how everyone worked together when it was only the children being photographed. This took an unbelievable amount of communication from everyone. In the beginning, because we are family and comfortable with each other, it was mostly a lot of screaming from everyone, and that didn’t work to anyone’s benefit. We took a moment, calmed everyones’ voices and right away, things went way smoother, even after being surprised by two large breed dogs that weren’t on leashes. At the end of the shoot, we were all laughing about everything that had happened that afternoon from being chased out of the woods by two dogs and slipping off the pier and almost crashing into the lake. Sure, you could laugh with total strangers about these events, but it was so much better with family.

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The “Hammer”

17th July 2014

boxing

Some things never really change. One thing in my life that has always, and fortunately been a constant is the never ending support from my family, especially my dad. I am my mother made over, but I have my dad’s mentality, which is not a bad thing, because he is the strongest, and most hard working person I have ever met. I remember being little and not seeing much of him because he was always working. I never thought twice about it, but I know now he did this so he could provide us with everything we needed or even wanted.

He is my role model when it comes to my career because he has shown me the kind of work ethic it takes to become successful. He started his own car business when I was in eighth grade. I remember the struggle he overcame in the beginning, and now he is so successful, and continuing to work harder than ever.

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Time is of the Essence

16th July 2014

haze

When I was younger,like most, I could not wait to “grow up” and to become a real “adult.” A few ages in particular felt like milestones. At 13, I was now a teenager and no longer considered a child and it was time I could finally ditch the kiddie table to join the adults at family holidays. At 16, I was taken more seriously in high school, and I had a wonderful “Sweet 16” party filled with awkward dances with all the cute boys I barely spoke to in class. 2 years later, at 18, I graduated and could not wait to escape my small town and begin college. At 21, I felt on top of the world. I was excelling in what felt like everything; friendships/relationships, discovering and pursuing my passions and still managed to have time to still have fun. Now, at 24, everything is contradictory from when I was 13. All I want is for time to slow down.

Life is funny.

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Heartwarming at a Housewarming

13th July 2014

fringe

This past weekend, and for the first time in a decent amount of time, most of my closest friends came together. Instead of celebrating the typical birthday party, or having a a girls’ night that is long overdue, we all came together for a different type of celebrating. Although there was a good amount of beer pong and my partner and I still remain undefeated (not trying to brag, but we do rule) we celebrated our friends buying their first home and starting this next phase of their life.

It is too incredibly easy to feel the need to rush into something, especially when you see your friends doing it. It is also too easy to feel pressured or feel like you’re behind in life when you aren’t at the same phase as some people. This can really take a toll not only on you, but also your closest relationships. Of course, I am jealous of the beautiful home my friends just bought and they are both starting their careers with jobs they truly enjoy, but the moment you get too caught up in yourself, is when you start forgetting the entire point.

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Is 66 is the new 26?

10th July 2014

old

Tonight started pretty casually. First we met up with everyone around 5ish, I say “ish” because I was running a little fashionably late, as usual. We all decided to meet at the Lake City Bank on Highway 15. We were the last car to arrive, but everyone else had to wait for us, because we had to lead them to the show, because we were the only ones who knew the directions. We took off down 15 and after traveling the longest 27 miles of my life, we arrived at the show and found our parking spot on the outside edge to join the rest of the 400 plus cars already there. We opened our doors and the music was blaring as we joined the crowd.

This may sound like a typical summer night filled with shenanigans for a regular 20-something, but tonight, I was spending my evening at a car show with my nana, papa and their friends.

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I Got a Secret…

8th July 2014

PLL100

Tonight was the 100th episode of “Pretty Little Liars.” How they have managed to keep a storyline going this long is truly awesome. Honestly, who doesn’t enjoy some major girl drama, when it’s not your own? To honor tonight’s episode, it was only appropriate to wear the shirts that Presley bought for her and I while she was on her vacation. This is one (of the million reasons) I love this girl so much, she is so selfless.

Another reason I love her so much, is that she is a constant reminder for me to keep going and staying positive. One of the most important things to me, is continuing to be a positive role model for her, because I know she looks up to me. I will also admit, the day she realizes that she is way cooler than me, will be incredibly depressing. When I am having an off day, or a horrendous week (like this one) I just look at her, and know that I have to show her how to stay strong and know everything will be fine.

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American baby.

5th July 2014

leroi2

I always look forward to the Fourth of July and watching the fireworks. There is something about the colorful bursts that I still find breathtaking, even though after all these years, they all look pretty much the same. The past two years, I had to receive videos of fireworks from my loved ones, but this year it was finally a little different. For the first time in two years, I was able to spend the Fourth of July with my family and friends. I always had to work on the holiday (who does that?) so I was very happy for the change this year.

We celebrated as we always had previously, by spending the entire day on the lake. We went out on the boat, went tubing (reallllly feeling that today) and then ate our hearts out (also reallly feeling that today.) After spending the whole day on Chapman Lake, we went back home, grabbed an ice cream cone, and then parked at my dad’s car lot an hour in advance to guarantee good seats for the fireworks. This may sound pretty routine, because it really is, and I am all for change, but this is exactly what I missed when I couldn’t be home with my family for the Fourth of July.

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Momma knows best.

2nd July 2014

mom

I am about to admit something I never thought I would. We may not agree on everything, and argued a lot during my adolescence, but today, I can finally agree, that my mother indeed does know best.

My relationship with my mother is the best relationship I have. She has been in constant support of me since I can remember, even when I told her I was moving to a “big city” at 5-years-old. She knows exactly what to say when I am feeling discouraged, and I know she isn’t saying it build me up (ok, maybe a little bit), but she truly believes in my goals and pushes me to achieve them.

She has been there for every single experience, no matter how big or small with constant encouragement. She came home from work work early ready to go on a full blown shopping spree for new clothes to cheer me up when I needed a shoulder to cry on during the worst heartbreak I’ve ever known. She was there when my “friends” showed their true colors and all along, she still managed to find the good in every situation, and every person.

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23.

1st July 2014

truck

This blog post is dedicated to the birthday girl herself, Skylar. As of today, Skylar and I have shared a friendship for 23 years. She is my cousin, but we grew up together, so she has always felt more like a sister. I never believed my mother at the time, but family really is all you have, and I am so happy to have Skylar as my best friend.

Like sisters, we have shared everything; stories, secrets and most importantly, clothes. Whenever I could not find a certain piece from my closet, I always know where to look next…hers. And it was always there.

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Overall, passion.

30th June 2014

overalls

When I think of overalls, I think back to sitting in my desk in Mrs. Pfleiderer’s third grade class (and yes I STILL remember how to spell her name correctly due to the song I made up to remember it for the test.) Third grade was so simple and doesn’t feel like it was a lifetime ago. I remember coordinating outfits with my best friend Kristin, before she moved to Arizona. Our favorite was when we would both wear our corduroy overalls (mine were white.) I always opted for my black shirt with white and purple stripes to rock underneath my sweet cord overalls.

Third grade was also a time of firsts for me. I remember acting in my first play, “Tilly the Tooth” as Sally. It was here I discovered stage fright and realized I had a major case of it. I sang in a trio for the first (and only) time for a Thanksgiving play. I also discovered how much I enjoyed writing, so much to the point that I asked for extra assignments after school (yes, I was that girl.) I remember writing stories and choosing story ideas from her mustard yellow plastic notecard storage box. My personal favorite story I wrote was, “How a Turtle Got its Shell.”

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