Travels.

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a few days.. I have been itching to, but completely indulging in relaxation while in Virginia... Little to no cell phone/MacBook use was heavenly!! 
Here I am again, and I have many blogging ideas on my mind (they are always popping up!) but some advise I received told me not to be so "advice-y" .. "punny", I know! So I decided to on this one I will just share my life, or at least the last few days of it- enjoy!


Friday: My Mom took Mitchell, Madeline, and I to the MEM Airport for our flight to Virginia. Lenny's in tow, we were ready for a 1.5 hour flight, a 2 hr layover, and another almost 2 hour flight!

Thanks Momma!

 

The 3 of us :)

Our not so friendly friend. Due to his "preference of an aisle seat to sleep in the entire flight, I sat all alone. If he was a frequent bathroom user, I might have understood his choice, but he was not, and I do not. (It's probably illegal to post other people's pictures online... hopefully he doesn't read random teenagers blogs!)

Finally- We reached VA (and Matt, Mrs. Brenda, and LB!!) at about Midnight. An hours worth of driving later we made it to the house- woo hoo!! Been looking forward to this for months. 

Saturday: We were able to sleep in before meeting Brenda for Mexican and meeting some sweet people at her work! Once we returned home, the day was filled with holiday activities! Everything from dipping pretzel rods (think- burned chocolate x 3), gingerbread people, and fresh baked cookies!

After having a delicious family dinner, we decided to open presents!! I was spoiled beyond belief with Michael Kors, a new ring, Toms wedges, and more from Mitchell on top of Uggs, Hot Sox, Gift Cards, a facial/massage day, and Date Night from Brenda and Matt- whew!! 

 Never imagined- that boy knows me!

 Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

 My favorite part was getting to give M his big gift-- 26' Vizio for his dorm room next year! He adored that thing & I heard over and over, "Hey! Ya'll know I got a TV?!" Precious.

Almost as precious as this pic. Just love him!

  

Sunday: Sadly, about 2 am M woke me up telling me he had thrown up :( So sad, we got him a drink and went back to bed, thinking it was a one time thing. Little did we know, it was the beginning a a 24 hour stomach bug (+ 24 for me, + 24 for madeline). Luckily, he toughed it out enough for a full day of shopping! Don't worry, we took lots of breaks- He's a trooper!! We headed to Pop's Diner for dinner, but were sad to see they were only open for brunch on Sundays!! Back to the house for pizza and lots of rest!!
Monday: We had big plans- Panera Bread (Grand Opening!), Ice Skating, and Dominic's. Ahhh... To bad we are as slow as Christmas when getting ready and ended up skipping Panera and going straight for skating! Exited to report I didn't fall even once!! I went in with the worst expectations... Madeline and M agreed when saying "You're definetely gonna fall, a bunch."

So happy to spend Christmas with you!!

Lucky to have a guy who never fails to treat me like a princess!

After skating, we were starving!! & there is no better lunch spot in VA than Dominic's. The absolute best chain of the World Famous Philly Cheese Steak. Ahhh.. unexplainable!! I wish I had a picture for you, but even a thousand words wouldn't do this baby justice!!

Back at the house, we were ready to be pampered!! Facials and Massages all around- best Christmas gift everrr!

We ended the night with Water for Elephants (definitely recommend!!), double chocolate chunk cookies, and a bonfire just me and M :)

Tuesday: Unexpected wakeup call at 7:30 am... the need to throw up!!! TMI- I know. I spent the whole day in bed, barely moving a muscle. A cancelled nail appointment, 8 saltines, 3 bites of applesauce, 4 sierra mists, and 36 hours later, I was stomach bug free- FINALLY! I have never had a day like that in my life!!! YUCK!! And Poor Madeline got it after me. 
Wednesday: Time for me to head home on my first flight alone!! We got up in time to pack, have lunch at Baker Street with Brenda, shop together in Newport News, and read/drink coffee at Barnes and Noble. Sad to go, but excited to see my momma/daddy/matt/j/etc & ready to have M back in Collierville! (3 days!!!)


If I don't see you/blog before Sunday, Merry Christmas!! Don't forget the reason for the season. Jesus Christ, born of a virgin Mary, to save us. 


P.S. I apologize for picture overload!! "This is my life!" See --->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rbMHLDY1pA

Thought Stirrer.

This is a quick, thought stirring post. All due to a crazy thought that just popped into my head.
I have fallen in love with a blog I stumbled upon recently. (check it out at thingsidothinkwearseelovedream.blogspot.com - she's awesome!! and hilarious :)
Tonight, I snuggled up in bed with the trusty Macbook, a glass of skim milk, and a delicious almond cookie (thanking Wanda for that recipe!!), to read a few blogs.
All the while I read I was texting Mitchell (the boyfriend) back and forth... This is the exact conversation:
E "time to readdd:)"
M "Blogggg addict!"
E "I ammmm!!!! Its so fun! like u w skyrim!"
Now let me explain... Skyrim is a game guys play on xbox that I do not know to much about. But I do know it involves pickpocketing, lockpicking, killing, etc. and M calls it an amazing collaboration of Runescape, Grand Theft Auto, etc etc. Who knows. One time he told Madeline and I, (she's his little sis-cute as can be!) "It feels like I have another life in Skyrim." alsoooo one time I heard "My life in Skrim is better than real life!"Although I realize he is kidding ( I think ;))...

I did begin to think. Is the feeling of having 2 lives what drives this modern age? Social Media/Networking? Blogging? Video Games? Are we a generation obsessed with being outside of ourselves?

I think so. 

I know for a fact when people read my blog they can't see how messy my hair is, or smell me when I haven't showered after a sweaty workout. They can't see the freshman lbs I plan on shedding. I am just a writer. Funny to some, philosophical to others (I can dream ;)... But all they see of me is words on a page (or umm screen.) and maybe a few pictures.

I want to dare myself (and you, too!) to live a different way. Embrace friends, life, moments, more than this new tech-y stuff.
Could this be leading to a social networking fast? Maybe.

Dreaming.

Oh, blogging.. I've fallen in love. 

I love reading, like for hours.

most blogs i read i feel like are so much better, more organized, more interesting than mine. but this only fuels my fire more. 

I love writing.. like really love...

And I loved the way this conversation with Mr. Lindsey (I like to call him this because it sounds classy, and manly, and it's part of our Daily LL emails... more on that later :) sounded.

Me: "I have go to figure out what to pack for Virginia... Like should I bring my laptop?"

M: "Yeah!"

Me: :"I do want to blog"

just sounds good. And i really like the fact that people take time to read about me. my life. my loves. and my dreams. (Thank you!!)

Dreaming is a big part of my life. I love to just imagine, and think!

Some of my dreams include:

-Running a half marathon (planned for Spring 2012)

+ running a full marathon sometime I'll find my lost motivation, right?

-Get married young I know, so many differing opinions on this, but we will trust God's plan, and do it if we are confident

-Teach Kindergarten Shelby County would be an answered prayer!!

-own my own business I dream of owning Em's Events, being the boss, and having employees!

-own my own house, in Collierville... & I wouldn't mind a wrap around porch, red door, and everything I find on Pinterest.. is that to much to ask?

-being completely comfortable in my body -- I CAN do this

-Being a mom. A loving, fun, playful mom of 5... haha the number may change

-drive a range rover it's called dreaming for  reason, right? ;) Its limitless!

BUT, aside from all the material things I dream of owning, the good deeds I dream of doing, the family I dream of producing, I want to live a life of peace and love and joy, a life that is pleasing to God. For this is why I was placed on this earth.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

+ Do something big, outside of myself, something unexpected, spontaneous, God ordained.. We shall see.

maybe I am crazy. and ahead of myself,

 but I love it &

As the love of my life taught me, Dream BIG!

What are your dreams? And what are you going to do today to get closer to them?

P.S. What do you want to see me blog about!?