30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 27-30

Day 27 : Pets

I wish I could say I had a pet at home....well I do...but he lives at my parents. His name is Bailey and he is ADORABLE! He's getting to be pretty old these days, he'll be 9 in December. I wish I had a photo of him on my computer, but I don't. Here's one I stole off Google so you can see exactly HOW CUTE a little daschund is! Ours is black and tan with long hair and a personality the size of Texas!

When Mike and I do get a pet, we're looking into some of these breeds

Airedale

Mini Schnauzer

Scottish Terrier

Day 28: Something That Stresses You Out

What doesn't stress me out! Current stresses include the following:

-Packing for our trip
-The next 2 weeks
-Christmas shopping
-The Wedding
-What I'll wear on NYE (yes, I'm serious)
-My hair
-WORK!

Day 29: 3 Wishes

I like playing genie.....

Wish 1: That everyone in my life could be happy! Not that I don't have happy friends and family, but it seems that when one is up, another is down. I wish there was a happy medium that encompassed everyone and everything!

Wish 2: That my dad could come back and work at home. It's so hard on my mom to run the house, family and the family business! I know it's been good for my dad to travel and experience "real job life" again but it's getting tiring on everyone involved!

Wish 3: My closest friends lived....CLOSER! One in Egypt, LA, and even tough Kerri is in GA, she's still a solid 30-40 min away! Maybe one day we'll all be living in a radius of 10 miles :) A girl can dream, right?!

Day 30: A Picture

Here's an awesome photo of some of my girlfriends from a wedding this past weekend! 

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 24, 25 and 26

Playing catch-up here!

Day 24 : Something You've Learned

I've learned that life isn't always what you want it to be. There are many things in my life that I wish would have happened sooner, later, never at all, etc. I always had a plan in my head of the life I wanted and learned over time that well, none of it will happen how or when I want! I've learned to sit back and enjoy the ride. While I can get overwhelmed, frustrated and annoyed when things aren't just right, I try to tell myself everyday that everything happens for a reason and it'll all be revealed to me one day or another!

Day 25 : iPod Shuffle

I don't have my iPod with me....GASP. But what I can tell you is that it'd be a mix of 80's rock music, 90's boy bands and crazy hair music, A LOT of country, some alternative, lots of rap to run to and overall a HUGE mix!!

Day 26 : Picture of your family

My family at the wedding of my friends, Stephanie and Rob

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 23

Day 23 : Favorite Vacation

This is also something I've blogged about before! My favorite vacation so far has been the one we took this Spring to Las Vegas/ Zion Nat'l park when we got engaged. You can read the story on my previous blog post about it and here are some photos from that trip!

Dinner at Parallel 88...the BEST restaurant in Zion Nat'l Park

Driving back in the Lotus Elise!

at the condo celebrating with champagne!

Right after the proposal in Zion Nat'l Park!

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 22

Day 22: Favorite City

I blogged about this awhile ago on Top 2 Tuesday! Nashville, TN and Atlanta, GA are for sure my top 2 US cities. Both offer great city and suburban options, great nightlife, sports teams and famous people watching!

Some other favorites:

Tuscaloosa, AL (just because I went to school there!)

New York City

Austin, TX

Destin, FL

Madrid, Spain

Charleston, SC

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 20 and 21

Here's a post for the weekend since I wont be around much with all the Halloween-ness going on to post!

Day 20 : Nicknames

I have more than I can remember I'm sure, but here are a few of the most common used in my life

• Mel
• Melouicious
• Melly
• Misser Pisser (don't ask)
• JYD
• Mad Dawg
• Melly Mel
• M-Dizzle (also my rapper name)
• Melvans
• Baby Bear

Day 21: A Picture of Yourself

Here's me a few Halloween's ago as an Oompa Loompa...ya know just to get you in a Halloween mood if you're not already! 

At St. Baldricks 2010

post Warrior Dash 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 19

I miss lots of things, usually people! I miss times in my life where things seemed SO much easier and now they seem harder, but that's part of growing up and being a real adult! Here's a short rap sheet of some of the things I miss!

College at The University of Alabama! I had a blast when I was there! Met a ton of great people (to which I miss most of them as well!), had some awesome adventures and learned what it was like to grow up. It was the first time I was "on my own".

My first car! I had a Chevy 2-Door Tahoe. Snagged one of the last ones in Atlanta! I loved that thing! His name was Patrik and he got me all the places I needed to be!This is a pic I snagged from Google.com but mine was in a bright green but looked just like this!

My friends who live too far away! 

My buddy from UA, Tyler! 

My other good guy friend from UA, Parker

My friend, Stephanie, who got married in June and then moved to Egypt! She'll be home in a mere few short months to be a part of our wedding! It's also her birthday today, so Happy Birthday, Steph!

My friend, Britney, who lives in LA but will be home in a few shorts weeks for Thanksgiving (YAY) and then again for our wedding as she's a bridesmaid too!

My other good friend from college, Alison, but I can't find a good picture of us on this computer so sorry, AL for not having one handy! 

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 18

Day 18 : Something You Regret

There are many times in my life where I wish I had said something different or reacted different ways, but I can't think of anything I fully regret. What I have done in my life and how I went about things has made me who I am today. I think that you should live life with no regrets and whatever happens happens. Life is about chance and living it to the fullest. Here's a favorite quote of mine that kinda ties to this...

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you right... forget the ones who don't and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance...take it. If it changes your life... let it. Nobody promised that it would be easy... they just promised that it would be worth it."

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 17

Day 17 : Something You're Looking Forward To...

I have A LOT going on these days to look forward to! Here's a brief shakedown of some of the items

• Halloween Parties this weekend
• Andy and Erin's wedding next weekend
• Our trip to Mexico for Kevin and Jenny's wedding (with a vacation mixed in!)
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• New Years
• My Birthday
• A few more trips here and there
• A few races I'm running 

 saved the best for last....

MY WEDDING! 
All the planning is really starting to pick up! We've got meetings set up (a lot of them) over the coming weeks to settle out details and then all the little things will start coming together. I'm looking forward to all of it including showers, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner and then THE big day! As of today...only 185 days to go!

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 16

Day 16 : Your Dream House

Funny this is mentioned on the 30 challenge because Mike and I talk about it all the time! Since we're living in his already purchased condo in a high rise, it'll take us a bit to get to this type of home. Hopefully we'll be in something along these lines in the next 2 years max!

• at least four to five bedrooms
• at least 3.5-4 bathrooms
• granite counter tops
• stainless steel appliances and updated and tech savvy kitchen with 2 ovens
• a deck in the backyard
• double sinks in the master bath with granite counter tops
• walk in closet in the master with custom closet design
• an island in the kitchen with 1/2 butchers cutting block
• a media room/man cave and alumni area for memorabilia
• hardwoods throughout home 
• high ceilings 
• 2-3 fireplaces (one in master, main and basement/media area)
• space for an office (one of the bedrooms)
• big windows and a beautiful view
• basement (probably housing the media room and second kitchen!)

Craftsman style or something similar. Don't want a cookie cutter home :) Beyond all the above, a house is a home and wherever and whatever it is we'll be there together to start our family and it'll be choc full of love!

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 15

Day 15 : Bible Verse

This is one of my favorites ...

Philippians 2:14-16 (New International Version)¹⁴Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ¹⁶as you hold out^[a] the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

(verse copied from here)

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 13 & 14

I'll be gone this weekend, so here's an early day 13 and 14!

Day 13 : Goals

I feel it's always important to have goals in your life. I have met many of my goals I had set forth in my 26 years and currently have a few on the table. Some of these will be accomplished sooner than later, some maybe never, but here's a rap-sheet of what I'd like to do!

• Run a half marathon in the next year
• Compete in my first triathlon in the next year
• Get married (well, clearly I'm planning my wedding, but the goal can't get checked off til April 30th!)
• Surf
• Own my own wedding consulting/planning company
• Work for a non-profit company
• Be a Young Life leader
• Be a Mother (post the wedding of course!) 

There's plenty more but this is a good sampling of things I think I'll be able to accomplish in the near future!

 

Day 14 : A Picture You Love

(here's a couple!)

BAMA vs UF at the SEC Championship game last year!

A favorite photo from our eengagement pictures

 

This picture makes me laugh EVERY TIME I see it! Always puts a smile on my face and makes me think of good times with good people! We tore that bachelorette party up (and a few dresses too!).

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 12

Day 12: What You Believe

I Believe That....

I Believe ... I am on this earth for a reason.

I Believe ...That I'm pretty lucky in life both with family, career, love and friendships

I Believe ...That the Alabama Crimson Tide is the best football team around :)

I Believe ...That one day I'll run my own wedding planning business

I Believe ...That I have learned way more through mistakes than I have through anything else in my life

I Believe ...That there is plan for my life whether I want to believe it or trust it

I Believe ...That my grandparents, friends I've lost and other loved ones are looking down from heaven on me all the time

I Believe ...That one day I'm going to find a 4 leaf clover

I Believe ...I'm going to get that pony one day!

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 11

Day 11 : Favorite TV Shows

I must admit I watch a range of TV shows! From trashy ones to educational ones...here are just a few of my favorites in no particular order!

                                                 anything on this station is okay with me!

                                                      pondering trying to get on this show!

Love me some animal planet

who doesn't love Grey's!?

this show is addicting

these people are so weird. I get sucked in every time I watch it!

of course you know I love this show!

clearly a favorite of mine! 

such trainwrecks...can't NOT watch it! 

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 10

Day 10 : Something You're Afraid Of

Funny, I blogged about this a few months back! My something that I'm afraid of is thunderstorms...well tornado's actually! I posted in  my blog a bit ago that I associate storms/tornado with a very rough patch in my life and my family.

(photo from google)

 Though I can handle them now and am at peace with what happened back then, they still scare me and I still dislike sitting through them alone. Luckily, now that I live with Mike, it's rare that I have to.


Isn't it funny how you can associate one thing with a memory and it never goes away. I get chills every time I hear thunder or hear about/think a storm is heading our way.

30 Day Blog Challenge : Day 9

Day 9 : A picture of my friends

Here are a FEW pictures of my friends! They are the BEST!

Kyle, Garrett, Me, Kerri and Todd at dinner when Garrett was in town. Great High School friends!

with some of the ladies at Courtney's going away party! 

My awesome friends at my birthday party at Fado

My bestie from college, Lauren! 

With Kerri! My BFF since 6th grade!

With my favorite Jager Ladies!

with Stephanie at her bachelorette party!

with Britney and her husband Marco at their wedding!