Oh Yah Know...Just Clownin' Around.

All of my weirdness in all of its glory...

A Siren's Call

The Siren calls us every morn,

We long for her upon our lip.

Without her song we are forlorn--

She's more alluring with every sip.

When she is held in hand by another,

Our envy is as green as her seas.

Although, she is a toxic lover--

We cannot help but fall to our knees.

I am not a lone soul in my thirst.

For those who've had a taste--

By her call, we all are cursed.

For her, we seek with haste.

Like a star to which our eye be drawn,

She is all that we can think.

Like a buck, greater than fawn--

She is the superior drink. 

Once you have received her kiss,

I bid you luck to try and resist.

Every morn I can't help but fall

To the Starbuck Siren call. 

A Whirlwind Wanderlust

A Whirlwind Wanderlust

Currently I am riding and writing on a bus from DC back to foxy knoxy. This is the 4^th time I have been on a Megabus in the last 5 days—a total of 27hours. It has been megabus mayhem…but that’s what happens when you are a poor college student. Even though it is not the most luxurious trip it has been safe and bearable. It has also allowed me to see an incredible amount of the U.S. for under 60$.

Me and my Big, Ashlee, left Knoxville on Tuesday morning and arrived at Union Station in DC by 8pm where my friend Emma picked us up. Emma has lived in Bethesda (right outside of DC) for the summer. Emma so graciously let us stay with her—which eliminated hotel costs while in DC. We stayed in that night and recuperated from the long bus ride.

The next morning Ashlee and I headed into DC via Metro from Bethesda. The great thing about DC is that almost all the sights are free. The Smithsonian’s are free and so are the monuments—which is fabulous for us college students. We went to the American History Museum as well as the Natural History Museum. 

After that we went to the WWII memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial. We also took many pics in front of the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. We took the Mall metro back to Bethesda to meet up with Emma for some dinner.

The next day (Thursday) we took the metro back to Union Station where the three of us loaded on a megabus to NYC. The bus was packed but we didn’t care…in less than four hours we would be in the city of lights. We arrived in the City around 11:30am—the bus just kind of dumped us out on the streets. Thank the good Lord above for smart phones. We navigated our way to the Four Points Sheraton in the Garment District. Our hotel was about 2 blocks from Times Square. It was a very nice hotel for the price we got it. They also let us check in early!

 So we put our bags in our room then went to get some NY style pizza. We asked some locals where we should go and several people pointed us to the direction of Bella Vita Pizza!

 It was delicious. We wandered around Times Square with our mouths gaping at the sights. We still couldn’t believe that these three Tennessee gals were smack dab in Times Square.  It was such a whirlwind. We then went back to the hotel to get all dolled up for a night out. I must say…we cleaned up pretty nice. There are many rumors of New Yorkers not being very nice… but when we put on our high heels all the men were very nice! 

But then we quickly realized that the heels were a bad idea and changed back. Live and learn, I guess. Trying to avoid the storm that was about to break loose we stumbled into a restaurant called Inakaya. It was a very authentic sushi restaurant. They even had live entertainment—well if you call pounding sticky rice and yelling at the top of their lungs entertainment!

After the storm and dinner we met some friends from TN who were also in the Big Apple! It was nice to see some familiar faces in such a big place.

 

Later that evening the college girls in us came out to play. We decided to try and get into a lounge on top of a hotel next to us…and to our surprise…it worked! We got on the elevator and went up up up up! Finally when reached the 40^th floor or so we stepped out into this chic lounge overlooking Times Square! 

  

   

We met some really nice people from all over the US in the lounge. Later we went a few doors down to a pub/restaurant. After socializing there for a little while the Irish owner and his partner took a liking to us Tennessee girls! He said he liked out accents—which is funny because we were thinking the same thing about his! 

   

Then we went to Times Square to take some pictures with the lights and NYPD!

Then, us girls headed back to the hotel and got some much needed sleep!

The next day (Friday) was incredible! We went shopping (aka looking) on 5^th Ave. We stopped at places like H&M, Ann Taylor, Michael Kors, Prada, Harry Winston, and TIFFANY AND COMPANY! I definitely picked out my engagement ring while I was there. So boys: consult Ashlee or Emma about the details. After Tiffany&co we stopped by Central Park for a few snapshots. 

Then we attempted to navigate the subway to Canal St. By trial and error, we came to find out that the DC and NYC subway systems are very different. The three of us were getting pretty hangry (hungry+angry) at this point. We finally made our way to Little Italy where pasta and Italian sweets (food and men, haha) made us very happy girls. 

 

After that we decided to try our luck in Chinatown. It was pretty sketchy…but ultimately we made some nice purchases. I must say I pride myself on being an excellent haggler. I mean, can you believe I got a Tiffany&co necklace for 15$--that’s some skill (haha if only it was real)!

We tried the subway one more time to get back to our hotel—where they let us keep our bags for the day even after checkout! It wasn’t a breeze on the subway but we made it! We then went to Guy&Gallard—a café close to our hotel that we frequented within our 24 hours there.

We lucked out because our hotel was on 40Wst and the megabus pickup was on 41Wst—so our poor little feet were quite pleased. We got in line 30 min early…but to our dismay the line was wrapped completely around the block. Apparently the megabus is not an efficient nor organized way of travel when leaving NYC. There were about 600 angry people who didn’t know what was going on, and they bus lines were running an hour behind. While we were waiting, I went on a hot dog run and snapped a picture with NY fire fighter and his truck! 

    

I wasn’t going to pass that up! We thank our lucky stars that we eventually got on a bus. We stopped in Baltimore and then headed back to Union Station. We got back to Bethesda via Metro about 2am.

Needless to say we slept in the next day(Saturday). Ashlee headed up to visit her family in Annapolis while Emma and I took our yearly visit to a Cheesecake factory!

 We then ventured into the city via metro again. I really wanted to visit the Holocaust Museum with her. My best friend has a plethora of knowledge, and I love that she can tell me all about her Jewish culture and heritage. We putted around the city for a while taking pictures and just enjoying each other’s company.

We took the metro back to Bethesda and met Emma’s mom for some authentic Asian food! It was delicious! Then Emma and I went to a party/gathering in Potomac--  very rich neighborhood. Our theme song for the ride there and back was Ke$sha’s “Party at a Rich Dude’s House”. After a bit of socializing we drove back to Bethesda and met Ashlee. Shortly after, scrabble and sleep were our close friends.

And now here I am on the mega bus! I survived this whirlwind trip with two of my best friends! I had so much fun, and I learned so much about city-life and myself! It gave me just a taste of the world that I can’t wait to keep exploring. I now have a bad case of wanderlust, and I don’t want to be cured.

If you have any questions on how to take an inexpensive whirlwind trip like we did, just contact me at ocrowe29@gmail.com. I would be absolutely ecstatic to help spread this travel bug! 

A Little Metro Goes A Long Way

Would you rather be the super manly, I-don't-do-anything-with-my-appearance-hope-I-get-lucky kinda guy or... the still manly, I-care-what-I-look-like-to-an-extent-to-attract-women kinda guy?

Well trust me, like women, men don't just flourish into natural beauties. Why do you think that people are so attracted to celebrities?

They have more time and money than anyone else to work on their appearance...they hit the gym with personal trainers every day. They also have a plethora of money to spend on clothes, shoes, teeth, hair, and procedures to enhance the face and body. Do you think that Chris Hemsworth,  Thor, just naturally looks like a god? No. That chiseled body, those perfect teeth, that (strategically) messy hair, and his kept facial hair are all a product of this man being a little metro. But do you think because he gets his hair fixed, teeth whitened, and eyebrows waxed it makes him a sissy-god?

If you answered yes to this question, I would pray you don't get smited by his hammer.

I'm not saying Chris Hemsworth gets a manicure and facial every morning, but (I'm sure his agents make sure) he takes precious care of the most important assets that attract women.

There are four little metro things that a man can do to accentuate his best assets while still keeping his man pride.

These are listed from most important to least important. So pick your battles.

1)  Hair cut
Choose a hair cut that accentuates your facial structure. I know, I know...you probably don't have a clue what that means... and there is probably no way you want to have that search found in your google history...so I will provide the rules. The only thing you have to know is your shapes...and I think you can handle that. 
-Oval: This is considered to be the ideal face shape. Almost any hair cut will work with this facial structure. However, avoid heavy hair in the front because oval face shapes look best with a more clean shaven look. Example: Jude Law
-Square: This is determined by the jaw line and hairline on the forehead making a square. Facial features are often sharp almost chiseled in appearance. Keep bangs off the forehead and avoid styles that part in the center. Example: Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Oblong: choose a style that adds volume to the sides of the face. A style that includes bangs that just skim across the brows may be ideal. Medium length cuts will be easier to style in a manner that flatters this face. Example: Adam Levine
-Heart: face is wide at both the temples and hairline, holding its size pretty uniformly to the cheekbones before narrowing to a small chin. Hairstyles for this facial shape are mostly longer, intended to add volume below the cheekbones. Example: David Spade
-Triangular: Men with this facial shape have narrow foreheads and a wide jaw line. Styles that add width at forehead and temples and volume on top usually look best. Example: Ryan Reynolds
-Diamond: Men with diamond facial shape usually have prominent, wide cheekbones and narrower foreheads and chins. Hairstyles should be chosen that add width at the forehead and chin while narrowing the cheekbones. Avoid any cut that emphasizes the ears, as this will make the face look wider Example: Pete Wence 
-Round: Not to be confused with a fat face. This is for guys who have a sort of a baby face. Guys, your goal here is to give the illusion of a more oval face to make you look older. Normally, it is a good idea to keep the sides cut short, or at least closer to one’s face to avoid making the face look wide. If one is going to wear longer hair, it should be kept as straight as possible and not styled in any fashion that would add width. A center or midline part and side swept bangs work well to make the face look more oval in shape. Example: Elijah Wood
Tips: DO NOT: have a bowl cut, shag, or mullet--these are just ugly. Sorry I'm not sorry. 

2) Facial Hair
Bottom line is...keep your facial hair trimmed, looking well kept, and food-free. If you are feeling crazy and confident, you can even go for a stache. Just don't have a stache above the eyes. Get your eyebrows waxed. No one will have to know. It will be our little secret. Little did you know, girls really notice and despise bushy unkempt eyebrows. Have you ever seen a celebrity with bushman eyebrows? No. Exactly. They all do it, they just don't talk about it. So go to a back-alley-barber-shop for all I care...just wax those suckers. Seriously, your game will sky rocket. 


3) Jeans that Fit 
You think that men are the only ones who check out the booty? No way. Women sneak a peak of the backside just as often. It doesn't matter if you have a no-butt or a lot of junk in the trunk you can, just like the haircut deal, find a pair of jeans that a accentuates what you are working with. There are three steps in doing this:

a) Look for a timeless wash:
Original blue jeans; these you can wear with anything.
Slightly faded wash; perfect for casual wear.
Dark denim; perfect for a little dressier look.

b) Look for the perfect fit or cut: 
Classic/Original/Traditional/Straight

The traditional style that everyone knows and loves; classic men’s jeans sit around the waist and have a square-shaped construction, sitting parallel from hips to knees to ankles. Good for a timeless look with minimum fuss, and particularly flattering for tall, thin gents.

Boot/Biker/Flare
A modern fit that sits just below the waist; this cut is so named due to its roomy construction around the ankle, allowing for riding/cowboy boots to fit comfortably when worn. Great for athletic builds that want to show off their definition without ‘bulging’.

Skinny/Tapered
Sits low-slung around the waist, feels snug around the seat and thighs, and becomes slimmer around the ankle. Although slender guys look great in skinny jeans, be careful not to go too tight with them; there’s a fine line between ‘indie rocker chic’ and ‘ridiculous flamingo legs’.

Loose/relaxed
With more room around the seat, thighs and ankles, the loose fit is great for those who want a roomier, more casual pair of men’s jeans. However, don’t ever confuse relaxed with baggy; be sure to exercise caution when picking out the correct size, especially if you’re carrying a little extra weight.

Tips: Absolutely No: saggy waist or butt jeans, wide-legged jeans, or "latest trend" jeans. Also, you don't need an expensive denim to get a good fit. 

4) Teeth

Your teeth don't have to be perfect. If you can't afford braces or veneers...it's all good. But do what you can...brush, floss, mouthwash, and whiten with a cheap kit from walmart. A nice smile  is one of the most alluring assets to women. It can work wonders. Shoot her a smile and you'll be thankful for your fresh breath later. 

Doing these things will not make you any less of a man. In fact, by following these four steps you will probably get more women...in turn, making you more of a man.

Chris Hemsworth, hollywood god, would probably tell you himself... a little metro goes a long way.

Or ?

Thanks to: http://www.guystyleguide.com/2009/06/mens-jeans-rules-for-buying-the-perfect-pair/
http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashiontip_200/231_fashion_advice.html
http://coolmenshair.com/2008/04/choosing-right-hairstyle-for-your-face.html

Gold Chains, Pit Stains, and Other Turn Offs.

#confessions

Sometimes in life we must confess some things to ourselves to have a better understanding of who we are. So I confess...

I see myself marrying someone who works in youth ministry.
I dislike people who take advantage of authority.
I have a chocolate chip cookie problem.
I try too hard for people.
I am a horrible texter-backer.
I don't like making phone calls to businesses or doctor's offices.
I am a serial monogamous.
I want to be best friends with the person I marry.
I look under my bed every night before I fall asleep(habit I started as a kid that I can't seem to quit).
My diet consists of mostly sushi.
I have never been to summer camp or out of the country.
I identify my moods or feelings with movie characters.
When I'm upset, I awkwardly giggle when I really should be crying.
I wait until the last second to do everything.
I usually do what I think I should do instead of what I want to do.
I can't cook.
I can bake, however.
On the tough days, I wish I was getting my M.R.S. instead of my B.S.--then I snap back to reality.
Although, I do want to be a Mrs. as well.
Without makeup, I look like a 14 year old.
It makes me anxious to drive on the interstate.
It makes me uneasy when my nails don't have polish on them.
I have a phobia about matching colors perfectly.
I want my children to have the same initials.
I have horrible dreams every night.
Vocabulary confuses me.
I have an obsession with funny guys.
I probably forgive people tooooo easily.
Sometimes, I don't have a filter.
I am more gullible than I'd like to be.
I want to kiss a stranger in an elevator.
I wish I was Carrie Bradshaw.
I give great advice but don't take it well.
I feel the same way about children and animals as I do about normal people--if you are not annoying, smell good, and don't lick my face...I will be cool with you. Otherwise, you can go away.
I am bossy.
I feel guilty for everrrrrrything.
I tell my best friend....everything. Literally everything.
I am disgusted by gold chains and pit stains.
I miss high school, but I love college.
I am greek, but I do not understand anything having to do with greek life or protocol.
I love to dougie and teaching people how to douglas.
I do not want a boyfriend anytime in the near future.
I want to be just like my parents.
I have a problem with convincing myself to like "guys" who are good on paper.
I like everything and therefore cannot focus my attention in any one direction.
I love to rhyme...all the time.
The harmonica is my instrument of choice.
I love going, doing, seeing, and being...pretty much all the time.
I wish I didn't have to sleep. Ever.
I hold too tightly to how people used to be.


This is a work in progress. I'll probably think of a billion more things...

Sermons that Stick

These are two sermons from Sevier Heights Baptist Church's The Walk that have always stuck with me. I have by no means demonstrated these theories perfectly, but I have tried and will continue trying to apply this advice to my relationships.

 Single Ladies (women watch this one)

Strength and Honor (men watch this one)

This One's for the Fellas...

Dating--it's a dwindling art form. This video is about how to rescue this art form, as well as to motivate  you to do it. Watch it. I promise you will learn something. 

Day 13: I still want chocolate.

Hey dolls!
I told you that I would give you an update about my 17 day diet! It's going pretty well! Not going to lie...it's almost impossible to use my college meal plan when the only things I can eat are fruits, vegetables, chicken, and fish. But I've been doing pretty well. I look and feel much better! I like wearing my blue jeans! (If you know me at all...I've never been a fan because it makes me look pear like). But now I don't resemble fruit at all!
Everyone has asked me if I got a new haircut lately...but I think that's a nice way of saying...
"your face has shrunk".

So all in all I'm pretty happy with it.... even if I am eating like a rabbit.

I've learned I can do without dairy. I can even do without bread. BUT TAKE MY CHOCOLATE?!?!

Umm....that's a no can do. This girl is gonna have to start buying that Skinny Cow Ice Cream and having one on friday's because no chocolate all the time is not going to fly. I'm sure my room mate wishes that I would just eat some already so I would be a nicer person. Haha.

But I'm staying strong because Spring Break is drawing near.
Mark my words....I will be fit and ready. And I want that way more than chocolate.

Hey doll, it's Non-Negotiable.

So I am pretty much obsessed with the TV show Millionaire Matchmaker. Patty Stanger is a goddess, and mark my words...I will apply to the millionaire's club within the next few years. From Patty Stanger (and much personal experience) I have definitely learned what I DO want and DON'T want in a relationship. These are what Patty calls your 5 non-negotiables.

Your non-negotiables are a list of 5 things that you MUST have in your next relationship. No questions asked. Non-negotiable. This list isn't meant for petty things such as looks or preferences....those are WANTS. (Ex: I would loooove a guy with blue eyes, who is over 6 feet, ripped, sexy, and rich...). Of course we all want those things...but they aren't really what is important.

This list is meant for qualities in your partner that you and you alone NEED to feel fulfilled and have a successful, healthy, and loving relationship. (Don't get this list confused with the list of healthy qualities that every relationship needs...such loyalty, respect, and trust, etc.)

Every girl and guy should have one of these. Weeding out that special someone would be so much easier if we didn't budge on our non-negotiables.

I'm single as a dollar, and I'm not looking for change right now. But...I now have my 5 non-negotiables, and they will be put to good use when the time comes.

So take notes fellas.

1. Christian- Above all else...this is the most important. I need a man who is on the same spiritual page with me. I want our relationship to resemble Christ and the Church's. I need him to be willing to make sacrifices (just as Jesus did) for our relationship and a future family. Number one covers a lot of bases. Because having a Christian man includes many many pluses.
2. Funny- I need funny. He doesn't have to be Dane Cook or anything, but I just need him to be able to make me laugh. I get stressed way too easily, and I need a man who can balance me out. I don't know why...but I just think funny is sexy... and sexual attraction is also important, eh?
3. Laid back- I need a man who can roll with the punches. I need someone who can just laugh it off when all the crappy things in life happen. I can't handle a stressed-out high conflict dude who lets little things ruin his whole day and our good time. I also need him to be laid back about me doing my thaaaang. Meaning if I wanna go on a trip to Charleston with my girls... he is thrilled that I get the opportunity to go, and he happily sends me on my merry way! (And I would do the same for him.)
4. Passionate about Life- I need a man who is passionate about life. And about me, of course.  (And about Jesus...but we covered that one in #1).  I need him to have something he loves to do and wishes to pursue (AKA he needs a life direction)! Whether it be snowboarding, rugby, cooking, traveling, or puppets (omg...Jason Segel...I love you)! I need him to be passionate about living life to the fullest and spending time with what he loves (including me...duh).  And If a man is passionate about life this means he has a sense of adventure, and I definitely need adventure. Adventure helps to keep love alive, and helps to keep life fun!
5. Healthy- Physical health is very important... considering I don't want the man I love to croak because of his obesity problem. But there's more than physical health. I want him to be healthy and well mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Mentally meaning I need him to be self confident and happy with who he is and what he does. I need him to have spiritual health so he cherishes the meaning of life and revels in each day we are given together. Lastly, I need him to be emotionally healthy. By this I mean I need him to be able to healthily display his emotions (no bad tempers), embrace them, and be able to share them with one another.

(note: non-negotaiables can change over time...depending on your needs and experiences)

So there they are ladies and gentlemen. My non-negotiables.
Get some of your own. I promise it will make relationships so much easier.
And remember...they are non-negotiable. So don't settle.

MAJOR dilemma.

Whoa is me.
Whoa is me.
I can't decide what I'm going to be.
French speaker? Teacher? Lawyer? Oh my!
Money is tight and time...well it flies.
Public relations? Communications? There's too many to choose.
I need God to send me some life altering clues.
Im in a major dilemma both literally and otherwise.
A science major? HAHA! Now I'm just telling lies.
I need to choose something quick to graduate on time.
But I can't find a mojor that seems to be mine...
It's a major dilemma that I don't have a direction.
Why can't I find that subject connection?!?
Whoa is me.
Whoa is me.
I don't know what I'm going to be!
I guess for now I'm just Olivia C!
Wait...that's ok I like her a lot.
She's pretty cool...major or not!
Hopefully soon this dilemma will flee.
But for now I'll just be happy being undecided me!

Balance, Choices, and Other Grownup Stuff

College Students. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, majors, religious and political views. Common ground is often hard to find when you're surrounded by so many different types of people on so many different paths. But over the last few weeks I have noticed one issue that most of my peers have in common.

Balance. We are all seeking this one precious necessity.

My Mac's Dictionary Widget defines Balance (N) as An even distribution of weight enabling something or someone to remain upright or steady.

Our challenge in life, but particularly as college students, is to try and fit as much as we possibly can in our lives (aka on our scale) without it toppling over. At the end of the day, we hope everything comes out upright and steady. This is a tedious and exhausting task, as most of you know.

We all have different things we struggle to balance.
Finding a balance with...
- eating healthy and going to Cook Out (aka the best yet the unhealthiest restaurant on the strip).
- doing your homework and having fun
- spending time with your friends and spending time with your significant other
- sleeping and working out
- job and social life

We manage pretty well most of the time, but there's one subject matter that I cannot figure out how to balance...it may not even be a balance at all. This is a pretty heavy subject matter, but I wrote this blog because many people have come to me with these questions lately. And honestly...I don't have the answers. So this time...I am writing more to see what you think than to tell you my own thoughts.

Here it goes...
 When is having fun--too much fun? And when does too much fun become wrong?
Many of us seek to know where the line is drawn. Especially Christians.

I know many Christian girls who want to have a typical college girl's night out every once in a while. I know many Christian guys who want to play beer pong on the weekends. And I know many Christians in general who want to live their social life to the fullest whilst keeping their faith.  But is it possible? Can those girls have both their faith and go dancing at a club? Can those guys play beer pong on game day? When does fun turn into sin, and how do we determine when it does?  Many people debate over God's rules and regulations to balancing these "gray" situations. For example, some questions are...
- Can we drink--but just not get drunk?
- Can we go to clubs but just not booty dance?
- Can we play beer pong on game days but make sure to stop after one game?
- Can we kiss him/her but make sure to go no further?
- Can we smoke weed  in legal states? Or not at all?


Like I said...maybe it's not a balance at all. Maybe it's a choice--all or nothin', ya know?
I know one thing is for certain...Jesus picked ALL. He chose all of us.

And deep down I go with the choice option...but that doesn't mean it's always easy.
Sheesh this grown-up stuff it tough.

Comments would be good.

Do you think you can balance your faith and your social life with rules and regulations to come out upright and steady?
If so... how do you define them exactly?
Or do you think it's a choice between the two?

Tall. Tan. Fit. And Ready... Well maybe just the last two.

Hey dolls. So I was debating on what my next blog should be about when I realized: people write about what they know. And there is one thing I know for sure...I NEED CHOCOLATE.

You see...I am on this program called the 17 day diet. It's not actually a diet. It's more like a detox and an eating plan combined. But you can only eat certain foods...and chocolate definitely isn't one of them. There are three cycles. Each cycle consists of 17 days each.

During the first 17 days, or the first cycle, you must drink a hot cup of water with lemon juice every morning (AKA detox part). And the only foods you are allowed to eat are: fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry (including eggs and turkey bacon). I also must have two yogurts a day, as well as 3 glasses of green tea, and 2 nalgene size bottles of water.

This is really scientific if you think about it. I mean...it's flushing out your system. After this cycle you will no longer crave bad sugars and carbs. Lord knows this is what I need.

I am only on day two... so I am going through chocolate withdrawals at this point. But I am a Crowe so that means I have the willpower to make it through.

During the second cycle, you have another list of foods to add to what you are already eating. At this cycle you can eat whole grains and low fat dairy products. Such as: oatmeal, cheese, brown rice, etc. You can also start drinking alcohol in moderation during this cycle. And more good fats are also added. For example, avocado. Now your body is officially no longer craving bad carbs and completely enjoys these good carbs. Not only do you enjoy them, but the energy produced by these good carbs and fats are at their full potential. Meaning...you feel more energized than ever while still dropping pounds.

In the third cycle, your body is slowly introduced to most other foods (in moderation of course). By this point you should learn what foods make you feel energized and what foods do not. And by this pont you should have lost a bit of weight...meaning you won't want to go back to your old eating habits. I mean...why would you go back if you look hot and feel awesome?

You wouldn't. Duh.
So we've got the "fit, and ready" part down. But what about tall and tan?

Unfortunately, after almost two years of laying in the tanning bed I realized that being tan isn't worth risking my health...even if I do look supa sexy. Naturally, I have porcelain skin, and I don't keep a tan for long anyway. I was just wasting my money. Besides if I am trying so hard to be healthy on the inside...why would I risk my health on the outside?
I shouldn't. Duh.

The whole being tall thing...well I can't really fix that. That's what high heels are for I suppose.

So I'll just have to be Olivia Crowe--short, pale, fit, and ready. And I am more than Ok with that.
Oh...and my real prince charming will be too.

PS. I'll update you on my progress with this 17 day business. So far I am liking it...even if I do need a chocolate fix.

G-g-g-get a "lip" of this lovin.

I would just like to say that I love lipstick.
I wear lipstick every day.
I will wear lipstick until it wears off in my casket.
I prefer Revlon Red #740-or Apple Brandy by clinique (so remember that when I die).
I prefer Lipstick to lipgloss because my hair does not get caught in lipstick when the wind blows.


This is something about me that won't change. And I love it.
And whoever I kiss, date, or marry will have to love it too.
Because that just comes with the package, baby.

What I don't want...
#thatawkwardmoment when someone won't kiss you because you have lipstick on

What I do want...
#thatamazingmoment when someone leans in for a kiss and you begin to stop them saying "But I'll get lipstick all over you" and they reply "I couldn't care less"...

Moral of this blog: If he won't kiss you with lipstick on, he's just not that into you. Keep the lipstick, ditch the guy. And find one that "couldn't care less."

Back On Rocky Top.

I moved back into my apartment this morning. I can't express how much I love it here. My little janky apartment feels so much like home. Well first of all...I live with my best friend in the whole world, and since she was gone to Maryland the whole break it works out great because now we get to make up for lost time. That's a definite plus. Also I love my apartment because no one sleeps in my bed but me. No one uses my toothbrush but me. And I can leave the dishes in the sink as long as I want.

Don't get me wrong...I loved being at home this winter break. There are multiple pros. For example, when your tire busts your dad is only a few minutes away to come rescue you. You don't have to pay $1.25 per load of laundry. Not to mention Mom does your laundry. THERE IS A DISHWASHER. That is pretty much domestic heaven right there. Also, there's time to take bubble baths, watch Sex and The City,  knit, and read. The best part of being home is that every morning you have two very wise breakfast buddies (if you wake up early enough to catch them, that is).

As I reflect on my break I realize I did a lot of productive things for myself! I bought new snowboarding boots (thanks to Jordan Puente). I worked at TJmaxx with one of my best friends and made several new lifelong friends. I often babysat a precious little girl. I had a guitar lesson with a good friend. I indulged myself with manicures, pedicures, baking, and movie nights with friends. I read the Hunger Games series and began Chronicles of Narnia. I had a blessed Christmas with friends and family. I took an amazing road trip to Nashville for New Years with one of my best guy friends. I stayed with one of my AXO sisters and we had much needed girl time. I even had dinner and saw Lynyrd Skynyrd with an old flame.

While I was in Nashville for New Years eve someone asked me of my resolutions (the most asked question of the holiday). I just answered that I wish to be healthy and happy. They told me that was sort of vague...but it's not really to me. I wish to feel happy about my life and myself. And I wish to feel healthy and make healthy decisions. So far...I with this break I feel pretty accomplished.
So far all of the worries the doctors had about my health were simply that....just worries. I am as healthy as can be and getting healthier every day. Not only am I healthy...I am happy! My confidence has improved leaps and bounds. Another thing that I have achieved is happiness when being alone. All alone. I have come to love this free feeling.

Now that I am the best me I can be at UT, I can't be any more excited to start this semester. I am happier and healthier than I have been in years, and I cannot wait to enjoy this semester with my sisters and my friends.
I can't imagine being anywhere else.

As cheesy as it is I realize that Rocky top will always be...home sweet home to me.

Words with Friends (and Lovers)

Words. We are obsessed with them. We add new words to the dictionary every year. Singers, songwriters, and Rap stars publish whatever is on their minds. Their lyrics intrigue us. Most comedians we enjoy have gimmicks having to do with word play. We watch late night talk shows... (need I say more?). We even play Words with Friends on our iphones. Words in statuses and tweets are what we follow. We read daily blogs (see? you are doing it now), newspapers, and books. And I can't forget to mention that in our language today there are no words that are off limits...even the not so classy ones are thrown about like a beach ball. But what does it all mean? 

Are any of the words we see, hear, read, or say of truth? Are there actions that follow? 

Or are words only words and nothing more?

All of this can confuse a girl. It can pretty tiresome when our environments are constantly gabbing. Especially when us women over analyze every single word we see, hear, read, or say. I know I get exhausted because I have the memory of an elephant and remember most every word spoken, heard, or read that I come across. This makes it incredibly hard to move on from the past sometimes. 

I am POSITIVE I am not the only girl who frequents the familiar phrase: "but he told me..."

 "but he told me..." that we would be together forever...

 "but he told me..."that he would always love me...

 "but he told me..." that we would get married someday...

 "but he told me..."that he would never cheat on me...

The sad part is they probably really meant these things at the time when they said them. 

But so did Mr. Married when he took his vows...and then cheated on his wife a few years later.

So where is the line drawn? Obvi... we are aware that Mr. Married is a total loser if he broke his vows. But we should just forget about all those things he promised us and get over it because we weren't married to them, right? No

Aren't words supposed to be a vow of action? Especially in love? Well that is what God says.  In 1 John 3:18 it says "dear children, let us not love in word or talk but in action and in truth."

I once had a man tell me that he would lasso me the moon if I wanted it. Luckily I have never had a real desire for the moon to be a lovely decoration in my household, therefore I never asked him get it for me. 

 He also told me... "I'll never ever ever stop loving you. I'll love you even after the sun stops shining. Even after the moon stops glowing. Even after the grass stops growing. Even after the rain stops falling. Even after the sea stops calling. I'll never ever cease loving you." (Now that's romance, eh?)

He said this to me...but did he really mean it? Will he always continue loving me? I guess we will just have to see what happens when the sun no longer shines, the moon no longer glows, the grass no longer grows, the rain no longer falls, and the sea no longer calls. I wish he had included something like...and "when we are done with college" because honestly I don't wanna wait until the sun stops shining. 

Thumper had it all figured out. "if you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all" ....wait...I don't think that's quite it. Let's go with a little modification... "if you can't back up somethin' with actions, don't say nothin' at all"...yeah thats it. 

If you can't DO it...don't SAY you can. 

I am just as guilty of my actions not always backing up my words. I am really trying to work on that. I always try to go with the whole "actions speak louder than words" deal. 

Words with friends may be a fun game on the iphone, but it's serious business when it comes to reality. In my book at least.