Things I'm Loving

I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I'm currently enjoying this Friday.

*It's Friday.  Enough said.

*  These bowls.  We got so many absolutely amazing wedding presents that I could never try to pick a favorite.  But if I had to pick what we use the most often, it might be these babies.  What's even better, they're cheap.  And, alas, I didn't even register for them.....someone smarter than me must have known they are awesome.

*  This kid.  I mean, seriously, how does Little Cowboy not crack you up in this hat with his gun.  This was his attire for Christmas Break.  Side note:  He's got his first basketball game on Saturday.  I'm dying to hear how this goes.  Perhaps we will do an "Ask Little Cowboy" about it.

* This song.  I heard it on the radio yesterday and rushed right to iTunes to get it purchased.  I absolutely love it!  Here's my favorite verse. "Here's to this place I've found, the love I've known, the earth and sky that I call home.  Here's to the things I need, bigger than me, and the moments I find myself right where I'm supposed to be."

* This  shirt.  Super Mom and ND Friend got me this for Christmas and it is hands down, no question, absolutely the most comfortable shirt on the planet.  I would wear it every minute of every day if I could.

* Not doing Project 333 anymore.  I waived the white flag.  Remember when I said I was going to wear only 33 items of clothing for three months?  Screw that.  I made myself last a month for good measure, but I hated it.  I felt blah and frumpy and just wanted to dress cute, dang it.  Plus, I got lots of adorable things for Christmas that I just had to wear.

*  The Christmas gifts we made.  Following Super Mom's lead from last year, we decided to make homemade vanilla for Christmas gifts this year.  It was really easy....you just put vanilla beans in vodka and let them soak for a month or two (shaking every week).  Then we put them into jars, labeled them, and off they went to their recipients!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm loving lots of things this first Wednesday in December!!


(1)  All of you who linked up with our Virtual Turkey Trot.  Here are a couple of additional reports I got in yesterday.

Texas

 

My Fellow OSU in Aggieland friend ran her 5K while she was in Canyon for the holidays.  Turns out, she ran it up and down the hills in Palo Duro Canyon, which was beautiful, but probably a major work out.  Way to go!

OSU in Aggieland and her dog Addie

 

Illinois

 

Hometown Friend was our Illinois representative and ran her 5K on Friday at the University of Illinois in Champaign.  Just looking at this picture makes me want to go put on gloves and a scarf.

 

 

Arizona

 

Mrs. Arizona did her run at the Turkey Trot held at the Phoenician in Phoenix.  A bit warmer than poor Hometown friend in Illinois.  And no, they did not run in black tie attire.  She forgot to take a picture but had this one from the weekend before.  She classes things up a bit!

Texas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Iowa, Arkansas, Washington, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Utah.  For those of you counting....that's 12 states!  WOO HOO!  The donations will be made to the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots this week.  Thank you so much for participating! 

(2)  The fact that this time next week I will be on a plane to Vegas to meet up with my parents and The Boy from Texas at the National Finals Rodeo.  My dad and I have wanted to go for years and we're making it happen!

(3)  This blog by my friend Little Miss.  She wrote about the best advice she ever received from someone that you all know well from this blog, Mrs. Hepburn.  It's worth reading and worth thinking about!

(4)  This article about the 5 most annoying ways to post you are engaged on Facebook cracked me up.  (If you read this, do not pay attention to the fact that I bragged on my boyfriend buying me flowers in #2 above, which is made fun of in #5 of the article...)  I laughed for like 10 minutes.  My favorite line was the one about it being the Jager talking.  Ha!  I was relieved, however, to know that my plan to get a billboard was not deemed annoying.  Phew.  A girl has to keep her options open.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

This last week I've stumbled across a ton of blogs and quotes that I really enjoyed.  I figured I'd share today!

1.  This blog that includes a letter from a mom to her third grade son.  If we would all just do as this mama advises, the world would be so much better.  Here is my favorite part:

We do not care if you are the smartest or fastest or coolest or funniest. There will be lots of contests at school, and we don't care if you win a single one of them. We don't care if you get straight As. We don't care if the girls think you're cute or whether you're picked first or last for kickball at recess. We don't care if you are your teacher's favorite or not. We don't care if you have the best clothes or most Pokemon cards or coolest gadgets. We just don't care.

We don't send you to school to become the best at anything at all. We already love you as much as we possibly could. You do not have to earn our love or pride and you can't lose it. That's done.
We send you to school to practice being brave and kind.

Kind people are brave people. Brave is not a feeling that you should wait for. It is a decision. It is a decision that compassion is more important than fear, than fitting in, than following the crowd.

2.  This quote:  “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” - Jim Rohn  I'm a firm believer in this.  When you surround yourself with good people, you become better.  If you have people around you who are negative or who pull you down, you're going to become more and more like them.  Find the good ones!

3.  This blog by Miss Rachel.  She compares her attitude about wanting a husband and a white picket fence and a fairy tale ending now--right now--to a little kid throwing a crying, kicking, screaming fit in the grocery store.  And if I'm honest, I too often act just like that little kid squirming around on the floor.  I want things now.  Answers.  Open doors.  Easy paths.  It's hard to remember that we have to trust in Him.  Which includes trusting in His timing.

4.  This blog that contains advice to college students.  I am absolutely in love with the following quote:  "I know nothing. But here’s the truth - none of us do. So at some point we must make a leap of faith. We leap anytime we make a decision. We leap when we choose to enter into a relationship, we leap when we pick a college, we leap when we get out of bed in the morning. We are not guaranteed an ending but we weigh the odds, we take our chances, and we leap. My only advice to you is to leap towards love. When I have done so I have found I tend to land in good places."

5.  .  This video of a speech given by Ashton Kutcher.   "The sexiest things in the world is being really smart and being thoughtful and being generous. Everything else is crap. It's just crap that people try to sell to you to make you feel like less. So don't buy it."

WILW

Happy Wednesday, kids!  We're halfway through the week, which means I'm that much closer to a weekend at the lake with the family and the Boy from Texas.  Cannot wait!  I haven't done a What I'm Loving Wednesday in a while, so here we go!

1.  The great feedback and attention my Texas Agriculture Law Blog is getting.  I appreciate all of you guys who went over and subscribed.  If anyone else wants to sign up, just click on the link above, enter your email address and you will get an email to open and confirm your subscription, and you will get every blog sent to your email address.  We're really trying to push the blog this month, so please pass the link along to anyone who you know that might be interested!

2.  This article called "All That Is Right With 4-H."  Go read it.  If you were in 4-H or FFA, you lived it.  I've been both the little kid getting the help and the big kid giving it.  There are no better organizations for kids than these two.

3.  This song I heard on the radio a couple of weeks ago called "Single Rose Kind of Girl."  Precious.

4.  This article giving advice to 20-year-olds on things that the should know/do in the workplace.  I think this lady is spot on.  Except for the being more productive in the morning.  Not this girl!

5.  This article about why our generation is leaving the church.  I think that she hits it right on the head.  It's not about fancy bands or coffee houses or political agendas, it's about seeing Jesus and living lives that point to Him.  My favorite line from the article:  "We want churches that emphasize an allegiance to the kingdom of God over an allegiance to a single political party or a single nation."

6.  A video my friend Jen shared of a birthday surprise for a little girl.  It's not all bouncy houses and princesses and that kind of crap when you live in the country.  Check this out.  I love it!



7.  This blog about not being afraid to tell people your dreams and to go after them.  Favorite lines:  "Too often we rob ourselves of the joy of dreaming because of the fear of failure and judgment.  Don't you think it's time to start chasing your dreams?"

WILW

"Sometimes the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary simply by doing them with the right people." ~ Nicholas Sparks

I'm in Europe.  Loving every minute.  And every good dessert. And old church.  And lots of amazing food.  You get it.  Here are some other things I am loving today!

1.  Baby Chocolate Brown.  I finally got to meet her last weekend and she is precious and beautiful and perfect.  The Chocolate Brown family honestly is so good looking, I'm almost intimidated being in their house.  Except that they're so darn nice and I forget about it.

2.  Speaking of adorable children, I can't leave out SoulMate Friend's boys.  I had a blast spending a couple of days with Little Linebacker and Little Fullback.  I think I had two favorite parts of the weekend--first the fact that Little Linebacker can now clearly say "Aunt Tiff" and second when he played his dad's tuba.  It was amazing.

Me and the newest addition to Aunt Tiff's football team

3.  This list of 100 things you should tell your daughter.  My favorite?  "A strong man is never threatened by a strong woman."  Amen to that!

4.  This blog about the Boston Marathon attacks.  And how horrible it was to bomb the people who watch marathons because of what they mean to the runners.

5.  ND Friend's blog all about her 30th birthday gift.  The picture of the St. Therese quote....the one that is written in handwriting that might belong to a third grader....that was from me. :)  You might remember my blog about my small part in this project here.  It was an amazing and perfect way to ring in her 30th year!

6.  Mrs. F.'s response to my text that I finished my half marathon.  What did she say, you ask?  "You know that you can stop doing things just to prove that you can do them if you want to."  She's a smart lady, that Mrs. F.  I'm pretty good at doing things just to prove that I can.  Half marathons included!

7.  This song called Messin' Around.  Adorable.



8.  This video of Vince Gill and Patty Loveless singing Go Rest High On That Mountain at George Jones' funeral.  Beautiful.

9.  This article written by a daddy to his little girl about her future husband.  The idea?  All of the articles we read as women about how to be sexy and fun and whatever to keep a guy interested are crap.  The guy should be interested because we are interesting, period.  Love it.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

"Maybe you'll get everything you ever wished for.  Maybe you'll get more than you ever could have imagined.  Who knows where life will take you."

1.  These girls.  All three of us are good ol' country, Eastern New Mexico girls who have somehow managed to get ourselves stuck in the big city.  Fortunately, it's nothing a little Red Dirt music can't fix.

Out and about for Pharmer Girl's birthday

2.  The NCAA Tournament.  Don't get me wrong here, I'm still irate over the fact that Oklahoma State and UNM sucked it up big time.  And that my bracket is totally hosed.  But as someone who always loves cheering for the underdog, this is my year to love March Madness!  I'm all about Florida Gulf Coast.  They are awesome!

3.  My friend Almost Gypsy Soul.  Do you know what that girl did?  Mailed me 5--count them FIVE--Red Dirt cds.  Yep.  I'm in heaven.  And have not turned off the cd player since they arrived.  And they got here just in time for my upcoming road trip to the new home.  She has cemented favorite friend status for the week.  Maybe the year.  They are that good!

4.  Speaking of music, I'm in love with this song that my blog friend Brianna posted.  Seriously adorable.

"I'm looking for a yes ma'am man, open up the doors, shake my daddy's hand, shootin' 22s at an old tin can, never been ashamed of his two-toned farmer's tan. I'm looking for old tailgate, take me out fishing on our first date, dancing in the kitchen to old George Strait, heart as big as the lone star state."

Amen to that.  And the video of them dancing in the kitchen?  Melt my heart.  Love it.

5.  The quote below from Kid President.  You tell 'em kid!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

It's Wednesday.  I'm loving stuff.  You know the drill.

1.  I read this quote on The Single Woman's blog and loved it.  "If you really want to find the right one, let go of the jerks and the bad boys and start looking for men you would want to rock it with at Cracker Barrel when you are 80."  There's nothing like a good old people love story.  Or Cracker Barrel, for that matter.  I'm in.

2.  The professional pictures came in from BFF's wedding and I absolutely love this one of me and BFF eating pie during the reception.  I love that kid.

3.  Last weekend I went to take reasons at a FFA judging contest.  It was like a flashback to the good ol' days and I really enjoyed it. My favorite part was when someone referred to me as "one of Mr. Franklin's kids."  Best compliment that someone could give me.  I sure do miss him.

4.  This year was the first time that a kid took one of our lambs to Houston, and he made the sale.  We were pretty excited for him.

5.  The idea behind this blog that God wants us to fail at something.  My favorite part?  "Be more interested in my vision for you than in your dreams for yourself.  It may not look the way you think it should, and you might stumble and trip along this path.  You may fail in the eyes of men, but not in mine.  I will accomplish my purposes in you."

6.  This idea.  Made me want to build my own blanket fort.  I don't know if that would be on the "staged house" approved list from my realtor...

7.  Loud Oklahoma Girl and I are now on Week 6 of our half marathon training plan.....which means that come Saturday, we are halfway there!  On Monday night I got in a really good 6 mile run, which I needed after slacking a bit this weekend.

Us at the Tulsa Marathon doing the Marathon Relay - 2012

8.  I'm torn on whether I should be loving this or horribly offended, but yesterday I was in the elevator with a creepy guy who looked over at me and said, "Nice a**."  I said, "Excuse me??"  He just nodded and got out of the elevator.  Part of me was offended and wanted to punch him in the face.  The other part of me just wants to wear this skirt every day from now on.  Ha!

9.  The Word on Fire updates from Rome.  ND Friend works at Word on Fire and I'm seriously loving the updates that Father Barron is sending back from Rome regarding the Papal Conclave.  He keeps talking about Cardinal Dolan (who we all know I love) being a potential Pope......I hope he's not just giving me false hope!

10.  The fact that these showed up at my office yesterday.  On a random Tuesday.  For no reason. From a boy.  Other than Uncle Black Belt or BFF.  Yea.  I think that might be the first time that has ever happened.  And I like it.

What I'm Loving and How Pinteresting Wednesday

"Love is playing every game as if it were your last."  ~Michael Jordan

I'm going double link up today as well since it worked out so well last Friday.

We'll start off with What I'm Loving Wednesday.

1.  My friend Almost Gypsy Soul has this awesome thing on her blog where she has a different playlist each month.  This month she went completely Red Dirt and I love the entire thing.  It'e been on repeat in my office for two days straight.  Go to her blog.  You will thank me.

2.  Speaking from the playlist, I particularly L-O-V-E "Never Been Out West" by Mickey and the Motorcars.  How had I never heard this song before??

3.  Let's talk about my Pokes.  You know, the #15 ranked basketball team in the country.  As a girl who was at OSU during the Eddie Sutton/Final Four/John Lucas/Tony Allen era, I say it's about freakin' time we're back where we are supposed to be!  Check out this dunk by Markell Brown.



That, kids, is how you dunk a basketball.  Bring on the tournament!

4.  Last weekend my friend Fellow OSU Alum and I went to see Silver Linings Playbook.  I'll admit it started out slow for me...probably 45 minutes in I was wondering if we were ever going to go anywhere.  But I realized that I really was into it when it got close to the end and I thought it was not going to end the way I wanted it to end and I was seriously fuming.  Sign of a good movie.  I also learned that this movie is based on a book (I apparently live under a rock?) and since the book is always better I've ordered it from Amazon and plan to read it ASAP.  Oh, and Jennifer Lawrence is freaking adorable.  She and I would totally be friends in real life.

5.  Sometimes nice guys finish first.  Have you guys seen this story?  When a woman accidentally dropped her engagement ring into a homeless man's cup along with some change, he returned it when she came back two days later looking for the ring.  He could have pawned it and made $4,000, but he did the right thing.  Well through the media attention this has created, people have now raised over $175,000 to help him back on his feet and he's reconnected with his family.  I love a happy ending.

6.  Yesterday I had the best English muffin I have ever tasted.  My boss/friend showed up with them yesterday to thank us for working on a certain case.  They.were.amazing.  No, you don't understand, I think I'll probably be dreaming of these things when I move to Texas.  I could have taken a picture, had I not inhaled it in 10 seconds.

And, now, let's talk Pinterest.  Yes, I admit it.  I'm an addict.  It's happened.  Sheesh.  Here are a handful of my favorite pins from the last week.  (All images via Pinterest.)

Love OSU!

Amen to that!

My favorite hymn.

Love this quote.

Totally doing this in my new yard!

This made my day!

WILW (Part II)

“Life isn't all grand, but it isn't all miserable either. There's both sweet and sour in every day. So why focus on the ugly when you can gaze at what's beautiful? Concentrate on the good.”  ~Richelle E. Goodrich

Like I said yesterday, I'm loving so many things this week that I had to split them into to posts.  If you missed Part I yesterday, click here.  Today, I'm linking up with Jamie and moving on to Part II of the things I'm loving this week!

NUMBER SEVEN:  My sweet friend Pharmer Girl started a new series on her blog called Behind the Scenes, and I was her first interview!  So if you want to see me imparting some of my wisdom (or lack thereof) go read her blog.  And follow her.  Because she's awesome.

NUMBER EIGHT:  This picture I saw on facebook.  I'm not a huge Ryan Gosling fan (don't stone me...I just prefer someone more like Ryan Reynolds) but I thought this was hilarious.  Where do I find that sweater??

NUMBER NINE:  This song by Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed.  Adorable.

NUMBER TEN:  This picture. I sent this to Blonde Oklahoma Girl last week and told her one of us has to get married soon just so we can take this photo!

NUMBER ELEVEN:  Brianne's amazing decision to make a big change in her life.  And the fact that she credited my blog with helping give her the confidence to make this decision.  I am so humbled!

NUMBER TWELVE:  This blog called You May or May Not Get Married So Now What?  The author had a plan--high school, college, marriage.  She didn't plan for the gap between the last two.  I understand that feeling!  She talks about how her life is different than her dream, but maybe it's better.  

My favorite quote from the blog:  When I was six, I didn’t walk around with a pretend laptop and pretend cell phone and act like I was on my way to a super important meeting.  I walked around in heels and held fake flowers.  It’s a funny thing when we try and live out our idea of a plan.  We quickly discover that living out God’s plan is more of a dream come true than any Disney movie could have premiered.  It’s just a dream we never imagined. 

NUMBER THIRTEEN:  More baby news!  Mr. and Mrs. Chocolate Brown welcomed Baby CB this weekend....and she is absolutely precious.  With these two knock outs as parents, how could she not be?  Aunt Tiff is dying to meet her!!

WILW (Part I)

“If we counted our blessings instead of our money, we would all be rich.”  ~ Linda Poindexter

Haven't done this link up in a while, so I had a LONG list of things that I'm loving this week.  In order to help everyone from getting completely bored by a super long post, I've split this baby into a two parter.  So...things I'm loving Part I....

NUMBER ONE:  This song by Chad Sullins called Only Girl.  Seriously, LOVE it.

NUMBER TWO:  The fact that Kiddo is a rock star and opens for Chad Sullins.  No, seriously.  Like playing gigs out on the strip two nights in a row last week.  Look how cute he is.

I'm already trying to chase away the little college girls who are after any boy with a guitar who are clearly not good enough for my favorite kid.

To celebrate the first gig, I may have sent him balloons.  Which he took with him to the bar.  Classic.

NUMBER THREE:  Speaking of rock stars, Little Linebacker got drums for his 3rd birthday.  Like a full set of real drums.  How stinkin cute is this kid??

Apparently he is constantly asking his daddy to bring his guitar and come play with him in the garage (to where the drums have been banished).  Seriously, a 3 year old and his daddy having a jam session in the garage.  I know that my dream is for him to play college football, but this might be better.  I'm only saying that once.

NUMBER FOUR: Speaking of Little Linebacker, he is now officially a big brother.  That's right friends, meet the newest of Aunt Tiff's brood of nephews....Little Fullback. 

He came last week in dramatic fashion when he was delivered by paramedics at home because he was apparently ready to make his entrance NOW.  I'm sure his uber organized mama was a little concerned.  As was his daddy, who was getting instructions on how to deliver a baby with a shoe lace and safety pin from the 911 operator  (still not sure what the pin was for?).  To see their interview on the news, click here. Anyway, Little Fullback arrived safe and sound, and he's adorable!

NUMBER FIVE:  My sweet cousin Mim texts me all excited about this article last week.  What does it say?  Oh, ya know, just that my future home has been deemed one of the top 5 universities in the country to find a husband.  Haha....this move is looking better and better all the time!

NUMBER SIX:  OSU brough the rowdy back to Gallagher-Iba Arena!  See, when I was in school, every single game sold out, you stood in line for hours to get good seats, and that place was crazy.  The last couple of years had been bad for the OSU basketball program and the attendance dwindles.  But this year, FINALLY, we have a team that is ranked in the Top 25, tied for first in the Big 12, and a sold out Gallagher-Iba Arena for the Bedlam game against OU.  Good job, kids!  And good job, Pokes, on the overtime win!

 

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part II....

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

“Dear old world', she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”   ~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I haven't linked up in a L-O-N-G time, so I've been saving up lots of likes for today!

1.  This article written by a mom about the Sandy Hook tragedy.  I identified right away because I, like her, am just not a crier, but this really got to me.  Her explanation of why is spot on.  I know what six looks like, and because of that, I understand too much what must have happened in that school.  God bless everyone involved.

2.  This video that I found thanks to Miss Ty's blog.  It's called Sh** (Bible Belt mom editing) Southern Women Say.  I was in tears.  And I guarantee you I say at least three of these every single day.  No lie. http://www.arkansassyblog.com/2012/12/does-this-pistol-come-in-pink.html

3.  The new song by Tim McGraw. Even though I'm much more of a Texas Country girl than a mainstream music fan, I love this song!
 

4.  This blogger who volunteered to lay a wreath on every grave at Arlington National Cemetery for Christmas.  What an amazing thing to be part of!

5.  I'm not one of those girls who plans her wedding out in her head.  I've explained that in a Letter to Mr. Right before.  But last week I heard this version of 1000 years and loved it so much that I think it would be the perfect wedding processional....and then right after that, I heard the One Direction song called Little Things that I'm quite certain will have to be played at any future wedding I have.  Perhaps it's a sign of Mr. Right's impending arrival??




6.  This article by The Single Woman.  It's all about how we need to stop overthinking everything in our lives and just do something!  She talks about how she will overanalyze little decisions like whether to go into Target or if she should buy new lipstick....um....completely guilty.  I've done the same thing more times than I can count.  Here is her advice:   "Chances are, sometimes this plan of less thought and more action is going to inevitably lead to mistakes and mishaps and maybe even rejection…but isn’t DOING and KNOWING better than WAITING and WONDERING?" 

7.  This t-shirt I saw online.  Yes, that would be me.  But never fear, I'm back on a running plan (I have a half marathon with Loud Oklahoma Girl in April to train for!) and on the trusty ol' my fitness pal. 

8.  My sweet friend Almost Gypsie Soul has started a blog!  We went to school together at OSU, she was the one who suggested we run Remember the Ten last year, and she's just generally awesome.  Check her out, add her to your blog list.  You'll love her.  Oh, and she's doing a playlist for the blog every month, which I love!

She's the tall one in blue....dang tall people make me so jealous!

9.  My adorable friend (who I used to babysit.....hello, my name is Tiffany and I'm old!) is in school at OSU.  Well yesterday, our quarterback--Clint Chelf--retweeted her!  Now, once I had her explain to me what exactly re-tweeting meant, I was super excited.  She's basically famous! :)

10.  My dear friends Nomad and Emily from Friends got hitched!  That's right, they got married in what looks to have been a picture-perfect ceremony over the holiday.  Who wants a guest blog wedding report from these two???

Word on the street is that they may have a second wedding in England, to which I'm invited!  Little European adventure in my future??  I think so.  I'll totally channel my inner-Joey!  "It's LONDON, baby!"


Nomad and Emily from Friends:  Please don't un-invite me because of this! :)

What I'm Loving Wednesday: There's Good in the World

“Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.”  ~Thomas Merton

There's good in the world.  And sometimes, we just need a little reminder of that.  Today, I'm loving a few of these reminders I've seen in the last week or so.  (Linking up with Jamie!)

First up we have a story about a football team coming to the rescue for a girl who was being bullied.  Chy Johnson used to go home crying every day because kids were mean to her and she had to eat lunch alone.  And then, the football team got involved.  She now eats lunch at the popular table, calls the team "her boys" and hangs out with them on the sideline.  These boys put an end to a bad situation for this girl.  Good work, kids!

photo via ESPN

Next we have a story and photo of a police officer in New York helping a homeless man who was barefoot and freezing in Times Square.  He did not know anyone was watching and did not seek any recognition.  He just did something kind to help another person in need.  What an example of being the hands and feet (by warming the feet of others) of Jesus. 

Photo via NYPD

Third, let's talk about Manti T'eo and Notre Dame.  Yes, more football.  What do you expect on my blog?  It's no secret that I LOVE Notre Dame and this kid.  There are tons of stories that I could share.  Check out this video of Manti talking about how the Notre Dame community (and even the opposing fans) rallied around Manti after he lost his girlfriend and grandma within 48 hours, and about what an amazing person his girlfriend was.  When asked about him being Mormon and attending Notre Dame, he told the story of taking his family to the Grotto at night when they visited for a game.  His uncle said, "It doesn't matter what religion you belong to, whether you are Mormon, Catholic, Jewish, Baptist, when you step on these grounds, it's holy."  Plus he is the king of goal line stands and is taking the undefeated Irish to the National Championship.

Photo via me during my trip to Notre Dame

I swear if this kid doesn't win the Heisman I'm going to file some sort of protest.  Sorry Johnny Football and my K-State friends.

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

“If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.” ~ Rick Riordan, The Lightning Theif

Happy Wednesday!  Linking up with Jamie to share a few things that I'm loving...

1.  This blog that ND Friend sent me last week.  Talk about an amazing way to ring in a birthday.  Or even just a list of amazing things that you could do on a random Tuesday.  I love it.  Check it out.

2.  Blake and Miranda.  I missed the CMA's (I was at my birthday dinner) but caught up on them this weekend.  Did y'all see Blake and Miranda win song of the year for Over You, which they wrote together about Blake losing his brother in a car accident when he was 14?  Their acceptance speech was precious.  I just love them.

3.  This idea called Hope for the Homeless.  I got a little choked up just reading it.  You guys know that I struggle with how to respond to homelessness, and I just love this idea.  I'm going to be hitting up Target this week to make up some of these packages!  On this note, I've mentioned before that I try and pray for those for whom no one prays.  Just something to think about if you want to join in.

4.  This girl is Stillwater bound!  That's right...Friday night I'm headed to Oklahoma to meet up with Loud Oklahoma Girl to cheer on our Pokes against the Red Raiders on Saturday and to run the second leg of a marathon relay on Sunday morning.  My training has not gone well (as in I've not really done it....) so those may be a L-O-N-G five miles.  But my guess is that we'll still have a great weekend!

A sea of orange...a sight for sore eyes!

5.  These shadow boxes.  I absolutely love them and want to make a bunch from my travels....Costa Rica, Rome, Switzerland, Mexico, San Francisco, New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, Notre Dame....I could have a whole wall full!  I can't figure out how to make the letters though.  Anyone craftier than me want to help?

6.  Back in the Day by Brantley Gilbert.  Check it out.

7.  This blog that collects 13 lessons we learned from Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World.  Man, I loved that show.  Seriously, I don't think I ever missed an episode.  I am beyond excited about the rumor that a sequel--with Corey and Topanga all grown up--is in the works!

8.  Uno Semana.  One week until Cousin Swiss Mister arrives and we head back to the ranch for Thanksgiving.  It's going to be epic!

Me and CSM at a water fall in Costa Rica

WILW

"There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch." ~Robert Brault

I haven't done a list of things i'm loving lately, so I've been saving up!  I've got lots of loves today and even more saved up for next week.  Here we go with the WILW list!

1.  Let's start with my three favorite Halloween photos/videos.  I'm not a huge Halloween person, but luckily some other people in my life are.  Here ya have 'em....my Top 5 Halloween moments for 2012.

Cutest Costume:  Soul Mate Friend and Baby Little Tight End's costume.

Craziest Activity:  My friend who is dressed like a pirate participating in an underwater pumpkin carving contest.

Most Unbelievable Transformation:  Pharmer Girl.  Check out this video--Pharmer Girl is this total country girl that grew up in small town New Mexico like me and who went all chola for Halloween.  Hilarious.




Best Kid's Costume:  My friend's little boy wanted to be a washing machine!

Most random costume:  Ashley as a loofa.  I LOVE it!

2.  My adorable Goddaughter.  Seriously, look at these pictures from the last week.  Could GBaby be any cuter?  Can't believe it's been 9 months since the traumatic experience that was her being born.

Gbaby eating the cookies I sent her in the mail.

Gbaby all bundled up for winter.

Gbaby sporting the shirt I got her at Notre Dame on game day!

3.  These photos.  Grooms' faces as they see their brides for the first time.  Holy cow.  If that doesn't make you want to get married, nothing will.  Adorable.

4.  This idea for asking your friends to be your bridesmaids.  Awesome.

5.  This story that BFF sent me about scholarships being given to walk ons.  You've got to see the video of what the coach pulled at UMass involving the cops and totally freaking out some kids.  Hilarious and awesome.