Episode 2...and 3

So I had hoped that watching this every week would get me in the habit but of course, life came up and I couldn't watch the last 2 episodes. I was quite sad that I couldn't watch them too...I needed my fix of reality tv!


So you'll just have to put up with my commentary on the full descriptions from ABCs website.


Episode 2 - Support All Around
So the dates started this week, and they seemed to tell a lot about the guys. I love that Ryan did a mommy date but also got some alone time with Emily. In my opinion, any guy who puts up with baking and the soccer run is a good guy!


The group date idea intrigues me, with a way to see how the guys interact with each other and with Emily in small doses. But personally, this first group date seems a little ridiculous. I think its sweet she see's herself in Jef, but isn't she trying to find someone different then how she was? Maybe its just me but that seems a little counterproductive...


The second alone date went to Joe. She thinks he's Matthew McConaughey hot..I have yet to see it. And apparently he has the dreamy looks of Matthew but not the personality. He was denied a rose and so it looks like he'll be heading home.


Next there seems to be a cocktail party, and the description that ABC has really confuses me. All I can gather is that Kalon got his feelings hurt and people were fighting for attention from Emily. So it was the basic premise of the show wrapped into a few minutes..good going!


The rose ceremony and we said goodbye to Joe as well as Aaron and Kyle. Aaron had the cheesy pick-up line in the opening episode and so I am ok with him going. Kyle made no impression on me from what I've seen so again, not sad to see him go.


Episode 3 - Narrowing Down the Field
We start out with a solo date with Chris, who seems like a nice guy, although quiet. That quietness might have played into his favor, as his date seems to go exceptionally well. They have a dare devil moment climbing on to a building to have dinner but after that it was all sweetness, and ending the date with a rose and a kiss looks like he's solidly in the running.


The group date was a VERY smart one if you ask me. She has a daughter and I think its great they're preparing the guys for that. I also like that they're involving her friends as they can give their opinion and she's likely to listen. And as for her friend making Sean do pushups with her on his back, that seems a but flirtatious to me...not something I might be ok with a friend doing if I'm interested in the guy. Then they let the kids loose..and it seems like all hell didn't break loose as I would have expected. Of course Doug and Tony would excel at this, they are dads and know that interaction. Her choosing others who aren't dads I think would have been better. And as for Ryan and ditching the kids to chat with Emily, and then almost insult here, bad move buddy.


In amongst all this, Tony is realizing how bad he misses his son and I think that while sad, it was maybe best that Emily sent him home. And with Doug, I see where he's coming from, but I also wonder if he's trying to get sympathy for that? We'll see how it plays out (and I didn't watch so I don't know how heartfelt and all that it was, please not hate mail!)


Next is a solo date with Arie, and I'm REALLY wishing I could have watched this. (I'm secretly pulling for him, although I like him!) For him to think of winning a prize for Ricki is super sweet, showing that he knows Emily has something that will tag-a-long with her and needs to be thought of. They seem so sweet together and I am really happy that Dolly Parton thought they'd been on a lot more dates than it being their first. Super super super glad he got a rose!!!


Now we come to the cocktail party and rose ceremony and darn it looked like a good one! Kalon was trying to make it about him (he seems to like to do that) and almost sounds like he talked down to Emily. While I to don't necessarily know if I would want to become an instant parent, things sometimes work out for the best with that. I was just shocked with Alessandro, but good that he's gone now instead of getting further down the line and totally hurting Emily. So when the rose ceremony ends, it looks like, along with Tony excusing himself and Alessandro being escorted out a short bit before, Stevie is the one going home. Another one I'm not too sad to lose, something about him rubbed me the wrong way and I just couldn't get to liking him and seeing him as a fit for Emily.


So now we move on to next week. And I will do my darndest to watch, because I'm missing it!!!

The Bachelorette..yes I've been sucked in! (post #1)

So this is the first season I've watched The Bachelorette, and I've never even seen The Bachelor. There's something about Emily though that drew me in, and even from one episode, I'm hooked. I love the fact that they are in Charlotte so that Emily can be with her daughter, Ricki, the whole time and also so that Ricki can be kind of involved in the show.


Lets start off talking about some of the 25 guys who are vying for her attention. There were a few that stuck out to me, some for good reasons and others for not so good reasons.

• Kalon - he claims to have changed his womanizing and obnoxious ways and is looking to really settle down. Well, word up, having your grand entrance as being dropped off by a helicopter is going to solidify you as an obnoxious guy who really seems too out there for what Emily is looking for.
• Ryan - he seems like a great guy and there for the right reasons. (well, providing those reasons involve 15 minutes of fame and all that jazz...) It will be interesting to see him develop with Emily.
• Charlie - he immediately got me by the heart strings and I think he might be my favorite right now. He just seems like the sweetest guy in the world. he did have a traumatic brain injury, but he seems to have bounced back from it. And his line will go down in guys pick up line books all over the world, saying his head might be hurt but there is nothing wrong with his heart. (cue girls panites dropping..now.)
• Jef - with one F, is a guy who in his video package I was not a fan of at all but seeing him interact with the other men as well as Emily I kind of started to like him. Time will tell if he is a good fit or not.
• David - there had to be one super creative and out there guy, and it looks like they picked him! When doing his video package he seemed to write a song for Emily, which was just singing her name a few dozen times...and he calls himself a singer/songwriter. For my tastes personally he is not someone I liked right out of the gate. He is too creative and all that for me. But maybe she'll fall for that?
• Arie - ok, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for racers, and cute ones at that. Arie is pretty much what I have dreamed about in terms of looks and career for a guy for me to be with. Is it bad to hope that Emily doesn't pick him and he somehow finds me and we get the happy ending that he was hoping to have with her? I'll keep dreaming about that one.. :)

There were a lot of other guys, 19 others to be exact, that we were kind of introduced to but I didn't get a strong feel from any, as we weren't really introduced to them. One person who I immediately was turned off by was Mikie. Talk about the snitch and a$$ of the group. I get that Kalon coming in on a copter was annoying and pompous and a dick move, but do you have to CONSTANTLY bring it up when sitting with the other guys. He wanted that attention, so congrats on giving it to him!

I am hoping that by doing this feature I will be updating my blog at least once a week, if not twice. Please bare with me as I just got a second job, but hopefully with that extra income I can maybe afford internet at my house and can blog in my own house and not have to find free wi-fi randomly to do it.

Check out the episode here if you missed it!

What do you think, so far, of The Bachelorette? Anyone I didn't mention to you stand out in a good or bad way??

11 Random Things

So my bff Carrie tagged me in this, and I think its just her sneaky way of getting me to blog more..so I said I would do it. Its taken me a (long) while, but I finally have them all!

These are the five rules:
1. Post these rules
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things about you.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them.

1. I was in the Black Student Union club in high school.

All of my friends at the time were in it and because I was so interested in fundraising and all that and they needed help I joined and helped them out. Lets just say I stood out...

2. I still sleep with a stuffed animal at night.

It has normally fallen on the floor or disappeared in the night but its a total comfort thing. I am trying to rid myself of this, its just so hard!

3. I really do want a relationship with my half sister but she's burned the bridge too many times.

4. One of my all time wants for a pet is for a hedgehog, but I live in one of the few states its illegal to have them.

This makes me sad knowing my parents are moving to a state where they're able to have one but instead they want an armadillo, which are also legal in Florida (and apparently roam free all over the place...).

5. My 2 big toenails don't grow very well so I have acrylic nails on them so they look pretty.

6. I just found out I'm allergic to latex.

My awesome Hello Kitty band-aid totally made me break out in blisters..boo!

7. I wish I had the dedication to have a blog devoted just to fashion and my outfits.

I love love love clothes but I just can't take pictures of myself everyday. And not having internet at home doesn't help...

8.I love cooking and baking for people.

Its so satisfying seeing people enjoy something you've but time and effort in to.

9. I got a personalized license plate for my birthday and now friends want to steal it!

weeee1 will always be mine!

10. I couldn't imagine living anywhere other than here in Arizona!

I love the weather and all the ties I've made here. But I'll have fun visiting my parents in Florida.

11. I eventually would love to travel all around the world.

I want to see what this whole world has to offer.

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Questions from Carrie

1. What is the last concert you went to?

I went and saw my other bff Brian's band on Friday night, but for a mainstream artist it would have been DRUGS last month.

2. How many rooms/bathrooms are there in your house and who do you share your home with?

I have three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms in my house!

3. If you could only listen to three CDs for the rest of your life, which three would you pick?

I don't think I could just pick three! I love too much music and it all has to go with my mood.

4. What is your all-time favorite movie?

This would have to be Clue. I can recite a ton of it and still love watching it!

5. If you could have dinner with one person, living or dead, who would it be?

I think it would be fascinating to have dinner with Zooey Deschannel. She just seems like such a fun person and I really feel like I could learn a ton from her, both about myself and life in general.

6. What is your favorite number? Any particular reason why?

My favorite number is 5. I think its because my birthday is the on the 5th of the month, but I've always liked it.

7. What is your all-time favorite song?

I love WAAAYYYY to many songs to narrow this one down. Some that I always remember are For Always, Forever by Every Avenue, Forever Young by Rod Stewart and Take It To The Limit by The Eagles.

8. Did you participate in any extra-curricular activities in high school?

I was in DECA and March of Dimes and a few other volunteer clubs on campus.

9. What are your favorite pizza toppings?

I love pepperoni and onion... :)

10. What is your favorite retail store to shop in?

I have quite a few because I mainly scour sale racks and find a lot. Lately its been Old Navy (the fit my body shape), Tillys (cute things for pretty cheap), and the the traditionals, Walmart and Target.

11. Where is the coolest place you've ever visited?

I have been VERY blessed to have been some great places in my life so this is very hard to narrow down! I loved seeing Holland with some of my cousins but then I also loved exploring Lanzarote and the volcanoes with my grandparents and aunts. All around, there's too many for me to choose from!

The S.I. N. Tour

Last night, tour buses rolled into Scottsdale at Martini Ranch for The S.I.N. Tour. The bands in the lineup were all varied, but the main theme through all of them was the massive sounds they produced, from their instruments and the crowd. Of the bands, I had heard of three of the four but only listened to two of them. I was pleasantly surprised by them all though.

I didn't want to seem to eager, so I managed to get there about 8 and was surprised I hadn't missed anything, they were all running behind. The first band up was Sparks the Rescue, and I have to say they really surprised me! They had the crowd jumping around and were definitely seeming to have fun on stage. I don't know if its where I was standing, but hearing lead vocals was nearly impossible, unless Alex Roy was screaming. They still started the show off with lots of energy and it was a good lead up to the rest of the show!

Next up was Like Moths to Flames and they were a bit heavy for my taste, but the crowd seemed to love them. They obviously had a stage persona they had all created together as most of the band had a scared look the whole time. I was definitely shocked to see the lead singer come out and looked very sweet...then he started screaming. I will admit the first thought I had was "how does that evil voice come out of someone who looks so nice?!" But they kept the crowd going and seemed to have a good amount of people who were there for them. (they moved a ton so getting good shots of them was hard...)

After them were Hit the Lights, finally a band I had listened to! Seeing them live was a treat, and I was shocked at how like they're recording they sounded like. They had good interaction with the crowd, and kept people jumping their entire set. Nick Thompson has a very delicate voice and so with the guitars and drums, it was extremely hard to hear him for most of the set. The best times he was heard when it was almost acoustic and there was very little background noise. Overall though I was so glad they played and that they played a few of their older songs that I knew. (Always good to sing along and not look like the weird one at the show.. :) )

And finally, the main reason I was there, D.R.U.G.S. came on!! Let me tell you, the amount of people that all of a sudden showed up for them was huge! Luckily getting there when I had gave me one of the best spots in the place, right next to the stage, on the side. I could see everything and even got to touch everyone! I will say that I didn't know about Craig Owens before about 8 months ago, but since I saw him at Warped, I've been interested. They came on that stage with energy and kept it going through their entire set. The crowd was almost mesmerized by Craig and anytime he would ask the crowd something, they would respond. To see someone so in control in a very loud and rowdy place was fantastic.

So there you have it, my first concert review! I'm sure in the future I will be more succinct and to the point, but I also just loved so much about this show. I was thoroughly impressed by all of the bands and would probably go see some of them again if they came through town.

Its been a while...

Sorry I haven't been updating as much as I thought I would. Things have just been so busy lately! Not having internet at home also doesn't help...

My parents house is officially selling and so they have to be out of there by February 15th. That leaves not a lot of time to pack everything up and get it into storage ready for them to move in with me! All of these changes have had me feeling a little down, but it finally caught up with me yesterday and it lead to a sob session with my dad comforting me (so not like him!). I also had some heated words exchanged with a friend who did nothing to help my already down attitude...

So after getting it all out of my system, I was driving to a networking event with the ASU Young Alumni and this song came on my iPod. I think it is perfect for me right now and I cried happy tears listening to it. On repeat.. The entire way to Scottsdale.. Yes, I'm THAT person.

So, for your listening pleasure, here is Matthew Wilder!



I promise I will try and post more coming up!!!

With a new year comes new adventures...

It is now 2012! Ok, I know I am a little late in blogging about the new year, but there's been a lot going on for me!

The year has begun a way I didn't want to happen, but have been planning for about 5 years now. My parents have officially put their house on the market and will be moving to Florida about the middle of April. They have had this plan for about 5 years, but since we talked about it so much and nothing ever happened, I never thought it would. Boy was I wrong!

On January 2nd, the for sale sign went up in their yard and they had A LOT of interest. With that interest came offers, 3 of them to be exact. My parents have settled on one and so now we are waiting to see how the inspection and appraisal and soon they'll be out of my childhood home.

I know I shouldn't be sad about this, but I've only ever lived there, well except for my home now, and so it is a very bittersweet moment seeing my house go to someone else. So here is a small tour of my childhood home, which won't be mine soon...
The front and back yards, which my dad loves more than me sometimes!

Once inside, the living room has been updated but I still walk in and think of me learning to crawl and then dancing throughout the living room with friends.

The kitchen has always been a happy place for me, especially remembering the wine/champagne that was popped on to the ceiling and never came off. Many coats of paint later, its only slightly visible but still makes me giggle!

The saddest part of leaving is seeing my room so empty! Of course, all the stuff that was there has now moved into my house, but its still sad going over and seeing a huge empty room...

So if everything goes according to plan, my parents will be closing on February 15th and starting the next chapter of their life! Ok, well there's a mini chapter in between the 2 actually because they're moving in with me until they finish their business here. Still, changes are a coming and they're looking pretty awesome for 2012!

Weekend Wrap-Up (the first edition!)

Every Sunday night or Monday I am going to try and do a wrap-up of my weekend and all the fun things that I got up to.

This weekend was a particularly busy weekend for me. I hung out with my bff Carrie on Friday night and stayed up a bit too late so waking up bright and early on Saturday morning was a chore. But the painter came and finished painting my stair well so my house is done! (full post on my house coming soon...) Once I got her situated then I headed to my friend Suzy's and we had a super fun day! We went to Caswell's Shooting Range and I shot a 9mm gun, which was so thrilling!

  

I will for sure be going back there. It was such a rush and it almost made me feel manly powerful.

After that we went to lunch at Red Robin and then headed back to her house to start baking! We started off my making 3 loaves of pumpkin bread. We then moved to making some cinnamon sugar oven roasted almonds and finished the afternoon up with some lemon cupcakes with blackberry cream cheese frosting. So far I have gotten amazing reviews of all of these and I can't wait to bake more!

I was so tired after the long day that I headed home and went straight to bed. Sunday was my dad's birthday and so I spent the day with my parents. We had a great homemade turkey bolognese and my dad had a special request for sour cream cookies. I have been making these since I was very young and they're always a Christmas tradition but I hadn't made them in a few years. I will now be making them periodically through the year though as they're so yummy and easy to make! If interested I can post the recipe. :)

So that's the weekend wrap-up!