Guest Blogger--Ty from Rants. Raves. Ridiculous.

Now for my fourth guest blogger:

Ty from Rants. Raves. Ridiculous

I love Ty's blog!

She always has the best posts and she never fails to make me laugh!

Please take a look at her lovely page and just admire how cute she is!

I promise, she won't disappoint!

Without further adieu...

Ty, take it away!

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My First Guest Blog, Take 7.

I've been trying to figure out what to say.  You know when you had to do all those stupid icebreakers at work/college, and everyone goes around saying their name and where they're from, and you start sweating and feeling all nervous and stupid?  And you can't really figure out why, because in the back of your mind, you KNOW your name and your hometown, so what is there to judge?

I guess that's me now.

(Tyler.  Fort Smith, Arkansas.)

I was super excited to do my first guest blog, though, even though I wasn't sure what to write about.  I've been in the middle of finals for a while now, so the posts on my blog consist of a steady stream of profanity-ladled complaining or the most random YouTube videos ever recorded.  I should probably write YouTube a letter, thanking them for singlehandedly saving my sanity with their endless stream of puppies crashing into mirrors and hidden kittens.

However, during the last wave of procrastination (in which I read the internet cover to cover because I couldn't bear the thought of reading more of the law), I came across this video and knew I had to share it.

 It really stopped me dead in my tracks.

Not just the acts themselves, but the mindset that you'd have to have to DO them.

And in my quest to avoid studying, I started thinking more about the types of people who are willing to take such incredible risks.  Not even the physical risks.  The ones who throw caution to the wind to do as they please.  I think we'd all be in better places if we were willing to be a little less uptight.

Here’s to the crazy ones.  The misfits.  The rebels.  The troublemakers.  The round pegs in the square holes.  The ones who see things differently. 

They’re not fond of rules.  And they have no respect for the status quo.  You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. 

Because they change things.  They invent.  They imagine.  They heal.  They explore.  They create.  They inspire.  They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?  Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written?  Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? 

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. 

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

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I would like to say that this post totally hit the spot! 

Thank you so much, Ty!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

I know that I am!

Can-Do Challenge- Appreciate Yourself

As I mentioned a few Sunday's ago, the next few Can-Do Challenges will be coming from a book that I bought as a result of a college class that I ended up dropping and I was unable to part with this book!

I hope that these are as helpful and beneficial for all of you, as they were for me!

Stress Free For Good, written by Dr Fred Luskin & Dr. Kenneth R Pelletier, is a book that has seriously changed my life and how I manage myself :-) I hope that you all have the opportunity to read this book, and if not, please read my posts because they really do help :-)

The sixth life skill written about in this book is: Appreciate Yourself

This is a really important life skill!
And it is the most difficult.
I can promise that if you do your best to make this a priority, you will have a high self esteem and feeling of self worth!
 

Purpose:

~To notice the many good things you do
~To learn to appreciate your talents and skills
~To remind yourself that you work hard and are worthy of praise

Practice:

~Think of one or two things you did that were helpful or that you were good at
~Appreciate yourself for your talents and willingness to help
~Realize that offering kindness, help and support are all positive choices that you make
~Even the little things need to get done. Appreciate yourself for not having blown them off.

Tips:

~It's easy to forget how much good we do
We're often criticized for things we do wrong rather than praised for things we do right. Look for your own virtues if all you're hearing is complaints
~Remember that appreciation is not the same as conceit

Application:

~When you feel inferior at a social or business meeting
~At the end of the day, if you are wondering what you accomplished
~When you feel that your abilities aren't being appreciated

Life Skill:

"Learning to appreciate your own worth and value isn't an indulgence; it's seeing clearly your own unique character and gifts" (147).

Again, all of this information comes straight from the book...I have paraphrased and generally it is not verbatim-I only chose a few items that have really helped me, that I hope will help you :-)

I am the Happiest Girl in Town...

...No, no, no...

on the planet!!

My Sweeter is home!

My Sweeter is home! 

My Sweeter is home!  

My Sweeter is home! 

My Sweeter is home!  

He made it home safe and sound yesterday!

After a long day of waiting for him to get off of the darn ship...

he is off, home and in my arms, right now!

{I did schedule this post a day in advance...

no internet for me for a couple of days while I enjoy him!

keep your eyes open for more guest posts!}

Yay! 

I just cannot wait to spend Christmas and the New Year with him!

He makes me sooo happy!!

Homecoming pictures to come! 

For now, here are two from his first deployment!

 we have two happy sweeters!

My Sweeter is home! 

Guest Blogger--Lindsay from Sweet American Honey

Now on to my third guest blogger

Lindsay from Sweet American Honey

I stumbled upon Lindsay's blog and my eye was caught by the beautiful wedding photos that she has posted on her sidebar! She was a stunning bride and so I decided to peruse her blog and read her posts and I just totally fell in l.o.v.e. with it!
She write about her life and the fun things that she does on a daily basis; from work stories to marriage and everything in between.
Then one day I was reading and I found out that her husband was a Marine and they met while they were stationed where my Marine is station! Small world!

I just have always enjoyed reading Lindsay's blog, so I asked her to write a special post for me!

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

Without further adieu...

Lindsay, take it away!

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I am so thrilled to be a guest at La Tache's blog. This is my first guest post and I was so excited when she asked me. She is a fellow marine's girl and that just makes me like her even more :-) It is not always easy being in the marine world, but some of us lucky girls are trying our hardest to deal with it. And for me it is now a relief that he is out. That my hubby isn't going to be deployed again or have to work insane hours. But the marines will always be part of him emotionally and physically (USMC is tattooed on the side of his torso). I am so excited that La Tache will soon see her Sweeter and that he will be home safely and they will be together again. Enjoying each other. Having fun together. :-)

Ok now on to my post :-) Sorry I ramble sometimes. Leaving home. Leaving family. Leaving friends. Can be one of the hardest things to do. But it can also be one of the best things one can do. I moved from a city right outside Los Angeles to Oceanside (San Diego) and it was the best thing that I could have ever done. I was going through some pretty rough things in my life...losing my brother, getting screwed by a guy, losing friends. I was not the happy girl I once was. I was losing weight. I would go out. I was depressed. 

Then one morning I got to work and I decided I had to move out. I had to start over and live my own life. Be on my own, away from my family. Start fresh. I was looking into schools for nursing in San Diego and I planned to go to San Marcos, after taking a few pre-reqs. I searched on craigslist and found a tiny one bedroom apartment right by the beach...yes I could walk to the beach in 5 minutes. I didn't know the area, but momma and I decided to check it out. I fell in love. Driving down to Oceanside, the weather was gorgeous. The view of the ocean was gorgeous. I knew I had to live there. I looked at my apartment, not the best area, but I didn't care at that point. I filled out the application and was approved. All.by.myself. I felt like it was such an accomplish, I didn't need a co-signer. :-)

I moved in the 3 day weekend in January. It was my own apartment. I made it exactly how I wanted it. I loved it. I felt like a huge boulder had been lifted off my shoulders. The first couple nights, I slept on the couch with the TV on because I wasn't used to living alone. I got over it and moved into the bedroom.

Oceanside was like therapy for me. I went to the beach every day. I laid out. I read. I listened to music. I cooked for myself. I drove around figuring out the town. I loved it.

I loved being alone. Not having to answer to any one. Not hearing the dogs bark. Not cleaning up after other people. It was mine. And it was the perfect time in my life to have it. I did not end up going to nursing school, I couldn't get into the classes...I was too late to sign up. So I just did my own thing.

Then the best thing happened. I met hubby @ Hooters on Friday night, February 15th.

He asked for my number and pretty much from that night on we were inseparable. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, but basically moved in with me. Hubby was the best thing that happened to me. I know I moved to Oceanside for a reason and that was to 'find' myself and meet my hubby.

We all have times in our lives that are hard to deal with. We all want to run away at one point...sometimes it is good, sometimes it is not. For me it was. I needed to get away from family. I saw them pretty often and was close enough to drive home. Starting over is different for every person. But I think we all need to leave our roots and see what else is out there. I did just that.

Now hubby and I are in Texas, trying to get back to 'our' roots in Oceanside.We started our lives together there and that is where we want to continue our lives together.

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Lindsay, that post was more than I could have asked for!
Thank you for your inspiring words!
As you know I have recently made a huge move and the words you wrote really hit home for me!

I hope you all will go and check out Linday's blog! She is a sweet lady with lots of great things to say!
I wish you all a very happy Friday!
{not to burst anyone's bubble...but my friday will beat all of your friday's beeeehinds....i can guarantee that!}

Guest Blogger--Tara from Connecticut Yankees in South Carolina

Now on to my second guest blogger

Tara from Connecticut Yankees in South Carolina

Tara write a lot about traveling and her transition to her new surroundings!

And from my blog I hope you can see how much traveling inspires me!

So when I asked for some guest bloggers and Tara volunteered I was super excited!

Without further adieu...

Tara, take it away!

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Summer 2005: One of my first (amazing) trips to Myrtle Beach!

When I was younger, South Carolina was never one of those places I had a burning desire to see. I think at one point my parents talked about a trip to Myrtle Beach—maybe when I was in middle school. But that vacation never came to fruition, which is why I was 22 before I ever saw more of South Carolina than the immediate 95 south corridor.

My first actual visit to South Carolina was a trip to Myrtle Beach with my sister. She was checking out Coastal Carolina University and I was just there to be company. It was a chilly weekend in mid-April 2005, and after just two nights we were both hooked—despite the fact that it was too cold to enjoy the beach.

Beautiful Falls Park in downtown Greenville, SC

Thanks to my sister’s relocation to “the Beach” for school, 2005 and 2006 were comprised of numerous visits to the Myrtle Beach area, and when my parents moved to Greenville it wasn’t long before I decided to relocate as well. My relocation led to more trips to Myrtle Beach as well as weekends in Charleston, but it wasn’t until I was forced to leave Greenville for work that I realized how much I’d taken for granted while living there. I vowed that if I was able to move back, I would do everything in my power to explore as much of South Carolina as possible.

As is evidenced by my blog Connecticut Yankees in South Carolina, I did get to move back—and I was able to bring my then-boyfriend, now-husband Steve with me. We’ve now been here just over a year and we have done just what I swore to do: explored much of South Carolina, especially Greenville, and fallen in love.

One of the amazing houses on the Battery in Charleston

I won’t claim that Greenville has the attractions of Charleston or even Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head. Living here is what drew me to South Carolina and what kept me here, and of course I believe it’s an amazing place to visit. At nearly 28, Myrtle Beach no longer holds the attractions it once did, so let’s say you came to visit South Carolina. Where would I suggest?

Playing the "Mouse game" in downtown Greenville

Well, if you want a beach community with a nightlife, Myrtle Beach it is. But if you want a beach community in a quiet, beautiful setting, we have Hilton Head, Edisto, and Folly Beaches. I have to claim ignorance about Columbia, but Charleston can certainly give you your fill of history. Go there and walk the Battery, visit the open market, take a pub or martini tour with the Lesesne Tour Company. Shop on King Street, take a nearby plantation tour or even go see the Confederate submarine Hunley.

And if you want to see the new South—a city that almost died with the local textile industry but was instead brought more to life than it ever was before by an influx of new blood and new ideas—come to Greenville. Catch a baseball game with the Greenville Drive, a Red Sox farm team that plays in a field built to resemble the infamous Fenway Park. Come to Greenville and walk the Liberty Bridge, our very own unique suspension bridge. Come to Greenville and visit the many local shops and restaurants along our beautiful Main Street. Stay at the historic Westin Poinsett, built in the 1920s, and stop by one or more of our museums, including a Confederate Museum, Upstate History Museum, or even the Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, which has an extensive art collection. We have a surprisingly enjoyable "hidden mice" game downtown called Mice on Main that's even fun for us big kids ;o)

Fluor Field - our "mini Fenway" in Greenville

Really, the wonderful thing about South Carolina is that our state has a great blend of old and new. Even the old places like Charleston have learned to adapt; and the “new” places like Greenville have learned to hold on to their roots just tightly enough. And even better, in three hours you can drive from a beautiful coastal city, one of the oldest in the South, to a great little city at the base of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

South Carolina is easy to fall in love with and truly not a place anyone should miss visiting. I can only hope that in the future people won’t just stick to the coastline, as if it weren’t for Greenville I never would have known just how great this entire state is ;o)

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So... I have never been to South Carolina
{aside from a layover...}
After reading this post, I just cannot wait to visit there!
Tara, that pink house reminds me of the house I want in Bassano!!
I love this!

 

Thank you for your post!!
Check Tara out!!

I hope you all have an amazing day!

Guest Blogger--R from Romancing Rachel

Today is my first day of having a guest blogger...ever! 

This is so exciting!

And I couldn't be more excited that R from Romancing Rachel is my first ;-)

I love how she captivates her readers on her blog!

You all should definitely go check it out!

Without further adieu...

R, take it away!

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Hi!  I’m R from Romancing Rachel.  I’m thrilled to be allowed to highjack this blog today.  Know what happened when I was asked to do it?  Writers block!  I was trying to come up with a good topic to guest blog about and had nothing!

I could have told fun stories from work.  I mean, I work with 12 year olds.  Every day I hear amazing things that I just need to share with someone!  Did you know that it was the Wright Brothers that invented Buggs Bunny?  Yeah, that’s what I hear at work.  But that’s been done before.

Or maybe I could talk about the marathon I’m running.  Me, little miss non-athletic is strapping on the sneakers and participating in the Shamrock Half Marathon in March for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and I have fun bragging about that.  But I was afraid it would sound like I was asking for donations in doing that.

Then I got inspiration from a friend.  She and I have talked about many a great date I’ve gone on.  In fact, that’s what we were talking about when she asked me if I’d ever gone on a bad date.  Boy have I!  Let me take you back to that dreadful night…..

In college I worked at a county bar.  I was the girl at the front counter who checked id’s and took cover charge.  For work I was in black pants, a polo shirt that always seemed to big, and a cowboy hat that was anything but flattering on me and usually my long hair was braided.  Sometimes I felt like being goofy and would have the pigtail braid thing going on.  Can’t you just picture how cute that was?  Lucky for me I’m pretty outgoing and at that point was pretty darn flirty so I still met many a cute man at the door despite the outfit.

On this particular night, this blonde haired, blue eyed man walked by and I nearly dislocated my jaw it dropped so fast.  Every time he’d walk by my desk I’d blush and hope he’d talk to me.  And guess what?  Eventually he did!  Since my partner in crime at the door knew I was a bit flustered by this guy she helped him along.  Prompting him to ask for my number and seeing if I’d like to go out sometime.  The bar could have burnt down that night and I never would have noticed.  The hot guy asked me out!

The next day when my phone rang and he actually asked me to dinner I was dancing around excited.  This time when I’d see him I would look cute.  Good butt jeans, sexy beaded tank top, hair down and perfectly messy.  I put in some effort.  We met up at the restaurant and were having a nice time.  We were waiting outside for our table and I managed to not trip over my own tongue as we made small talk.  He handed me the restaurant beeper and told me he had to run to his car real quick, to just grab the table if we were called and he’d meet me inside.

Less than 30 seconds after he walked away the beeper was going off and I was telling the hostess to keep their eyes open for the tall, blonde guy who would be joining me. I sat where I could see him come in, ordered a soda and told the waiter that no, I’d wait to order until my date came in.  One minuet passed.  Then two.  Then five.  The waiter was looking at me with sad eyes.  The hostess came to check and make sure I didn’t give her the wrong description of my date. 

Finally I was willing to admit what happened.  I left a few dollars on the table for the waiter and walked out of the restaurant, trying to keep the tears from falling until I hit the car.  I couldn’t believe it.  I wasn’t stood up.  That I could have handled.  This was worse.  I was left!  I had been ditched!  How could someone do that?

The rest of the evening wasn’t important.  Neither are the next few nights at work.  But the next weekend when Mr. Jerk came into the bar and actually came through my line to be checked in I couldn’t believe it.  It takes balls of titanium to do something like that!  Of course the whole bar staff knew what happened.  The bouncers treated me like their baby sister and no one was going to get away with something like that.  It didn’t take long for Mr. Jerk to mouth off to the wrong bouncer and get himself not only thrown out of the bar but banned for life from there.  Seemed like sweet revenge to me. 

After a date like that it’s safe to say I can deal with just about anything men throw at me on dates now.  I mean hey, if we’re making it to the table it’s already a better date than that one right?

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Oh girl! I can't believe he did that to you!! That is terrible...

You are obviously better and stronger without that jerk!

I hope you haven't had any more of those dates.. :-)

Thank you for your post!!
Go check out R, she is an awesome blogger!

I hope you all have an amazing day!

Ciao for now

This morning I went to the gift center in San Francisco with my mom and my friendoodle!

We looked at favors!

Do you rememberr a while back when posted about those bells that doubled as a place holder and a favor...well we saw them in person and I love them! Yay!

Then I met with our DJ and that was really productive...

Yes we still have a lot of time and since Sweeter isn't back yet we still have some time before we make any decisions

Tonight was my last night at CCD!

It was so sweet because all of the kids wrote me a card and I got a gift from the woman in charge and from the woman who's group I was helping in!

It was soo sweet!

Alright...my new adventure is starting which means so start the guest posts!

Please hang in there while I am gone! I do have some posts ready to go and I also have an awesome line up of guest bloggers!

I wish you all a wonderful next few days..

Until I return...

Ciao For now!

Welcome Back to Reality

 I am back in the Bay for my last few chores, appointments and nights out with my girlfriends!

This past weekend was a hug blur!

I got off work on Friday and headed straight home to start packing

{yes, I waited until the last minute to pack}

We loaded up the U-Haul with the couch, dresser and some other big things and then padded everything down with a million and 1 boxes and suitcases

We woke up early on Saturday and headed on the road, mom driving the U-haul, me tailing behind her in our Lexus

We stopped at Sweeter's house to pick up a dresser, bookshelf, side table and all of his gear

Loaded it all into the U-Haul

Sweeter's Dad drove the U-Haul all of the way down

Sweeter's Mom drove their Suburban

Mom and I drove our Lexus

It took us a whopping 12 hours to get to our apartment! 

We stopped a couple of times for potty breaks and snacks

Once for lunch and that was it!

We ended up hitting some traffic and the U-Haul can really only go about 65 mph...eek!

It was a long long day!

We stopped at Sweeter's storage unit to get the bed frame, box spring, some of his clothes and kitchen supplies.

Mom and I went to meet up with my cousin because she picked up our keys since we would get to the apartment too late for the office to be open. Then we drove over to the apartment.

It is small, I knew this, and it is very cute! 

I know that we will be happy there!

So we got there around 8:00ish, and we unloaded.

We had 5 constant hands and then at one point some of the neighbors offered to help us out

We brought a couch that my mom and I have had since I was in Elementary School...we love the couch. And no matter what angle we tried, we couldn't get the couch in the d**n door! Mom can't part with it so it is sitting in our apartment garage and Sweeter and I will need to figure out a way to get it back up north! Eek!

Aside from the couch debacle we got the U-Haul unloaded in an hour! 

Schweet!

We decided to go to dinner since it was 9:30 and unload our cars on Sunday.

Mom and I slept in the apartment..it is nice and quiet...we heard the train go by once, so I hope that doesn't end up being a problem...we will see!

It was nice because mom and I had a little slumber party! 

It was a lot of fun! 

We stayed up late laughing and chatting! 

It was much needed!!

Sunday we all finished unloading the car.

Sweeter's parents hit the road around 10 and mom and I stayed to visit with my Uncle, Cousin, Grandparents and mom's friend from Elementary School {mom grew up down there}

Mom and I unloaded a lot of stuff and put a lot away

{we decided to wait for Sweeter to come home to help with the rest of it :-)}

We went to lunch and we headed back North around 3:15. 

It was a whirlwind weekend!! Not even 24 hours! Wowza!

Yesterday I went to visit one of my best friends in her classroom.

She is a 1st grade teacher!

Oh my gosh, she is such a natural!

I helped her prep for some of the testing that she needs to do. I am glad that I was able to help!

Then we went home and did back-rubs and ate dinner

Today we are going to look at Wedding Favors!

I am excited to see Friendoodle!

And tonight is my last CCD {tear}

Tomorrow I am getting groomed...haircut and the whole 9-yards

And then I am celebrating my new adventure with my girlfriends at American Cupcake! 

Thursday I hit the road for good!

Thursday is also when the guest posts start!

I am soo excited for this adventure!

Ha! This will make you smile! I promise!

Top 2 Favorite Games 

(board, card, video etc)

1) Pop 5

This is an awesome game!! It is soo fun!

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 2) Loaded Questions

This game is hilarious!

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My high school friends and I have always been into all kinds of games! 

Every time we get together we play a game!!

Some other games that are fun:

Bananagrams

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Apples to Apples

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I love playing card games

Charades is the best!

Wow, this was the longest post...EVER! ha!

If you are still reading, let me know and you deserve a pat on the back! ha!