A Match made on Match

Match.com that is.

As open and honest as I am on most days, or more like every day, I have not told many people one tid-bit about my life over the last few months. Besides the whole quarter life crisis that led to a decision to go back to school and move to Portland. But I already came clean about that one.

Yes, I joined an online dating site. I allowed the internet to do my match making for me. Scary, right? Yes and no. Some of it was a little strange, some of it was fun. I met some great guys, met some interesting guys, met some guys that are trying way too hard, some that should try a little harder, and some that aren't paying much attention to what a girl is looking for. If you are 50, you are outside of my age range, and the same age as my dad. Why don't you talk to him about dating his daughter? Seriously.

Speaking of my dad, he was the one that suggested I give online dating a try. After picking my jaw up off the floor when I heard those words come out of his mouth, I protested the idea. And made it very clear that I did not need to resort to the internet for a date. Just yet. But in his defense, I was going through a breakup at the time and I'm sure he was only trying to help.

But when he suggested it again a few months later I started to wonder if he really was convinced I needed to consult with a team of relationship specialists that spend hours pouring over the profiles of the less fortunate single people like myself that just couldn't get it figured out on their own, matching people with their soul mates. Because I'm sure that's how it's done right? Based on some of the gents I was matched with, I highly doubt that is how it's done.

And obviously I gave in and decided to give it a shot. Or maybe I was just jilted by another failed relationship and thought at the very least I could give myself something to do. Being bored is an excellent reason to sign up for a dating site, it instantly gives you something to do. And plenty of people to talk to. Okay, so that's probably not the best reason, don't tell them I said that.

Out of all the guys I emailed, chatted with, texted, and talked on the phone with, I only met two. The first one didn't work out, but I am happy to have met him. He is a great guy, I hope some lucky girl finds him soon. The second one I completely blew off and didn't meet until months later.

It was near the end of October and I had been talking to and fighting off men I had met on Match for almost a month. I mean that in the very least vain way possible, if that is possible. It was growing old and I suddenly felt like the Bachelorette. I couldn't keep track of who I was emailing, who I was texting, who I was calling, who I was supposed to see on Thursday and then on Friday and who the heck was calling me from the 425 number or the 360 number. It was getting a little crazy. Even for me. I realized the fun of having multiple people interested in you was a novelty that was quick to wear off.

It was then that I met Craig. I honestly don't remember who contacted each other first. But we talked a little back and forth on the website, then exchanged phone numbers, and then made plans for our first date. He seemed like a nice guy, not someone I didn't trust giving my address to. And we had similar interests, such as hunting and being outdoors. Plus we could talk to each other easily enough over the phone.

And it was then that I blew Craig off. For someone else. Someone that I didn't meet on a dating website. Someone that I had dated before and had just come back into the picture. There was no guarantee that things would work out a second time around with so-and-so...but he was familiar to me. I already knew him and didn't have to worry about a blind date with someone I had met online. And after all the texts, phone calls, emails, and winks (a wink is way of letting someone know you are interested in them on Match) I was getting a little tired of the online dating game. So I kindly told Craig I was seeing someone else and removed my Match profile.

Almost two months later and I was still single. My hopeful attempt at second, or third, times the charm with that one guy didn't go as planned. Although this time around I was just fine with that. Realizing that we were better as friends and I was fine to be on my own, without any Match dates, I decided to just focus on myself and enjoy my last few months in Pullman before moving to Portland. I did not want a date, a boyfriend, or anything of that nature.

But life never really goes how you plan it, does it? I just couldn't help thinking about the guy that did want to go on a date with me that I blew off for the guy that didn't want to date me. Why do us women do that? Finally, I decided to text him. I wasn't interested in dating him, I just wanted to apologize. Why do us women also do that? Always feel the need to apologize, even to people we've never met face to face.

He had deleted my number. I don't blame him. After I told him who I was, we started catching up a little bit. And before I knew it, I had a date again. A date that should have happened two months ago.

We chose to go cut down a Christmas tree for my apartment. Before I could let myself get nervous, I had to figure out what to wear. Duh. Here was my dilemma: Does a girl look her best, without concerning herself with proper tree cutting attire? Or does she do the opposite? Dress for a walk in the woods and not care about the first date impression. Who do I want to be? "Fashion forward" Erica or "I Hunt and Like Spending Time in the Woods and am Not Afraid to Get Dirty" Erica? I decided to be myself. Which is a combination of both. I wore a cute, new top with cute, new jeans, my cowboy boots, and a vest to keep me warm. He later said I looked gorgeous. Awww. :)

It's a good thing I spotted my perfect Christmas tree within five minutes and we were back in the truck within ten. I really didn't want to ruin those new jeans.

It was the perfect first date. Almost as good as the perfect second date we had the next day. I'm not quite sure he believed me when I said I loved it, so I'll say it again. I loved the nearly two hour drive down to the Grand Ronde river where we walked, hiked, talked, and sat on a hill in a canyon, enjoying a beautiful, sunny day and watching the river below and the picture-perfect scenery around us. I knew then that this guy was definitely someone very special.

Craig, who I may refer to as "Mountain Man" in my posts, because he truly is a man that loves the outdoors and would probably spend most of his free time out in the wilderness, alone, hunting and watching wildlife, living off of nothing, and enjoying it.  I completely admire him for this. I just won't let him plan the vacations.

I'm not sure I would suggest online dating to everyone. If you do find yourself sifting through profiles on Match.com or another similar site, just remember to have fun with it. And always trust your gut and be safe. I knew there was a reason why I couldn't get the guy I blew off and never met out of my head.

So I guess the internet is good for some things. It brought the world facebook. And it brought me my Mountain Man.

"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."

Tip and Tricks for Getting Up Early. From a Gal That Loves to Sleep In.

I'm talkin very early. At least for me.

And yes, I have been MIA on this blog for a little too long. It's called the holidays, a busy season for anyone that is a part of a family or has a job. Which includes practically everyone. So gimme a break.

It's no secret that I like to sleep in. The snooze button is definitely my frenemy, which means I have a love/hate relationship with it. Love it at 6:15 when it first tells me to get up and I know I can hit it at least once, or maybe twice. And I absolutely despise it when it's ringing and vibrating somewhere under my pillow where I shoved it ten minutes ago. And now, 10 minutes later, and 30 minutes late, I am about ready to chuck it across the room as I shoot out of bed. By the way, this alarm clock is my iPhone, which I would never throw anywhere or at anything. Because we all know us iPhoners are addicted to our iPhones.

I'm a night owl and a childhood spent suffering from insomnia only secured my habit of staying up late. No longer a slave to staring blankly at a dark ceiling and praying for sleep to come, I stay up late because I like to. Going to bed at 8 or even 9pm seems so boring! I have TV shows, a Netflix movie, or both to watch before the next day. I have facebook that I must check regularly. A bottle, I mean a glass, of wine to drink. Dishes to do and clothes to put away while listening to Pandora. Or maybe even a blog to write. Online shopping. A night out with friends. A book I can't put down. I can think of plenty of reasons to stay up. Especially when I just have to get up and go to my job the next day. Because my days are committed to work, from 8am to 5pm, after I get home I want to do what I want to do, and take my time doing it.

Another thing I love to do on my own time is work out. I love to run. After joining a gym last year I started running again regularly for the first time in a long time. Getting up to six miles a day was my peak this summer. And then, after the carefree days of summer and long daylight hours had passed, I started to slip. A little each week until, to my unliking, I wasn't running or going to the gym at all. When I started at the gym I was going at 5:30 in the morning. But that barely gave me enough time to do a full workout without having to hurry back home to get ready for work. Then I started going right after work. Then I got so busy neither one of these seemed to satisfy my overpowering need to sleep in and take a nap the minute I got home from a long day.

What I have come to realize is that no matter how busy, tired, stressed, or crazed you are, the best thing you can do for yourself is keep up your regular, healthy habits. With my mind firmly set on breaking my non active cycle, I decided to make the gym my bff. Again. This time, I told myself the morning was my best bet. Leaving my evening to be taken up by whatever activity I desired. Whether it be cleaning, socializing, or curled up on my couch. But instead of the old 5:30am routine I knew that an earlier gym entrance was best. So now, my alarm wakes me up at 4:30am, ready or not.

As a self-proclaimed night owl and sleep-in-aholic, I have had to think of ways to trick myself into getting up this early. Here are some tips.

Go to bed early. Duh. This no-brainer becomes my biggest obstacle in getting up on time for an early morning. But I'm usually tired at about 7 or 8 pm. But too many times I just sit up until I get my second wind. A second wind is great on a Friday or Saturday night, but not when the amount of hours you can sleep is limited. Although I'm still working on this, I try and do something less active or requiring less thought when I start to get tired. Cleaning energizes me, so does a movie, and sometimes even a book. But if I have mellow music on and read a magazine, with shorter stories and articles, I get bored and give in to being tired more easily. Or, when you are tired and ready for bed, just go to bed. Turn off the lights, turn off your brain, and give in to sleep.

Set your alarm clock for the time you need to get up. Even though I am the snooze-button Queen, I have realized that if I hit snooze once I'll more than likely do it again. And again. All the while I'm not really even sleeping, just thinking of reasons why I should just stay in bed. So set the alarm for the time you need to get up and do it.

Turn on a light. If I turn on the light next to bed as soon as I turn off my alarm I wake up much faster. Even though it's nearly painful at first, turning on my light right away helps tremendously if I have any ideas about getting "just five more minutes".

Personalize your alarm. If possible. I have my iPhone alarm set as a ringtone. My alarm also has a name, which I have set as something that encourages me to get up. So when 4:30 hits and I reach for the alarm, it is not only a song that I associate with being motivated, but I am staring at the words "Be Your Best" and I'd feel way too guilty about shutting that off. If you don't have this capability, get a radio alarm clock or something similar. Switch it to a station that plays music that will help you wake up. And don't shut it off right away. Let it go on until your brain has registered the music and it starts to wake you up.

Stretch. Even if you plan on stretching at the gym, rejuvenate those tired limbs and get the blood flowing.

Start your car early. Especially this winter. Once your outside in the cold air you are sure to be wide awake. Go start your car then head back in to let it warm up and you can get ready.

Have your workout gear ready to go. Set out everything you need the night before. The pre-planning will give you the extra minutes to have a snack.

Eat something. Unless you are a robot and don't need fuel to keep you going. If I skip a pre-workout snack I lose steam quite quickly, feel hungry, and want to go home sooner. My morning pre-workout faves are a banana or a Fiber One bar. They are easy to eat on the go and don't fill me up too much to weigh me down while I'm logging miles on the treadmill.

Go to the gym. Obviously, this is a main point, but sometimes I wake up and can't shake the "I wanna go back to bed" blues. Even while feeling this way I make myself go to the gym. Once I'm there that feeling is usually gone. And I end up having a great workout. There was one time that I got to the gym and couldn't find the energy to get through my work out, so I cut it short and headed home for a quick 20 minute power nap before getting ready for work. In that situation, I really just needed the sleep. But that was just one time in the many, many times I just made myself at least get there. And isn't that half the battle?

I love my morning workouts. I loved my after work workouts too. But hitting the gym at the start of my day always makes it so much better. I feel more energized and find that's it's easier to continue making healthy choices throughout the day. It also helps to have a workout partner. My workout partner, Heather, is great at texting me in the morning, making sure I am up and ready. Even though I've come up with my own get-the-hell-outta-bed plan, it's encouraging to know I'm not the only one crazy enough to go running at 5am. 

Happy Holidays everyone and may you make good, healthy choices...or deliciously naughty ones in the form of too many Christmas cookies, peanut brittle, and egg nog. I certainly will indulge a little...'tis the season!

Either way, enjoy yourself, your family, and all of your loved ones.

Dustin' Pullman off my Boots and Headed Somewhere New

This is the secret I was telling you about.

Although it's no secret to many of my friends and family by now. And it's true, this small town, country girl is puttin' Pullman in her rear view mirror and headin' for the city. It's been an idea of mine that has been working itself out in my head, then into conversations with friends and family, and now has come to life as a real, set in stone plan. It hasn't been an easy decision. I love Pullman. I've called Pullman home for over seven years now. I love the friends I've made here and the family that I've become a part of. It will always hold a very special place in my heart and who knows, I may come back. Someday.

So where am I headed? It wasn't exactly a choice of where I wanted to go but rather, what I want to do, that led me to choose my destination.  First of all, I love the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and all of my coworkers, which really is like a family, and that's no lie. But what I do now is not what I feel will fulfill me. I've felt that something was missing, in both this job and my previous job. Not that I could ever put my finger on it, but I knew that I wasn't doing what I was meant to do. I wasn't fully using my God-given talents and abilities. And for a long time I had no idea what those talents and abilities were. I thought of the many different jobs I could have and the different ways I could express the things I love doing. I thought of becoming a teacher, a Real Estate agent, an event coordinator. I thought maybe a change of location would help. But no matter what I thought of, or where I searched, I still felt lost.

I believe in doing something that you truly love and enjoy doing. I wanted to find something that I was passionate about. I just had no idea what it could be. It's been a very frustrating journey. But I'm thankful for the route that I took. I've met some amazing people and learned valuable lessons along the way.

I've always been artistic. When I was little I was singing and dancing and demanding a hand-crafted spotlight to perform in front of my family. Then I was writing stories, first on paper, then on the computer. I was making up plays. I was painting. I was drawing. When I was twelve I started drawing a lot. It was sketches of real people that I'd pull out of magazines. Okay, so it was more like sketches of Leo DiCaprio and other celebrities that I had a crush on. But those sketches were good. Really good for a twelve year old. I was in band, I was in drama, even taking the lead role two years in row. And of course, as you know, I started a blog. I never thought as myself as an artist; just someone that enjoyed expressing myself artistically. I guess that's why I never considered an artistic career an option.

And as you should know by now, I love clothes. And shoes. And accessories. All that pretty stuff that make up the world of fashion. One day I realized that I am passionate enough about this stuff that I could make a career about it. Then one evening, while watching Real Housewives of New Jersey on TV I saw a commercial for the Art Institute. Talk about a light bulb idea moment. In the next five minutes I had logged onto the website for the Art Institutes and had requested more information.

Now, weeks later, I have applied to and visited the Art Institute in the city of my choice. And in April 2012 I will be attending the Art Institute for a degree in Fashion Marketing. Thankfully, 60 of my WSU credits transferred into this three year program, knocking off a whole year and a lotta money, making it a slightly less expensive two year program for me. This particular degree is very broad and the possibilities are endless once I've graduated. I could be a buyer, a stylist, a merchandiser, work in marketing, work in management, or even write for a fashion magazine.

The weekend I went to visit the college a lot of things clicked for me. Many of my God-given talents are artistic. And if I'm not able to express myself artistically, I won't feel fulfilled. I could have gone with one of my other choices, such as pursuing a career as a teacher. I'm sure I would have made a great teacher and would have felt fulfillment from the children that I would have taught. But my life did not lead me down that path. And I feel very certain, for the first time in a long time, that I am headed in the right direction.

So where am I headed? I am attending the Art Institute of Portland.

Portland, Oregon.  For those of you smarty pants that may suggest I meant Portland, Maine.

I'm so excited to take you all with me as me and my boots find new adventures. When I created this blog and put "Dirt Roads. City Sidewalks. Follow us wherever we go" as the sub heading, I really had no idea how true that would become.

My Secret: I'm Horrible at Keeping Secrets.

I love to love people. Does that sound weird, or creepy? Here's what I mean: I love to spoil my family and friends with surprises and gifts. A sweet note or nice message to let them I know I care, for no reason at all. It's fulfilling and brightens my day to know that I've brightened theirs. I once came home early from college for a holiday break, didn't tell my parents, and walked into the house without them even knowing I was home. They were sure surprised and excited when I walked in to the kitchen like I had been there all along.

But whenever I have a big surprise brewing I just can't wait to tell someone. Especially the person I am surprising. I am so eager to see their reaction that I want to tell them before it happens. I at least have to tell one person. And then another person. And then my mom. And probably my dad. And while I'm at it I'll tell my brother. And I couldn't leave out my brothers girlfriend. And then I'll give in and tell a coworker. And then another friend. And then the barista at Starbucks. And then the teller at my bank. And then...whoops. Secret is almost out.

There is another downside to this knack for being so generous. I'll constantly want to buy gifts for others, even when my bank account is begging me not to. Those bills and that rent I have to pay each month sure do put a damper on my spending for my friends habit.

Recently I saw a pair of earrings that would look perfect on my bff's ears. So I had to buy them for her. And then, on my way home, I remembered that she had recently worn a pair of my patterned tights for a night out and loved them. So I swung by another store to find the perfect pair of patterned tights of her own, and a card while I was at it. A few minutes later I was leaving her the gifts and "just because" card on her counter. And playing with her dog and letting her go outside while my friend was still at work. Yes, it is good to be a friend of mine. But just remember, I may need to find my way into your home while you're gone. But if you have pets that need to go outside, this could be a good thing. Hope you don't mind. 

Christmas time is rough. I think I'm a pretty good gift giver. I always take into consideration the person I am gifting, whether it be a family member, a friend, or someone at work. But as soon as I find the perfect gift, I want to wrap it up and then force them to open it right away. This quality of mine is both a blessing and a curse.

I also tend to give things away of my own. Especially anything that comes out of my closet and gets worn by a friend. I've mentioned before that I have a tendency to lend clothing to my gal pals. I don't know how many times I've put together an entire outfit for a friend as she heads out on an important date. Or how many first dates my clothes have been on. Hmmm...I hadn't thought of it like that before.

And during these closet raids with my friends, a few items of clothing always seem to be given away. I always seem to find something that I haven't worn in months and looks perfect on my friend. In that case, they can have it! More closet space for new items. It's a perfect rotation.

Back to the keeping, or not keeping, of secrets. Dear readers, I have been keeping something from you. It hasn't been easy, but I've had to wait until the time is right to tell you. And even though I could wait a bit longer. I think I'm ready to spill the beans.

In my next post.

Halloween Candy. Halloween Costumes. Halloween Chaos.

Halloween Candy. It should be banned from the office if I'm at all concerned about my waistline. Which I am. I want it to stay where it is, or rather, have it shrink. But I also love candy. Especially bite sized Halloween candy. It's piled into buckets, left out in dishes on desks and counters for anyone walking by. Or for those of us stalking the contents of the candy dish. And know where the extra candy is stashed. For those of us, we are in trouble.

Halloween, like every other Americanized holiday, starts earlier and earlier each year. Pretty soon, Wal Mart will be rolling out their costumes and pumpkin carving kits barely after the Fourth of July. It's ridiculous. Who decided that we needed to start thinking about things such as Christmas and Easter and Thanksgiving weeks or even months in advance? What about us non-planners and non-thinker-aheaders? And those of us that are just content to enjoy the right now. If I don't want to worry about the holidays until they are actually here I shouldn't have to be forced to rifle through costumes and face paint to make sure I get the perfect Halloween digs, in AUGUST. Or shop for Christmas presents in July. I want to buy water floaties, flip flops, and fruit in July. Not stocking stuffers.

Anyway. Rant is over.

Back to Halloween. Every year I want to have the perfect Halloween costume. Yet I always seem to think about it, talk about it, and google it, but never get it figured out on time. Maybe it's because I'm not one of the crazed Halloween fanatics that turn my home into a haunted house and cover my lawn with tombstones, jack-o-lanterns, and skeletons. Not that I don't admire those that get that into the Halloween spirit. It's just a matter of planning ahead.

This year, like most years, I have no idea what I want to be for Halloween. I'm even toying with the idea of...not dressing up. Because do I really want to stand next to a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, a Hooters girl, a naughty witch, Cinderella in a mini skirt, or even a sexy bee? Not particularly. Since when did bees, lady bugs, and other insects get sexy, anyway? Right after a some girl (and by girl I mean a twenty-something young woman) decided to wear wings, an antennae on her head, fish net stockings, and platform heels, is when. Is anything safe from "sex-ification" these days?? Maybe I should go as sexy office supplies. I'll wear a low cut, short yellow dress, with knee high, high heeled boots, a pink hat on my head, and call myself a sexy pencil. Take that, you sexy bee.

I am not condoning skimpy Halloween costumes, merely mocking them. That's probably the only reason I'll put on my fake eyelashes and dress up among the zombies, witches, and ghosts. To gawk at the newest line of Halloween lingerie.

What was the title of this blog post?

Happy Halloween everyone. May you be safe, have fun, eat too much candy, and have the perfect Halloween costume. Sorry if you just clicked submit on your order for the Sexy Bee costume that probably cost $75 and will get here three days after Halloween. But I'm sure you'll be the cutest bee in town!

Highlight of the Week (so far): My Name in Print.

As most of you know, I work for a newspaper. And for those of you that don't know what I do there, I'm still figuring that out as well. Just kidding. I am a sales representative, or what some might call an account executive. I sell advertising and work with clients on building their advertising programs.

The newsroom is right next to my desk. I'm within sight and ear shot of all that is happening on that side of the office. We work independently from each other for the most part, but both strive to meet the same goal every day: get tomorrow's paper ready for print.

I never thought my love for writing would carry me over to their world. Nor did they, I'm sure. But I'm not all too surprised since I rarely pay attention to boundaries and rules anyway. Recently I nominated myself to write an article for an upcoming special section that needed a little more content. With my last piece of writing that was "published" being something that ran in my high school newsletter, I was a little (or a lot) nervous about my submission.

I've grown up writing. Yet it has always been something for myself, my parents, or my teachers, and sometimes my peers. This blog was a huge step in making my writing and thoughts public knowledge. Not that I hold much back anyway. But writing an article to be published for the company that I work for....EEK!

That freak out lasted about 30 seconds. Then my writing mode took over. Sometimes I feel like a zombie, without the flesh-eating habit, of course. All of a sudden an idea hits me and I stare at my screen and hammer away at my keyboard. When I snap out of my writing zone, I have what is usually a pretty good story. But what could have been 20 minutes of "zombie-writing" felt more like five minutes. I'm not sure I could actually sit down and write something every day for a deadline. Which is one of the reasons why I've never pursued writing as a career. I love writing. But if I had to do it everyday by a certain time and in a certain way I may not love it so much anymore. I sound like a man with commitment issues. Ladies, you know what I'm talkin' about, right? Amen.

Back to my highlight of the week. The newspaper I work for, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, produces a wedding guide a few times a year. This guide, called I Do, includes local advertisers, "wedding snapshots" which are submitted by couples that got married on the Palouse and used local vendors, and a few articles. We were a little low on wedding snapshots this issue and needed some more "guts" to the section. This is where I came in with my bright idea. And apparently it wasn't too bad since they listened to me and then actually let me do it. What were they thinking???

After the initial zombie-writing session I pretty much had it done. Once an idea hits me, I just don't stop. And for once, I had a reason to write while at work! For a brief moment I thought, hey, I could get used to this.

So what was it that I chose to write about? Instead of tell you...why not see for yourself. Ladies and gents, friends and fam, I give you my very first, and possibly last, published article.

Blogs Can Provide Brides Need Inspiration.

You're engaged. You've got the ring on your finger to prove it. And you can't stop staring at it or showing it off. You're definitely engaged. Or quite possibly you're like me and staring at the blinding sparkle of your friend's princess cut rock, or the eye-catching three stone dazzler on the girl that handed you your double skinny vanilla latte, or the platinum jaw-dropper on the finger of your hair stylist, the one you saw glinting in the mirror while she cut your hair. Either way, there is a diamond engagement ring on your mind and its sparkle and shine are causing you to think of one thing: the wedding.

Weddings are beautiful, memorable events that mark the beginning of the rest of your life with the one you love. Your family and friends gather at a carefully chosen venue where it's not only the love between you and your hubby-to-be on display, but also your taste in wedding fashion and trends. Before I paint a picture of doves and roses, let's take a reality check. If you have ever been a bride-to-be, known a bride-to-be, or seen a movie about a bride-to-be, you know it's not all sunshine and puppies. There is a lot of work to be done when planning a wedding. And a lot of decisions to be made. Even the simplest of weddings require a plan of attack. And one that doesn't leave you, or anyone else in the bridal party, feeling attacked.

These days a bride can get a lot of useful information from the internet, especially from a blog. For those of you that are less familiar with the concept of a blog, it's a website run by one or more individuals that is consistently updated with opinions and information. Wedding blogs have become increasingly popular and are great sources of wedding ideas, trends, and inspiration. And they can cater to many different styles, budgets, regions, or themes.

A short and sweet list of some that are worth checking out:

rusticweddingchic.com

Because rustic weddings are so “in” right now. Whether it's old mason jars, chandeliers hanging from the beams of an old barn, or worn-in cowboy boots peeking beneath the lace of your gown, you'll be right on trend with any of these vintage touches.

rocknrollbride.com

For the brides (and grooms) that walk to the beat of a different drum. You and your wedding don't fit the traditional, cookie cutter ceremony. And that's okay. Rock N' Roll Bride just might inspire your one-of-a-kind nuptials and get your happily ever after off to a rockin' start.

greenweddingshoes.com

Southern California inspiration for the modern bride. You can find photos of real weddings, from vineyard to vintage, from beach to barn themed. This is a must-see for those of you about to tie the knot. They've got great DIY (do it yourself) ideas and a list of vendors pertaining to the area you live. Did I mention beautiful photos of real weddings? There is a reason why this made it into my top faves.

thebrokeassbride.com

The name speaks for itself. And many of you, myself included, may relate to the title of this blog. If you are trying to stick within a budget or cut costs where you can, this is a great site to check out. Take advantage of Bride$hare, a social networking site that brings together brides on a budget and helps them share the cost of wedding-related resources and goods. Whether you are in the same area or are using the same theme, there is sure to be a bride with your vision, your budget, and your sense for saving money.

ecoandelsie.com

For the bride that cares about the environment. And wants her wedding to reflect that. This blog caters to the eco-friendly bride, supplying her with plenty of inspiration on all things wedding, with taking care of the environment in mind. Get ideas on planning your eco-friendly honeymoon, too!

weddingbee.com

Don't just read the blog, participate in it! The Wedding Bee is by real brides and is updated over 25 times a day. Get your wedding inspiration from user uploaded photos, blogs, boards, classifieds, and DIY ideas.

Whether you're a bride on a budget, an eco-friendly bride, a modern bride, a cowboy-boot wearin' bride, or a bride without a clue, you are not alone. Your wedding is something truly special and should be uniquely you. Look to the advice and inspiration of the thousands of wedding bloggers that share your vision for your big day.

Now stop staring at that diamond, or checking out the one on the hand of the girl next to you, and hop online for some wedding blog heaven. It's your first step to the wedding of your dreams.

 

 And there you have it. I have to be honest, as I always am, I have been pretty excited about this. Not merely to have my name featured in print, my picture next to my article (although that is pretty cool)...I love the feeling of putting my heart into something and seeing the final product turn out so well. Hard work, in any form, is something I truly value and respect. You just have to feel good about something that you put honest, hard work and heart into. Whether you are building something with your hands or writing a story with the click of your fingertips on a keyboard, good, hard work surely is a good feeling. 

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant" -anonymous

A Few of My Favorite Things.

I may not be Oprah, but I still have certain favorite things. Especially those seasonal favorites. I'm also not giving away cars. So definitely not Oprah.

In my last post I ended it by saying goodbye to summer. And with every goodbye comes a new beginning. Fall is arriving on the Palouse. And I love it. You've heard me say it before and yes, you're gonna hear me say it again: I LOVE fall. Even though it makes you want to snuggle up in warmer clothing, it's refreshing after a long, hot summer. It's also a good time to enjoy my favorite fall-time picks.

Leaves...I don't mean the ones crunching under your boots. I mean the scented candle called Leaves that you can get at Bath & Body Works. It's the ideal fall scent; warm and cozy...a perfect compliment to a Sunday afternoon or a fall dinner party.

Bath & Body Works is like Disneyland to candle and body lotion lovers. If you've ever walked by this store you understand the magnetic-like pull that those scented candles have on a shopper. They obviously know what they are doing when they light up those candles right near the entrance. The first time I smelled the Leaves candle I swear I experienced a whip-lash like effect from how quickly I turned around and headed in that store like a candle-hungry zombie.

They have other amazingly delicious smelling candles such as Apple Crumble (up next in my home), Creamy Pumpkin, Marshmallow Fireside, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, Cinnamon Sugared Donut, Frosted Cranberry, Caramel Apple, Mint Chocolate...do I even need to go on? If you aren't hungry yet, you should be grabbing your purse and headed to the nearest B&B Works to pick up some candles and get your fall scented candle on.

A soft throw blanket....perfect for evenings cuddled up on the couch or sitting outside in the brisk fall air. I recently became obsessed with a blanket I found at Bed, Bath & Beyond, which is coincidentally right next to the addictive candle store I was just telling you about.

This blanket has a velvety soft side and a fluffy soft side. It's like a cloud, it's like a little baby lamb...but really, it's not a lamb, so don't worry. And....it was ON SALE. Which is a dream come true in this store. If you see an item you are crazy about at a discounted price--for no reasons other than life is just that good--you gotta scoop it up and take it home. Because if you don't, there is probably a lady hiding behind a window curtain, eyeing you and your prized, price-slashed item, just waiting for you to reconsider and reshelve it so she can swoop it and take advantage of your poor and possibly too-financially-responsible-for-your-own-good, decision.

Moral to the story: find yourself a super soft blanket to cozy up in as the seasons change and the cold rolls in. And if it's on sale, watch your back and hurry to the check out counter.

Pumpkins....pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice lattes, oven roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, pumpkin decorations...and well, the good ol' fashioned pumpkins you can pick up at a pumpkin patch, grow in a garden, or get at Safeway.

Pumpkins seem to be a mainstay during this time of year. Maybe even the symbol of fall. Not just for Halloween and pumpkin carving, pumpkins have been popping up everywhere. I love them and their round, orange, cuteness. I love that you can get them in any size, use them for decoration now, and then, right before they start rotting, can open them up, gut them, and carve faces into them so they looks like glowing heads on your front porch. Too graphic? Don't blame me, our parents tought us this tradition years ago.

Cowboy bean soup...for a truly warm and hearty meal that can last days. And when my crockpot finally gets to see the light of my kitchen. My mom made this soup for us many times during the cooler months. And it's very easy to do. Easy enough for me. If you can open up a can, turn on a stove or a crockpot, you are good to go.

All you need is a can or two of pork n beans, Bushs baked beans, browned hamburger, stewed tomatos, a little water, and brown sugar. I usually just go to the store and pile in cans of whatever beans look good. They have plenty of bean choices to choose from. And as for measurements, I usually just throw it all in, let it simmer for a while and then taste. The brown sugar makes it sweeter, which I like. Use less or more depending on your taste preference.

To complete your meal, place some Grand's flaky rolls on a baking sheet, can't get any easier than that. And have them with the soup. They are the perfect rolls for a hearty soup because you can peel off layer after layer and enjoy with your bowl of cowboy bean soup. Yum!

Flannel...who says it's only for lumberjacks? As a girl who grew up with a dad who was a logger for many years, I've seen and worn my fair share of flannel. But this isn't the only reason why I have a soft spot in my heart for the warm and fuzzy fabric.

I've seen flannel making a comeback recently. You don't need to wear it with suspenders, in fact, please don't unless you really are a logger. And if you aren't ready to wear it yourself, try it on your bed. Flannel sheets are no secret and they truly are amazing. If you don't mind making it even harder for yourself to get out of bed in the morning, flannel sheets are a must when the temp drops and you need some extra bedding.

Boots...my cowboy boots are always a wardrobe staple. I'll wear them anywhere and with, almost, anything. And one pair is never enough. But there are other boots of the season that always catch my attention. Every girl needs a good pair or two or three of boots. They can be very versatile. And they've become a MUST for me.

Leaves...this time I am talking about the ones crunching under your boots. The leaves of fall, with their changing colors, have long been my possible absolute favorite part of the season. I get so excited when I step outside and see yellows, browns, reds, and greens, in the trees and fluttering through the air as they begin to cover the sidewalks and streets. A walk outside is so much more enjoyable with these leaves.

Last year the beautiful, tall, majestic-like Maple tree that towers over my patio and shelters my apartment from the morning sun, graciously shed its beautiful golden yellow leaves onto my lawn, deck, and patio. I adored this tree for doing so. A month or so later, when the snow came sooner than expected, I cursed this towering tree for all the leaves it had left me to deal with that I had not yet dealt with. And in the spring, when the snow finally cleared, I had a soggy blanket-like mess of dead leaves. One day, with rake in hand and unwavering determination, I cleared away those nasty leaves.

This year, the leaves will not win. I'm watching that tree carefully and am ready to brush up those leaves as they fall. I'll enjoy leaf-covered ground somewhere else. Where I don't have to worry about the clean up.

And I'll enjoy the sights, smells, and tastes of fall as much as I can before the season is over. I hope you do too.

Camping in a Parking Lot. Riggins Raft Trip.

And not because we're city folk and don't know how to pitch a tent in the dirt. But because the parking lot literally was dirt. And it was directly across from the bars, which was quite convenient. And, no one told us we couldn't.

About a month ago a good friend of mine won free rafting tickets with Salmon River Experience, a rafting company that conducts rafting trips on the Salmon River, based out of Riggins, Idaho. When she asked if I wanted to go I of course said yes. But I didn't have a clue what I was in for since I had never gone rafting before.

The weekend of the trip, two of my closest friends and myself loaded up my Ford Escape with our rafting trip essentials: beer, ice, snacks, water shoes, beer, a tent, swim suits, blankets, beer, and an iPod for the long trip. Oh, and did I mention beer?

Never having gone rafting before we weren't quite sure what to expect so we decided we would have some ice cold beer handy in case. Always be prepared.

A few hours of Jamie and I jamming out to her iPod and her boyfriend, Dave, the worn out farmer, snoring in the back, and one adventurous stop to pee in the bushes, we arrived in Riggins.

Riggins, ID is in the bottom of a canyon, which it shares with the Salmon river.  It's not a very big town, but it thrives off of the white water rafting industry. Many call it their home in the summer months when they sign on with a rafting company as a guide. What a dream job, seriously. If I had nothing to do for a summer and wanted to raft all day and party all night during the nicest time of the year...I'd become a river rat and get paid for it!

We rolled in to town just after the sun had gone down. Luckily Riggins is much like my own small hometown in the sense that if you are looking for someone you just drive around until you see their pickup. Since I have years of experience in this area, I quickly found Tia and her friend Amelia, who had gotten there before us. I found the red pickup outside a restaurant and we headed in for some dinner.

Tia is my cousins wife. That makes her not only family, but much like a sister. Her husband, my cousin, Josh, and I are barely six months apart and grew up playing, fighting, and harassing each other just as normal brothers and sisters do to each other. Besides getting into slapping fights in elementary school, wrestling in his parents basement (where I once was able to take him down and sit on him), and playing together or against each other, we really do love each other just like brothers and sisters do as well. So I'm happy that I now have Tia, who is and continues to become much like a sister to me.

I also love that she asks me to go rafting with her when she wins free tickets. What a good friend.

A good friend is also someone you can have a good time with. Which is exactly what the five of us (Tia, Amelia, Jamie, Dave, and myself) did. We hit the Riggins bars that Saturday night, not knowing exactly what we were in for, but ended up closing them down. We met guides, fellow rafters, locals, made new friends, had drinks bought for us, some guy bought me a shirt from one of the bars, we danced and played the jukebox...and then when we decided it was time for bed, just walked across the street to our tent. A perfect way to spend the night before getting up early to go rafting. Trust me.

The next morning, with a rock stabbing me in the side, and Tia telling us it was time to get up, I realized the one downfall to camping in a public parking lot. No restrooms. That may not be the only downfall, but it was sure an obvious one that morning! Needless to say we quickly found a restroom. And some food.

After packing up our tents and belongings we headed out to another parking lot. Everyone meets up where we eventually end up at the end of the rafting trip. We leave our vehicles there and climb aboard a bus with plenty of others that may or may not have partied the night before. On a bus ride that I was sure I was going to die from (apparently I could be a bus driver in Riggins since we have something in common: we drive fast and crazy and sometimes scare people), we traveled up the river to our starting point. Met our guides, packed our coolers of beer into the rafts, strapped on our life jackets, and began our adventure.

Our guide, with his long, red hair, and hippy-ish look, was the best. He had awesome stories to tell us, some which were real and some that were not. Like, who would believe that an old man would climb up a bunch of steep rocks and paint the temperature of the water every morning? The "76" painted on those rocks was obviously painted on those rocks by the graduating class of 1976. So who would EVER believe their river guide when he tells you that it's the old man that repaints it every morning...no idea who would believe such a thing.

 

Besides the true tales and tall tales, Richie, our "trusty" guide was great. If you go rafting with Salmon River Experience you should definitely request him.

Never gone rafting before, after this trip I am truly hooked. And I can't wait for next summer when I can go again. And I can honestly say the rapids were my favorite part. If you're thinking that a white water rafting trip is mostly rapids...then you are, well me, pre-rafting. There was plenty of time to jump in the water and swim along-side the raft. If you don't mind the guide pulling you back into the raft by your lfie-jacket, it's the best way to enjoy the slow parts of the trip.

But, like I said, I enjoyed the rapids the most. In the fact, the more the better. I never felt in danger and always felt very secure in the raft. Not that accidents can't happen, but if you follow the rules and stay in the raft, you should be fine. Especially since the beer is in the raft, and you wouldn't want to leave that!

It was a great way to end the summer. Even though summer wasn't completely over at the time of this trip, it was definitely nearing its end. And after a summer of weekends at the river, a trip to Vegas, watching combines get torn apart at a combine derby, weddings, rodeos, plenty of sunshine, a great tan (that I'm sad to see disappear), a family fourth of July trip, making new friends and enjoying good times with the best friends a girl could ask for...I'm excited for next summer. Between now and then I'll enjoy my favorite time of year, fall, the holidays, my 26th birthday--eek!--, and plenty of more good times. And plenty more to blog about.

Goodbye summer, you were good to me.

Oh wait, before I officially say goodbye to summer 2011...one question:

Want to go rafting next summer?

Think about it. We've got about 8 months.

25th Birthdays are Best Celebrated with Friends. And Margaritas. Lots of Margaritas.

It's not often that I travel to the western side of my beloved state of Washington, but when I do I am always impressed by how beautiful western WA is. As an eastern WA country girl, my idea of beautiful scenery is an old barn that is barely standing up in the middle of a wheat field, but as a young woman with the eye for beauty of any kind, I enjoy and appreciate a change of scenery.

If you are traveling to Vancouver from eastern WA and are driving along the Columbia River, most of you probably skip over to the Oregon side where you can drive on freeway. Next time, instead of going through Portland and then crossing the bridge to Vancouver, take the Cascade Locks exit and then take the Bridge of the Gods. It's a toll bridge that costs a dollar for most vehicles and gets you back onto the Washington side. It's a beautiful, windy drive that will bring you into the Washougal and Camas area, in which you can still get to Vancouver. This is the way I went to meet up with one of my college best friends/roommate at her new home where we'd celebrate her birthday and hang out for the weekend.

Meet Meggan.

As a bridesmaid at Meggan's wedding, July 2010

During our college days, at a friends birthday party

And goin' way back to spring of 2006 when we helped gut houses in New Orleans after Huricane Katrina.

She's a good friend of mine who recently joined the ranks of many fine quarter-century-old folks like myself when she turned 25 last month. We celebrated the occasion with friends, food, and plenty of drinks, as most twentysomethings tend to do, at her and her hubby's home in Vancouver, WA.

Whoever got them the Margaritaville mixer as a wedding gift was either an angel or a genius. Or quite possibly someone who frequently comes over for margaritas. I'd like to find that person so I can invite them to my wedding. For the Margaritaville mixer, of course.

Along with their adorable labradooddle, Bella, we ate and drank, talked and drank, laughed and drank into late hours, or possibly early hours, of the morning. Brandon, her husband and Margarita-extraordinaire, made sure no glass went empty. And no margarita mix was left.

The next morning, amid left over tequila and whipped vodka (try it with orange crush soda...tastes like an orange creamsicle, yum!), we cleaned up and realized the happy newlyweds had somehow managed a size-able collection of alcohol left over from the party. The bottles of liquor lined up on the counter would make any 20 year old college boy proud. I suggested lining them up on top of the counters for decoration. Apparently, I have yet to grow up.

After the house looked back to normal, and by normal I mean beautiful. Meggan is not only one of the nicest, most down to earth, and funnest people I know, she is a wonderful decorator and keeps her house always looking great. Meggan, you inspired me to clean my house when I got home. If I had a roommate, boyfriend, or husband, they would have thanked you. (Although I do already keep a pretty clean house, fyi.)

After there were no traces of birthday/margarita party left, we decided to go for a hike. A hike up Multnomah Falls, which is in Oregon, off the freeway. Perfect. I love to hike and have driven past these falls my entire life and have never even so much as stopped for a look. It was a beautiful, warm day and the three of us set out to reach the top.

From the road...also where it looks like a lovely little hike. But don't be fooled. 

The view from the bottom of the falls is quite pretty, maybe I'll just sit here. (That didn't happen)

Stopping to take a picture inside a "cave"...what tourists.

What a beautiful day. And a great view of the Columbia River, which someone ignorantly referred to as a lake. Besides resisting the urge to throw the idiot into his so-called "lake" I also put in a good workout on my way to the top. Good thing Meggan and Brandon are troopers and kept up the pace.

We reached the top!

Lovebirds.

Meggan and I resting (finally) at the top.

 

 

Once you reach the top of the falls there are lots of areas to sit and rest. Even dip your feet, or your face, into some ice cold water. Or splash your friends while they aren't expecting it. Don't worry, they'll appreciate it.

After our legs had turned to jelly and we made it back down to the parking lot, we decided food and beer was the ideal way to celebrate a hike. Duh.

Off to Edgefield we went. What is Edgefield? It's a resort. It's a place for concerts. It's like Disneyland for grown ups. Oh wait, that's Vegas. Okay so it's not exactly Vegas. But you can get some pub food or enjoy fine dining, get a great tasting beer or glass of wine from the on-site winery and then wander the grounds (very Vegas-like), play a round of golf, pamper yourself at the spa, get married...well you can't just randomly get married there but Edgefield is a beautiful wedding venue. I'd plan ahead for that.

And there is much more! Seriously. Check out the website...

McMenamins - Edgefield Homepage

 

You never realize how much you needed a weekend away with a good friend until you're on your way home and you're missing them already. In my case it was when I missed the exit to get on the freeway toward Portland (the shorter route) and was headed back along the WA side, complete with windy roads, construction, and a slower speed limit. With a good laugh at myself and a smile for how great of a weekend it was, I headed back to my side of the state.

 

I love you, Meggan! Thanks to you, Brandon, Bella, Katie, and everyone that made the weekend great!

 

Life Is A Piece of Cake.

Just go with me on this.

You know this 25-year-old, unattached, hardly (financially) stable girl can't possibly be comparing this crazy, messy, rough and rocky thing called life to a sweet and satisfying piece of cake. Believe me, I'm not.

I went to church this last Sunday. For those of you who knew me back in the days of walking on my tip-toes, singing in front of family members (sometimes with a four-year-old crafted spotlight), and bossing my younger brother around, you know that I come from two wonderfully made, strong, Christian parents. I was in church every Sunday. Attended Sunday school. Never missed a Youth Group meeting. I am so thankful for my upbringing. And thankful that I grew out of the prancing on my toes and hogging the attention phase. My brother is also thankful I quit making him play school and house with me. I am also holding fast to the statement that I did, in fact, grow out of the hogging the attention phase. Some of you may beg to differ.

No matter if I like a little attention or not. That's not my point.

Church on Sunday. I must point out that I do not attend church every Sunday. I am not perfect, neither is my church attendance since leaving my parents home. But what I was raised on, and what I truly believe, is having faith in God. This is not a preachy-preachy blog post...so those of you who were just about to stop reading, please continue.

Before I get to my point, which I'm sure you think I had forgotten about, let's talk about cake. I'm a sugar addict. A choco-holic. A cookie-craving, ice-cream dreaming, obsessed with the sugary, sweet stuff freak. It's quite the diet killer. But it's quite the delicious addiction. I am usually pretty good about silencing my inner candy-coated demons that seduce me with their delicious yet high-calorie concoctions every time I see a freshly baked cookie, a pretty little cupcake, or a big chocolate cake. But sometimes a girl just has to give in and have a cookie. Or two. Or three. Hey. There is no judgment here.

Imagine my delight, and the groans of my ever-growing hunger as the sermon grew closer and closer to lunch time, when the pastor began to use cake as an analogy in his sermon. The sermon, I must add, was on hope. And that hope is not that God will give us exactly what we want, but that having hope in Him is that He will make everything work out for our greater good and for His glory. Of course we do have to hand over the reigns of our control-obsessed lives to Him and have that hope. But it is so worth the ride when God is at the reigns and not us.

Life is not perfect. It's full of ups and downs that give us bruises and scars all along the way. And at times, and on more than one occasion on the roller coaster of life, it is very hard. Is see it as drowning in muddy water. You can't see where you are going, which way is up or down, but you are fighting for your life and searching for the life saver. But we aren't meant to do it on our own. God created us. He never intended to leave us. He is our life saver.

Back to the cake. Isn't cake good? I love all cakes, but I have to admit, I have an extra-sweet spot for rainbow chip cake with rainbow chip frosting. I truly am a child at heart. If you have ever made a cake, which most of you surely are able to with the help of Betty Crocker, you know that it takes certain ingredients. At the very least it is cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Besides the water, would any of these things be good on their own? Raw eggs? I do have a not-so-secret crush/obsession with Sylvester Stallone aka Rocky and HE ate raw eggs....but I don't recommend it to normal humans as a tasty treat. Vegetable oil? Besides rubbing oil on myself and sitting in the hot sun for a golden glow, I can't say I would ingest that on its own either. And dry cake mix? I was once dared to eat a spoon full of cinnamon for $20. I thought I was going to die of suffocation by cinnamon after the innocent looking powder coated my entire mouth and throat and filled my lungs. I don't recommend it. So I'd nix the dry cake mix snacking as well.

And for those of you over-achievers that bake cakes from scratch, there are plenty of other non-appetizing ingredients that go into the kind of cakes that don't require a visit from Betty Crocker.

My point is...do any of these ingredients taste good on their own? No. In fact, if you sat down to a meal of flour, vegetable oil, baking powder, and vanilla your stomach would probably close up from disgust. Each of these things are truly awful on their own. But when they are put together, in just the right amounts, at just the right times, a yummy, completely satisfying cake is created.

No matter how difficult the time is that you are going through, whether it be relationship problems, financial issues, a job that is falling apart or a job loss, depression, the loss of a loved one, or whatever hard situation you may be facing, first of all, you are not alone. And second of all, have hope that God will take all of these not fun situations and create something truly beautiful and satisfying for your life.

This message of hope truly touched me. It felt as if it were directed right at me. Obviously I wasn't the only one in the room and obviously everyone can benefit from this message, but it came to me at just the right time, when I needed to hear it most. 

Have hope my dear friends and loved ones. And eat cake.

Domestic Goddess....In Training.

The other morning, on my all too common walk to Wheatberries for breakfast with Mandy, I noticed a change.

Sidenote: Wheatberries is a delicious little bakery in downtown Moscow that serves yummy pastries, bagels, lunch items such as mini-pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. They also do catering. They are a carb-lovers dream and a dieters worst enemy. If I didn't work out regulary I'd have to ban myself...or weigh 200 lbs.

The change was the slightest of changes, but it suggested one obvious, unforgettable feeling: autumn. Fall was in the air during that morning. It was the briskness of the air, the crunch of leaves, that distinctly seperate feeling of summer from fall. And I love it.

I do truly LOVE summer, but fall is where my heart really lies. It's the most romantic season of all. And not only is it beautiful, soft, warm yet cool, and...romantic....it's the season of FOOTBALL and HUNTING. Two of my favorite pasttimes.

As I noticed this change, and talked it over with Mandy, who confirmed the feeling and echoed my excitment, I started thinking of what I will do once fall is here. Buy seasonal scented candles, wear cozy socks, curl up on the couch under a fuzzy blanket and read a book, make tea at night instead of lemonade, wear layers of clothing and cute boots, pull out my jackets from last year, buy more bronzer to accomodate for my fading summer tan, and....bake pumpkin bread.

For those of you who are not aware, pumpkin bread is my specialty. Right now it's really my only specialty, but I'm sure in time I'll discover a few more. But for now...just pumpkin bread. And it is the perfect fall-time treat. It's comforting and just tastes like fall. Once fall officially arrives I'll throw my apron on (I like how I said that like it's a normal thing) and whip up a loaf or two of my famous pumpkin bread and post a how-to guide on here, complete with pictures. Hopefully I have a camera by then.

I'm getting to my point and the title of this blog. I promise.

The other day I was hanging out with a good friend. He is someone I trust, respect, and care for. So what he says counts, unless it's bull poo, and then I tell him I think so. :) Anyway...this good friend of mine mentioned something about ironing clothes. This got my always thinking mind forming a question about women that are domestic.

Are women with domestic skills more attractive to men than women with less or no domestic skills? Aka...are we more appealing if we are domesticated or if we are still wild and free and can't wield a broom to save our lives?

I'd like to think my carefree, relaxed ways are fascinating to men at my age. But maybe they DO care about a woman thats got skills in rooms other than the bedroom, such as the kitchen. Sorry Mom, it was too good of a sentence to not use.

But how much are we supposed to know? I'd hope that the majority of females can at least sweep a Swiffer by 25. Although, I'm sure it's a sad fact that some wouldn't even know what a toilet brush was if it hit them in the face. Now that's a funny image.

But back to my original train of thought. I'll volunteer myself as an example.

Here is what I can do:
Basic cooking and baking. I claim to be horrible but really I just don't like cooking. And the reasons are because it's just me and it's so much work to cook for ONE person. And I'm horrible at grocery shopping so I'm usually starting at an empty fridge and a bunch of condiments. This makes me feel like a boy and I give up.
I can clean any room top to bottom, and I actually enjoy doing so.
Laundry. That's easy.
I can fix nearly anything in my house with either my tool set or electric drill. Or with duct tape.
I can assemble furniture and move it by myself. Determination makes up for lack of another set of hands.
Basically, I keep a clean house, keep myself from starving, keep things working, and get myself to work nearly on time every day.

Here is what I have YET to learn how to do:
Cook well or put together dinners for a family.
Know what I am doing in a grocery store besides in the wine and beer aisle. I seem to go from that area to the fresh produce and skip everything in between.
Sew. Quilt. Patch. Or anything with a needle and thread. However, I do know how to use them....I just need practice. I have two very talented Grandma's who learned, so I'm sure I'll do just fine. Someday.
Iron well. I can iron if it was going to save my life...but I find myself buying clothes that don't require ironing or constantly tell people that the "wrinkled" look is in. Thank you, Abercrombie & Fitch, for making your clothes so wrinkly and setting off a trend. That's still a trend, right? If I someday have a husband that needs shirts ironed for work he's gonna have to have a lot of patience and deal with some uneven shirt lines. Or secretly keep brand new shirts in the car and change in to them before work. It's okay...I'd be relieved he wasn't wearing my crookedly ironed shirt creases in public anyway.

So there you have it. The list of can do's and can't do yets of a 25 year old single gal. To be honest, I look forward to learning all these skills and keeping a family alive. But I still feel myself teetering on the line of young, single, and free and a domestic, apron-wearing, laundry-doing, Betty Crocker.

So what did my friend say when I asked him if it was more attractive to a man to have a woman that can do all of the above when it comes to domestic chores? He wisely said it is attractive that a woman know what she is doing in and around the house, but even more so that she is willing to learn and will learn in time.

So, all my single ladies, we are off the hook for a while. Keep doing your thing, whether you cook like a chef and could bake for a king, can iron like a June Cleaver, or are still a little bit rough around the edges when it comes to those household chores. Life is more fun when you learn as you go. We may not all be perfect at everything, but it's the trying and the learning that are important.

I know I'll never be a world class chef but I do know that someday I'll feed a family. And they'll eat what I have to feed them with a smile on their face. And if not, I'll win them over with pizza and ice cream. And a nice, clean house to live in.

Hopefully it's a big, beautiful house with a hot tub, pool, barn full of horses, a garden full of perfect vegetables that I'll know how to grow, and.....well I guess it doesn't really matter what I have on the oustide, but on the inside, that counts.

Vegas: the city that never sleeps. And neither did we.

Well folks, I did it. I went to Vegas, found my millionaire boyfriend, and tied the knot. Vegas style.

Believe me? Okay, so that didn't happen. But it could've. One thing I learned in Vegas is that it is the land of opportunity. Anything can happen in Vegas. You can win big, lose it all, meet people from all over the world, see hotels built to mimic New York, Paris, Italy, Egypt, Hollywood, act like a VIP (with tickets you scored from club promoters), see a celebrity, taste foods from all different parts of the world, get your picture taken with Johnny Depp, Michael Jackson, or Elvis...and that's not even everything! The Vegas strip is definitely a world of its own.

Not sure how to go about this post since I had planned on having pictures to guide me (all pics in this post were taken by the girls that went with me). However, my camera and my phone were lost/stolen. Somewhere between leaving a club and going the restroom at 2:30 a.m. And for a girl that doesn't mean a whole lotta time. Probably about 10 minutes from the club to the bathroom sink where I realized both of my valued possessions were gone. After much searching and about three trips to security, I gave up. Although I'm extremely disappointed to lose all of my pictures and camera, losing the phone was just plain scary. When you have an iPhone you carry a lot of personal information with you. With just a password anyone could access my bank account, facebook, or email, not to mention all of my pictures, contacts, and text messaging conversations. It leaves you feeling violated and exposed. Here is what I learned from this experience:

1. If you have an iPhone use the handy locking feature which requires a four digit password to access the phone. Even if you don't use this feature every day, it's a good idea to use while traveling.

2. Also if you have an iPhone, there is a "Find My Phone" app that you can install. In the unfortunate case that your phone is lost or stolen you can use this app to locate it, send a push notification that instructs anyone who finds it on how to return it to you, or wipe the data off the phone. Would have been nice to know about this app BEFORE my phone went missing. You can't install it once the phone is gone. For you iPhoners, download it now. It's free. And better to be safe than sorry.

3. Carry your phone and/or camera or any other important property (I.D., credit card/cash) in something that will be easy to hold on to and difficult for anything to fall out of. I had a small, black wristlet for when I went out at night. It was very easy to hold on to and perfect for walking around with, dancing with, and didn't make it too awkward to carry with anything else, such as my high heels that always came off at the end of the night. However, my handbag didn't close securely enough. The phone and camera made it a little hard to clasp, which is another theory I have on my missing electronics. They may have slipped out when I didn't fasten the bag correctly.

Those are my suggestions. But enough boring advice from me. I didn't go to Vegas to write a how-to guide. I'll start with the beginning.

Journey to Vegas via Seattle, Part One.

On Wednesday afternoon 5:00 seriously didn't come fast enough. Not only do you feel like you have a million things to do at work before leaving on vacation, but you really don't care about a single one. Of course, you have to pretend like you do care. All of your co-workers are silently hating you already for the fun you're about to have while they stay back in the office, so you have to put on a busy, hard-at-work face anyway.

As I frantically and distractedly wrote out a list of things to do for my co-workers to do in case any one of the "worst-case scenarios" actually happened and wrote a list for myself for Monday morning when I knew I would be having a hard time even remembering my name, I could only think of getting on the road and starting my vacation as soon as possible. But of course 5:00 made it's way around and we were off. But not before a trip to my place to pick up my bags. Did I mention I packed the night before while drinking wine? It was a good idea at first, but before I knew it there was more drinking and less packing. I realized this was not as good of an idea when I got to Vegas and couldn't find a few items I was so sure I had thrown in. Next time there will be no wine and packing. Riiiiiiiight.....

Mandy in the front seat. Sanji in the passenger seat. Me in the backseat. On our way to Seattle. Nothing too exciting happened. Mandy drove the first part, and I took over half-way there. I was dubbed the city driver. Even though I am the most small town/country/non-city girl out of the two of them. But, I'm a good city driver. I'm aggressive (this scares most people, I'm sure), I don't worry about getting lost (aka don't panic), and I am pretty good with directions.

We arrived at our desination in Seatlle, which was Mandy's brothers new home in West Seattle. His fiancee currenlty lives there. They are getting married in August. Thanks for the roof over our heads, bed, and shower, Matt and Annalee!

Journey to Vegas via Seattle, Part Two.

After getting up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready, the three of us left with Matt on the bus for downtown Seattle. Matt works downtown and it was an easy way for us to get on the light rail that would take us to the airport. We looked quite out of place walking around in cloudy and cold Seattle in shorts, flip flops, and bright colors with our suitcases rolling behind us. We obviously looked like we were leaving for somewhere warmer or we had mistaken a flight to Mexico for Seattle.

We had our pick of seats on the bus. Matt and Mandy sat together. Sanji and I sat facing each other but each with one seat next to each other. Mistake. I do like to think I can handle just about anything but there are some things I'm just not used to. For example, a man with his hand stuck in his pocket like he is holding some sort of scary object that just has to choose the seat next to me. Sometimes the small town girl in me just comes out. I say something that gives it away or my face says it all. I tried to keep my cool. But when he started talking to us, or at us, I should say since we didn't understand a single word, I got a little freaked out. Although I kept a pageant queen smile plastered on my face and tried talking to Sanji and the nice, normal, young man sitting next to her, of COURSE she would get the normal one, I was praying in my head that this would not be the end of me and that I would at least make it to Vegas. That whatever he was holding in his pocket was anything but a weapon. Maybe a can of pop, a paper airplane, a squirt gun, some candy, ANYTHING. Maybe if he wasn't speaking to us in a different language, wasn't yelling and pointing at us and to the ground and then the sky it wouldn't have been a big deal. Luckily I made it. My prayers were asnwered. The bus stopped, he went one way and we went the other.

Even with Vegas drawing the most interesting people from all over the world, this was our one run-in with someone as crazy as he was. Halle-freakin-lujah.

On the plane for Vegas. All bright-eyed and ready.

Vegas. Bright lights. 24 hours a day.

We landed in hot, sunny Vegas around noon on Thursday. After picking up our bags we found a shuttle to take us to our hotel, the Excalibur. For those of you that are not familiar with Vegas, or the strip, the Excalibur is on the strip. It's at the beginning of the strip. It's also very cheasy looking. I basically lived in a hotel and casino that looked like a castle. A little less Disney and not so realistic, but hey, it did the job. We were barely in the room anyway. And for us travelers who don't make enough to spend a lot of money, it was perfect.

First thing we did was go for a drink. Of course. When in Vegas, do what everyone else does. Right? There are the ginormous Margarita drinks you can buy down on the strip. Oh, and the great thing about Vegas? You can drink ANYWHERE. Walking down the street, in and out of stores and hotels. It's great. So you will see people carrying around these large plastic drinking cups. We looked everywhere for the cheapest ones, until we found one for $21. It was at this outdoor bar called La Casa something (sorry, didn't think to remember the whole name). But if you brought it back for a refill it was only $16. You'll think I'm crazy until you go to Vegas and see how expensive everything is.

There is plenty to do in Vegas. My goal was to spend as little money as possible. Since there is plenty to see that is quite easy if you're up for walking around and just seeing the sights. I'd show you the pictures but my camera decided to make Vegas it's permanent home. I am extremely upset that I don't have the picture of me with a Johnny Depp look-a-like. He really did look just like Mr. Depp. Well, maybe if you closed one eye and squinted at the camera. But it was still my favorite picture.

Vegas Nightlife. It's a gamble. On whether or not you make it home with your heels on your feet or in your hands, of course.

All that walking during the day and you think I'd realize that heels would be an even worse idea. But when in Vegas, it's not my local bar where I can wear flip flops, a tee shirt, and shorts and do just fine. In Vegas you are just one of hundreds of young women in tall heels and short dresses. So, while I don't HAVE to dress the part, I gotta admit it was kind of fun. When you live in a small town such as Pullman you don't have a lot of opportunities to get all dolled up and go clubbing. We took full advantage. And luckily, after one night of a much too painful walk home and blisters on top of blisters from our heels we learned to pack flip flops. If you have someone in your group that is taking a larger bag you can pack them all in and pull them out for the way home. No one likes a hobbling, whining, girl at 4am. Especially her friends.

The funnest part of going out in Vegas? Nobody knows anybody and everyone is ready to meet and mingle. I met so many people from all over the country and the world. We made friends with some nice Australian guys the second night that got us in to the VIP at club Tao our last night in Vegas. Even in Vegas it helps to know someone. And they were fun, great guys to know.

We hit Coyote Ugly, Bond at the Cosmopolitan, Caramel lounge and The Bank at the Bellagio, Koi at Planet Hollywood, Tao at the Venetian, and the Chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan. Not bad for three nights of Vegas. The thing about Vegas is the bars stay open until at least 4 a.m. so thats about the time you start heading home. I figured out that I probably got around 10 hours of sleep from Thursday to Sunday. But it was worth it. I've always been a night owl anyway.

Goodbye Vegas. Hello reality.

Our flight was scheduled for 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Since we didn't want to waste our last night in Vegas we packed before we left the hotel. We got back at 3:45 a.m. to change and grab our bags, got on the shuttle at 4:15 a.m., and was on the plane before takeoff at seven. Sitting in a row with seats that did not recline made it difficult for getting any sleep. We landed in Seattle after 9 a.m. and on barely any sleep hopped in the car for a long and sleepy drive back to Pullman.

I took the first leg of the journey. On watered down coffee I made my way across the state until my part was done. Then Mandy took over. I felt that we were in safe hands since she at least got to nap the first part of the journey. I'm not sure how safe we were on the first part, but as always, I got us there without a scratch.

I was in bed by 7 p.m. Sunday night after getting a new phone and letting my parents know I was home safe. I swear I could hear their sigh of relief from here.

Who goes to work the morning after getting home from Vegas? This crazy girl. It felt weird to get up and not go straight to the pool, to wear work clothes, and to drive myself instead of walk for miles down the hot Vegas strip where I had learned how to ignore people handing out stripper cards. Yes folks, there's really just no other way to say it. I was exhausted and disoriented at work on Monday morning. And I actually wanted to go back. My Vegas life had become normal.

Now I'm back to Erica's actual life normal. Where I hit snooze one too many times before getting up for work, have my morning coffee before my mind starts working, am fairly alert most of the time at work and chat up my coworkers when I'm not, go to the gym, see my friends, keep in touch with family. I'll probably go to the My Office bar this Friday with Jamie. And I'll more than likely be at the river this weekend. Normal life may not be as exciting as Vegas life but I love it and all the people in it.

One thing is for sure, though: Vegas, I'll be back.

Headin' to the Big City: Sin City

Vegas, here I come.

I got a text from Mandy, mid-May. It simply said: Hey, wanna go to Vegas for my birthday?

My answer was something like this: OMG! YES! ABSOLUTELY! WHEN? LET'S GO!!!!!!!

Or maybe that's an exaggeration but it does accurately describe my excitement for going to Vegas. You see, I like to have fun. No wait, I really like to have a lot of fun. I love to be social and I love to get away from work. So I signed up on the spot for a trip to Vegas in mid-July. Now it's finally here. We leave tomorrow after work for Seattle where we fly out of on Thursday morning.

Am I ready? Actually I'm still a little tired and worn out from last weekend. Am I packed? Nope, still need to do laundry too. Am I set to miss two days of work this week? Not quite yet, but working on it. It's a little stressful. But am I excited and ready to get out of town for a few days? Absolutely.

I haven't been on a plane in quite a while. The last time was when a friend and I spent our college spring break in New Orleans gutting houses for families after Hurricane Katrina. That was during the spring of 2006. Prior to that I was seventeen when I flew to Hawaii by myself to play in a volleyball tournament with girls from across the country. And the time before that, which was my first plane ride, was with my family on a trip to Disneyland.

So I haven't had much plane-riding experience and many things have changed since my last flying excursion. But I'm not worried. What I am worried about it is spending too much money. Have I mentioned I loved to shop? Well if not it's a slightly well known fact that I have a lot of clothes and shoes and I am hungry for more. Although I do my best in giving to a good cause with some of my old or lesser-worn clothing...ask my friends. I have clothed so many of my friends over the years that I ought to start running a business out of my closet.

But back to the spending concern. The truth is, I have been to Vegas before. After that trip to Hawaii I previously mentioned, my parents picked me up at the airport in L.A. and we drove to Vegas to visit family over the 4th of July. I was seventeen, in Vegas with my parents and little brother. Although I absolutely loved the time spent with my family, including my aunt and uncle, I knew I wanted to come back someday when I was old enough to really enjoy Vegas. But let me just say this, as a small town seventeen year old girl with my parents practically controlling my wallet, I had the urge to shop and spend all day. I couldn't get enough. So now, at 25 without my parents with me and a whole wad of cash....how will I control myself?

How about rent and bills and credit card payments that will be waiting for me when I get back? Oh and the gas money that I burn through every day driving back and forth to work. Or the money I need to spend on groceries when I get back? Oh yeah, that's how I'll control my spending. The friendly little reminders waiting for me back home that annoyingly reinforce the fact that my bank account is not overflowing with cash. And neither is the millionaire boyfriend that I have yet to meet.

So here's my plan: spend as little as possible while doing as much as possible during my three-ish days in Vegas and have something to blog about when I get back. I did say I'd take you with me wherever I go. I'll take lots of pictures and have lots to say about my trek to sin city and back. Hopefully without too much sin and that I do make it back.

This girl doesn't need her own version of "The Hangover". That's for sure. But what I do need is a good vacation. Aka: some time spent by a pool with a Margarita in my hand.

Someday I plan to go back to Vegas when I don't have to stick to a budget. Maybe it'll be when I meet my millionaire boyfriend. Although I know that's not true. This simple, country girl will always prefer dirt to diamonds. Well, most of the time anyway.

Like I said. Vegas, here I come!