We have an Adventure List.

The mountain man and I are doing great.

Before I dive in to a ridiculously long and obnoxious list of why he is so wonderful, let me just say that a man that enjoys cooking, doesn't sit glassy-eyed in front of the television for hours on end, believes in a good work ethic, enjoys hard physical labor, is always on time, has given me nothing but a million reasons why I can trust him with my ever so fragile and wary heart, makes me laugh until I can't breath, and looks like a model even with all that hunting camo, with the most beautiful blue eyes and smile....wait a minute, I'm doing it aren't I?

What I mean to say in not quite so many words, is that I have truly found a man that is good to me and good for me. This boot walkin' girl has been stopped dead in her tracks by a sometimes shy, but as she knows him, a goofy, strong, highly animated when story-telling, honest, hard working, loving, man.

And I feel that my lone boot walkin' days are over. Which is perfectly and completely fine by me. Especially since we eat good food--he's teaching me how to cook and I'm actually eating regular meals--and we enjoy being active, being outdoors, and are insanely happy just to be together.

For those of you rolling your eyes and gagging...get over it. I've waited a long time to be this happy.

But enough of the rainbows and puppies. The newest update is that we have an adventure list. What is an adventure list,? A list of places we want to go and things we want to do over the next two years. Not that the adventure ends then....it's just as far as our list goes.

Our list contains hiking, rafting, camping, hunting and all the adventurous things my Mountain Man has primarily been doing on his own before I came along. I'm thrilled that he wants to include me into this area of his life. He's ecstatic that I want to go. We're both a little wary of how it will go. Yes, I'm outdoorsy. But if we were comparing our outdoorsy-ness, I would be like the family dog that likes to run and play in the outdoors and enjoy the occasional family camping trip, venture to the river or casual hike. He would be like the wild bear that lives off of nuts and berries and roams around like he owns the wilderness. My feelings for him won't change, even if he drags me up a cliff while I complain about my feet or my back or the weather or how fast he wants us to go.

Which is why we will start out small and work up for the longer hikes and bigger climbs. Besides, I plan to be in very good shape.

Sidenote: I am beginning training for my first half marathon. So yes, I should be in very good shape. Even though running and hiking are different and require different muscles. But at least I'm not going from the couch to the mountain. 

I've never had an adventure list before. No, I take that back. I've always had a list of things I wanted to do and see. And up until he came along I've been going about life, checking things off and adding new items to that list. Now, with my Mountain Man at my side, I have a new list to conquer.

I still have my own list, such as running my first half marathon. And things I want to do with others, such as take another girls trip to Vegas, or go to Ireland with my mom, as well as other things I was to accomplish on my own. But I'm so glad to have that adventure list with him.

And as for the adventures we've already had, I've learned one thing:

Happiness is definitely not overrated.

And for the adventures to come from that list with the Mountain Man, there will be plenty of fun stories to tell, so stay tuned.

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