My First Lesson in Need v. Want

     I babysat this morning from 8 until 10: 00 and then I decided I wanted to do a little browsing in a few stores until work this afternoon.  I was hoping to find a good deal on a new garbage can for the kitchen or a toilet brush holder for my bathroom that matched my new stuff or some string lights for my balcony. I was in the turn lane getting to the store when in the corner of my eye I saw a girl on the other side of the road who was desperately skinny with a small boy. The girl appeared to be the age of a teenager and she was holding a flap from a cardboard box with some writing on it.
    The streetlight turned green so I turned into the parking lot of my destination. I drove around and found a parking space. I was about to turn off the engine and get out when I just couldn't move. I reversed my car out of the parking space and drove towards the girl and small boy.  While I was stopped at the intersection where they were at I saw 4 cars pass them and ignore them. I then saw a POLICE OFFICER just whiz on by.  My light turned green and I had to drive past them to get to the other intersection they were standing at.
    I got my new Michael Kors wallet out of my purse and I only had $12 dollars in cash. I drove closer to them and on her cardboard was written "Hungry and Stranded" in a crayon. I rolled down my window and she came skipping toward my car with the little boy. I handed her the money and she said "Wow, thank you! thank you!"  Something just came over me and I was compelled to ask her how old she was. The girl replied to my question and said she was thirteen and the boy was six. Then someone had the NERVE to honk their horn at me, that was in the vehicle behind me. I understand I was in a turn lane and you can go right on red, but SERIOUSLY??? I told her to walk down the hill in a restaurant's parking lot and I would circle around to help her more.  I had to circle around and come back to her, as I was driving back around I could see her and the boy standing. I pulled my car near them and rolled down my window to talk to her. I learned that the vehicle the kids were standing near had their mother in the car, laying down in the back seat. The license plate had a West Virginia license plate. I put my car in park, turned the engine off and got out of my car and locked it. I had my cell phone in my hand as well as my keys. I walked closer to this beat up 1980's looking blue camry. 
    I looked in the back seat and sure enough there was a young woman lying there with, I promise, her left sleeve rolled up. I was just in SHOCK! The girl explained to me they were trying to get to Florida where a mothers friend  lives. (from what I understand the kids were staying the summer in Florida)  The kids explained their mother spent the night in a hotel right across from the restaurant and bank. The kids slept in the car. The teenager told me she was okay but the mother told them she didn't have anymore money for gas or food. I asked the kids if they could remember the last time they ate.......They didn't remember. I almost lost it, ya'll!
    The teenager told me the mother came back into the car when the sun was rising. I figured the time was probably about 6:30 or so. I knew their mother had probably put herself up for prostitution for the heroin. I didn't know what to do, I almost felt as lost as the kids did. I know how the law works and I know exactly what these kids are in for, and it's not pretty. I asked the teenager her name and the small boy. I asked if they had ever been taken away from their mom before or had to live with anybody else and if they have any relatives they knew of that they could trust. The girl didn't seem to really know of anyone, she just knew she had a different father than the boy did. The teenager told me they had lived with a great aunt for a couple of years but she passed away just a few months ago.  The state of West Virginia then awarded the mother custody of the kids again just a few weeks ago. The teenager said this was their first overnight stop, she said her mother told them she wanted to see if an old friend still lived here, so they stopped. 
    I knew if I contacted the police these kids would would probably spend the night in a police station, sent to a nearby beacon house, watch their mother be arrested, and the list goes on. I knew if I didn't call the police then the mom could potentially kill them in a car accident if she still had the drugs in her system. I took control of the situation and took the kids into Logan's Roadhouse, told them to order whatever they wanted. I kept asking questions to see if I could get some hard facts and realized these kids have never really been kept up and totally ignored.
     We walked back to their car and the mom was STILL out of it, but moving. I told the kids I had to make a phone call to work but instead I called the police and told them the story. I came back out of my car and talked to them a little more. A few minutes passed and I saw three police cars pulling up and that's when I told them I was only looking out for their safety but I had to call the police. 
    The kids were in shock and the police got out of their vehicle and I introduced myself to one officer while the others walked towards the kids and the vehicle. The police officer thanked me and I told them what the kids told me. I heard one officer ask the obvious question, if I had harmed them in any way and the kids replied no, and the boy chimed in and said "she took us there (he pointed) and we ate, A LOT" I then put in my two cents to the police officer and told him how a patrol car passed them on the road and didn't even brake! of course he said he could have been going to a more important call. BULLSH*T!
    I got into my car and left. I came home and started typing this.
    I in no way wrote this to make myself look better or appear as a Saint because I in no way am. I actually feel guilty. I feel guilty that I grew up with two loving parents in a home where I was loved unconditionally every single moment. I was taken care of and provided for in every aspect. I also feel anger, anger towards people that bring children in this world because of carelessness, because in a lot of those circumstances the parents becomes careless of them. Everyday we see people in need and we do NOTHING about it. Most people only give when there has been a catastrophic event and then it is made through a hotline. Here is a challenge for Americans, why wait for something just plain horrible to happen in another country when you can help people in your own, that are in just as much need! Events like this happen EVERYDAY and those kids had to watch as capable people just drove past. I know what I did today was potentially dangerous and don't think I do this all the time because I don't. 
    I now have no desire to go shopping to buy things I originally had on my list that I thought I needed. Today, I was really taught the lesson of need v. want at the age of 26 and a lot of me feels ashamed of that. I think the universe must have some plans for me yet.
   

and they lived happily ever after

I wanted to post this because today 4 years ago my dear pledge sister(my twin in my pledge class) was asked the most important question of her life.......Will you marry me? He proposed to her in very unconventional way. They were actually arguing and it turned into a proposal. He pretty much told her line from line what Noah says to Allie. After he finished, she said "Where is the ring before I decide to spend the rest of my life with you" he then said "at the Jewelry store waiting for you" yes, she picked out her wedding ring, he had already asked her parents for her hand weeks before this. how cute!

America's favorite past time!

University of Mississippi Alma Mater

Way down south in Mississippi
There's a spot that ever calls
Where amongst the hills enfolded
Stand old Alma Mater's Halls

Where the trees lift high their branches
To the whispering Southern breeze
There Ole Miss is calling, calling
To our hearts fond memories

Ole miss takes the mound at the Hoover Met for the SEC tournament on Wednesday and i can't wait........If Ole Miss loses then I'm pulling for Bama!.....I really am gearing up for an amazing week and weekend! I think juggling babysitting, baseball, laying out, working out, being a Big Sister, and gearing up for the girls and our shenanigans should leave no room on my plate!  Hello beautiful busy Life!

Easy button? try a pause button!

I had an amazing time this past weekend! My best friend had a sweet baby girl and she is precious! The mother and daughter are doing amazing, I cannot wait to spoil her and be an "almost aunt."

This weekend I also played tennis, laid out and attended an engagement party on Saturday night, that was so much fun! On Saturday morning I ran outside, then went to an amazing Country Club and played some tennis. We didn't last too long in tennis because my friend doesn't play all that much and it was extremely humid. We decided to lay out by the pool at the club while her boyfriend and my date for the engagement party played 18 holes of golf with "the groom-to-be" and 12 of their Boys!  I had never had met my date prior to this but my friends boyfriend is good friends with him. I also liked the fact that my date was incredibly sweet and such a great guy, he tended to my every want and need! (My date's brother is the soon-to-be-groom.) We then attended the engagement party and had the best time!I think everyone has moments in their life when everything is going so well and you look around and you think "Wow, life is good right now and i am so blessed!" I had one of these moments in a sexy, elegant black cocktail dress while sipping a glass of chardonnay and chatting with amazing people! I just kept thinking, Can I hit pause?

I am also excited to be re-united with my friends this weekend for an Ultimate weekend! Everyone should know by now, Sex and the City II hit theater's this week and it's also Memorial day weekend! I am so thankful for the friends I have! Right now, I really need things to keep me busy here lately, luckily i never have a problem with that!  I have someone right now I can't exactly hang out with under certain circumstances so that has been kinda weird.  i will leave this as my quote for the day!
A good friend is hard to find, hard to lose, and hard to forget." Unknown


I also meet my little sisters from the Big Brother/Big Sister program on Thursday!! I wanted to explain why I am getting two little girls, they are fraternal twins! I am so excited about meeting them, I already have the first activity planned so i can learn about them!

Looking Forward

       Okay, a lot is changing and it's all at once! One of my best friends is about to be induced for labor later tonight and one my dear pledge sister's is getting married in July, were having her "Last fling before the Ring" in just a couple of weeks! I have one friend moving away from Tuscaloosa and she is going to travel for 4 months solid and then take permanent residency in Birmingham, where her father found her a job that is right up her alley! I am so jealous of my friend and her adventure. My friend H.D.M will travel to France, Greece and India, how exciting!!

          I am also making a few changes in my life and how I want to live out my life. Timing and relationships have not been lining up in skies for me at all.  I am the type of person who is a people pleaser to an extent and it's time that I think of myself and my own happiness.  I have always been the person with a million things to do and so spread out, but I wouldn't have it any other way! So this summer I have decided to become a BIG SISTER! from the Big Brother/Big Sister Program.  I got my background check approved (yea, sweated that one out! hehehe!!) and my application was approved as well and I was given two little girls! I start next week!! How Awesome?
       I have a spot in my heart to teach/mentor.  The way the world is now and the way kids are growing up in this society is heartbreaking.  There are so many children that are in need of someone just to love them.  I have volunteered at the YMCA for after school mentoring before and in some ways it was a blessing and in others it was dreadful! Let's just say for them to pair me up with 6 foot 3 sixteen year olds was not exactly the best thing in the world..........I believe they taught me more than I could have taught them especially slang words, that I would have to look up on Urban Dictionary!
         I believe this experience will be more beneficial to me than them but If you want to change the world then you may just have to do it one person at a time!

Savy Staples of Summer 2010!

It's not a secret that I absolutely love clothes! I am trying so hard to let this little obsession go but I feel like it's going to be a slow process, but Mom I'm trying!! I have been shopping a lot more lately and by shopping I really mean to say browsing. Here are just a few trends I'm liking or questioning!

The first trend is "The Boyfriend Shorts"

The Boyfriend shorts are making way just how the boyfriend jeans moved through the store and into your closets! I absolutely love this trend because I am not one to flaunt my booty through the streets and with the slouchy and longer look of these shorts they are extremely comfortable.  I have paired mine with some gladiator style high heels and a men's Hane's white v-necked t-shirt with a boyfriend blazer and a long necklace to add a feminine touch.  I next want to try on a flirty top and hooped earring!

the next staple is "The Maxi Dress"

This trend actually started 2 springs ago but is still going strong! Now I don't love all maxi dresses because most are not flattering for us shorter athletic gals.  I absolutely am annoyed with the dresses that have huge prints on them because they do nothing but make you appear larger than you are.  I am not a fan of the strapless dresses either, if you have a larger chest I would definitely stay away from strapless largely printed maxi dresses.  I have found it extremely hard to find a flattering maxi dress but these are a few that are pretty and for me......flattering!

The next trend is "The Fedora Hat"

This trend is something I have not purchased yet but I can see myself wearing the fedora with the boyfriend shorts.  I have always been a hat fan, I think it's a way to add something to your look and it's also a way to hide your bad hair day!

 
next is "The Romper"

Oh the romper.  The romper is something your going to love or hate.  I love the look of the romper on skinny long legged girls, but I hate the romper on short legged, long torso type chicks.  I unfortunately have a Kim Kardashian type behind, short legs, long torso and small waist and wide shoulders.  The romper is not my friend! After trying on many, many, MANY rompers I had decided that this trend is not for me.  I then went browsing in Belk the other day and I think I have found one! I haven't bought it, but i plan on letting my mom see it on me before I purchase it. There are two rules I have when buying clothes: 1. It must be flattering to my fit.  2. it must be on sale!

Happy shopping ladies, and remember Memorial Day SALES are just around the corner!

Hey Ya'll!!

There is so much on my mind! We all know summer is my favorite season and just like always I'm a busy bee!
Here is what I have been working on for the past few weeks,

This is a picture of my balcony. I have had the wrought iron table for about a year now but I didn't have chairs! I looked for a couple of weeks when I first got the table but quickly gave up after much disappointment. I believe around the first of April I decided that I was in much need of chairs and began my mission again.  I finally found these two wrought iron chairs for an amazing price at Sam's Club.  I want to save up and actually purchase two more so I can have a complete set.  My balcony is not large at all but these chairs are great because you can stack them!  I also want to purchase a couple of string lights to hang from the roof of the balcony. 

I absolutely love hosting and attending dinners and parties in the summer because the best decor for the party is nature! I just love BBq's, pool parties, and dinner parties! something about friends sitting on a big front porch or conversing on the back patio has always been a favorite of mine!!

I also just purchased a new swimsuit! I am so excited and I got it from T.J. maxx, Surprise Surprise!

It's La Blanca, which is one of my favorite swim suit lines.  I love their lines of swim wear, I am not the type that bares it all when it comes to swim suits, maybe if my figure leaned towards Victoria's Secret model then I might! I have been a tennis player and athlete for a very long time, because of swimming and tennis I have very broad shoulders and because of tennis and running I have a toned legs and a little bit of bottom! my body type is extremely hard to shop for, especially swimsuits but I love this one!

I went to the Alabama/Ole Miss baseball game last weekend and even though Ole Miss lost, I didn't have a bad time! It was a hot afternoon though, and I wore a blue tank top and white shorts to support my team. I got dressed and knew that white shorts would be a mistake because I am the messiest person when it comes to eating and getting make up all over their clothes! Surprisingly I did not get anything on my white shorts except for sweat! yep, us girls know that when you wear anything white on bottom usually requires wearing a thong, which was not a particularity good idea considering it was a sauna outside and we were sitting on metal bleachers! let's just say I was grateful for carrying my cross the body purse on Saturday to hide my bottom until the shorts dried......talk about embarrassing!! I now am looking online for athletic underwear that I can wear with shorts so you don't have lines from normal underwear!!

I also am sad that my shows are over!! I hate season finale's, it's just not fair for me to sit in anticipation for 4 or 5 months. Desperate Housewives ended with a surprise, I can't believe they are bringing back Paul Young from season 3 I think!  The season finale' was not all that suspenseful but the hanging and open storyline really left a lot for the writers in the future!
Let's break down the people that left this season and some that might be joining!

* Angie and Nick are fleeing from the FBI. Danny their son also is leaving to be with Gabby and Carlos's neice Anna in New York.
*Angie's former terrorist boyfriend Patrick Logan, is killed off by Angie in an exploding scene. Also Danny still doesn't know Nick is not his father! 
*About 2 or 3 episode's ago Katherine left with her former stripping girlfriend (also known as Rita for you Dexter fans)
* Susan, Mike, and M.J. leave Wisteria Lane  for another street and left their house open for renting!
*Sam left Bree's life after a little black mail, another male also left Bree, Orson is also gone. Bree just can't keep a man!
*Eddie the serial strangler is also gone.....I mean he could go to jail?
* Susan's ex-husband/ Bree's lover, Karl died in a freak accident that involved a plane crashing earlier in the season.
 The Arrivals!!
* Lynette gives an unrealistic birth to a daughter
*Paul Young is BACK!!!

Now let's look at the recent people that the writers can bring back!!!woohooo!!


*I would LOVE to see Tom's daughter, the one he had by that crazy woman.  Apparently Tom had a daughter nobody knew about and she was one disgruntled/insane little girl!
*I also want to see Mike's biological son Zack return.  Paul Young and Mary Alice did raise Zack as their own! Zack left the show when he inherited millions from a grandfather!
*A very small part that I think could cause some rift would be Edie's son that was in a boarding school all his life.  They only showed him when Edie died and we also don't know who his father is......It's never been mentioned on the show.
*there is also, John Rowland (Gabby's gardner)  Adam Mayfair (Bree's husband that she divorced) 

On the topic of tv shows......I absolutely cannot wait for Entourage, True Blood, and Mad Men!

A tribute to my Mommy!!

     I have been such a BAD BLOGGER!! SORRY!! I promise since the semester has ended and finals are over I might return to a least a '2 post a week- kind of Gal.' My finals went well, I'm pretty sure I passed all classes and I am free........for a little bit anyway! Not too much has happened lately. My daily routine is getting up certain days of the week really early to work out before classes and work and the other days I have to wait until classes and work are over.  I haven't really worked all that much the past couple of months because my boss has a newborn, therefor I have no work to do.  My boss, who I have gotten to really know lately has trusted me enough to watch her precious little baby girl while she goes to court or attends a meeting at the office. 
    I have never really been around babies that are less than 6 months old, and I have never been alone with a baby that is less than 10 months old and I can tell a huge difference. It's amazing to see what you learn the first couple of months you enter this world.  It's also amazing to see that babies are just soooo needy!! I just thought that the first year or so all the baby did was eat, dirty up diapers and sleep. I thought they only cry when they are hungry, something is scary, or they want to be held.  I just learned that babies cry when they are fighting to sleep!!! can you believe that??? When I get sleepy and I can sleep, you better believe I won't fight it!!! I also have MAJOR back problems and so after this sweet baby girl is through eating she has to be held up and burped a lot and my back just locks up so when I'm ready to sit down and she is laying on my shoulder I can barely bend my back enough just to sit down! and even though I'm in pain, it has to be done...........I think about this and I'm only with her just a couple of hours a week, I can't imagine going through this pain all day everyday for like 2 or 3 years!! Hello, first lesson of parenthood!! your needs don't matter when you have a child, theirs has to come first! so this is my tribute to my mommy!
    I think I have the best Mommy in the world and here are just a few reasons why.....
   
    My Mommy has always made sure I never go without something I need.  If I am sick, she is the first one to wait on me hand and foot! I can remember all the way back to elementary school her taking my temperature,  going into the doctors office with me, her dropping everything as soon as she would walk through the door if she had to go to class (my mom went back to college to get an education degree while I was in elementary school) with her "worried face" on and asking if she can do anything to make me feel better and after I would fall asleep she would do whatever class work she needed to do on top of daily chores and cooking. When I got to college especially here in Tuscaloosa, if I am pretty sick she will drive here and take me to the doctor and fill my prescriptions, clean my apartment, (mainly disinfecting everything) and just sit with me. I know it's a little childish of me, but when I'm sick (even at 26 years young) I only want my mom! I don't know why, but the way she makes Hot chocolate or run's to Jason's deli for me broccoli and cheese soup is so much better than anyone else doing the same thing.

    My Mommy has always made sure her children are educated. I have learned from her that there is a lot in this world you can lose and things people can take away and the two things no one can take away is your education and your personality. I think around third grade my Mom started realizing for the first time I may have a slight learning problem, so my mom would work extra hard with me EVERY night. I can remember going over the next days math lesson the night before it was taught in class.  I was always a terrible math and science student. I kind of always knew I had a problem with numbers but it wasn't so terrible that Mom would put me in special classes. Mom thought if she did, then I would never be challenged enough to learn.  It wasn't until college and when I transferred from ole miss to here that I was tested for learning problems.  After sitting down for ten minutes at a Sylvan learning place I was diagnosed with Dyslexia of Numbers...........and a pretty severe case at that.  It's almost 1 in 10,000 suffer from this. Most people that are dyslexic are dyslexic in letters and numbers. Anyway, It would have been so easy for mom just to put me in a special class and not stay up drilling my homework in my head every night on top of her own school work and later when I got to middle school and high school she would have to make out lesson plans, grade papers, teach me subjects, cook, iron, clean, pack lunches, and take care of her family.

     Another reason why Mom is the best......she has always wanted better for me than herself.  My mom grew up in a lower income family with a lot of brothers and sisters.  She didn't go with out food or a roof over her head but I think at times they were lucky to rub two dimes together.  My mother is one of these that will spend her hard earned money on better labels and better clothes for her kids but won't spend hardly any money on herself. My mom would drop lots and lots of dollars on me just on tennis outfits, the clothes you are suppose to get dirty and sweat in, but she would not dream of spending fifty dollars on a top that she would wear to teach in or something she might wear 50 times over.  My mom always looks nice, and is classic. I find this funny because all of my friends and just people I pass everyday always comment on my style, and nine times out of ten, it's something my mom has approved.  When My mom and I go shopping she will just tell me flat out, if it looks good or doesn't, if I have a bulge or something is just not figure flattering or she just thinks it's ugly. One thing my mom will not do is lie, nor sugar coat and I love her for that!

   I can't tell you all the little reasons why I love her because a lot of it is just indescribable but I know for a fact I wouldn't be the person I am today without her! I actually cringe and regret every time when I was little/ younger and she wouldn't let me spend the night at someone's house or be dropped off at a football game unchaperoned  or not let me ride long distances with an older boy and I would slam doors and say not so nice words to her. It's hard to understand and see harmful situations when you are 12 to 18 years old but I finally see when you bring a child into this world and have stayed up with them and nurtured them when they are babies and seen their first steps and attended their first ballet recital and have been there to see doctors poke needles into the one thing you love most and wipe away the tears after they had a scary car accident and you yourself moved to tears when they achieve something great like win they win their first tennis trophy or they graduate college. I now thank her for not letting me do those potentially dangerous things and teaching me right from wrong and letting me know I am unconditionally loved everyday! Mom, I love you!!