free fallin'

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

Always remember, you have within you

the strength, the patience and the passion

to reach for the stars to change the world."

Harriet Tubman

Today my assignment was to skim my summer reading book, an extremely helpful job-hunting book updated frequently, titles "What Color is Your Parachute?". As I began to fill out the puzzles, tests and diagrams I discovered, to my horror, that I don't really know myself very well at all.

This may seem stupid considering I would have bet my life on the fact that, other than God and maybe my mama, I would definitely know myself best; wouldn't we all?

However, I now have a complete "flower" diagram of traits, personality characteristics, values, working conditions and more to guide my search for my dream job, and ultimately my dream life that seem almost foreign to me.

I feel like a more appropriate title might have been "Where do you want to land?" or "Stop fooling yourself, you know nothing about what you actually want," But no one asked this skeptic..

Now I feel like I've filled out my manual but have no idea how to read it. As I stare at the diagram of patterns of my own life I'm almost more confused than ever.

I now know what I'm good at, where I would want to live, what range of salary fits my line of expertise and which "people environment" I'm best in..all on paper that is. Why is it that on paper everything sounds fabulous? It's like a trick our minds play on us; "This is what you want, Anna, it says so right there!" But what happens once im there (wherever there is)?

"You've got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there."

-Yogi Berra

The truth is you can't know. I can't know. And this book can't know either. Only God can know where my life will lead and when and where it will intersect with my dream job and dream life. And the truth is, me sitting here worrying about my future won't make it any less complicated. This is one of the many, many times where I'm just gonna hafta take my knowledge, experience and dreams... and leap...

..Here goes nothin..

things are sweeter in Tennessee

I miss home.

Just one of those days.

I love Birmingham, my friends and living on my own,

but every now and then it's nice to go home.

As I've said too many times to count,

I have no special affinity toward Memphis;

except that it's home.

I do, however, believe that Tennessee is flipping awesome.

My childhood memories are scattered all the way from Memphis all the way to Johnson City,

and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here's what I'm missing most today,

in no particular order:

(besides family and my comfy bed)

1) The Germantown Commissary

Only some of the best BBQ anywhere.
"So good y'ull slap yo mama"

I rest my case.

2) Dollywood

Pairing roller coasters and bluegrass with funnel cakes and kettle corn.

Yes, please.

3) Ober Gatllinburg

Indoor skiing, ice skating and the Great Smoky Mtns.

"The Best Way to See the Smokies"

4) Opryland Hotel (specifically at Christmas)

I LOVE the decorations at Christmas.

I could walk around in the lobby for hours.

AND I can still remember getting Dippn' Dots at Opryland Theme Park before it closed.

Save up.

Make the trek to Nashvegas.

and while your're there..see the Rockettes

($55 courtesy of etsy.com)

(I know I'm copying the state necklace trend, AND I know TN is awkwardly shaped..

BUT I love it all the same)

...there's no better time to start...

"To live would be an awfully big adventure."

-Peter Pan

"My unfulfilled ambition is to write a novel in three parts about my adventures."
Aunt Millicent: "What adventures??"
"I've yet to have them, but they will be perfectly thrilling..."-Wendy, Peter Pan

Obsessed, adj: to consume or preoccupy thoughts

OK-I consider this blog some sort of therapy for my strange, yet addictive behavior of stream of conscious thoughts.. but this may take the cake. Here is a very small glimpse into what preoccupies my mind at any given time:

1) Cooking/Baking in my new apartment

This has never been my stong suit but I'm attempting to change my ways. My first step is following cooking blogs in hopes of inspiration.

Look no farther than this recipe:

Frozen Hot Chocolate: (courtesy of http://dineanddish.net/)

-6 half-ounce pieces of white chocolate

-2 Tbs half and half

-1 package store bought hot chocolate mix

-1 tablespoon sugar

-1 and 1/2 cups milk

-3 cups ice

-whipped cream and chocolate shavings optional

Place white chocolate and half and half into microwave safe bowl, heat for 1 minute stopping to stir halfway through. Continue to heat until melted and smooth. Add cocoa and sugar and continue to stir until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and begin to add 1/2 cup of milk and stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In a blender place remaining cup of milk, the room temperature chocolate mixture and ice. Blend on high until it's the consistency of a frozen daquiri. Pour in a cup and top with whipped cream. ENJOY!

2) I currently LOVE super skinny rings. No matter if they are gold, silver or bronze. I'm currently on the hunt for affordable yet chic ones so keep your eyes peeled.

3) TEXAS nail polish line by OPI

specifically "Big Hair, Big Nails"

4) Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are my celebrity couple crush

They're fierce, attractive & just about as country-fried as a couple can get.

Now playing: "Love Song" Miranda Lambert

{my dream life. yes, please.}

{check out Blake on The Voice and Miranda's VH1: Behind The Music July 13th}

told you... no other word but OBSESSED

Southern Summers

photo courtesy of flckr

The realization that this is my first summer outside of the Tennessee state lines is kind of a shock. But so far, so good. I'm in my home-away-from-home, and it looks like things are looking up. My besties arrive today for the first summer school sesh and just in time. I must admit flying solo in bham isn't quite as glamorous as one might assume. However, I am now the pround renter of an apartment in the sky (no joke, our view can't be beat), and a working gal at that. I started my internship at the WMU and I'm truckin' right along.

Work and friends are not the only things on the agenda this summer; weddings, concerts, lake trips and did I mention weddings? This coming weekend starts the FG trek around the South for wedding after wedding after wedding. It's a fun change of pace (and a great reason to go shopping), but it's hard to not become obsessed with the wedding bug. ( NOT in a creepy I need to get married way but in a "I could totally be a wedding planner and plan people's amazing days" kinda way). Nevertheless, wedding season is in full force here in Alabama and I feel certain its ripples are felt throughout the South.

courtesy of pinterest

Another highlight of being with my friends this summer is concerts. We have made it a priority to attend as many country concerts as fiscally possible starting with the AH-MAZE-ing Alabama Rising concert (it's basically killing like 15 birds with one stone and for cheap seat prices.. it seriously can't be beat). I love me some country tunes but if anyone's interested in roadtripping to see the ever-colorful Katy Perry holla at me.

With a lineup like this.. stay tuned for a rockn' southern summer...

courtesy of pinterest

let the good times roll

..and it led me here to this

{senior mommies at senior chapter}

It's that time of year again but this year is different than most. Not that I haven't loved the seniors in years past, but I seriously don't know what I'm gonna do without these girls. They've been my mommies and mentors, and I couldn't have asked for better memories with them.

{love you mommy}

Another change is that sweet babies Jamie and Steffen are leaving the gates of Samford behind next year. I seriously cry every time I think about a senior year without them, but as long as they're happy; I'm happy. Bama and UT better look out because these ladies are a force to reckoned with...

{steffen, me, jamie, mere, and hayley}

The BRIGHT side is that this summer is full of potential for amazing memories. Can't wait for my first summer in b'ham and being #foreverneighbs with my besties at the Oaks

{my amazing friends at black diamond}

{happy 21st Claire bear}

Spring has Sprung

{ashleigh, emily and me at the beach SBxi}

{i love my friends}

{beauties}

....now that Spring Break (SBxi/ SBleven) is officially over, the semester is gettin real. Apart from projects, tests, papers, and assignments, social life is about to be at an all time high. Needless to say that most peoples' calendars are beyond jam-packed. BUT there is a silver lining: THESE are the days we'll remember when everything's said and done. Spring break was a fabulous time to recharge my batteries before I settle in for the long haul. So buckle up, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride to SUMMERxi.