in a nutshell

my plan for the summer. and for my life.

I've always been told to dream BIG.

but no one mentions how to make your dreams a reality.

this summer, I'm attempting to:

-define my dreams

-gather information

-develop a game plan

and essentially chomp at the bit til D-Day...

May 18, 2012

get ready world- here I come.

and I refuse to settle for less than my dreams

in all of their wonderous entirety

play while you work

Part of my job as "Marketing Intern for Blume" is to update the social media outlets; today I got my turn to shine.

have a little faith and you'll see

"Because wanting to make a living as a freelance cartoonist, clothing designer, or computer programmer isn't silly. It's dreamable, doable, and damn good fun."

-My So-Called Freelance Life

While on my quest to better myself/make myself more marketable/figure out a life plan, I've stumbled upon some pretty fabulous finds; oh, and a book or two. Most recently I've found this little gem.

{By: Michelle Goodman}

The forward states,"For anyone who's ever hit the snooze button five times in a row on Monday morning." JACKPOT. Someone finally understands me. (if you think im exagerating just contact Meredith Landers, my roommate of 3 years)

I've only read 3 chapters and have already made a "business plan to go" and laughed so hard I cried. I feel like Michelle and I would get along well. Her no-nonsense, honest approach to life hit me square between the eyes. Because when your idea of a good job resembles that of Rebeca Bloomwood (channel Confessions of a Shopaholic) you know you're gonna need to do some research about the reality of journalism. Thus, my quest for how to write/market/freelance and essentially get some cash money flow while still feeding my passion for "fluff" entertainment has begun. I've already read What Color is Your Parachute and skimmed through Knowing Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You're Worth, and as you can see, I'm on to freelancing. I'm choosing to use this desire of mine to build up as much knowledge about my desired field as possible, and besides, a lil research never killed anyone, did it? I'm hoping that this knowledge will build a bridge over my fence of insecurities to my totally fabulous future. I'm determined to find my dream job, and yes, naysayers, it does exsist.

Because, "What's so juvenile about actually liking what you do for a living? What's wrong with designing your own career if you can't stomach the one you've got or can't figure out what kind of job you want in the first place? Isn't that a better bet than hanging on to a 9-to-5 that makes you feel like you're crawling over broken glass sixty hours a week?" -Michelle Goodman

Why, YES Michelle, it is...

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