Liebster Award!

Ah!  I'm super excited, you guys!  I have been nominated by both Inge and Danielle for a Liebster award!

The Liebster award is passed along from blogger to blogger in a kind of pay-it-forward manner.  You have to have under 200 followers to be eligible.  The rules are as follows:

1. If you are nominated, you must post 5 things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions that the person who nominated you wrote for you, and create 5 of your own questions for the people you pass the award onto.
3. Choose 5 bloggers to nominated for the Liebster award and link to them in your post.
4. Tell the bloggers you nominated about the award!
5. Follow and support the other bloggers that have been tagged.

It's a great way to spread the blog love :)

Here are my 5 random things:

1. I'm a really good speller.  When I was in 5th grade, I won our school district's spelling bee and went onto the regional spelling bee.  I thought I was really cool at the time (also because I was on the 5th grade math team and we won 1st place in a regional competition.  I'm a nerd, okay?).  Just this week, someone asked me how to spell "pterodactyl," and everyone was impressed/weirded out that I knew how to spell it.

2. My favorite place to sing is and always has been in the bathroom (although stairwells and parking garages are also wonderful).  When I was little (like 3 years old), I would refuse to get out of the bathroom stall until I was done singing every verse and chorus of the song.  In college, I would purposefully walk to a different floor in my residence hall to shower because there weren't many people who lived on that floor and their bathroom was always empty and had awesome acoustics.  I would sing, sing, sing in that bathroom every day.  To this day, I still start every morning by singing in the shower and then having a dance party for one while I'm getting ready.  It wakes me up and puts me in a great mood!

3. I absolutely love Harry Potter.  Yep, I said it.  I think that JK Rowling is an incredible woman and inspiration, and I feel very connected to the series.  I feel like I grew up with Harry, Hermione, and Ron, and the books were such important pieces of my childhood and adolescence.  Hermione was an excellent role model for me, as a smart, high-achieving, confident young woman, which was so crucial in a society in which these traits are not necessarily valued for women.

4. On a somewhat related note, I'm a proud feminist.  I am passionate about equal rights for women.  The tattoo on my foot is the female symbol, and six months after getting it, I'm still as in love with it as I was the day I got it.  I'm also a huge advocate for equal rights for LGBT individuals.  Some of my best friends growing up were gay males, and I have a couple of friends who are transgender.  Their experiences in life are heartbreaking, but also inspirational.  I want to get another tattoo of an equal sign to show that I am committed to equality for all. (I don't like to get political/preachy on my blog, but this is one of the things in life that I am SUPER passionate about - along with dog rescue and proper sex education - and it directs my life every day.)

5. I really love stupid and funny YouTube videos.  I'm currently obsessed with Miranda Sings (this video is one of my all-time favorites of hers), but I also love this video, this video, and this video (all are oldies but goodies).  They never fail to make me laugh and can cure any bad day.

Inge's Questions

1. What's the best thing to come out of blogging, besides meeting new people?

Oooh, that's a great question!  I think the best thing about it is that it has helped me to think about purchasing clothing with more intention.  I used to see cute things on the sale rack and buy them just because they were cute and affordable instead of thinking about how versatile it would be in my wardrobe or for my current lifestyle.  I have gotten so much more thoughtful when shopping, and it is easier for me to leave things at the store, even if they looked good on me and had an affordable price.

2. What trends have you tried that you might not have before you started blogging?

Hmm.  I'm not particularly a trendy person, so it's hard to think about.  While I have almost always really liked lace, I am not sure I would have had the courage to buy a lace dress if it wasn't for seeing how pretty and versatile they were on other bloggers.  And I'm really glad I didn't look back - I love my lace dresses!

3. What popular trend is everyone wearing that you are still hesitant about?

I'm not a fan of tribal prints.  As a white woman, I feel like wearing tribal prints is disrespectful to the native populations to which those tribes belong.  I don't think that someone's native culture should be "trendy" for others.  But maybe that's just me...

4. What's the most exciting thing you have planned for the summer?

Oh, goodness, who knows?!  I've been so swamped with class and work lately that I can't even think about what's coming up this summer!  I'm not going on any vacations or anything...I think we've already had our exciting moment in adopting our puppy!! :)

5. What was the last movie you saw?

In the movie theater, I saw The Purge.  It was pretty ridiculous, to be honest.  I love movies that scare me (as long as they're not gory), and The Purge definitely messed with my head a little bit.  However, it was definitely not a "good" movie...just entertaining, I suppose.  I really want to see Monsters University!!!

Danielle's Questions

1. What is your most embarrassing childhood memory?

When I was in first grade, we had a new student join our class.  I wanted to be welcoming to her and be her friend, so during "circle time" in the afternoon on her first day of class, I decided to come sit by her.  As I sat down, I farted.  It was mortifying at the time (I used to be really uncomfortable with bodily function humor...but now I think farts are funny.  Yes, I'm like 12 years old on the inside...).  I think it's hilarious now.

2. What is the best book you've ever read and why?

I love Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, but I think my all-time favorite book (aside from anything Harry Potter) is The Giver by Lois Lowry.  Yes, it is a book for children, but I find it to be so poignant and striking.  I loved it as a child, but have a much deeper love for it now.  The plot is fascinating, and the characters are rich and powerful.

3. Which one of your family members are you the most like?

I'm not really sure.  I don't think I'm like many people in my family - not in a bad way, though.  I used to be a lot like my mom, but not as much as I've become an adult.  I think I have pieces of all my family members, as well as things that are uniquely mine.  For instance, I'm musical and smart like my dad, I'm caring and compassionate like my mom, and I'm passionate and feisty like my brother.

4. What's the best trip you've ever taken?

This is a tough one!  I think the best trip I've ever taken was this past summer, to Yellowstone.  I went with Kevin's mom, dad, and one of his three brothers.  Now, I'm a self-proclaimed "inside girl," and spending lots of time outdoors is reallllly not my thing, so when we had the opportunity to go camping in Yellowstone, I was a little hesitant.  However, I decided to go for it (plus, I love Kevin's family and have always wanted to go on a trip with them!) and be a trooper.  It wound up being the coolest trip.  We drove from Minnesota to Yellowstone in an RV all together, and then traveled around the park for a week.  It was so amazing to see all of the geological features and the wildlife.  I learned so much on the trip and we all had such an amazing time together.  Also, I developed this "persona" while we were in Yellowstone, called Junior Ranger Brynn, and I would describe in my own way what all the wildlife and geographical features were about.  It started out as a mockery of the Neature videos, and was pretty ridiculous, but Kevin recorded me while we were out touring the park and I made a Junior Ranger Brynn video when we got home.  It's become a bit of a joke in the family since then :) [I uploaded it in case you want to see me making a fool of myself and talking in my silly Junior Ranger Brynn way. It's super crappy quality, too...]

5. Worst fashion trend? Best fashion trend?

I think I've answered these before in Inge's questions.  My least favorite fashion trend right now is tribal prints (followed by super short shorts that show butt cheeks, crop tops, and high-low hems).  My favorite fashion trend currently is probably lace, but I also really like colorful blazers and popover shirts.

My questions for nominees...

1. What do you like to do in your free time?

2. If you could have a dinner party with any three famous people (dead or alive), who would they be and why?

3. What is your favorite household chore and why?

4. What's your favorite item of clothing that you currently own?

5. When you're on a road trip, what is your go-to music?

I'm nominating...

Andi from Just Another Smith

Nicole from Writes Like a Girl

Kristina from Kristina in Retroworter

Heidi from Literate & Stylish

Lynette from Lynette Marie

Three Years.

Three years ago today, I married my best friend.

We were 22 years old.  I had just graduated college and we had survived a year of living three hours apart from each other.  We were young and happy and very much in love.

Kevin and I are a nontraditional couple.  We wanted our wedding to be 100% "us."  Our centerpieces were vases with goldfish in them and custom-made truffles in our wedding colors (made by my mom's friend, a chocolatier).  We got married on a Friday evening and had hearty appetizers instead of a formal sit-down meal.

My mom is wonderful at sewing, so she made my wedding dress.  My aunt, who makes jewelry for a living, did some gorgeous beading on my dress.  There are a lot of hidden things within the beadwork that make it that much more meaningful.

We wore Chuck Taylor shoes in our wedding, as did our wedding party.  It's something that both Kevin and I had thought about doing years before we even knew each other.

We did not have a religious ceremony.  Instead, one of our mentors from college (who supervised us both as students) wrote and officiated our ceremony.  Kevin's mom is a pastor, so she "officially" married us, which was really special.

We got married in an indoor park.  This was a perfect option, since we both really wanted an outdoor wedding but were nervous about weather.  Instead, our venue (which had both our ceremony and reception) had beautiful trees, a waterfall, huge windows with lots of natural sunlight, and a gorgeous amphitheater in which we had our ceremony.  It was so perfect.

My dad wrote and sang a song for our wedding.  The song is all about our love story.  Dad and I recorded ourselves singing it together about two years ago, and I listen to it all the time.  It's such a special song, and it is one of my favorite parts about our whole wedding.  I'll be brave some day and share it with you all :)

Our wedding was one of the best days of my life.  It was so fun and meaningful and beautiful.  It captured our love perfectly.

Happy anniversary, Kevin - I love you all the days!

(Yep, Kevin had a ponytail the first two years we were together.  He has been shaving his head for two years now!)

Day Fifteen: Today

Dress: Old Navy Flats: Payless

Today's topic for Blog Every Day in May is to give a play-by-play of your day.  I'm a really boring person...Here was my day:

5:00 am: Wake up to a puppy who needs to go potty.  Kevin lets out the dogs, and then they all come snuggle in our bed until it's time to get ready for the day.  I check my email and figure out how to help Delia get used to her crate (she's been crying all night long...we decided to put her in Pippin's kennel with her last night and it went so much better).

8:00 am: Wake up, feed the dogs, and get ready for the day before Kevin leaves for work at 9:00.

9:30 am: Take outfit pictures, feel like something is missing, throw on a gold necklace.  Play with dogs and let them outside again before going into work to conduct interviews...on my day off...ugh.  Feel super sad that Delia cries and panics in her crate.

10:00 am-12:30 pm: Work.  Conduct interviews for summer student staff, chat with boss about who to hire, send emails, catch up on work after having been off since last Friday.  Talk to one of the head directors of the animal rescue group about Delia's aversion to the crate and how we can help her feel safer and more secure.

12:30 pm: Leave work, get soaking wet from the rain (didn't know that was going to happen today...).  Head to the pet store to get a new toy for Delia for only playing with in her crate...fingers crossed that it works!

1:30 pm:  Come home to two very nervous dogs - Delia is still crying...4 hours later.  Feel super guilty about it and take the dogs on a nice walk to get their nervous energy out.

2:00 pm: Take more outfit pictures with the gold necklace, but realize none of them are good enough for the blog because my hair had gotten all frizzy and gross from the earlier rain.  Settle for a shot from this morning and start to answer emails, begin this post, read blogs, etc. while eating toast and yogurt for lunch.

3:00 pm: Kevin comes home from work!  We chat about the day together, decide how we're going to contain Delia tomorrow when I go back to work.  Attempt to take pictures of Delia to put on her Petfinder profile and fail miserably.  Get one cute shot (below!)

4:00 pm: One of Kevin's coworkers stops by to meet Delia and we chat for 45 minutes.

4:45 pm: Kevin falls asleep with the dogs, I continue catching up on blogs, planning outfits, doing laundry, relaxing, etc.

6:30 pm: Kevin takes the dogs outside and I do a little cleaning around the apartment.

7:00 pm: Kevin and I went out to the tennis courts by our apartment and played tennis for a while.  It felt great to get out and do something active.  My knee has been really bothering me lately so I've been hesitant to go running.  It's been a week since I've worked out and I am really feeling it - gross.

9:00 pm: We finally watched Silver Linings Playbook!  It was soooo good.  It's been built up by so many friends so I was worried I wouldn't like it, but it was so great!  Plus, Jennifer Lawrence is in it, and I LOVE HER.

11:30 pm: Put the puppies outside one last time and go to bed!

I love her little tongue poking out!

**I wrote this post yesterday but didn't publish it until this morning!  Oops!

Day Fourteen: 10 Things I Love about Life

Tee: Target Shorts: Old Navy Shoes: Born Necklace: F21

It's going to be 95 degrees here today...WHAT.  I've already shared my disdain for shorts, and while I really don't want to be wearing them today, it's too hot not to.  And I'm pretty sure a flowy dress or skirt is just a play toy for a puppy, so I decided to just suck it up and wear one of my new pairs of shorts.  I still don't love the way they look on me - slightly snug in the waist and the leg holes are huge, but whatever...they're as good as it will get, I fear.  I love these dressy tees from Target, too.  The material is soft, and I love this bright teal color.

Today, I'm sharing with you a list of 10 things that make me happy.  Here they are, in no particular order.

1. Kevin!  He is my perfect partner.  We are so, so different from each other in many ways, but we just work together.  He is super funny and makes me laugh all the time.
2. Painting.  It is so fun to have a hobby like this, where I can just sit quietly or with a podcast or playlist of favorite tunes and create something.
3. Singing.  I love, love, love to sing, especially with other people.  Singing in a small group or a duet is my absolute favorite.  When you sing with someone whose voice blends beautifully with yours, there's almost nothing better.
4. Dogs!  I especially love our little Pippin.  She is quirky and sweet and snuggly and sassy, and she is the best companion ever.  Also, I'm loving little Delia, our foster pup, right now.  She's a great little puppy, and I am excited to help her find her forever home!
5. Frozen yogurt.  It's just delicious and refreshing!
6. Minnesota!  I really don't want to get too political on my blog, but I can't NOT talk about this today.  Minnesota became the 12th state in the country to legalize gay marriage yesterday.  I could not be happier - so many of my family and friends will finally have the privileges I do and will be able to marry their loves as well!
7. Warm, sunny, breezy days.  I'm not much of an outside girl, but on perfect days like that, I just want to sit outside and soak it all in.
8. My family and friends.  It's so great to know there are people out there who support me and care about me.  And man, do they make me laugh!!
9. Harry Potter.  I know the series is over, but I absolutely LOVE Harry Potter.  The books are smart and interesting, and pose some fascinating questions.  I have so much respect for JK Rowling.
10. Telling other people about the positive impact they have had on me.  I know how wonderful it feels to know that I've made a difference in someone else's life, and it means so much to me to pass that along to those who have impacted me as well.

Day Thirteen: I'm sorry.

Shirt: Thrifted American Eagle Jeans: JCPenney Shoes: TOMS

I'm sorry for the boring outfit today.  I'm off of work today through Wednesday, and taking care of our new foster puppy, so I'm not looking glamorous by any means.

I'm sorry I didn't blog on Saturday for the Blog Every Day in May challenge.  I didn't like the prompt and wasn't sure I wanted to blog just for the sake of the challenge.  In fact, I went into this fully expecting to blog every day, but I'm unsure if that's what I want to do right now.  I don't want to be tied to my computer or feel obligated in any way.  I do like some of the prompts, though, so I'll probably blog on those days.

I'm sorry for talking about animal rescue all the time [I'm actually not that sorry about this one...].  It's just something I'm incredibly passionate about.  We spent our day yesterday bathing little puppies, snuggling them, helping them get checked out by the vet, matching them with their new foster homes, and giving them the love they haven't received before but so badly need and deserve.  We took home our first foster puppy, Delia, and couldn't be more smitten with her.  It will be difficult to say goodbye to her when she is placed her with her forever family, but fostering her and having to say goodbye is so much better than the alternative (euthanasia).

This is the sweet little girl who has stolen our hearts and is making herself comfortable in our home (and my lap, right now) for the time being.  She is 12 weeks old and cute as can be.  Her mother was shot in front of her three brothers and her, so they became mother-less very early.  Thankfully, all four of them are placed in loving foster homes right now to give them the love and security they need.  I keep telling her (and myself) that the worst part of her life is over - she is safe now.

Day Twelve: The good old days

In today's challenge, we're supposed to write about something that we miss.  For me, I would give just about anything to go back to elementary school for even a day.

Kindergarten Brynn

I absolutely loved school when I was growing up.  From kindergarten on, I never complained about going to school.  I mentioned in my first blog post of this challenge that I loved reading, and school involved a lot of reading...I was set!  I loved learning about different cultures, history, plants, animals, math...I soaked it all in.

First day of 1st grade

I was lucky to grow up in an amazing school district (ranked second in the state of Minnesota!) and I had so many incredible teachers.  As a gifted child, they challenged me and pushed me and kept me engaged in class material.  As a shy little girl, they knew how to reach out to me and help me become more outspoken.  As an overly confident 4th-6th grader, they taught me the importance of humility and taking turns (and raising my hand...I was a "blurter").  They are what inspired me to want to work in the public school system and change lives.

My 9th birthday...A teddy bear birthday party complete with a super cool vest, made by my mom!

I miss the structure and variety of elementary school.  I miss having all the time in the world to read books, spend time with friends, and hang out with my family.  I miss the innocence of childhood.  I never felt truly scared of the world we live in until having to practice lock downs in 6th grade after Columbine, or watching coverage of 9/11 in 8th grade.  I miss how easy it was to make friends, and how quickly you made up if you got in a fight over who got to play with the only Barbie whose head hadn't fallen off (their necks just never looked the same after that...) or the only Beanie Baby that still had it's tag on (everyone knows they're worthless after the tag gets damaged).

4th grade piano recital with my brother and cousin.  I especially like my pioneer chic dress and neon watch.

I am so excited to be interning in an elementary school this upcoming year.  I will get to relive some of the most happy and magical times of my life and see young children learn, develop, and grow just like I got to.  I am so, so excited for this.

Day Ten: Embarrassment

Tank: Old Navy Blazer: Thrifted Calvin Klein Jeans: NY&C Shoes: TOMS Necklace: F21

Ugh, remember when I complained about blazers being hard to photograph?  Well....there's a reason this crappy shot is the picture for today.  This was the best one of the bunch.  Ew, not a fan.  Oh well!  I liked this outfit so bear with the bad picture!  It's casual Friday in the office, but I was conducting interviews, so I wanted to look a little professional.  So I went with business on the top, weekend on the bottom.  It kind of works, right?

Thanks to Blog Every Day in May, I'm sharing my most embarrassing moment with y'all today.  Please don't judge me too harshly.

I peed my pants twice during my junior year in high school.  Once was in Target, laughing at fart humor (I think farts are funny, okay??).  Once was at my friend's house, when my friend got shot off the back of a treadmill (she was completely fine).  And I was wearing overalls for that second one.  Not quite sure what's more embarrassing...the peeing of the pants, or the fact that I was wearing overalls in high school...

Day Nine: Moment in My Day...

Shirt: Target Pants: TJ Maxx Scarf: Old Navy Flats: Payless

I love this outfit.  I haven't worn my teal skinnies in a while, and I thought they would look great with my pretty lace shirt.  I was going to wear a necklace, but since it's rainy and chilly outside today, I thought a scarf would provide a little extra warmth!

It's Day 9 of the Blog Every Day in May challenge, and today's prompt is to show a moment of your day.

I went to the gym this morning and afterwards, worked on this painting that I'm donating to an auction. It's only about halfway done at this point, but I love it.  I'm a newbie painter...I've only painted about 6 paintings so far, but I love it and I'm happy with how its turning out.  I'd love to take a class some time, to learn actually how to paint...but I'm getting along well right now, being self-taught!!

I'm about to head out to the animal shelter I volunteer at for the afternoon, and this evening, I'm going to a local Mexican restaurant for margaritas with the girls in my grad school cohort.  I'm pretty excited!!

Day Eight: Advice.

Tee: Target Skirt: Target Shoes: Payless Necklace: From Mom

I absolutely love this outfit.  I wanted to wear a fuller skirt today, and this chambray skirt with pockets called to me from my closet this morning!  I also wanted to finally break out my new sandal wedges, so I thought I'd keep the other elements of my outfit focused on black.  I love how this turned out - I feel cute and put together and sassy.  I'm also having a fantastic hair day - I cut it over the weekend and it's quite a bit shorter than it was (particularly in the back, which you can't see here).  I love having a good hair day.

The prompt for today's Blog Every Day in May challenge is to give some advice.  Well, as an aspiring school counselor, we have been taught time and time again that we are not professional advice-givers.  After a year of graduate school, it feels weird to give advice.  But I'll pass on a nugget of wisdom that has been really helpful and motivating to me in my adulthood!

Find a cause that you are passionate about and do something about it.  In a world where there is so much injustice, inequality, and negativity, it feels amazing to make a difference.  Give your time by volunteering or give your money by making donations, or spread the word by advocating for others and educating people who may not know about the cause that you're interested in.  I know I talk about this all the time, but animal rescue is the thing I am most passionate about.  I have done plenty of research on animal rescue and talk to people about it all the time (for instance, I talk about the importance of spaying or neutering your pets).  I volunteer at the local animal shelter on adoption days and help place animals in their forever homes.  And this weekend, Kevin and I are getting our first foster puppy from a high-kill shelter in Kentucky.  We don't have many details yet, but we're excited to share with you when we do know more!  I have never been this excited or passionate about something in my life, and I cannot wait to start saving the lives of innocent dogs!

Day Six: Dream Jobs

Dress: Old Navy Flats: Thrifted Target (new with tags) from Goodwill

So far, I've been really enjoying the Blog Every Day in May challenge.  It's been such a fun way to connect with other bloggers and share more about myself with all of you!  Today's topic is to share what you would do if you could do anything (not your current job).  If I couldn't be a school counselor, there are three careers I think I would really love.

1. House flipper.  Since I was a little kid, I've been interested in interior design and architecture.  I used to sit outside and draw house plans for fun, and my parents gave me an interior design computer game when I was like 12 years old that I LOVED.  I used to love playing the Sims, too (NERD ALERT), and my favorite part was designing the house.  HGTV used to be my favorite television station, and I was utterly obsessed with Trading Spaces.  [To be honest, I'm still a little bummed that show's not on anymore.  I was the biggest fan of Paige and Vern (and Hildi was craaazy, amiright?).]  I love going on walks around our little town to look at all the cute houses, and going to real estate websites to see interior floor plans and rooms and everything.  I think it would be super fun to buy houses, gut them and completely redesign the interiors, and then sell them for a profit.  SO FUN!

2. Run an animal rescue group.  I've always had a huge heart for animals.  My dad always jokes that I can never watch movies with "animals in peril" because they make me cry every single time.  Free Willy?  My Dog Skip?  Marley & Me?  Homeward Bound?  Where the Red Fern Grows (the book got me, too)?  Can't watch any of them without crying my face off.  I won't even watch Old Yeller because it will make me bawl. [True story: Kevin started talking to me about Old Yeller a few weeks ago and I started crying.  I'm such a softy.]  Anywaaays, after we adopted our pup, Pippin, I learned much more about the rescue organization that saved her.  I was completely shocked by the information I learned about animals and how many dogs are put down simply because they don't have room at shelters.  I want to have a huge house some day (well-decorated, of course) with a huge fenced backyard so I can rescue dogs from high-kill shelters and place them in their forever homes.  Aside from my dream to be a  school counselor and a mother, fostering and rescuing dogs is one of the things on my "must-do" list before I die.

3. Physical therapist.  I'm a ridiculously clumsy person, and have broken two bones before.  I broke my left collar bone in 8th grade (playing Red Rover during gym class...), and my left wrist about a year and a half ago (I was playing with Pippin on our bed and fell off...).  I needed surgery on my wrist to pin the bone back in place, and after six weeks in a cast, I began physical therapy to get my strength and range of motion back (I'm a lefty, I should add).  I fell in love with physical therapy.  I loved all the exercises my physical therapist helped me do.  I loved watching my progress from session to session.  I enjoyed watching other patients at the clinic make progress.  The physical therapists were so fun, encouraging, and personable, and I found myself thinking about physical therapy as a career.  How rewarding it would be to help patients overcome trauma, injury, and accidents and gain some freedom back!!  I've always been interested in the medical field, but I'm insanely squeamish about blood, needles, etc., so physical therapy would be a good venue for me in the health care industry!

What would you do, if you could do anything?!

Day Four: Be the change...

Today's prompt for the Blog Every Day in May challenge is to write about a favorite quote and why you love it.

This is one of my favorite quotes: "Be the change you wish to see in the world..."  I remember the first time I heard it.  I was in junior high, and it just struck me.  I was not really in tune to the world around me at the time - everything was centered around school, music, boys, friends, and Nsync.  I remember having to read the quote to myself a few times in order to fully understand its scope.  When it did finally hit me, it really stayed with me.

As I got older and started to pay attention to injustices and inequalities, I would get really upset with certain things, people, etc.  This quote reminds me that if I want the world to be a better, more peaceful, more equal place, I must fight to make it so.  I can't just sit around and whine about the things that bother me; I need to step up and change them myself.

I was at Kohls about four years ago, and I found this quote on a ring.  I bought it, and have worn it most days since then.  It's a constant reminder for me to make this world better.  Even though I am just one person and I may seem insignificant, if I can impact just one person, that's enough for me.

This quote is in the forefront in my mind in many capacities.  As an aspiring school counselor, I want to  change the lives of the students I work with and make their realities a little sunnier.  As a feminist, I want to do my part to make the work a better place for women.  As an LGBT ally, I want to help educate those around me to more fully understand the LGBT community and learn to accept and embrace all individuals.  Like I said earlier, if I want to make the world a better place, I need to take action to make that happen.

Day Three: Uncomfortable

Cardigan: Target Skirt: Old Navy Flats: Payless Necklace: Suuuper old...Target, maybe?

Today's topic for the Blog Every Day in May challenge is to discuss something that makes you uncomfortable.  I know that I feel uncomfortable about many things, but I had a hard time with this post.  I decided that rather than writing a lot about one thing, I'd make a little list about the things that make me feel uncomfortable.

• Wearing pants.  I've written about my general disdain for pants and how they make me feel, but wearing pants/shorts/capris make me feel physically uncomfortable.
• Being around drunk people.  True confession: I've never been drunk.  I have consumed alcohol (and love a good hard cider...mmm), but never enough to get drunk.  I personally don't see the appeal - it's expensive, it's a lot of empty calories, most alcohol doesn't taste good, I don't like the feeling of being out of control, I want to remember everything I've done, I hate throwing up, and hangovers do not sound fun.  I have been around plenty of drunk people before, and honestly, I don't really find them all that funny or entertaining.  They're either loud and obnoxious, angry and obnoxious, sullen and obnoxious, or obnoxiously crying.  I've seen too many people do things while drunk that make me embarrassed for them to think it's "cool."  With some recovering alcoholics in my family and circle of friends, I understand how dangerous alcohol can be, and when I see drunk people, it reminds me of the pain my family members and friends have gone through with their alcoholic loved ones.  [Related side note: It also makes me super uncomfortable when adults get drunk regularly and think every social gathering is an excuse to drink.]
• Watching sex scenes in movies with your parents or in-laws.  I'm not sure I need to really explain more about this.  I should say, however, that it is also pretty uncomfortable when your grandma asks you to explain to her what anal beads are and won't let it go until you do...or when the same grandma takes you to see Zoolander when you're in 7th grade, and asks you during this scene (scroll to 1:04) if you know what an erection is...
• Admitting that I'm wrong.  I like to be right about things, and I oftentimes am right about things (it's a part of my Myers Briggs personality type).  So, whenever I am wrong, it is awkward and difficult to admit that I'm wrong.  I can't really think of any examples right now off the top of my head, but just know that admitting that I'm wrong is super hard for me.  Maybe it's a pride thing, I don't know.
• Developing an adult relationship with family members.  Please tell me I'm not alone in this??  As I've gotten older, I've definitely grown and changed.  I'm not the same person I was when I was young (some things have stayed the same, but some things have absolutely shifted), but I sometimes think it is hard for my family to see that.  I don't need a mommy and a daddy anymore, but I still want my parents in my life.  I want to be seen as independent and successful, but I also want to know that my family is there if I need help.  I want to have adult conversations with family, and I want my extended family to acknowledge that I am an adult who is married, has a real job, has been living independently for years, and knows how to take care of myself.  This is a topic that I've actually talked about a lot with my counselors in the past - how to navigate this shifting relationship, and what I can do to make it more comfortable for me, but also  so that my family still knows that they are important in my life.  Have any of you experienced this, too??

Whew.

I'm also linking up with Marissa for the last day of her and Heidi's Pantone Color Challenge!

Day One: The Story of My Life

Sweater: Old Navy Pants: NY&C Boots: Target Scarf: JCPenney

I'm going to be participating in Jenni's Blog Every Day in May challenge.  I've seen challenges like this before and have always wanted to join in - now is my opportunity!  It's going to be fun to have a topic to write about each day (sometimes that's the hardest part about blogging for me - figuring out what to share with you all!), and I'm looking forward to the challenge of blogging each day, including weekends.

The first day of the challenge is to tell the story of your life in 250 words or less.  Here we go...

I was born 25 years ago, and my parents always say that I completed their family: they had their son and their daughter, and everyone was happy.  I was a shy, smart, wise little kid.  I started reading when I was three and spent most of my childhood with my nose in a book.  Music was another huge part of my life.  I sang all the time (and still do), and played piano, flute, and clarinet up through high school.

In high school, I was involved in theater, in both acting and stage crew roles.  While they don’t play a huge role in my life now, the people I met in theater had a huge impact on my life, and many of the issues I’m passionate about today can be traced back to them.

I attended college in St. Paul and LOVED it.  I reinvented myself in college and became a confident leader.  College was a time of deep struggles, but ultimately widespread growth.  Meeting Kevin was the best part of college and he continues to be the light in my world today.

We got married, moved to Iowa, and I worked in college admissions for two years before returning to Minnesota for graduate school.  Graduate school has confirmed my passion for helping students and I have learned so much about myself.  I see a wonderful life ahead of me, one in which I empower students, become a mother, develop close friendships, and rescue dogs.  Bring it on, life.

I'm also linking up with Day Three of the Pantone Color Challenge on Marissa's blog today!

Debbie

Tank: Old Navy Cardigan: Target Jeans: NY&C Flats: Payless Necklace: From Debbie

April 20th is a special day in my family.  It's the day that my mom's step-mom, Debbie, passed away from a nearly year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.  I've written about Debbie before, when talking about her love for polka dots, but I wanted to share more about her.

Debbie and my grandpa got married several years before I was born, so she was in my life from the moment I was born, and was very much my third grandma.  You couldn't have met a sweeter person.  Debbie had the most gentle spirit.  She was generous and loving, and although my brother, cousins, and I were not her biological grandchildren, she loved us like we were.

I am one of those weird people who saves old voicemails from people so I can listen to their voices whenever I want.  I have a voicemail that Debbie left me in the fall of 2009, about 6 months before she died.  We were getting together to celebrate my mom and dad's 25th wedding anniversary and she wanted to know what kind of cake everyone in my family liked.  At the time, she was battling her cancer, doing aggressive treatments and on a clinical trial, but she still wanted to make the celebration as special as possible - that's just the kind of person she was.  I love having this voicemail, and I listen to it often.  Sometimes I'll play it for my grandpa so he can hear her voice again, and he smiles the whole time.

This necklace was Debbie's.  When she died, she wanted me to have it.  It was a special necklace to her, and she wore it all the time.  I love wearing it, because it makes me feel close to her.  I had a dream about her after she died, and she was wearing this necklace in the dream.  I have worn it every year on the anniversary of her passing, and will continue to do so.

Here is a picture of Grandpa and Debbie on their 25th wedding anniversary - she's wearing the necklace :)  What a beautiful woman.