Summer = Magic

Elementry School Summers = Swimming, Ice Cream, and No School.

High School Summers = Beach, Tanning, Sleeping In, and Making $$.

College Summers = Concerts, Trips, Actually Sleeping, Pool, Beach, Working and Sometimes Summer School.

It's summertime and everyone is going to the beach, laying out by the pool. grilling' out, and getting tan...well I've been doing that all winter.

Some people prefer seasons, so they can enjoy each season as it comes and goes. I don't like cold weather one bit, so I don't mind living in a season-less state. I love being able to grill out and lay on the beach in November and wearing shorts year around. No, I do not go to the beach every day, I do have a job you know, but I do have some fun in the sun about every weekend.

The only think I miss about NC weather is the beginning of fall and spring. Where the weather is perfect, flowers are in full bloom or the leaves are changing colors, and the excitement of a new season (or fashion season). 

Well that perfect weather is winter in Florida, yes winter is actually nicer than summer here. Our summer is rainy, humid, and HOT. But hey, as long as I get to lay under a palm tree, eat grilled food, and enjoy the magic of summertime year around then I'm not complaining. 

Kids...

I have had ALOT of childcare experience, I started babysitting alone when I was 11 (yeah would you let a 11 year old watch your 6 month year old child?) and have taken care of basically every age. I still cannot believe the parents that let me babysit when I was 11-14, I must have been really trustworthy or they were just desperate. Over the years I have been asked some crazy, awkward questions from kids...

A 2 year old boy: "Erin you can't eat apples because boys eat apples and girls eat pizza." (pshh i wish)

"Boys get taken care of before girls, girls always go last." (well you're never going to get a girlfriend)

A 6 year old girl: "Erin are you engaged yet? (no not yet) "Well... you better get on that" (how old are you again?)

5 year old boy: "Can I see what color your panties are" (say whaaat?)

2 year old boy: "Erin I'm sorry I bit you but you made me so mad"

6 year old girl: "Why did my little brother get surgery on his pee pee?" (uhhh ummm...ask you Dad)

10 year old girl: "Do you think Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have sex?" (ummm...no because they aren't married!)

5 year old girl "Erin you have a huge booty, why is it so big?" (uhh genetics?)

4 year old boy "When I grow up I'm going to marry my sister." (Yeah I hope not...)
Get your foot off the table 2 year old boy:  "But I'm doing yoga" (not on the table your not)

And the one question everybody hates to answer...

"Where do babies come from?" (a stork brings them of course)

"Then how comes Mommies tummy's get so big?"

(uhh just ask your Mom)

There are so many crazy/awkward things kids have said to me, I just can't remember them all! Will add more if I do....

One Year

Changes in life are bittersweet, they always consist of goodbyes and new beginnings. While you are closing one door, another door always opens, even if it doesn't open right away. 

While I was looking at my fellow friends and classmates graduation pictures on Facebook, I started to reminisce  my own graduation...

 After finals, I was so ready to graduate that I wasn't really thinking what it would actually mean.As I waited to receive my diploma, it hit me. I was kissing the last 4 years of my life goodbye. My friends and I would be moving on and moving away. My life was about to change, it was about to begin. 

A year has gone by since I graduated from college. A lot can happen in a year and I would have never guessed that I'd be where I am now. I guess that's the thing with life, you plan for the future, think you know how it will turn out, but life all the sudden just hits you and well...you take it as it comes. 

The Scary Truth

Did you know:

Most restaurants lie about the calories in their dishes?

100 calorie packs actually are a worse snack because they include saturated fats, sugar, and artificial preservatives

White bread is crap (but we all know that)

Diet soda isn't really better for you

Regular peanut butter is better than reduced fat peanut butter

I could go on and on about how some "health food" really isn't healthy. When a product says 'sugar free' or 'reduced fat' see why and what they are replacing it with. For example sugar free will probably be replaced with some crap sweetener and reduced fat products usually include more sodium. 

Since I graduated college I started paying more attention to what I ate and what is in it. I'm not getting any younger and this body sure isn't getting any thinner and healthier by eating Bojangles and Cook Out (hey it was college don't judge!)

 Since I moved to Florida I have been way more health conscious. I have done a lot of research and well the truth is scary. I decided to give up fast food, because do you know what kinds of things are in that food? Yuck! Now I can't image eating at McDonald's because I just think about what I could be eating. Yes I do like to dine out, it's one of my favorite things to do but that is when I'm not counting calories and at a respected restaurant. 

However, I went to a nice restaurant Saturday night (no it wasn't Mexican) and woke up Sunday morning feeling awful and yes it's Tuesday and my stomach is still a mess...so I think I'll be cooking this weekend and the weekend after...and after.

Here are a couple ways I changed my diet:

I now buy organic dairy and produce. 

Rarely eat red meat

Eat fish 3-4 times a week

Eat a meat-free meal 4 times a week 

Rarely eat fast food 

Eat out once a week

Not only look at the calories but saturated fats, sugar, and carbs

Always bring my lunch to work

And I never skip a meal! (unless I'm sick)

Now if I eat something out of the norm, I get sick. So my change in diet is keeping me balanced and healthy and not wanting to eat junk!   

Thinking twice about what you put in your mouth now? I would...

A Friend is like..

A Friend is like a Good Bra...

hard to find

supportive 

comfortable

always lifts you up

makes you look better

and always close to your heart

Friendships like these never go out of style.

We may have had our moments, but they have only made us stronger. 

Some of my and their most important moments so far have been with these girls.

Graduated High School with Caitlin

Will stand by Lauren's side as she gets married this fall

Been friends with Caitlin & Lauren forever!

Held Erin's son when he was only 12 hours old

Many life changing conversations with Caroline

Graduated College with Pamela and Clar

Passed on my "children" to Catherine

Clar, Pamela, and Catherine were the last people I saw before I moved to FL

Miss all of you dearly!

Can ya'll just move to Florida already?

The Break Up

It's been a year since my breakup with coffee.

We were inseparable since I was 14

hot coffee, iced coffee, espresso, lattes, coffee ice cream, chocolate covered coffee beans, etc 

I drank a cup or two everyday, it is how I survived high school and college

or so I thought...

Then coffee stopped doing the things it use to for me...
I became immune to it's caffeine
it made me sick to my stomach
it gave me a headache

I started to realize that coffee and I needed to breakup, the relationship wasn't a healthy one anymore.
I threw coffee in the trash, but it wasn't easy. I kept going back to coffee, because without it I didn't know how to function.
Eventually I stopped going back to coffee and realized how far along I had actually come. I had became a more independent and stronger woman

Of course I replaced coffee with a much more responsible and refined... Green Tea.

Green Tea then became the love of my life and I am no longer in a dependent relationship with caffeine. I am now in a healthy relationship with a drink that is actually healthier for me and makes me a better person.

From time to time, I'll reminisce and drink a cup of coffee, only to realize why I gave it up in the first place. Sometimes the things you love aren't right for you, sometimes you just have to get through a transition in life to make you the person you are today.

(Like my comparison?)

All Dolled Up

I am a sucker for a 'little black dress.' I bought this black dress like 3 months ago from Love Culture and finally wore it Saturday night. It's all 'business in the front, party in the back'...as you can see. I'm obsessed with black lace fad going on right now, so this dress was screaming "Buy me Erin, I'm pretty!" I paired it with black heels, silver bangles, and long silver & black earrings. 

Doing makeup is my favorite part of getting ready (and yes I do wear makeup everyday). I love experimenting with makeup. My everyday look is gold, beige, or champagne colored eye shadow, brown eye liner, mascara, and a warm pink blush. 

On Saturday night I went a little more dramatic than usual. Black liquid eye liner on the top and teal on the bottom, with falsies mascara (which make my lashes look a mile long). Then completed the look with some light pink lip gloss. Thanks to Bare Essentials, Mac Cosmetics, and Maybelline :) 

Oh and Guillermo completed his natural look with an Express shirt ;)