Where'd All The Good People Go?

After a long day of work last week, I wrote a blog post titled "The Most Annoying People in the Whole Freakin' World." I was cranky and I had been on one of my "I hate living in Mississippi with all of these stupid, ignorant people" streaks for a week or so. (Yes, I realize there are people like that everywhere. Now is not the time for you to mention that. They are worse here. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

I was at the very end of my Rope of Sanity. Where'd all the good people go? (Anyone else singing the Jack Johnson song? No? Just me?)

Anyway, I was on my way to JC yesterday to take my last online biology test that had to be proctored. It was at 1:00 and my dad had come home to watch the 4 kids that I'm a nanny for. I was thinking about how annoying people are and trying to drive through the ridiculous storm, when all of a sudden my car stopped. I was pressing the gas but my car was slowing down. I pulled over on the side of Highway 90 in Gautier while screaming every cuss word I could think of. I turned off my car and tried to restart it, but of course it wouldn't. I tried to call my dad and four more people after that, but of COURSE my phone wasn't working because of the bad weather. Between my intense fear of thunder/lightning and failing a class, I was pretty sure I was going to die so I figured I might as well melt down. Right in the middle of cussing out Mother Nature, a truck pulled over in front of me and a guy, who had to be in his early 20s maybe (and was CUTE), was coming to tap on my window. Oh GREAT, I thought, first my car breaks down and now I'm going to get robbed and murdered. Not quite, paranoid Alexa, not quite.

Nice Boy: "Hey.. uh, do you need help? I was stopped at the red light and you looked like you were freaking out.. are you okay?"
Me: "NO! I AM NOT OKAY! I have a test in 15 minutes and I'm going to be late and I don't even know where the stupid building on that campus is and my car broke down and I don't know what the hell is wrong with it and my phone won't work and it's thundering and lightning and I CAN'T MISS MY TEST!"

Poor kid. He was being so nice and I was freaking the freak out. He told me to pull the lever thingy to pop my hood, and of course I (once again) couldn't find that stupid thing. It's seriously hidden in the weirdest spot. We were getting drenched while he did guy stuff and checked my car. He said everything was fine and I probably just hit too much water. So of course when he tried to start my car it started right up. Because my car hates me and likes to make me look stupid. I told him thank you and that I would be fine, but he insisted on following me to JC. I tried to follow the stupid JC signs and look for the building I'm supposed to go to, but eventually I just parked in a random parking lot. Sure enough, Nice Boy gets out of his car and we walk around until some maintenance guys finally tell us where to go. I was positive Nice Boy was waiting for the perfect moment to kill me.

Me: "Thanks for your help, but you don't have to walk with me. I'll figure it out."
Nice Boy: "It's really no problem, I just want to make sure you get to the right place."
Me: "Um.. okay, are you going to kidnap me and kill me or something? Because I kinda really need to take my test first.."
Nice Boy: (laughing) "No, but I think your priorities are a little out of order there."

I asked him if he had somewhere to be, and he tried to lie and say no. He was the sweetest thing! He was dressed nice like he had been at work and I'm almost 100% positive he was only on his lunch break or something. He kept doing the guy thing where he avoids the question and keeps saying, "Don't worry about it, it's not big deal." Stupid boys. I felt so bad!

Finally, at 1:15 we walked into the quiet test center. We were completely soaked with water dripping from our clothes and oozing out of our shoes. I walked up to the lady with my ruined notes in my hand and nicely explained why I was late. Her response? "Too bad. You're late. You should have left earlier." Oh. No. She. Didn't. It wasn't like everyone was there to take the same test. It was people taking different tests for different online classes on computers that were being monitored. There were plenty of available computers left. I felt the last string of my sanity pop and I started yelling. Are you picturing this? A random girl, soaking wet, yelling at this stupid lady. I guess I scared her enough, because she went to get someone else after trying to tell me that she didn't believe me again. I heard her tell the man, "This girl claims that her car broke down and that it's raining really hard outside." Here goes crazy Alexa again. "Claims?! CLAIMS?! ARE YOU STUPID?! Do you not hear the storm happening outside?! I am soaking wet with this nice stranger who helped me get here just so I could take a stupid test! I AM NOT LEAVING UNTIL I TAKE MY FREAKIN TEST!!" Everyone was watching the crazy lady making a scene. Nice Boy made some nice comment and explained the situation in a nicer voice while I continued to give the stupid lady my best death glare. The man finally said, "I think we can make an exception with all of the bad weather going on." Uhh, YA THINK?

So Nice Boy saved the day, Stupid Lady didn't get her way, and I got to take my test. I told Nice Boy that I would give him half of my money if I ever win the lottery. He settled for a hug and my one million thank yous instead. I keep calling him Nice Boy because I somehow missed his name. I think it started with a J. He might have mumbled it on the side of the highway, but I was too busy worrying about my test. I'm sure he mumbled it though. Damn boys and their damn mumbling.

All ridiculousness and sarcasm aside, though, I really am so thankful for Nice Boy. There are a lot of ignorant, annoying, awful people in the world, but there are some really good ones too. I finally had just a little more faith in humanity, and then I woke up on Friday morning to the news about the Colorado shooting. I've always thought about what I would do if someone started shooting while I was at the movies, but I always thought it was just another one of my silly, irrational fears. I guess that's just the way life goes though, right? We can't let the bad ones make us forget about all of the good ones. We COULD make some better gun laws, but that's another rant for another time.

It's so cliche to say that life is short. That's probably my least favorite popular phrase. But it's so easy for us to forget that something like that can happen to anyone. We spend so much time focusing on work, college, who we're going to marry, and how successful we're going to be. I don't want to put important things on the back burner just so I can focus on things like that. Obviously going to college, getting a good job, and having my own family is important to me, but I don't want to miss out on enjoying the here and now either. My least favorite part of growing up is not getting to see my family enough, knowing that anything could happen to any of us one day. I'm always torn between wanting to go on my own adventures, but not wanting to miss out on anything at home either. I like being one of those weird families that's close and actually likes spending time with each other. I like that people think it's weird because I actually talk to my siblings quite frequently and not just when something bad has happened in the family. It's never a surprise to get a "just because" call from my aunt, or a "thinking of you" card from one of my cousins. I love that.

It's important to me that I eventually settle down as close to my parents and siblings as possible, wherever that may be. I want my kids to grow up the way I did. Having cousins who are also their friends, and having all of their family around them. Never having to wonder what they're missing out on or what it's like to grow up with a big, loving family that likes to hug each other a lot. Just in case that whatever is supposed to be on the other side of this life isn't there.

You know, it's a good thing my family likes me. Especially my parents, because I'll never stray too far from home. And especially JT and Zoe, because they are and will always be my favorite people. And because if my life plan doesn't work out, they play a big part in my back up plan. ;)

Basically, they'd be extra screwed if they didn't like me. 

I know they are all reading this because I come from a family of professional stalkers. My mom and I always say that we could probably work for the FBI. I love you all way too much, and that is the only explanation I have for all of my craziness.

I've been spending so much time wondering where all the good people have gone, when they've really just been right in front of me the whole time.

Hug your family, babies, and friends. And if you see a person freaking out on the side of the highway, stop and help them if you can. They probably aren't as psychotic as they look.

:)

Five Things My Daddy Taught Me

Everything I've learned from my daddy so far:

1. All those years growing up, a girl's dad always talks about how he's going to threaten.. ahem.. "warn" his little girl's date, boyfriend, or any male that comes within 100 feet of his baby girl. He is not joking, people. My freshman homecoming, freshman prom, and junior prom all started with my wonderful date coming to pick me up from my house, and my dear father saying, "You know.. I have a gun in my closet.. and I know where you live.." Ahem. Let me clear a few things up. 1) That gun is a bajillion years old and they probably don't even make bullets for it anymore. And 2) Of COURSE he knew where they all lived.. THEY WERE HIS STUDENTS! Awkward.

2. One of the most important things to have in life is a sense of humor. My dad is always laughing, that's for sure. He laughs at my jokes, he laughs when I make fun of my mom, and he ALWAYS laughs when I ask for money. I think he's confused about when I'm joking and when I'm serious.

3. For years my dad has been bribing me to do things by saying, "Just think of that beautiful wedding dress I'm going to buy you one day!" When I would make fun of him or not want to do something he would say, "That's $100 off of your wedding dress! I hope your future husband likes potato sacks.. because it looks like that's what you'll be wearing!" So, what did I learn from this? If a man bribes you with money or a pretty dress, do whatever he says! Thanks, Daddy! [I kid.. I kid.. :)]

4. If you do something you love, you will always be happy. For example: I LOVE eating ice cream.. I LOVE giving my parents gray hair.. and I LOVE picking on my little sister. Ya know, this man is a lot smarter than I thought. ;)

5. The day of my graduation, my school had a senior luncheon. I knew teachers did skits, but I was NOT prepared for my dad to walk onto the stage. You know those dreams teenage girls have about their parents embarrassing them in front of the whole school? I had spent all 4 years of my high school at the school my dad taught at and never had to worry about that.. until my senior luncheon. My dad and his band director friends used their musical talents and came up with a song. The title? "If You Touch My Daughter You'll Meet Jesus Tonight." I truly couldn't make this up if I tried. The moral of the story: my daddy will always keep mean boys away from me.. or any boy, apparently. No worries about that wedding dress, because it looks like after that skit I will be FOREVER ALONE.

..you didn't really think I was making that up, did you?
I really wish it was only 30 seconds long, but that's just a clip. It was at least a 3 minute song. It had more than one verse. And a chorus. And ACTUAL SHEET MUSIC. I couldn't have just been blessed with a boring engineer for a dad, huh?

But all embarrassing moments aside, I'd say I'm a pretty lucky girl. Everyone always tells me how great of a band director he is, but what they don't know is that he's an even better dad. Happy Father's Day, Dad. You will always be the only man I let call me a vegetable, and I love you as far as the number line goes.

Love, your Sweet Peas

PS- If you are a cute boy and you are reading this, that crazy man is all talk. He's a big softy! Now, my big brother.. well, that's another story for a different day. :)

Fifty Shades of Summer.

Hi, my sweet blog peeps. :) It's certainly been a while since I gave you all a small dose of my silly life. I didn't realize how long it's been until earlier when I was catching up on all of the blogs I like to stalk. I usually try to keep a general theme in my posts, even though most of them usually have one thing in common: a ridiculously embarrassing story to give you a good laugh and maybe make you feel a little better about your life. I mean, hey.. if you are prone to embarrassing yourself, you might as well learn to laugh at yourself and give others the opportunity to laugh at you too, right? :) I try not to ramble too much or drone on about anything boring. I really started this blog thing for myself, so I forget that people actually read it until I check my blog views or read all of your sweet comments and messages. I just love to write, and have an intense fear of forgetting little things that have happened in my life. By the way, if you see me in person and mention my blog, I'll probably be slightly awkward and just laugh and say lots of, "Umm.. oh.. errr.." because I never know how to respond. What was I talking about? Oh, right.. rambling. :)

Anyway. I don't really have a general theme for this one. It's kind of just a dump of everything that's been happening or on my mind lately. Ever since I got home from school at the beginning of May, I've felt like I've been on the playground monkey bars. Swinging from one event to the next while desperately trying to hold on to every perfect moment (in monkey bar form) without losing my grip and falling off. So how about we switch it up and do bullet points this time! Sound good? Well, it doesn't matter.. because it's my blog. I call the shots. Duh.

• First of all, I have to brag a little bit. My big brother graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. I flew up a few days early and had the best time with JT and Karley! I love it up there. Anyway, in just two short years JT accomplished more than some people do in 4 or 5 years. Or ever. He was president of the McIntire Commerce Group and receive the 21 Society Award for achievement and leadership. It was given to only 21 4th years.. out of like, 6000. It's a HUGE honor and I am so proud! Although, if you know JT, none of this should surprise you. :) He starts his new job in August, so he and Karley will be moving there later this summer. He's a wonderful role model, an even better big brother, and the greatest best friend. Love ya, J!

•  After our Virginia adventure, JT and Karley came home and the Cacibaudas were off to Disney World yet again! It was my 17th time this year, and it truly never gets old. Each trip is a new adventure. This year we took on Disney World with a side of tropical storm rain. It didn't matter though, we still had a blast! We even ate lunch inside Cinderella's Castle with the princesses again. Never underestimate the power and determination of Rose Cacibauda. Thanks, mom. :) If you want to do Disney right, do it with the Cacibaudas. We are pros. 

• Our Disney trip ended quickly and we were slammed back into reality. An online biology class, student loans, and no one to tell you to have a magical day every five minutes. I'm on a very annoying hunt for a job, because the one I had fell through. Gag. 

•  I'm a Cacibauda, so I'm programmed to HATE when things change. Obviously this has always been and will always be a problem, but it's an even bigger problem when you're in college. Why? Because nothing stays the same. Your weight, your relationships with people, the way your hair looks in the morning. (Okay, actually that last one hasn't changed. My hair is always a mess.) But seriously. If my body wants to be skinny, it needs to stop going all psycho on me. And if you're going to waltz or tango into my life and be a person that I actually give two flips about, stay put. You can't just waltz or tango wherever you please. Do people think they have free will or something these days? I NEED SOME CONSISTENCY, PEOPLE!  Rant over.

•  Has anyone read Fifty Shades of Grey? Here's my rule about the books I read: if people I know who HATE to read and never read for fun tell me to read a book/series, I usually don't read it. It's usually just a book/series that is temporarily popular and absolutely sucks. Not always, but 98% of the time. Everyone kept telling me to read this book, so I found the pdf online and started reading/skimming. Let me just say that I will never get those few hours of my life back. Christian is SO controlling and awful and psycho. The only thing I liked was Ana's sarcasm. She was funny sometimes. I'll admit that every now and then I would catch myself getting all girly and smiling when Christian was being nice and saying he cared about her and all of that gag-worthy nonsense, but eventually he would stop being nice and I would snap out of it. Just like with boys in real life! Ya know, they don't seem to be that different in books. But seriously. Is there something I'm missing? (Do NOT say, "Oh, Alexa, he loves her! Don't you have feelings?" NOPE. No I do not. Feelings are for people who enjoy that gut-wrenching feeling that comes after the end of something that was temporarily good. Duh.) All it taught me was that girls are idiots and somehow think it's okay to be a half girlfriend/half sex slave to a rich, controlling man that's a smooth talker. We are killing trees so we can publish books like THAT? It would be easier to just tell people to watch some porn. It won't take you as long and we'll be saving the trees. Win/win. If you liked the book, well.. sorry I'm not sorry. There are PLENTY of other fantastic books you could be reading!

Well. That's all I got. If you read all of that, props to you.

Over and out. And have a magical day. :)

Life at Critz

My freshman year of college is basically over. I'm done with classes, I've packed up most of my room, and I've started studying for my three finals. 9 months ago, I was crying because my parents were leaving my terrified, non-girly self at a big school where I was going to have to live in a room the size of a closet and share a bathroom with 30 girls. Now, I'm crying because I'm taking down pictures and packing up my room as I listen to Drue cry, "Things aren't ever going to be like this again!"

Did you know that your whole life can flip upside down and then do one of those corkscrew things like on Rockin' Roller Coaster in 9 months? I didn't. I didn't know that I could make friends, lose friends, and start a "People to Avoid in Starkville" list in 9 months. I didn't know that I could learn to appreciate my parents and free food so quickly. I didn't know that I could end up caring about people I've only known for less than a year more than people I've known since Kindergarten. And I certainly didn't know that people I used to see all the time could end up being people that I only see when I awkwardly run into them on campus. How does all of that happen in 9 months? That's like 274 days. 6,576 hours.

I always thought that once I started college, everything would start to become concrete. My friends, my views on everything, my life plan. Obviously my concrete is still in liquid form, because everything seems to be temporary. I was so desperate to get away from high school and Ocean Springs that I guess I thought college would be nothing but smiles and sunshine. Uhh.. yeah.. it's NOT like that. There are lots of smiles and sunshine, but there are also lots of haven't-slept-in-three-days meltdowns and lots of rain. But there's something that surprised me more than everything I've babbled about, and that's how much I have fallen in love with Crappy Critz and the girls on my hall. 

Studying, Cowbell Yell, and Football Weekends

I was NOT looking forward to living on a hall with 30 other girls. I had no idea what I was getting into, and I was beyond terrified. I heard, "I'm so sorry!" and "You're living in CRITZ?! Oh.. my.." and lots of other awful things after I found out my housing assignment. I laugh every time I think about the first time I walked into our room and Jen and I gave each other a look that said WE ARE GOING TO DIE. But here I am 9 months later. Still alive, and so thankful I was put in Critz. Sure, it smells like baby formula/vomit most of the time, there's always someone obnoxiously screaming, and the bathrooms are G-R-O-S-S, but it's an adventure.

Painting shower curtains, Pretty Little Liars jokes, Local Culture, Bulldog Bash, & Stephanie's convertible

I really don't even know how it happened, but some of those girls have become part of my family. We spent so much of this whole year together. We watched each other's Cute Boy from Class turn into Boy That Actually Knows I Exist, jumped around excitedly after someone got back from a successful date party, and knew that hearing someone yell, "UGGGHHH WHYYYY" meant they needed a hug. We look out for each other, whether someone needs a DD, chocolate, or a "screw him, he's stupid anyway!"

Chinese in the hallway, trying to drive to Waffle House at 2am, Cowbell Yell, & birthday dinners

I love going back to my room knowing that someone will have their door open. I love our dinner dates, movie nights, and middle of the night study parties. I love jamming out/talking while trying to make the best of those disgusting showers. I love our weird sayings (Well Hells Bells.. thanks, Audra!) and making sure Morgan has showered. (No worries, she does. ;) LOVE YOU, MORGAN!) I love sitting in the hallway with Drue at 3am because we're hyper and our roomies are sleeping. I love hearing people say, "You are so lucky. My hall is not like that at all." They really are a blessing and this year would have been SO different without them.

Cookie dough bites, Sonic, Public Speaking videos, and fun nights out

 

Super Bulldog Weekend. Pass out at 3, wake up at 10, go out to eat & do it again ;)

 I really don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to these incredible girls next week. I thought living with a bunch of girls was going to be annoying. Sure, we get into spazzy arguments, take our bad moods out on each other, help each other procrastinate, and wrestle in the hallway (ahem.. Drue & Stephanie..). But I mean, we ARE still girls. What do you expect? :) It's like having a bunch of sisters. Sharing clothes, doing hair & makeup together before going out, eating ice cream, watching girly movies, complaining about boys.. that girly stuff totally happens. The movies weren't lying about that part!

Alright, I'm done with this sappy thing. Does this whole having feelings thing come with age, or have I just been around too many girls for too long? Ugh. I can't believe my freshman year is ending, but I'm so glad that these girls were such a big part of it. I can't wait to see what next year has in store for us, even if we won't be living right across the hall from each other. I love all of you so much!

The picture that's in our hallway. :) through sickness & in health.

We're not here for a long time, but we're here for a good time. :)

A Terrible Case of the Alexa Funk

I am in an Alexa Funk. I absolutely HATE Alexa Funks. They generally come out of nowhere and overstay their welcome. The symptoms of an Alexa Funk are usually aimlessly walking around Walmart, obsessively cleaning for fun, and craving sleep. And there is NO cure of any kind. It comes around when it wants to and leaves after it has made my life a little more complicated. Kinda like thunderstorms on long class days. And boys.

I'm a night owl with a terrible, annoying case of insomnia. I LOVE to be awake, especially at night. But a week or so ago, I felt weird so I took some of my sleepy pills and got a good 10 hours of sleep. I woke up and, for the rest of the day, couldn't think about anything other than going back to sleep. Not because I was tired, just because I didn't want to be awake. Not in the depressed/I-don't-want-to-be-alive kind of way, just in the Alexa Funk kind of way. Then, I went to get a few things from Walmart and walked around aimlessly for OVER AN HOUR. And it wasn't just because those damn workers moved everything around again! If you know me, you know that I would rather drive nails up my arm (Steel Magnolias? Anyone?) than go to that place filled with psychotic mothers, screaming babies, and sketchy workers. If that doesn't scream Alexa Funk, just wait. It gets better. After Walmart, I came back to my closet-sized dorm room and cleaned the already spotless room. FOR FUN. I'm all about good hygiene and being clean, but let's not forget that I'm Rose Cacibauda's daughter. We are germ freaks and like to be clean, but we do NOT clean for fun. So in the middle of getting high off of Clorox wipes and wiping down the walls.. BAM. It hit me. Sleep, Walmart, cleaning for fun. That practically screams Alexa Funk.

Two weeks later, the Alexa Funk is STILL HERE! And this time it came with a side of homesickness, which explains the "my-internal-organs-just-got-pelted-with-stones" feeling. I thought I was just getting sick, but it went away as soon as I pulled into my driveway last weekend. Pre-college Alexa being homesick would not be surprising to anyone, but college Alexa doesn't get homesick! But suddenly I feel like Starkville is one of those choker necklaces that used to be in style. IT'S SUFFOCATING ME. But nothing is wrong! Nothing. My nonexistent boyfriend didn't dump me, I haven't made below an A on anything this semester, and I haven't been embarrassing myself anymore than usual. Girl World is still terribly confusing/stupid and I keep getting better at letting people walk all over me, but I'm also pretty good at being sarcastic and punching people in the face, so I think I'll manage. :) I am incredibly blessed in a million and ten ways, so what in the WORLD is going on?!

I've been doing ev-er-y-thing to try and make this Alexa Funk go away. Watching cheesy movies, running until my poor dysfunctional lungs stop working, letting some random guy teach me how to use the punching bag at the Sanderson. All kinds of weird things. I guess I could try those pills I got from the guy in the Walmart parking lot...

Just kidding. It was the Kroger parking lot. :)

In other news.. I've willingly listened to Justin Bieber's new song too many times, almost used the word "y'all" the other day, and miiiiiiight be considering taking out another loan and picking up another job so I can go through Rush in the fall. Yes.. Rush. For a sorority. A big group of girls. I know. (I also haven't told my mom yet because I couldn't form the words. So if you're reading this, Mom.. um.. surprise? Now just pretend I told you I'm moving to Russia, becoming a stripper, and having a baby. Now it doesn't seem so bad!)

I think I'm going through a midlife crisis.

My Built-In Best Friend

If you were to look through my recent calls list on my phone, "Mom" would probably appear on the list more than any other name. If you were somehow able to find out which word comes out of my mouth the most, I am 95% sure that it would probably be "Mom." (Well, that and antidisestablishmentarianism. I just love saying that word!)

MOM!!! I should call my mom. I bet my mom would know. I can't wait to tell my mom! Where's Mom? Is Mom busy? I need Mom. My mom would love this. Mom, I don't know what to do. Mom, can you help me? MOM, will you PUH-LEASE hang on and let me finish?! (and my personal favorite..) OhmyJesusMaryandJoseph, I am just like my mother.

My mom is awesome. Even that is an understatement. My siblings and I were given an INCREDIBLE childhood. Every birthday was treated like a national holiday and there was always a party going on at Casa de Cacibauda. We had Back To School parties, Summer parties, Just Because It's Saturday parties. Our house was one of those houses. You know, the one that all of the neighborhood kids spent their time at. Toys everywhere, music playing, and always a bunch of loud, wild kids running in and out of the house. Oh, and the wonderful sound of someone screaming/crying and yelling, "HE/SHE STARTED IT!" Yep. That was us. Never a dull moment. Never.

I have ALWAYS been a mama's girl. Lord help anyone that ever tried to take me away from my mom. Throughout my ENTIRE senior year up until the day I left for college, I constantly heard, "I can't believe you are going so far away from your mom! You know she can't drive that far every time you miss her, right?" Ahem. WELL. First of all, 4 hours isn't that far. JT is 14 hours away, so the Cacibauda clan is familiar with the whole distance thing. But I guess if you're not going to junior college, everyone thinks you are going far away. And second, my mom probably wouldn't drive up every time I missed her, but I'd bet a million bucks that she would already be halfway here by the time I even finished telling her that I needed her here.

Why? Because that's just the kind of mom she is. And even though I always wanted to roll my eyes every time someone asked me how I would survive without my mom, I wondered the same thing. I was surprised at how easily I adjusted to being on my own, but then I realized I'm not really without my mom. She's still my go-to girl. Bad grade after studying all night? Call mom. Happy, exciting news? Call mom. Positive that I don't know what I'm doing and feel like my life is in shambles? Helllloo, mother. Even though she just about always has an answer, I don't always need one. Sometimes after a long day of failing miserably at everything except embarrassing myself, I just want to hear a familiar voice. Does that make me feel like I'm 5? Yep. Do I care? Nope. I used to just roll my eyes (ya know.. I think I roll my eyes a lot. oops.) every time I heard, "One day your mom is going to be your best friend," but it's SO TRUE! I didn't even realize it until our phone conversations went from talking about laundry and how to cook something, to dating and the adventures of non-girly Alexa living on a hall of girls.

Having a mom as a built-in best friend is great. Okay, most of the time. Is it great when I'm at home and she's telling me to get my stuff out of the living room for the 75th time? Uh, no. I mean really, who wants a best friend like that? Just kidding. Kind of. :) But I can gossip, vent, and ramble about a boy if I feel like it, because really.. who is she going to tell? Well, besides anyone that asks, "How's college?" Before I can make a sound, her and my sister appear out of nowhere and chime in as if they have been living up here with me. She loves it! She's studying Elementary Ed. Yep, all grown up.. she only misses us sometimes. SHE'S LYING, SHE LIKES A BOYYYY. 

But that's okay, she's pretty great so I think I'll keep her around. ;) I might as well take notes, because I'm her spitting image. My attitude, uncooperative curly hair, and stubbornness all comes from her. You can thank her for my sarcasm too. :) But I think she gave me some pretty great things too, like her independence, and a big heart full of good intentions. I can only imagine how much more alike we will become as I get older, if that's even possible. I think I'm okay with that though. If I can at least be HALF as great as she is when I'm a mom, I'll be okay for sure.

Happy Birthday, Mom. Even though sometimes you only get to see me rolling my eyes at you or throwing a fit about something silly, I still remember to count my blessings every night as I'm falling asleep. And you're always at the very tippy top. :)

I love you to the moon and back!

PS- Dad, if you're reading this, I know Mom can't take all of the credit. But it's not your birthday. :) xoxo

Rocks Are Pretty Too

rock (n.): the solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the earth and other planets; a large mass of stone

diamond (n.): a precious stone consisting of a clear and typically colorless crystalline form of pure carbon, the hardest naturally occurring substance

Wanna know what happens when a rock is put under a lot of pressure for a long time? It becomes a diamond. A beautiful, beautiful diamond.

Wanna know something else?

I am absolutely, completely, totally, 100% okay with being a rock. Rocks are pretty too.

CLEARLY, my life does not currently understand this.

Anyone else think this week is going to go by painfully slow because spring break is almost here? Yeah, me too.

Laugh at my iPaint drawing skills. I dare you. :)

Love and big hugs!