Brother from another mother

A few weeks ago I had lunch with my oldest friend - as in the person I have stayed friends with for the longest time. This friend happens to be a male and he {R} is my absolute best friend. Even if we haven't seen each other in over 6 months, we can pick up right where we left off. Our friendship has been going on for over 10 years now and he just gets me. We graduated high school together, we graduated college around the same time (though we went to rival schools), and now we are finishing our graduate programs at the same time. Of all my friends, R is the only one who ever knew my Dad, even though it was just for a brief amount of time. My Dad passed away just before we started high school and that was around the time our friendship began. At first, I will admit, I had a crush on him, and he knew this. It never went any further than that though and I'm so happy for that. We played tennis together. We were the two best players of the freshman on our team. We went to the same tennis academy. We stuck together through all of high school. Some of my best high school memories are with him. I was crushed when he decided to go to a different college than I was going to. I had always thought we would go to college together because we were both big FSU fans, but he chose UF in the end. I made frequent trips to Gainesville my freshman year. It was just a 2 hour drive away and home was a 6 hour drive, but Gainesville was my home away from home, away from home, during that first year. It was like I was visiting my brother. That's what he has been to me.

I think God puts certain people in our life for certain reasons and I am so thankful for this friendship. I wouldn't trade it for the world. At times, throughout college, when we would go a couple of months without talking to each other, I would be worried that our friendship wasn't as important to him as it was to me. But he always has a way of proving to me that it is. We don't have a regular chatting schedule, but timing has been everything in our friendship. He helped me get through my first year of college. He helped me get through my first major breakup in college. When I dated my ex-boyfriend, deep down I knew it wouldn't work out because he told me he wasn't good enough for me. His opinion is important to me and he gives great advice when I'm having guy issues. I just feel so blessed to have a friend I can count on, and have been able to count on for most of my life now. 

I read this quote below and it is so fitting for our friendship.

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar ~ Robert Brault

Linking up: #yolomondays

First things first: 2

I am making an effort these next few weeks to gather my thoughts and work on some creative, well thought-out posts. I'm really going to try to hone in on what my focus is. I'm also starting a weekly series on Sundays called Trend Obsession. See this week's post about my love for all things maxi - skirts and dresses, that is.


Before I get to the rest of my post, I have to share this awesome giveaway Vanessa is hosting over at Ramblings of a Makeup and Shopping Addict. I feel her on the shopping addict thing! I have been eyeing the Naked palette for quite some time. As if I don't have enough eye-shadow already! It's seriously gorgeous.



For today, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join Halie at Penguins, Pasta, and Polka Dots for the weekly link-up: First Things First.


Today's topic is roommates. I had quite the roommate experiences in college. First, I lived with a high school classmate {Allie} who I didn't know very well. My second year I lived with a friend {Kelly} and two other girls, who were friends with each other. One of those girls was certified crazy. At one point we feared our lives. Someone was looking out for us because she moved out quickly enough and we got a really sweet girl that replaced her. My third year was rough. I lived with my brother and a girl I was friends with, and her friend. We had it out with each other quite often, usually my brother and I vs. them. I spent a lot of time at my boyfriend's apartment that year. Fourth year, I roomed with my friend {Kelly} again and it was a perfect experience. Soon enough, if I have a job, we plan to room together again, in our hometown this time.


1. First roommate(s)

A high school classmate named Allie. Our time living together was wild and to this day she is still the only person I have ever shared a room with! I've basically been a spoiled brat my whole life.

2. First time living away from home (when/where/why)

August 2006. Tallahassee, FL at FSU, because I was going to college.

3. First college dorm room (we want to see pictures and read explanations!) 


We lived in Southgate - an "off campus" dorm that set just opposite campus, right along a campus road. It cost more than it was worth to live there but I waited around until past the last minute to apply for housing, so it was this or an apartment off campus and my Mom was terrified of that idea. I don't really have any pictures of the room but here's two shots: looking at the door, and pretty much the opposite view from the same spot. We each had a desk, armoire, and bed. We left room in the middle for lots of activities. The nice part was: our own bathroom to share. No communal toilets or showers. The floor we lived on was co-ed. The air conditioner was either hot or cold and we rarely agreed on what temperature it should be set to. But that girl was great. I wouldn't have traded my college dorm room experience.

Allie and me

Kelly and me, in my dorm

Have you got any horrifying roommate experiences? What about a great roommate experience? Please share with me!

To ink or not to ink

I haven't really mentioned on my blog that my father passed away on July 29, 2002 - but now I am going to. I was daddy's little girl and I have not always handled his absence well. In memory of my dad, I want to get a tattoo. This is, in no way, an impulsive decision. I've considered what I wanted to get for a good 3 or 4 years now and I think the timing is right. I have a tattoo artist who has tattoo'ed some people I know and whose judgement I trust. I've talked to her about what I want. I almost went through with it back in November last year, but a few days before I was going to get it done, I came under the weather and got really sick. So I postponed it. Now I'm getting ready to graduate in about 5-6 weeks and I want to have this thing that will make me feel like my dad is with me for this special event. 

Thank you, Pinterest, for delivering these lovely images to me

The dove/bird pictured here is the only image I have seen that comes darn close to what I would like to permanently etch into my skin. It is almost exactly what I have been searching for. But maybe without all the curliness at the tail. 

I've researched the religious side of things. I don't attend church regularly. In fact, I haven't been to a church service in over 8 years. But, I do consider myself religious. I pray to God and thank Him for this life I have. I don't want to do something that is religiously wrong but I've given this a great deal of thought. I have had conversations with my Mom and brother about this. We even talked once or twice about getting something that matched but I doubt the three of us could ever agree on one single image. They are supportive of my decision, which is important, but not crucial to my decision. Which it ultimately is. My grandma (Mom's mom) and aunt (Mom's sister) know that I want this and don't disagree with my decision. I've told my uncle (Dad's brother) and his family and they don't disagree either. My biggest fear for disapproval of this decision is my grandmother (Dad's mom) because she is "old school" German and stubborn. {People tell me I am just like her.} The concern my family members have expressed is the idea that once you get one, it's easy to get another, and another, and another.  And I get this point that they have made. Maybe I will get multiple tattoos. I love feathers and it would represent my Native American ancestry. I would also love something for FSU. Maybe the feather could count, or maybe I could get a tomahawk. I also love arrows. A paw print would have special meaning as well. I think tattoos can be beautiful without going overboard. I think if it means something to you and isn't just an expression of rebellion nor a drunken mistake, then it is okay. 

Ultimately, it is my body and I will do with it what I please. 

What are your thoughts on tattoos???