Friend Makin' Monday : BFFs

Good morning, Poodles! Even though I'm not quite among the living after a long holiday weekend I'm still going to attempt some Friend Makin'.

The Friend Makin' this week is being hosted by Kelli at Outside My Kitchen Window. Head on over to her place to get the instructions and to link up if you feel like joining the fun. Kelli's task for this FMM is this:

Tell us about your BFF. How did you meet? Was it BFFs at first sight? How long have you been friends? What makes him/her your BFF? What is it about this person that makes him/her so special to you?

Now then, just because I'm a rule-breaker free spirit I'm going to bend this a little bit. I don't know that I can choose just one "BFF" in my life. God has blessed me with many amazing friends, and they all mean something a little different to me. So I'm going to spin this my own direction and introduce y'all to some of the most fantastic folks ever!

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My best long-term-been-there-through-thick-and-thin-knows-all-about-me-but-still-somehow-loves-me friend:

Jodi

Jo and I are BFFs that also just happen to be cousins. She is my partner in crime, but always manages to keep me out of trouble. Obviously, we go way back and our relationship shows it. She's incredibly intelligent, driven, motivated, and funny. Plus, she'll own your face in a game of basketball. Her drive and determination have always inspired me, and that determination (paired with God's grace) has gotten her into vet school working towards her dream career. I couldn't make a BFF list w/o Mugget.

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My best 12-year-long-give-it-to-me-straight-you're-going-to-hear-this-whether-you-like-it-or-not friend:

Jason

Jay and I have been friends since my sophomore year of high school and somehow our BFF-dom has just stuck through the years. He is one of those few people that are honest with me even when it's probably not very fun. He knows how I'll react to situations, he knows what I'm thinking, he knows what I'm about to say, and because he knows all of this he helps keep me in check. He's an amazing man of God and his self-discipline is part of what inspired me to train for my up-coming 5K. God has brought him a long way and I'm honored to have been part of that journey with him!

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My best compassionate-thoughtful-selfless-hilarious-sisters-separated-at-birth-cut-from-the-same-cloth-running-buddy friend:

Rachel

Although we haven't been friends quite as long as some of my other BFFs, Rach and I just "get" each other. We have similar pasts, we want similar futures, we find the same things funny, and we share about 1,478 inside jokes. I'm sure people that know us think we're attached at the hip sometimes. She is one of the sweetest and most thoughtful people I know. She loves her family immensely, and is truly a beautiful creation in Christ. She is truly a treasure that some man is going to be lucky to find someday. Our late-night tailgating sessions have done a lot for our relationship! :)

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My best motivational-straightforward-bubbly-direct-blunt-inspirational-smokin'-hot-bride-to-be friend:

Becky

We share a birthday and always joke that we're twins...born 2 years apart. We share the same bossy strong personality, and we would rather be dancing than doing almost anything else. Becky is such a motivator for me through all the 5K fun. It's been an honor and a privileged to be Becky's Maid of Honor and to help her plan her wedding. I'm so happy for her future with Nathan...even if it means him taking her 8+ hours away from The Foursome. I know God has big plans for her and I can't wait to see her grow and blend into her new role as Nathan's wife!

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My best world-traveling-globe-trotting-fabulously-cultured-intelligent-Godly-hilarious-words-of-wisdom-giving-domestic-diva friend:

Jenn

Jenn and I have grown closer over the past 6 months or so, and it's truly been a pleasure. She and I share the same love for cooking and all things domestic. She is one of the best cooks I know! She is intelligent, successful, motivated, self-sufficient, and beautiful! She puts her relationship with God first and always inspires me to do the same! I feel like I'm a more well-rounded person for knowing Jenn. I look forward to her emails every morning!

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Finally...

My best known-them-since-birth-put-them-through-hell-yet-they-love-me-the-same-always-in-my-corner-always-my-prayer-warriors-sound-advice-giving friends:

Tim, my Dad; Julie, my Mom; and Adam, my brother.

Being able to say that I count my family as some of my best friends has been a long time coming. We're a lot alike, and although that works to our advantage now, it hasn't always been that way. They have loved me fiercely since the day that I was born...even when it probably wasn't easy to feel that way. The fact that God has given us a second chance at a close relationship is a huge blessing in my life. I trust them completely, and I can't think of better advice-givers. I know that no matter what life brings me or where it takes me they will support me and pray for me.

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I would love to hear about who you hold near and dear! If you're not taking part in the Friend Makin' Monday fun then tell me, who is your BFF(s)? What makes them special? I'd love to hear about it!

Happy FMM,

Friend Makin' Monday : July 4th!

It's Monday, and it's time for another round of Friend Makin'! This week's FMM is hosted by Shawn @ Seriously.

If you're stopping by to get in on some of the FMM action, WELCOME! I'm so glad you're here! For the Poodles (and Moodles,) read up on my plans, and then let me know what yours are! Where are you going for the 4th? What are your traditions? I'd love to hear all about it!

Now, on with the Friend Makin'!



Shawn's wondering what we're doing for The 4th! She's gave us some questions and asked that we share about our plans, traditions, and other fun ideas for this year's Independence Day celebrations. Her questions went a little something like this....

What are you doing this July 4th?
This weekend is one I've been counting down towards for the past 3 months! Since Sparky gave us the day off on Friday I'll be boutique shopping with some girlfriends during the day. Rachel is crashing at my place Friday night so we can get up bright and shiny early on Saturday morning and drive up to this great little B&B about an hour from my place. Saturday night is when the fun starts...you see, Rachel and I will be attending a WRCA (Working Ranch Cowboy Association) Rodeo! These boys aren't weekend warriors -- accountants that strap on spurs and chaps and ride a bull once a week -- they're the real deal. Be still my heart!

What is your favorite dish to pass when attending a 4th of July party or summer barbecue?
If we stay home we're all about the typical Summer foods! One year we served ribs, corn on the cob, and watermelon...not a plate or fork in sight. We all ate bent over our knees in our lawn chairs...and it was fantastic!

Do you have any July 4th traditions?
When we were younger my Mom would give us each $20 and send us to the fireworks tent. We would spend the afternoon shooting off fireworks in the yard, and the evening watching the show in a little town 30 minutes from where we lived.

Share your favorite July 4th picture.

One of the traditions in the family after the rodeo is over is to spend Sunday sightseeing in Council Grove, and eating lunch at The Hays House. This picture was taken one Sunday, 3 years ago, on our excursion. It's Mandy, me, and Adam in a cave that was home to a monk in the 1800s. Seriously! :)

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That does it for this week's FMM! Be sure to visit Shawn at Seriously for more FMM fun!

Snorgs...

Friend Makin' Monday : Confessions

Welcome Poodles and Friend Makers alike, to a brand new week, and a brand new edition of.....




This week, Kasey has decided to wade in just a little bit deeper with FMM and ask us to confess some of our deepest, darkest secrets. Nothing like a little "light blogging" first thing on a Monday morning, huh? :)

So, without further ado, I give you a little peek at the skeleton's in my closet. I worry you all will "unfollow" GM after this one know you all will still love me, even if I'm not completely perfect. Right??


Confessions:

1. I am completely capable of eating an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's "Half Baked" without any help whatsoever. I follow the "eat what you don't like, then what you do like, save the very best for last" rule...vanilla ice cream ribbons first, chocolate brownie pieces next, and then you go after the chocolate chip cookie dough chunks. Mmmm!
2. Speaking of ice cream....yesterday I ate Cold Stone for dinner. Nothing else. Just Coldstone. I had "Banana Caramel Crunch" in Jell-o Chocolate Pudding Ice Cream, and it was fantastic. It was not so fantastic when Rachel and I headed out to run our first workout of Week #5. Yuck.
3. I love the smell of my dog's feet. Seriously, they smell warm and popcorn-y. When Lucy is relaxing on her back with her cute little feet in the air I just have to go catch a sniff. She looks at me like I'm completely insane....and so does the rest of my family!
   
4. One day, during a particularly slow day at work, I watched all of "St. Elmo's Fire" on the computer at my desk. Hulu is, quite possibly, the best invention ever!
5. I've been known to tell people I "have plans" and can't join them for something when really my plans are to go see a movie by myself. A "Me Date" is a plan, right?
6. I have a nearly-impossible-to-resist weakness for Spicy Chicken Sandwiches at Wendy's. No lettuce, extra mayo. So healthy!
7. Last, but not least, one of my favorite stations I've created on Pandora is also the most embarrassing. It's nothing but music I would use in my wedding someday, and songs that make me cry. Think "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle, "We've Got Tonight" by Bob Seger, and "Beauty and the Beast" by Celine Dion. I named the station "Mushy."

Wow. That's all the Monday morning confessional I can handle on one cup of coffee! Please be gentle with your comments...I'm only human, Poodles!

Happy FMM!

Friend Makin' Monday : Summer!

After a 2-week hiatus I am tickled half to death to bring you the return of.....



Kasey over at All That is Good graciously hosts a fun little way to connect some of the great bloggers that are floating around! I thoroughly enjoy being a part of FMM (to see my previous FMM posts, click here!)

So, without further ado, I give you the return of FMM!

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This week's task is to tell us 10 things you love about Summer!!!

1. A sun that stays out until almost 9:30pm! All those extra daylight hours are fantastic!
2. Cool Summer nights that give us a break from the heat of the afternoon.
3. Great weather for camping, grilling, and other fun outdoorsy goodness!
4. Perfect evenings for working with the horses, Kitty and Jake.
5. Walks in the park.
6. Fruits and vegetables that finally have flavor after all these months!
7. Friday night volleyball games.
8. Couch-to-5K Training outdoors instead of on a treadmill.
9. Outdoor Wednesday Night Starbucks Dates with Rachel.
10. My first trip (ever!!) out of the country...El Salvador Mission Team leaves July 25th!!

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If you're stopping by from Kasey's place, WELCOME! Be sure to leave a comment so that I can come visit your page for more FMM goodness!

To the rest of you Poodles (and any Moodles that might be reading!), what are you looking forward to this Summer?

Friend Makin' Monday

Welcome to another week of Friend Makin' Monday!

Kasey over at All That Is Good so graciously hosts this little mixer each week to help connect all the fabulous bloggers out there. I can't pass up an opportunity to socialize, so here we are!

For those of you that are regulars to GM, welcome back! For those of you that have found your way here from Kasey's site, welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by and I can't wait to start commenting on the other FMM posts!

With that, I give you Friend Makin' Monday!

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You wouldn't be caught dead where? Buying hair dye at Wal-Mart. The hairdresser in me cringes every time I see a woman down that aisle reading the back of 1,765 boxes looking for just the perfect shade of "plum."

Name two things you consider yourself to be very good at. Baking and socializing! Hey, socializing is a skill, right?

Name two things you consider yourself to be very bad at. Having a "poker face," my emotions show very quickly, and Guitar Hero. Seriously...it's a train wreck! Unless you're talking Guitar Hero : World Tour with the drums...those I can rock out on!

Have you ever won a trophy? In middle school I was on a Future Problem Solvers team that won State and went to Nationals. I seem to recall a trophy for that.

Name one thing not many people know about you. That all depends on how well you know me. I used to own my own salon. I bought a horse 2 years ago. I can't touch ice because it makes me gag when it freezes to my fingers.

Name your earliest memory. I remember riding on the tailgate of my Grandpa's pickup while we were working around the farm and falling off the back and skinning my knees. When I told Mom I remember that happening she told me I was two...that's pretty early.

What was your favorite musical group in jr. high? I had a bunch, but I'm sure that Backstreet Boys were pretty far up there.

What was something the worst roommate you ever had did? I'll spare all of you the gory details, but I had a roommate in college that was very friendly with the guys on campus. I woke up to her and her "guests" doing things that would make sailors blush on more than one occasion. Thankfully she left at semester.

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? That changed a lot. For awhile I wanted to be married to a fireman (I think I'd still be okay with that!) I also wanted to be a dancer or an interior decorator.

What was your worst dating experience? This question almost deserves it's own separate post! I was set up on a blind date with a guy by a "friend." The date started out well enough; a picnic and ice cream. Later he told me that he planned for us to go swimming at "his pool." This was news to me and I didn't have a suit with me. He so graciously offered the suggestion that I could just swim in my underwear, to which I politely declined. As we made our way to "his pool" he admitted that the pool was actually in the apartment complex that he used to live in and that we'd sneak in through the maintenance entrance, but would have to "make a run for it" if security showed up as my date had been asked to move out of the complex for harassing female tenants. We did not have a second date.

If you were about to die what would your last meal be? A really good steak, my Mom's mashed potatoes, a big bowl of hominy, and Mom's strawberry shortcake. Mmmm!

Who is the most important person in you life? He may not be a person in the literal sense of the word but God is the most important relationship I have. He has brought me through so much, and blessed me with far more than I deserve!

If your house was on fire what 3 things would you grab on your way out? Assuming my family (and dogs!) is already outside I would grab my Bible, the ring my Dad gave me when I turned 16, and Pete The Ugly Bear (a threadbare Care Bear that Mom made me for my second birthday.) "Stuff" isn't important to me, but the memories attached to them are!

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Hope you enjoyed FMM! Stay tuned for this week's PoCA!

Snorgs,

Friend Makin' Monday

Happy Monday, Poodles! Thanks for bearing with me while I tweak (and re-tweak) GM. I'm sure I'll find other things to mess with, but for now, I'm pretty happy!

In an effort to broaden my blogging horizons I've decided to start doing some of the fun stuff that's out there for bloggers. This week, I'm joining in the fun over at {ae filkins} and taking part in...

Friend Makin' Mondays!

Each week she posts a new topic to blog about. Once you've posted, you link back to her page and start clicking through the list. Viola! A whole slew of new blogging buddies, just ripe for the commenting.

So...my first official post as part of Friend Makin' Mondays is:

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Name 5 toys that remind you of your childhood:

1. My Little Pony

2. Cabbage Patch Kid Dolls

3. Barbies

4. Fisher Price Little People (especially the barn!)

5. Rainbow Brite

I think it's no secret what decade I grew up in! Honestly, coming up with these was harder than I had imagined...the "toys" I loved as a little girl were sandboxes, rocks, mudpies, and tree houses.

Tomboy, anyone?



Snorgs,