It's official....

It's official.....my cap, gown & hood. May 20, 2012 cannot come soon enough. 

Two years....that's how long it has taken me to complete my masters degree while working a 40+hours/week job. Yeah, I'm crazy. No, but really, I've just been determined to accomplish something I put on hold for years (and for someone else). I am looking forward to several things.....

1. My mom here to watch me walk across the stage and receive my diploma.
2. Those four little letters after my name on my business card (it's the little things).
3. Free time.....to workout, sleep, cook, bake, and go to the beach without a textbook.
4. Be able to focus on my future career, life and family.
5. To make my family proud.

Hunger Games....bad influence?

OK....I know I am going to be alone on this one, but I am going to put it out there.

I didn't read any of the Hunger Game series, but I went to see the movie with my bf last night, and I have say, I'm not a huge fan. Don't get me wrong, the acting was great. I just couldn't get over this concept that someone came up with for the plot: teens brutally murdering other teens (sorry, if I just spoiled it for you). I have watched some pretty "out there" movies, but I just couldn't let go of this idea. I find it disturbing that teens are reading and are so into this book series. Maybe I am just being too conservative (I know there are other movies out there that are worse....hello, the movie, Jackas$!).

My bf informed me that many of his students have read these books.....ummmm, they are 5th graders!! I would not allow my elementary school student to read those books. Like I said, I know I am probably alone on this, but I just don't get all the hype. Why does this bother me? Have you seen the Youtube videos of teens beating each other up online? That is why. I don't think we need to put any additional encouragement or ideas out there for children or teens.

Soapbox post over and out.

Our first international adventure part II

Part II of our adventure was so much fun. Only pictures could truly describe it....

Celebrating with drinks poolside after the wedding....

Playing in the ocean...no big deal.

Before another delicious dinner.

YS Falls property

Getting geared up for zip-lining at YS Falls.

Oooo! HOT Jamaica shrimp soup!

The famous, Marcia. She makes the best Jamaican shrimp soup. We stopped by her stand on the way back to the resort from YS Falls.

That's the end of part II. There will be one final part posted soon. Jamaica was a blast. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a vacation. 

Our first international adventure: part I

Jamaica was our first international trip together. This was my second time and it was so much more fun. Different resort, different person, different adventure.

Boy, if a 4 hour international flight, going through customs and airport security doesn't test a relationship, I don't know what will. We could have completely ripped each other's heads off, but alas, we survived. Pfew!

Tuesday night we took the train into Chicago to visit his cousin, Andy, in the city for dinner.

Andy let us crash at his place, so we could catch the train to the airport at 5:30am Wednesday morning. Yes, 5:30AM. No coffee. Eek!

Made it to O'Hare (after I finally got a coffee) around 7:15am, Wednesday. Ready for Jamaica.

The flight to Jamaica seemed to go much faster than on the way back. When we landed, it was an hour and a half drive from the airport to the resort. We stayed at Sandals Whitehouse - a newer, smaller and more secluded resort. 

I thought we were going to die on the drive there. The roads are very narrow, full of pot holes and they drive on the left side. The differences in the people in Jamaica is very apparent along the roads. The homes are different sizes and quality. We learned that there is no type of government assistance for those who lose their job. They are to fend for themselves and survive on their own. 

It was very eye-opening and it made me thankful for what I have and realized not to take anything for granted. 

My brother and sis-in-law greeted us with hugs and smiles when we arrived and met them for lunch on the resort. It had seemed like forever since we last saw each other. The four of us really get along great and I feel we learn a lot of from each other too in our own relationships. 

The first two days were wedding prep and celebration. The wedding ceremony was beautiful and I had to fight back the tears throughout. I know my brother's dad would have been so proud of him and would have liked to be there. I am happy and honored that I could be there for Mark and Amanda and stand by them on their special day. I have never seen my brother so happy and in love with someone. What I really love and admire about the two of them, is that they have fun with each other with little play fights/flirting. They turn those small things that many couples bicker about and then make the best of it and laugh with each other. I love them both. 

The next two days of our trip will have to be for another post. Jamaica just has to be a two part blog post. Haha! More pictures to come! Stay tuned for part II this week.

I'm back from Jamaica!

Ahhhh! I'm back.

I've been MIA, because I've been in JAMAICA. We returned late last night. I cannot wait to share more about our trip. My brother, Mark, got married. We also got a little vacation in while we were there. A vacation is never long enough though.

Oh, and a I crossed another thing off my bucket list while I was there. :)

I've spent the day digging my way out of work emails and phone calls to return. It is insane returning to work after a vacation!

I will post more about the trip soon with PICTURES. It was beautiful and relaxing. Just what I needed. Stay tuned for more about Jamaica, mon!

DJ Lindsay Luv's playlist

Awesome playlist for a run, a workout, or to get you through the work day.

my first modeling gig

So, today, I crossed something off my bucket list......for a few hours, I got to be a model.

I always thought, "oh, it would be nice to do", but never actually pursued it. It was a lot of fun. I am so glad I did it. In years past, I would have turned this opportunity down - insecure and shy. Here's how this opportunity presented itself.....

Tuesday night, I am at our college men's basketball game, like 3,000 people or so there, I am walking back to my seat (in the nose bleed section) and a girl approaches me. She is young, nicely dressed and says, we are looking for a girl with long hair like yours for a photo shoot we are doing this Thursday. I'm thinking, "yeah, right, sure...." I took her business card and gave her my info, thinking nothing of it.

After scoping out their website, I decided I was going to email them about the photo shoot to decide if I wanted to do it. They asked for a couple a couple expressionless photos for hair & make-up along with my measurements.

The email came back from the company owner/President saying they would love to have me for the shoot. Ahhhhh! So excited and nervous at the same time.

29 has certainly sparked something inside of me. I am definitely LIVING life now. I took a leap of faith and worked a half day (I never use my vacation days for just ME) for the shoot. This was such an amazing experience and I am blessed to have been given it.

 my "head shot"....haha! (taken in my office w/my iphone) that landed me the gig

The next few pics are just me snapping a few photos of my hair & make-up after the shoot in my car...