DIY Dry Erase Picture Frame

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It’s Valentine’s Week! I may have missed a post about Valentine’s Day by a couple of days, but it’s the thought that counts, right? It’s one of those “holidays” that’s interesting, because if you’re really in a loving relationship, it should be evident each day regardless. But I’m not going to complain. I enjoy any excuse to celebrate love. :D

It’s funny, because I’ve heard Valentine’s Day described as “Singles Awareness Day” on quite a few different occasions. But in my opinion, Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be reduced to just celebrating romantic love. It’s about showing appreciation to all those in your life that you care about. Love is love regardless what type of relationship it’s applied to. :)

Of course, it’s only realistic to prioritize your sweetie during this holiday. But in deciding on a gift to give him, I wanted something that would bring a smile to his face on any regular day as well. It’s so easy to get caught up in everything that is life and to mistakenly take for granted what that other person does for you, so when I saw this on Pinterest I was convinced of what I would make! A gift always means a little more when time is put into it, doesn’t it?

I decided that this gift would be a bit more personalized with a photo framed inside of it, so I got to work on my own little version of it. Continue reading →

Take Care of Your Smile! :D

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Smile!

Smile!

It’s National Dental Health Month!!! Okay… according to the American Dental Association it’s really National Children’s Dental Health Month, but I think proper oral hygiene is important for all age ranges. I’ve seen next to nothing posted in regards to this month, so I figured I’d be the one to do so. It’s such an important topic that people seem to take for granted. You use your teeth multiple times a day to chew and eat, and ideally you’ll have your natural set of teeth throughout your life. Cavities can cause quite a bit of pain, and dental work can be extremely costly.

I am not a dentist myself. I just happen to have quite a few friends as well as a boyfriend in the field. I hear firsthand how frustrating it can be for a dentist when patients neglect their teeth. When a dentist invests so much time into our oral health, the least we can do is make an effort to maintain it. It’s so easy to develop lazy habits, but I feel that this is something that deserves special attention. So here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way.

We all know that we are supposed to brush twice a day, morning and night. But did you know that Continue reading →

Priority Parade

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The New York Giants won the Super Bowl my first winter in the city! I’m not going to lie, I’m not a big sports fan. Until dating my boyfriend, I didn’t even really follow football. I prefer basketball or soccer. But I’ve definitely gained more of an appreciation for the sport. Apparently, New Yorkers appreciate it quite a bit. I was not in attendance due to my booking during the day, but there was a parade today in honor of their Super Bowl win. Judging from photos, the turn out was pretty insane! I guess Giants fans can now find comfort in the idea that if the world is really supposed to end later this year, they’ll be the eternal champions.. haha. I suppose I’m a fan by default since Kentucky does not have an NFL team.

One of my friends made an excellent point, though, when he posted his disappointment in the fact that a Super Bowl parade occurred within 2 days of the win, yet it’s been over 10 years and there’s still no sign of a parade for the first responders and the heroes of 911. It’s wonderful how we all have our priorities in order, isn’t it?? That just makes me sad.

On a lighter note, another status update on Facebook jokingly declared Continue reading →

Confessing Reservations

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I have a confession to make. It probably doesn’t sound very believable considering my line of work, but I used to be shy.. VERY shy. It’s something that I’ve dealt with my entire life.. I believe I’m just naturally a very reserved person. It’s my personality.

I remember being absolutely petrified as a child to do the simplest tasks.. even ordering food at a restaurant was difficult. I hated speaking to strangers. It scared me. I always wanted to take part in extracurricular activities, and I tried putting myself out there to overcome this fear. In Middle School, I joined my Quick Recall team. For those unfamiliar, it’s basically a competition based on trivia knowledge where participants buzz in to answer a question. I actually knew the material.. I actually knew the answers, but I pretty much NEVER buzzed in. I couldn’t handle the idea that I might be wrong and cost points for the team.

In High School, Continue reading →

Defining the Crown

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Miss Kentucky USA headshot

Miss Kentucky USA headshot

At the time of writing this, I’m pretty exhausted. I was seriously debating taking a nap, but I decided I should capitalize on this free moment to put my thoughts about this weekend into words. As you may know, I am now in Bowling Green, Kentucky as a co-host for the Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Kentucky USA 2012 pageants. I flew into Louisville Friday evening from New York, and I made the two hour drive down to the Western Kentucky University campus for this weekend’s event.

Immediately, I was thrust back into pageant world. I entered the auditorium to a crowd of excited contestants as they listened to the state director give them information concerning the game plan for the weekend. It really doesn’t seem that long ago that I was in the same position as each of these women. That all changed 5 years ago, in 2007, when I was awarded the prestigious title on my 4th try at the crown. I really can’t believe how quickly the time has flown.

And seeing all of these beautiful, anxious faces brings back wonderful memories of competing. I’ve been asked Continue reading →

One of Billions

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I have so many thoughts that race their way through my mind.. Random ideas, moments of inspiration, memories of the past, ideas for the future.. I would imagine that this is much like how others think. I’m often better at coming up with the perfect words to say in regards to a person or a situation when I’m given a moment of solitude. I enjoy my alone time to reflect.. It’s my time to truly get to know myself without all of the noise of the outside world.

In the midst of this solitude while in bed last night, my mind produced a few lines that I felt compelled to post as a status on Facebook:

They’re not the most mind-blowing, earth-shattering words in the world. It’s not even a unique thought. But that’s what I was inspired to do in that moment.. to speak to the countless people who for whatever reason feel inadequate. I wanted to reach the people who lose sight of what a miraculous gift life truly is. But most of all, I wanted to reach the narcissists who cannot think of anyone but themselves.

Despite some of the input received from those who messaged me afterward, Continue reading →

First Post of the Year!

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Shooting Star

Goodness how time flies! So much has happened since my last post. I got caught up in celebrating the holidays and fell a little behind on work. I suppose you could say it was a much needed vacation, though I’m looking forward to diving right back in for 2012. :)

2011 was a wonderful year for me as a whole, and I definitely ended it on a high note. At the moment, there are no words to do the year justice.. All I can say is that I truly made the most of it and enjoyed my journey along the way. I’ll leave you with a few of my holiday photos as well as a quick video to wish you all the best for 2012 :D

Video and photos: Continue reading →

A Farewell to My Old Kentucky Home

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Hello World! Hopefully this post finds you well. :) Since my last entry, I’ve been enjoying some much needed time visiting my family in Louisville, Kentucky. I’ve been here for the last week and a half, and today marks my last day here.. Which reminds me I still haven’t packed for my flight! Oops! I’ll have to do that after writing this.. ;)

While this visit has had its moments, Continue reading →

Birthday Time

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Photo from my bday a few years ago. Hope this one is even more fun! :)

It is Friday December 2, 2011. Twenty nine years ago today, my parents welcomed me into this world. I’ve been bombarded all day with such nice “Happy Birthday” messages. It really has made my day wonderful; I feel so loved. :) I certainly did not expect any of the kind words sent my way.. After all, every day is someone’s birthday. And it feels like birthdays matter far less the older you get, anyway.

But I truly do appreciate all of the kindness and warm sentiments being sent my way today. I said it last year, and I’ll say it again: This day should be less about celebrating me and more about celebrating the two loving people who’ve helped raised me all of these years! Thanks so much to my mother and my father for being the amazing people that they are. I would be nothing without them, and I absolutely mean that.

I can’t believe Continue reading →

Ridiculously Adorable Photos

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One thing that I absolutely LOVE to do is look at ridiculously adorable photos. It puts me into a good mood every time. How can you look at such a photo and not have a smile creep across your face? :D I’ve collected a few photos randomly while browsing online, and I’ve decided to share many of those with you. Expect lots of adorable photos of baby animals in this gallery! Please keep in mind that I do not own these photos, so any issues with ownership may be resolved by contacting me. I just want to share some good feelings with those that visit my blog. Expect more of these posts intermittently in the future. :)

Continue reading →