Football Parties Ideas.

For me, everything's an event. My sister and I discussed over her visit our love for planning. We love to making packing lists, work on to do lists and prep work for days, run around our houses like crazy people the morning before we host dinner for friends - the chaos of planning an event is half the fun, for us. I realize this is not the way for many people who would rather order a pizza and relax in the company of their friends with no cooking and no dishes to do after.

Now, don't get me wrong - I can appreciate a low key hangout as much as the next girl. I love dinners out for birthdays or nights of grabbing fro yo and plopping in front of a Lifetime movie with friends. I don't need a big event to have a good time but I do love to plan! In the last year, thanks in large part to my Tampa bestie Auburn, I've grown to love cooking (even simple meals).

This was a long way to get to announcing that my roommate, Bekah, and I have put our football party of the year on the calender! We decided to host it on Sunday Night Football (so we'd be sure to actually get the Colts game here in Tampa) and it will be a rematch of the Colt's last super bowl appearance - we're playing the Saints, again. Hopefully this time ends better than the last (darn you, Drew Brees - my fellow Purdue Alum).

So now of course my head is swimming with all the cool football party ideas (and I'm welcoming any you may have as well). To get into the football spirit now that it's preseason I thought I'd post a few party ideas I've been collecting. First off, I LOVE all things football when it comes to entertaining and last year I literally broke the budget for anything football related dining item I could find (for a reasonable price, of course).


But what about the actual food, the decor, the party itself. Well I turned to the blogs to gather a few ideas I hope I get the chance to try...

Guacamole Football Field.

Find out how to make your own here.

Want something else to dip those chips in? How about this recipe for Buffalo Chicken Dip? Weirdly enough I don't like buffalo wings but I like pretty much anything else buffalo from soup to dip to sandwiches. What I really need is this tray to display it on...

I'm obsessed. Seriously, someone please get me this for my birthday (which is 3 weeks away, mind you) - it's from Target. ; ]

Ever played that stupid 'guess how many coffee beans are in the bowl' game? Well, I hate that. But I do like guessing the scores/outcomes of games and I wouldn't mind winning a bowl of M & Ms.

Who else is gathering ideas and planning some football fun?! I need MORE!

Love,
B

The Right Kind of Friend.

First off, did you notice this blog got a facelift? I said when I changed the name of the blog (formerly: So Scared of Getting Older, I'm Only Good at Being Young) that I was going to making other changes so - TA DA! I'm not sure yet if I'll miss the big red couch that reminded me of the one in my living room but for now...

A new challenge I've been feeling my friendships lately is to adapt to the changes in my close friends lives. The last couple years have really changed each of our lives in different ways - as some of my friends have moved back home with their parents, some have moved to new cities (like myself). A few of my friends have gotten married, while some of us are putting most of our energy into our careers, for now. A couple of my friends have recently had babies, which is really rockin my world because I still feel so young (falsely, perhaps).

I've probably beat a dead horse over talking how crazy your 20s are. But lately I'm really focused on how to tackle that by being the right kind of friend. I wanted to be the friend who rises to the occasion and finds a way to be part of each of my closest friends lives, no matter how differently they look from my own. Does that make sense?

You all walked through with me my realization that I wasn't holding up my end of my best friendship over a year ago. I realized that as Candy made her way to Florida several times a year, met me in Indy with my family, and remembered every detail of my weeks from doctors appointments to dates to talks with family members - I wasn't keeping pace. After her wedding last October I thought - why have I never met her family until now? Why have I never been to her town? Why didn't I know all these great people who are part of her life?

You were also with me here on the blog when I set out to change that. I spent a couple days over Christmas being part of her life in Scottsburg, IN and I returned again over July 4th weekend to celebrate with her families (my Dad may still be holding a grudge about this). I've tried to be more involved by actually being there, and by knowning the big and the small stuff. It's hard for me sometimes to be so far away - when I'd rather be doing every day life with her. But I have to say I've made some big strides and I see it really growing our friendship (clearly meaning I was the one holding it back before).

I may have stepped up to the plate this year where my friendship with Candy is concerned but am I the right kind of friend in other close relationships? Maybe in a few. I was praying for my friends by name the other night and I thought hmm, what does it look like to be a good friend in this phase of my life? The only answer I've found is that it looks really different for each of my friends. I want to be part of their lives. I want to encourage them in the areas they need it most. That looks really different on a case-by-case basis.

I had a newlywed friend over this week. I wanted to hear about her honeymoon and her post wedding thoughts (I was at the wedding, here locally). Before the wedding she'd come to a class at my gym with me and I remember her asking if after the wedding I'd help her get in a routine of cooking simple meals (like I've been trying to do for myself). She (again, like me) isn't a big cooker but wants to save the money and eat healthier by learning to put together easy, inexpensive, healthy meals. Ah, ha!

I invited her over Monday night and I cooked us dinner, which we ate together and gabbed about the wedding, her new apartment with her hubby and son, life after marriage, etc. I had e-mailed her the easy recipe I thought we should start out with so that she could gather the supplies before she came over (which she did) and I helped her put the casserole together and cook it she could feed it to her family later that week.

It was an easy way to not just spend time with her and catch up on her life but be a helpful friend. She's entered a whole new phase of life - having already been a mother (which I know little to nothing about) and now having a husband and a home to keep up with as well. I wanted to spend the time we hanging out, also helping her get ahead for the week. And we both had so much fun in the process, we've decided to make it a regular occurrence. I was so encouraged by the experience that it immediately got me thinking...how could I be more purposeful in other relationships as well?

I haven't brainstormed this through totally (but I'm open to all ideas). I was also trying to help a friend who wanted to work on her finances. Like myself, she wants to be out of debt! Lucky for her, that's easier to accomplish when your debt isn't a home (I won't have that paid off this year, I can tell you that much). Anywho, I've found a couple great babysitting clients I've been rotating through regularly to boost my pay off and savings and I thought - maybe I could help her get going. I helped her through joining the website I use, making a profile, gave her a few tips on how much to charge, etc. and even helped her get her first job, with one of my current clients.

Now, I don't share this with you to brag that I'm the ultimate friend - trust me. I have such a disturbingly long way to come as a friend, really. But I've figured out that in my busy, crazy, hectic life I can't lose sight even for a second of what a solid friendship is supposed to look like. For me, as a believer, I really feel like that includes praying for them, helping them, challenging them, encouraging them, and of course spending quality time with them. Time is precious to me and I'm so scheduled that I really have to make a constant, conscious effort. But nothing frustrates me more than flighty friends so I don't want to BE that kind of friend. I also have identified one of the areas in my life that I'm not giving enough attention to is serving. Being willing to serve my friends. That's another catagory that looks different depending on the friend but it requires thought, effort, and again, being purposeful.

I'll take any and all prayers from you all that you're willing to offer me in this department. I feel really blessed to have such great friendships, after years of not having them I don't want to spend a single moment being unappreciative or taking them for granted. I'm learning a lot but the more I learn the more I realize I have left to learn.

Love,
B

Why You Shouldn't Take Me Classy Places: A Vlog.

This vlog will speak for itself (yes, I came straight home and recorded this, in my pjs)...

It's Ok...

And again I say, it's ok...

...to write verbal letters to people you want to say overly honest things too. (Example: Dear woman letting her kid throw things on the ground at Target and smack you in the face, you are what's wrong with parenting today. Love, Becca)

...to only wear blue on Sunday's during football season (even to church) because it's 'goodluck' for the Colts.

...to fatten up all your friends with yummy baked goods because baking is theraputic but you're on a diet. (this works better with guy friends than girl friends, I've found)

...to LIVE in the honesty box, not just visit.

...to be picky about your coffee, even though you're going to dowse it in fat free, dairy free creamer.

...to shamelessly recruit pen pals on your blog because you just LOVE snail mail.

...to get behind on laundry.

...to have your 'go to' lunch when you forget yours at home be a bean burrito from Taco Bell because they're 300 calories and $1.06 - yum.

...to obsess over your budget in an attempt to convince yourself you don't hate budgeting (when really you want to buy a million sweaters and boots for the fall you won't have in Florida).

...to wish you could run half as far and/or as fast as your 6 month pregnant sister - but make no effort towards such a goal.

...to call your best friend (or your mom) and start the convo 'I need 2 minutes to whine, then I'll return us to our regularly scheduled talk' and vent like a crazy for 120 seconds.

...to be so strong through hard stuff and then cry over something stupid (like your microwave breaking or a bad haircut).

...to be suspicious of all strangers because you've seen too many lifetime movies. (craiglist killer anyone?!)

And one last one thanks to Jess's comment on my post earlier this week - ...to get a funk every now and then (as long as you beat it, eventually, I might add).

Love,

B

26 at 26.

So, I'm stealing an idea that several people in blog world have done before me and I've admired. I want to make a list of 26 things to do while I'm 26. Unfortunately, I'm really struggling to come up with them. I'm usually so good at goals - especially ones that are supposed to be fun. But since lately I'm apparently not, I need your help.

I'm taking all suggestions via e-mail or comment as to what should make the list. Help me! I promise to at least consider each and every one but that doesn't mean I'll do them (I know some of you too well to think that's a good idea).

Here's two examples of what I've come up with so far:

1. Visit a new state (my goal is to visit all 50 states, eventually)
2. Reach my goal weight - finally.

Yeah, that's pretty much as far as I've gotten. Help!

Love,
B

I'm Coming Home...

A special thank you for all the lovely ladies who commented on yesterdays posts. I've tried to write back to most of you - but I appreciate your thoughts and for those of you who offered them, your prayers. I can never have too many of those, of course.

I'm happy to report I booked a flight home yesterday. My work is doing out Indianapolis Colts event September 17th and I'm going to fly in a couple hours early and try'n squeeze in a few extra minutes with my precious family before and after the event. I'm going to catch my team playing (of all teams) the Cleveland Browns and I'm hoping to weasel a little post birthday spoiling out of my parents (like dinner at my favorite restaurant).

I will turn the big 2-6 on the 12th and head home the 15th so I think I can talk em into a dinner out at Stonecreek Grill (if you live near Indianapolis you HAVE to go - I'm obsessed). But most of all I'm looking forward to errands and coffee dates with my mom, precious hard to come by time with my sweet Daddy, maaaybe sleeping in my bed for a night before I get kicked out for game weekend company (trust me, that feels more like home than actually getting to sleep in my own bed). And my first taste of fall weather!

It's still in the 90s daily here in Tampa so it'll be nice to catch a little chilly weather while I'm home. I'm looking forward to sporting this....

Image.

I snagged this orangey-red Kenneth Cole trench on the sale rack of Nordstrom Rack for...are you ready for this?...$22. Marked down of course from $158. Ta da. So stoked. It's a great color - with black, brown, grey, even khaki (which I rarely wear). So I think it's going to debut on my trip home, perhaps with some boots?

I'm ready to welcome the month of September with a visit from my high school friend, Ashley, for Labor Day weekend, my birthday!, a trip to Indy to be with family and to work, and a trip to Minnesota (also for work). September is going to be a great month and I'm not trying to breeze right on through the last week of August but...I am pretty stoked to get started with the next month.

Love,

B

Hear my Heart.

If you're a new reader, and even if you're not, I hope you'll journey back with me to last December and read this post about encouragers. After you've had the chance to go back and hear my thoughts last December I wanted to share with you where I'm at with this today.

Let me start by saying I hope you can really hear my heart in this entry. I have felt rather discouraged lately. Disappointed in myself for a variety of reasons. Frustrated with a few current aspects of my life. Let down by people I love. This came to a bit of a head this weekend after cancelling my 'girls weekend' trip I was so excited about because I had a rather large, unexpected expense. This put me having the whole weekend open, last minute.

I sat down on Thursday night and really thought about my weekend. About this funk I've been in lately and of just how I was planning on kicking my butt back into gear. Unfortunately, it was kind of a wimpy failure SO...Friday night I was plopped in front of the TV, watching a movie and doing a bit of wallowing when I had one of those 'come to Jesus' moments with myself where I said, I'm not doing this. I'm not going to mop around this house another minute. I showered, got dressed, and headed to celebrate a friend's birthday. I ended up having a great time, staying out past my bedtime, and thinking 'why did I ever want to mop on my couch to begin with?'.

Saturday morning I woke up with the urge to purge and by 2:00 I had cleaned up the garage, cleaned out my closet, dropped donations at Goodwill, sold a dish set on Craiglist (and met the woman at Target to exchange), and stopped by the consignment shop I use here in Tampa. Whew. Time to get out some old - simplify, streamline, and focus in on 'needs' v. 'wants' on a few new levels.

I had lunch with Aubs and we talked about some of the same things. We both agree frustration is a perfect way to word our current state - on several levels. I'm so blessed by having her as my sounding board. But what I told her over fro yo is this - 'I think I have to take more ownership. This is the life I've made for myself. The good and the bad. I made it, I can change it. Maybe not as fast as I want - but I can. I think I need to really start seeing it that way'.

I agreed to babysit both Saturday and Sunday nights to help pay for said 'expense' that kept me home this weekend. I spent the night watching movies, reading books,and writing a few encouraging cards to friends while the kiddos slept. Then I pulled out my notebook and I started writing. What am I grateful for? What's going right? What are 3 things I'm doing well - right now? What can I improve on? What can be cut out? What do I want out of the rest of 2011?

I was suddenly feeling inspired, motivated, and most of all...encouraged. I not only have so much to be thankful for and so many opportunities to improve the areas I feel frustrated with - but I'm ahead of where I thought I would be at 25! As for the people I'm feeling a little put off with I tried something I'm sure I've never done before...I sat down after I got home that night and I prayed for them. For each and every one of them by name and by situation. And in case you know me pretty well - I should assure you I didn't pray anything bad on them OR pray that they'd magically see the light and do things my way. If you're laughing now, you've probably been my friend for more than a day and you know how I am.

I prayed for the Lord to show me my side of things. Am I meeting their expectations? Have I apologized for my wrong doings, my shortcomings, and my selfishness in areas of those same relationships? I prayed for what the Lord is doing in their lives. For what they have on their plate. For what the future holds for each of them. And most of all I prayed the Lord would bless them.

I don't know if those people felt my prayers this weekend but I can assure you I woke up Sunday morning feeling really differently. Feeling positive. Feeling excited. Peaceful. Blessed. And really feeling like so much of what I carried into the weekend as sadness, bitterness, or disappointment was gone, replaced by a renewed desire to be diligent in my relationships.

Sunday morning with a sweet friend, Kayla, I baked over 200 pancakes for the middle schoolers of my church. Former 5th graders made the more up to 6th grade yesterday morning and I hope they felt welcomed by our pancakes.

Serving in big and small ways really gets me out of my funks. And I was blessed to get to share my new found love of the kitchen with others this weekend.

I lunched with Kayla and Aubs after church and had great conversation over great food (dilla explosion salad - yes please). Followed by hours at the pool with Kayla and my favorite neighbors. And I came away from that time feeling refreshed and renewed.

This Saturday of inspiration was followed by the following 2 notes of encouragements from sweet friends:

via facebook message: Just want you to know that you inspire and encourage me. love you and think you are an amazing creation of the Father!!..

What a timely little note of encouragement from a faraway friend. I AM a creation of the Father, aren't I? Guess I should be owning that a little more regularly.

Followed by an e-mail from a sweet friend and a woman I admire more than you know:

I just love you I want you to know and you inspire me:) You have more wisdom than your years and I pray that when my girls grow up they have the desire and thirst for wisdom and knowledge like you have. So give your mom a hug for me and remind her what a great job she did in raising you:)

One of my precious guy friends has been such a blessing as an encourager in my life lately as well. I was in a frenzy last week to get to work (it was Monday of course) when I got his text and all it said was 'Man you are stunning'. Now this is a guy friend who doesn't live in Florida, so I knew he hadn't seen me lately (obviously) but after I wrote back like wha? - he said he was just looking at the picture from my sister baby shower and thinking how beautiful I am, inside and out. I was overwelmed. Truly.

What the world values as beautiful, may be fleeting - but what girl doesn't need the occasional reminder from a guy friend that he thinks she's stunning? I'm thankful for his friendship for many reasons that go beyond him thinking I'm pretty, but I have to say - it was a timely message for a frenzied girl in a funk.

I have to say I'm not sure I deserve the title of inspiring anyone, especially lately, not to mention stunning. But I'm thankful. Oh so thankful for the encouragers in my life. For their answering the Lords call to speak those into my life 'at random' perfectly planned by God times when I need it the most.

To report back - this year has definitely reached a new level for me in my learning to faithfully encourage others (as I talked about in that December blog post). I'm glad the Lord showed me that I was doing a poor job of saying what I was feeling about others and has taught me to share just how fabulous I think these people are. I hope they feel encouraged by me - because I sure have felt the encouragement of others this year, and especially this week.

Love,

B