My Story in Photos

 This photo was taken in 1998 at Niagara Falls in Canada (me, Mom, sister and Grandpop).  This is when I first discovered that there is more to the world then the USA.  This is when I first really became curious about other cultures and other countries.   This trip planted the seed for my travel obsession.

Oh, Colorado!  This was the trip that really fueled the fire on my travel obsession.  I absolutely fell in love with Colorado and the Rocky Mountains.  I planned to go to college out west but unfortunately lack of  money kept that from happening.  However, me and Josh are planning to head out that way for vacation next year and I plan to convince him that we need to move there!

 This is one of my favorite wedding photos.  I am not much of a planner and though I hate the planning process, it ended up being a fantastic day.  And, even if everything would have gone wrong, I wouldn't have cared because at the end of the day, I still got to marry my favorite person.

My trip to Costa Rica was life changing for me.  I fell in love with this country and it's people.  I have such a heart for Central America now and I can't wait to take Josh here one day so he understands why I'm basically obsessed.  I learned so much on this trip I couldn't even begin to express it.  Costa Rica is definitely my favorite country I've visited and I can't wait to get back there.

I thought about putting up a photo from my Europe trip because that was another life changing trip for me, but I decided to go with this one because the Europe Trip gave me two of the best friends a girl could ask for.  Meagan, Britt and I became fast friends on that trip and managed to stay in touch almost 10 years later.  Meagan (left) lives in Florida and this photo is from the first time the three of us were together in 8 years!  Meagan had an internship in DC so me and Britt (who lives in my county) met up with her before a concert we were both going to (total coincidence).  We all picked up right where we left off and its really a testament to the great friendships you make while traveling.

15 Things About Me

I have decided to try to participate in Belinda's Blog Every Day in May Challenge.  Today we are supposed to introduce ourselves and since I am totally a list person, that is how I'm going to do this.  So here are 15 facts about me.

1.  I love Christmas movies and will watch them year round.  My favorites are Dear Santa, Christmas Kiss, Holiday Engagement ... and a bunch more that I can't think of right now.  Anyone who looks at my Netflix account would probably think I'm completely crazy - crazy chick watching Christmas movies in June.

2. I like to be alone.  As weird as it sounds I prefer shopping alone, I like eating alone so I can read, I live driving alone, and going to the movies alone.  This can definitely be a stressor for me and Josh because he is such a social person.  It's something we're always working on.

3.  I make lists for EVERYTHING.  The amount of notebooks I have that are filled with lists is insane.  And it drives Josh insane.

4.  I used to never stop reading a book no matter how much I hated it, but I've started growing out of that.  It started with Interview with A Vampire.  I hated that book and couldn't even force myself to read the last 100 pages. 

5.  I am a serious daydreamer.  My ability to stare into space for up to about an hour seriously amazes people. 

6. I love Instagram!  Facebook lately seems to be full of useless crap and people whining.  But Instagram is a simple photo and caption which I really like.  (I am also not a big fan of Twitter).

7.  One of my biggest "pet peeves" is being late.  I am one of those people who is annoyingly on time for everything. 

8.  I hate feet!  My own are fine but I cant have anyone elses near me.  I also really hate when people put their feet on my pillow.  This isn't such a big thing now as it was when I was a kid and friends would come over and sit on my bed. 

9.  I eat about 80% Organic.  I feel like the food tastes better and is usually more healthy.  Also, check on the expiration date on regular milk vs Organic - Organic lasts much longer which is great for someone like me who doesn't go through a lot of milk. 

10.  I only buy cruelty-free products.  I have an app called cruelty cutter and it is awesome.  You just scan any product and it'll tell you if it is cruelty free or not!

11.  I am one of those intense readers who will completely block out everything thing else.  People have to either touch me or make a really loud noise to snap me out of it.  I was actually at an old job on break and someone was trying to get my attention by yelling my name and I didn't hear a thing.  She ended up throwing an apron at me to get my attention.  I have to be careful not to get to that point at my current job.

12.  I love all animals but I am definitely more of a horse and dog person.

13.  I don't mind doing laundry but I hate folding and putting away my clothes.  I have 3 baskets full of clean clothes sitting in our bedroom right now. 

14. I am mildly obsessed with Tattoos.  I currently have 4 and have plans for 3 to 4 more.  I am also obsessed with watercolor tattoos and I am so glad I found an amazing artist who does a great job with them.  I would also love to get my lip pierced but I'm pretty sure my job would have a shit fit.

15. Because I can't think of another thing to add, I'll state the obvious - I love to travel!  It's one of the things I daydream about often.  As I get closer and closer to having some of my student loans paid off, I get more and more excited about being able to travel more!   I actually have a few trips in the works now.

Get to Know Me: A-Z

A. Attached or single?

Attached.  Together almost five years, married for 9 months :)

B. Best friend?

My absolute best friend has always been Alex, since I was 3 years old.  But I consider all of these girls my best! (Kristine, Alex, Amy, Mom, Vicky, Laurie, Kristin, Heather).

C. Cake or pie?

How about Cupcakes?? :)

D. Day of choice?

I'm going to go with Tuesdays and Wednesdays ... my usual days off.

E. Essential item?

Books and my Ebook.  I am usually reading one of each and I take them everywhere.  You never know when you're going to need a book.

F. Favorite color?

Green.  Always has been and always will be.

G. Gummy bears or worms?

Both.  Bears have to be Harbio and Worms have to be sour.

H. Home town?

Abingdon, Maryland. 

I. Favorite indulgence?

I don't really have one, honestly.  I try not to spend a lot of money and I don't like having a lot of stuff.  I guess if I had to choose it would be books or DVD's.

J. January or July?

Most definitely July!  I hate the cold.

K. Kids?

No thank you.

L. Life isn’t complete without?

Family, traveling, friends, puppies, books, I mean this list could go on!

M. Memory you cherish

So many!  Victory Jam in Middle School, Counseling at Camp Campbell in California, Working at the biostation in Costa Rica, Snorkeling in Honduras, our Wedding and our first cruise.

After the flour and water game - Victory Jam 2003

N. Number of brothers/sisters?

One Sister, One Brother - both younger. 

O. Oranges or Apples?

Apples. I love cutting them  up and dipping them in Peanut Butter or Almond Butter.

P. Pet Peeves?

I have a few but one that is giving me problems now is micro management.  I hate micromanagers.  It's like, I know how to do my job, leave me the eff alone.  And the worst part of this is that I have this issue at both jobs.  One of my Co-workers went on like a 40 minute rant about this the other day.

Q. Quotes?

I plan to get this tattooed on me someday.

R. Reasons to smile?

So many reasons! My family, Josh, my friends, travel, books, having a job ... etc.

S. Season of choice?

I pretty much enjoy every season except for Winter.  If I can keep my windows open and be comfortable, I am a happy camper.  I like Summer, the end of spring, and the beginning of fall most.

T. Tea or coffee?

Neither, I don't drink anything with Caffine.

U. Unknown fact about me?

I'm extremely impulsive and I hate planning.  This is probably why I hated wedding planning, and if I had to do it again I'd do a small destination wedding somewhere.  Sometimes being this way turns out great but sometimes, not so much.

V. Vegetable?

Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Carrots.  I'm not a big vegetable fan at all.

W. Worst habit?

Daydreaming.  Sometimes I actually space out when someone is talking to me ... not good.

X. X-Ray or ultrasound?

I have had several X-Ray's and I've never had a problem.  I don't mind getting them, but I've never had an ultrasound so I can't say anything about that.

Y. Your favorite trip?

This is a tough one but I would have to say either Costa Rica or our Honeymoon Trip.  Both were such great trips, but so was almost every trip I've taken.  Costa Rica was a dream destination for me and one I think back to often.   Our honeymoon was just an all-around great trip.

Z. Zodiac sign?

Taurus

One Lovely Blog Award

I totally meant to post this while I was on vacation but time got away from me and I never finished it.  Anyway, the lovely Laura from The Life We've Imagined nominated me for the One Lovely Blog award :)

For this award I have to write 7 facts about myself, and then challenge a few other bloggers to write 7 facts about themselves.  I think I'm supposed to nominate 10-15 other bloggers but I'm going to go with 5.

1.  I generally like animals better than people, and they seem to like me too.  We have a lot of truck drivers come through the gates at work and one guy has a little dog who growls at everyone but loves me.  The driver jokes about it all the time, he even has a beware of dog sticker on his truck.

2.  Cruises are my new favorite way to travel :) I was reluctant to go when we booked our cruise to the Bahamas in 2012 but I ended up loving it!  AND we have one cruise booked for next year and one in mind for the following year.  It's such a great way to get a glimpse of a bunch of different places.

3.  I don't want children.  Like, ever.  Motherhood just isn't for me.

4. When I tell people what I do for a living they often think it sounds exciting.  What I should say is that I watch lots of movies and read lots of books.  My job title makes my job sound way more exciting then it actually is, especially since I work mostly overnights.

5.  I have recently become obsessed with snorkeling!  I did it for the first time in Belize and again in Honduras and I can't get enough of it!  Now I need to try scuba diving (I never thought I'd say that)!  Being under water and seeing all the fish and coral up close was unbelievable.

6. Ever since my first trip to Costa Rica, I have had a love for Central America.  This last trip made that love grow even more.  I love the people, I love the cultures and I love the nature.

7.  I have no clue what I want to do with my life.  I changed my major 4 times the first round of college before settling on Anthropology (which I'm not even using) and then changed it another 4 the second round before settling on Criminal Justice.  My job (which is in the CJ field) is OK but it's definitely not what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I nominate:

Olya @ The Siberian American

Kelley @ Move by Yourself 
Mary-Keith @ Mary-Keith
Mar @ T.O. and Fro
Sam @ The Life You Love

Hi, I'm Jenn

I saw this post on Ashley's blog and knew I definitely wanted to answer these questions.  I figured that since I don't do a lot of "about me" type posts, this would be perfect!

Would your rather make more money or get more vacation time?

This is a tough one, but I'm gonna go with more money because at the moment, I could have all the vacation time in the world but I'd have no money to do anything with it.  Also, my job offers a pretty good amount of vacation time by American standards.

Would you rather meet your ancestors or your great-grandchildren?

Well, considering that I'm not planning on having kids, I'm going to say Ancestors.   I also think it would be great to see first hand where I come from.  My Dad's family is pretty into genealogy so I know a lot about that side already.

Would you rather be lost in a desert or at sea?

I agree with Ashley on this one!  Desert Island, with the Mojito!

Would you rather be able to eat anything you wanted forever or get rid of all your fears?

Are we saying I can eat anything I want without becoming fat or unhealthy?  If so, lets go with that.  I don't think I'd want to get rid of my fears because just because I am no longer afraid of being abducted or something doesn't mean the world will suddenly be a better place.  My fears keep me aware of whats happening around me and I think that is important.

Would you rather take a vacation to a city or the beach?

Both?  I mean a city on the water would be ideal, but since most of the places high on my list to visit are cities, I'll go with that.

Would you rather be an amazing cook or an amazing dancer?
Cook!  I have no reason to dance anymore so definitely cook.  I am a horrible cook but I'm working on it.  Too bad I can't live off cookies and cupcakes . .  I'm a fair baker.

Would you rather always be a little too hot or a little too cold?

That's a hard one!  At night when I'm sleeping I'd rather be a little too cold so I can wrap myself in my covers.  During the day I'd rather be a little too hot.  I like warm weather and I like summer clothes better than winter clothes.

Lucky Number Seven

I thought I'd start this week off by sharing a bit about my self via my favorite number: 7.

7 Everyday Things I Couldn't Live Without

1.  My Car:  We live in east Jesus nowhere.  I need my car for survival.
2.  My Phone:  This is the sad truth.  This is my time killer when I'm bored and my savior when I'm shopping.
3. A Book: I seriously take one with me everywhere.  It's just one of those things I don't leave the house without.
4. My Laptop:  This is another sad one but I do everything on here.  Even netflicks since our Xbox died.
5.  My Comfy Chair:  This is where I sit to unwind after the day.  I'm someone who has to chill out before going to bed or I wont sleep.  My comfy chair is where I do that.  (Overstuffed chair and ottoman).
6.  Uncrustables (wheat bread):  Seriously, these things are in my lunch bag on the daily.  I eat way to many of them!
7.  Josh:  Ok, so he's not a thing but I still couldn't live without him.

7 of My Favorite Songs

1. Back in the Day by Brantley Gilbert
2.  I Was Here by Lady Antebellum
3.  Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks
4.  How 'Bout Them Cowgirls by George Strait
5. Alone by Heart
6. Relentless by Jason Aldean
7.  Drink a Beer by Luke Bryan
 (I'm usually not a Luke Bryan fan but that song really hit me also, this was such a hard question)

7 Adventure I Want to Have

1. Skydiving (hopefully soon)
2.  Moving to a new state
3.  Swimming with Dolphins (which I will be doing in November)!
4.  Traveling to all 7 continents
5.  Riding in a hot air balloon
6.  Cross country road-trip
7.  Marathon or triathlon

7 Pastimes I Never Tire of Doing

1.  Baking Christmas cookies
2.  Reading
3.  Going to the Renaissance Festival
4. Picking a pumpkin at a local farm
5.  Cutting down our own Christmas Tree
6.  My nightly soft pretzel
7.  Learning

7 Treats I Could Eat Every Day

1.  Pizza
2. Mac and Cheese
3. Cupcakes
4.  Doritos
5.  Pretzels
6.  Spaghetti
7.  Gummy Snacks

7 People I'd Be Lost Without

I've decided to skip this one and do a post just on this question at a later date.

7 Places I Want to Visit

1. Botswana/Zimbabwe
2. Slovenia
3. Tennessee/Kentucky
4. New Zealand
5. Ecuador/Galapagos Islands
6. UK and Ireland
7. Indonesia
(I thought about writing each of the continents, but I guess that doesn't count)

I'm the Kinda Girl Who ...

These posts have been going around for a few days.  Though I'm not going to participate in the actual link-up, I love the idea and definitely wanted to do a post of my own!

I'm the Kinda Girl Who:

... has to have a stylist do her hair on special occasions because she's to impatient to do it herself.

... pours over travel magazines and trip itinerary's dreaming of the day she gets to travel again.

... would rather spend Saturday nights reading than going out. 

... loves tattoos and will always ask people about theirs, and tell people off who make snotty comments about mine or others. 

... loves fruit snacks, specifically Scooby Doo fruit snacks. 

... used to never watch TV but is now way to addicted to Netfix ... and Bones ... and Chicago Fire ... and Chicago PD.  

... loves school and loves to learn. 

... hates the voicemail symbol at the top of the phone and the annoying computer voice that comes on before voicemails - just don't leave me voicemails!

... could eat spaghetti for all three meals every day.

... is the worlds best bullshitter.  I can bullshit a paper like there is no tomorrow.  My Mother is amazed at my ability to crank out a five page paper in just a few hours and get an 'A'.

... is a major procrastinator.  But hey, it usually work in my favor; I work best under pressure. 

... can play instruments (piano, guitar, violin, clarinet) like it's nobody's business, but can't sing for shit.

... loves her friends and family to death but is horrible at keeping in touch.  Thank God for social media!

... generally likes animals more than people (maybe not the best thing to say on my blog, but it's true)

... is obsessed with Harry Potter and secretly believes she is Hermione Granger. 

Liebster :)

Selena from Oh, The Places We Will Go has nominated me for the Liebster award!!!  Thanks so much Selena!

These are the questions she asked:

1. What is one challenge that you have set for yourself this year?

To save everything I can and live minimally.  I am ok at saving but I need to get better.  I am an impulsive buyer and it's a problem sometimes.  I have gotten much better and Josh and I have been slowly getting rid of things that we don't use anymore or don't need.  This is definitely a work in progress and will take the whole year but we are moving in May and want to take as little as possible with us.

2. What is the biggest obstacle you have faced while traveling?

I don't know if you'd call it an obstacle but one of the hardest things that I've had to deal with is witnessing extreme poverty.  During my first trip to Chicago we were working with impoverished people and it was hard for me, not because they made me uncomfortable but because I couldn't do anything more than I was doing - I was only 14 years old and this hit me hard.  Also, in Costa Rica, witnessing the places that these children lived was heartbreaking.  They didn't have proper shelter and by the way they scarfed down their food during school lunch, I'm guessing they don't have proper food either.  It's heartbreaking and really difficult to see.

3.  What are some of your favorite sayings?

 Funny, one of my goals this year is to collect 101 quotes that inspire me and I have 20 so far which I have posted here and here. 

4.  In everyday life, what is one of your biggest pet peeves?

One is that I hate when people try to talk to me when I'm reading.  This happened at my old job all the time.  I had about an hour break between when I worked in the kitchen and when I worked as a host and it made no sense to leave so I would just order some food and read my book.  I'd also put earphones in so people would think I had my music in.   But they would still come try to talk to me or just stare at me until I payed attention to them.  I had words with a few people about this.  It really bugs me because obviously I don't want to be bothered and unless its super important, it can wait until I come back on the clock *end rant*

5.  When do you feel your happiest?

 When I'm reading and when I have a trip planned to look forward to!  I am currently looking forward to our trip back to Central America :)

6.  What traits have you inherited from your parents?

From my Mom: my love of reading

From my Dad: my backbone

7.  What are your top 5 travel destinations that you haven't been to?

I also did a post on that here.  But of course I can add 5 more to that list!

* Montana/Wyoming/Yellowstone - I am a huge fan of the outdoors and would love to do a trip to this area.
* Rwanda and Uganda - I really am feeling a pull towards Africa lately and these two countries are high on my list.
* New Zealand - I would love to do a roadtrip and soak in all of the natural beauty of New Zealand
* Peru - I am dying to see Machu Picchu
* Thailand - I really don't know if I'd want to visit the cities but I'd love to visit the beaches.

8. What is your favorite cocktail?

I love Mojitos and Mai Tai's 

9.  What is your dream job?

Is professional traveler a job?  No?  Well then I'd have to say any job working with animals.  I would love to work at a rescue for animals like Elephants or big Cats.

10. If you could have 3 wishes granted what would they be?
* Ability to travel indefinitely
* End to violence in the world so that we could all travel and experience the best of the world.
* A cure for diabetes (or any chronic illness)

11.  What is on your mouse pad?

 I don't have a desktop computer and I don't use a mouse with my laptop, so I don't have one.


Because I've done this before I can't think of 11 new facts about myself.  Also, I am nominating YOU!  I nominate you to share 11 facts about yourself and answer the great questions that Selena posted!!

Sunshine :)

Today I am going to skip my 31 days of travel posts because Laura from The Life We've Imagined, one of my newest daily reads and fellow Marylander has nominated me for the Sunshine Award : )  Thanks Laura!!

Well, there will be some travel related stuff, so I am going to count this as not cheating :)

The Questions She Asked Are:

How Long Have You Been Blogging and What Has Been Your Favorite Thing About Your Experience So Far?

I have been blogging on and off for about 3 years.  This year is the first year that I have actually kept up with my blog and really started commenting on other blogs.  I really enjoy hearing stories from people from all walks of life and from all over the world.

If You Could Have Any Job in the World, What Would It Be?

This one is a toss up!  One would be a travel photojournalist.  I would love to work for National Geographic as a writer and photographer.  The other would be a Zoologist.  I love animals and would love to work with game animals!!

What is Your Favorite Type of Halloween Candy?

Hmm ... This one is always changing.  I would have to say probably Skittles or Kit Kats.

Are You Dressing Up for Halloween?  If So, What Costume Did You Choose?

Unfortunately, I have a late class on Halloween so I will not be dressing up. I love dressing up though and I think I have been just about every Disney Princess!  My favorite ever was probably the Dorthy costume my Mom made me one year.  She even made the ruby slippers!

Aside From Blogging, What Other Hobbies Do You Have?

Right now, school takes over my life.  However, I love to read and I used to ride horses but it got too expensive.  When I start a job in my field I would love to get back into it.  Either that or start taking dance lessons again.  My main hobby now though is reading.  I also love to take day trips to DC and go to the museums, if that counts as a hobby.

What Are The Top Three Items on Your Bucket List?

This is a hard one! I would have to say:  Travel to all 7 continents, Skydive, and finish my bachelors in Criminal Justice and move on to my Masters in Forensic Psychology.

Name Your Celebrity Crush.

Ok, so all of my celebrity crushes are kind of different from your average persons.  Mine are more because I have a crush on the character the actor plays than the actual actor himself.


First, David Boreanaz/Special Agent Seeley Booth

Second, David Paetkau/Sam Braddock

and Third, Drew Seeley

as for the first two, the whole hero thing really works for me (so hot) and the third, I really love a guy who can dance!

Have You Ever Been Told That You Look Like Someone Famous?

Yes, but I don't see it.

What Would You Say Is Your Best Feature? 

Josh would say my eyes, most people say my legs.  So I guess my eyes and legs. 


My Questions For:
1. What is your favorite and least favorite place you have ever traveled to?
2. What is one random fact about you that your readers may be interested to know?
3.  If you were given the chance to go anywhere in the world (money is not an object), where would you go?
4.  What are a few of your favorite books that you have ever read?
5. What is one (or more if you'd like) TV show that you just can't miss?
6.  What is one goal that you have for your life?
7.  What is your absolute favorite holiday?
8. If you could pick one food for each meal that you had to live on forever, what would those be?
9.  I really like this question so I am going to ask it, too.  Who is your celebrity crush?
10.  If you could become fluent in one language, which would you choose?

I Nominate:

Jenna @ A Home Away From Home
Sarah @ The Wanderblogger
Casey @ True Colours
Mackenzie @ Bell Bliss
Selena @ Oh, The Places We Will Go

Life Lately

Things that have been going on lately:

1.  Wedding Planning/Saving
This has been going surprisingly well.  We have managed to save enough to pay most of our vendors and more than half of our venue, which is really good considering we didn't  have much saved last month.  Also, we have started looking into registering at Kohl's and Bed, Bath and Beyond ... sadly, it is stressing me out, I don't know what we want or need.  We have finalized the guest list and have most of the addresses we need which means I will be ordering the Save the Dates soon and hopefully sending them out before Thanksgiving :)

2.  Working/Attempting to Work
My place of employment has decided that we don't need money so it is OK to just not give anyone any hours.  So I have two days this week and have been  unsuccessful at picking up shift because no one wants to give up what little shifts they are getting.  It is getting very frustrating.  That and Josh's work has slowed down a lot, too and he is only getting 48 hours as opposed to 60.

3. School
 School is going really well!  I love every single one of my classes.  All of my classes except for one are in the same classroom.  I also have 5 classes but only 3 teachers, which is great because I only need to get to know the test and grading styles of 3 teachers rather than 5!   I think my favorites right now are my CJ class because the teacher is nuts and I love it and also my Criminology class because we have had some great debates and discussions and the teacher is great.

4. Watching Too Much T.V. and Reading
In attempt to save for our wedding and honeymoon, I have been staying in a lot more.  This is frustrating for me but I have discovered a few new TV shows to try to keep myself entertained.  Season 7 of Army Wives is on Netflicks, so I watched that and I am slowly getting through OTH.  Also, Bones season 9 premiered last Monday so I was all over that!  And this week the final season of HIMYM is on.
I have also been slowly reading Inferno by Dan Brown.  I love Dan Brown, not because he is a good writer (because he is not) but because his stories are always smart and entertaining.  He is a very good storyteller.

5. Blogging
 Also because I am bored, I have been writing a lot more blog posts.  I have like 15 finished in my drafts!  I am really trying to get ahead in on my Travel Tuesday posts and so far it is going well.  I have the rest of my Italy posts done and am working on my France posts :)   I am also updating all of my pages on my menu bar at the top of the blog.  I have already updated a brand new and much shorter "About Me" page.  I am also working on my travel page because the uneven-ness of the photos is really bothering me.

Goals:

My recent goals have been:

1. Get back into working out:
This one has been going fabulously!!   Though I haven't really been to the gym, I did discover that my college has FREE Zumba on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the teacher is much better than the one I've been going to AND on Mondays and Wednesdays there are Pilates and Yoga classes!  Unfortunately, these are at the exact same time so I will go to one on Monday and one on Wednesday.  My sister is also able to come with me to Pilates and Yoga.

2. Finish school with all A's:
Considering that I have only had one quiz in one class, I am not really sure how this one is going.  I have done all of my reading and studying and I have printed all of my notes from blackboard, so hopefully that means that I will do well.
 

3. Save for the wedding:
See #1.

4. Find a Charity or Organization to Donate to:
I want to find a cause that I really love and donate $10 per paycheck.  I would love to do more, but unless I want to go without eating, this will have to do, for now.  Right now I am looking into local Zoo's (Baltimore and DC) and also National Geographics Animal Conservation.  I am also thinking of maybe finding a few and donating to a different charity each week.  I want to donate for the following causes: Diabetes Research (JDRF), Autism Research, Wildlife Conservation, Fighting Human Trafficking, and Education.  If you know any worthy charities fitting into any of these categories, please let me know :)

 
And that is what has been going on in my life for the last month. 

Five Things

5 Things I Have A Passion For 1. Anthropology.  This one should be pretty obvious. 2. Books.  I love to read, and if you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you have caught on to that.  3. The Smithsonian.  I love the Smithsonian and go to DC at times just to go to the Natural Hist. Museum.  I am also a Smithsonian Member and get their monthly magazine.  4. Travel.  Even though my travels are on hold right now due to school and wedding expenses, I love love love to travel.  I am constantly looking up places to go and learning about our world.

5. The Country.  I love living in the country.  I love small town life and living in a quiet and beautiful area. I love seeing cornfields, cows, barns and horses rather than big tall buildings.

3. The Smithsonian.  I love the Smithsonian!  I go to DC all the time just to go to the Natural Hist. Museum.  It never gets old.  I am also a member of the Smithsonian and get their monthly magazine.4.  Travel.  Even though my traveling is on hold right now due to school/wedding expenses, I freaking love to travel!  I love talking about my travels and about where I would like to go and I am constantly looking at pictures of places and adding places to my travel bucket list.

5. The Country.  I love living in the country.  I love small town life and living in a quiet and beautiful area. I love seeing cornfields, cows, barns and horses rather than big tall buildings. 

  5 Things I Would Like To Do Before I Die 1. Travel as much as possible.  Hopefully to every continent. 2.  Find a career that I love.  So many people I know have gotten into careers that they hate and I just don't want to be one of those people. 3. Go on a safari in Africa.  I love animals and this would be a dream come true.  Also, go diving in the Galapagos. 4. Be able to say I have read over 1,000 books in my life time. 5. Make a difference in someone's life.  

  5 Things I Say A Lot 1. "You Are Fired!!"  Ask the people I work with.  I fire them all the time ... Including my General Manager and another manager.  They get fired every day.  It's a good thing they like me. 2. "F**k Off".  Inappropriate, I know, but it's true.  Usually I say it in a joking manner with the guys I work with and Josh.  I work in a kitchen with a bunch of guys, and I am one of two girls so I get "picked on", bad words happen. 3. "Why Are People So Stupid!"  Work in a restaurant and you will never question why I say this. 4.  "Hey Girl Hey" this one is self explanatory. 5. "I'm Pretty Sure ..." this came about a few years ago and I can't break the habit of putting this phrase before a lot of things.  It is a really long story about a weekend in Ocean City.   5 Books I Have Read Recently 1. A Discovery of Witches (Current) 2. Enders Game 3. American Sniper 4. And the Mountains Echoed 5. The Silver Linings Playbook  

  5 Favorite Movies 1. Top Gun 2. An Officer and A Gentleman 3. Revenge of the Bridesmaids 4. Sydney White 5. All Harry Potter Movies (Bonus: Beauty and the Beast)  

(my favorite scene)   5 Places I Would Love To Travel 1. Ireland/England/Scotland 2. The Galapagos/Ecuador 3. Botswana/Zimbabwe 4. Cambodia 5.Solvenia  

  Hope you enjoyed getting to know me a little bit better!

Liebster Award :)

I was nominated for another Liebster Award!!!  I was nominated by Megan @ Barefoot Bluejean Princess!  Thanks Megan!  Since I have already done this a few times, I will not be nominating anyone but I will answer Megans Questions :)

11 Random Facts: 

1.  I lived in the same house from the time I was born until the day I left for college.  I moved back home briefly after finishing college, then moved in with friends.

2. I played the Clarinet for 4 years and guitar for 2 (lessons, I still play guitar occasionally).  I also taught myself the basics of both piano and violin.  

3. I could literally spend all day in the Museum of Natural History in DC.  It is my favorite museum ever.

4. I am mildly obsessed with Bananas Foster smoothies from Wawa.  I feel bad for anyone who doesn't have a Wawa near by because the smoothies are so good!

5.  I did work for Wawa though, and it was the only job I have ever hated.  With an undying passion.

6.  When I was little I had scarlet fever ... twice.

7.  I love concerts!  I am seeing Jason Aldean on August 10th and I can not freakin' wait!

8. I wish that Professional Student was a legitimate job.  I would be perfect for that job!

9.  I ran track in high school.  My events were the 100M and 300M hurdles.  I loved every minute of it.  Ok, maybe not, but I do miss it and I met some great people!

10. I loved Rollercoaster Tycoon and still play it sometimes.

11.  If I could have any job in the world I would be a Marine Biologist or a Zoologist.

Megan's Questions:

If You Won A Million Dollars, Who Would You Call First?

Either my Mom or Josh

If you were to walk into an airport, money nor time is an object, where would you jet off to?

That is a tough one!  Probably either Ireland or Zimbabwe!  I am Irish and I would really love to go to Ireland and learn more about my heritage!  Also, Africa has been on my mind for a while and I would love to work with animals or do a safari in Botswana/Zimbabwe

Coke or Pepsi?

 Neither.  Water.

Tell us about your favorite toy as a child.

My favorite toy was "outside".   Seriously, I didn't care what we were doing as long as we were outside.  We played kickball, dodgeball, colored eggs, tag ect.  So, maybe my favorite toy was the ball we played kickball, dodgeball and colored eggs with.

What is your favorite thing about blogging

I follow a lot of travel blogs and I love seeing the different places that people explore and what they learned about the culture.  I also love seeing how people live in different parts of the world as well as different parts of the US. 

If you could go on any reality TV show, which would you audition for?

The Voice.  No, I cant sing but it would be worth embarrassing myself just to get a look at Adam Levine!  *DROOL*

 
If you could only visit 5 websites everyday, which would you choose?

Hmmmm..... Bloglovin, Facebook, Pinterest, Hotmail and National Geographic

Which Iphone game is your favorite?

I don't have an Iphone but I used to play candy crush.  I didn't want to buy any levels so I just deleted it after I beat level 35.  Now the only game I have is word search.

What was your favorite part about your fourth of July celebrations this year?

Just chilling out with friends by the pool.  It was a nice relaxing 4th of July.

Are you a morning person or a night person. 

It depends.  Lately I have been a night person but usually I am a morning person.  Now that my summer class has started, I am starting to become a morning person again.