During the 50th ACM Awards, I watched Taylor Swift's mom make a speech about Taylor and beam with just such respect and pride over her daughter. From the moment I heard the news about her mother I was just so heartbroken for Taylor and her family. My thoughts and prayers go out to Taylor and her family. The speech gave me the idea to dedicate today's blog to my Mom.

Mom, you have been my best friend, partner in crime, and my shoulder to lean on for 23 years now. I've both tried your patience and made you proud. You have been the one that no matter what it was would come through for me. I can't begin to even tell you how much your friendship means to me. We're family, but we're the best of friends, and I couldn't be me without you. I wouldn't have the courage to be the young woman I am today if it wasn't for your guidance. We share the love of Country Music and we've been blessed to have went to some amazing concerts. We also have the get the travel bug from time to time and I am so thankful for our impromptu road trips. Some of my best memories are with you and Dad. I know I'm far right now, but always remember I'm not far from your heart. I love you mom. I'm thinking of you today. So go have a drink, put your feet up, and relax. Thank you again for everything that you do on a daily basis. Love you!

XOXO

Also, happy mothers day for all the other mothers day out there, sorry to all the kids I clearly have them beat for the best mother! ;) haha.

Growing + Changing in a Military Lifestyle

Let's just start by stating the obvious, I'm 23, married, and moved far away from home to our first base. I still get asked to this day why I married so young, like it's a bad thing. I've wrote a blog before about why I felt like it was right for me. I'm going to be going over that as well as talk about my experiences, everyone's is different, and until I married my husband I had no prior experience with being involved with the Military, honestly I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but life is that way with any choices. It's the enviable. We should embrace that, embrace change, instead of being scared of it. For me it feels like I have climbed Mount. Everest just moving so far away from all my family and friends, but I wanted to be on this journey with my husband, so I am.

I would like to state, I didn't get married just because he's in the military and I felt like I had to commit right away. I was never after a pay check nor was I after a uniform. A lot of "Military Wives" get lumped into a nasty category of being a gold digger and I'm not telling you that they don't exist, but women like me are not them. I'd like to think yes, I am a Military Wife, but I'm also creative, compassionate, forgiving, loving, and everything else in between. I'm a lot of things, so it wouldn't make sense to lump every military wife into a box and call it what you will. I got married because he was brave enough to ask me, and I was brave enough to accept.

Secondly, I chose this decision based on a lot of factors of where I was in life. Even though, I'm still pretty broke at least I'm happily broke with my best friend. I recall my mom telling me stories from when her and my dad were first married, and even though they had to share burger and fries, he got the burger, she got the fries, to sum up how poor they were, they were absolutely crazy about each other. I think it's a right of passage whether your broke, or rich, that you should have to struggle a little bit in the beginning, to even really appreciate how settled you will be later. It's impossible to appreciate something unless you know how fortunate you are. Love might not pay your bills, but I promise you it makes all the struggling worth it. At least for me on a really good day for us.

Thirdly, we both made sacrifices for this lifestyle, but the most important thing is that we've been in this thing together. We've seen the pretty and ugly parts about things in our lives while married. I know for me, he makes me the better woman, the better version of myself, and I feel like that is important for your relationship. There's always something to improve. We may have sacrificed a lot, but in the end we're learning to stand on our own two feet and that's something that I couldn't get home, nor could he. I know it was scary for our parents letting us come all the way out here, but you got to let us fly sometime, and I promise it won't be much longer till were soaring just fine. :)

And Lastly, Dreams change, life changes us and I decided to change my major and even though were both sacrificing things, were still chasing our dreams. We can still be married at a young age and go to school or go to work and make something of ourselves. It sounds sometimes impossible to have it all, but if you work hard for it, it will happen. Great things come to those who work for it and those who have the courage to ask for it. Nobody achieved any dreams by letting it come to them, you have to be a go-getter in today's society.

Speaking of change, we're at our first base, and honestly, it could've gone better. I personally think they stick young couples here because nobody wants to come live here in the desert, but it's great, because we've had the opportunity to do all the above and make some amazing memories despite being so far from home. Of course there have been bad days, long homesick, days, but I would go through hell and back for my husband. I've met some truly amazing people, and some not so amazing people here and back home, it's all the same, but in the midst of these last two years, I grew up. I outgrew people like shoes and clothing, and I embraced new friendships and family. I think I will always have bad days with my anxiety, with being far from home, and being my own worst critic, but I think I will also have just as many good days. I honestly feel so fulfilled about my future no matter where it takes us, and two years ago that probably would've scared the pee out of me, because my anxiety held me back so much.

So here's to making changes, growing, love, and happiness. For those of you who are struggling with yourself, just take a breath, look at the pros and cons. Nothing is worth stressing so much over that you forget what you have in front of your eyes.

XO

How I Got Started: Creating + Blogging

I had a planned blog posting this week, but something was laying heavy on my mind. First things first, I wanted to give a little bit of background information on how I was turned onto blogging. I hope that's okay, I figured since I have a little bigger audience now that this would be the perfect time to let y'all know how I got started and the sort of pros and cons of it.

I'm pretty sure previously I mentioned all throughout school English and any writing class was always my strong suit. Having social anxiety and always being on the shyer side, it would only make sense that I would have such a strong voice via Social Media. As soon as I graduated within my first semester I started reading more blogs and stumbled upon tumblr. I made my first personal blog and loved it, but I wanted to do what I loved most, writing and graphic design. I kept writing on my personal blog, and I made a new blog for graphics. I made a total of 3 graphic blogs between then and now, but the last one was the one that took off the most. I worked extremely hard with a few lovely ladies, but mostly took on the major load by myself, even with being busy in classes. I took a few breaks of course, I had to eat, and I did take a few vacations, but a majority of the time I had to keep it going if I wanted people to keep requesting. More and more graphic blogs started popping up and before I knew it, everyone was doing graphic requests and making new graphic blogs. Believe it or not, the competition isn't why I stopped doing graphic requests for free. This brings me to what I have to say.

Cons that I have had to deal with while blogging + making graphics for free:

• Not just the designers of these blogs themselves, but many people who had Facebook pages were copying each other and saving graphics, then taking it into Microsoft paint and writing peoples names on them as "requests". Originality was very hard to find or to accomplish because every time someone would make something new and fresh, someone else used it, or someone would take someone else's work and use it as their own, and that's not how we should be respect other peoples property. Their work should be respected.

• When I would confront people about it who were guilty doing such things, honestly I could be so sweet with soft tone and everything and it wouldn't matter I have been blocked from various Instagram's, Facebook pages, just for asking if they could put credit on my work. (hence why there will most likely be copyright on everything..sorry) and I can't tell you how frustrating it is that people don't respect you enough to at least be nice and copy-paste the URL under the photo they take. I completely understand how musicians feel about their music just by dealing with this, people think it's no big deal, but it should be.

• I did graphics for free because I wasn't at the stage where I could charge much anyway, I didn't want to start my own business, or Etsy shop while in school there would've been double the pressure. Just like my photographs, I didn't want to put a price on them till I graduated. A lot of people will complain about photographer prices, but camera's, lens', and all other equipment costs. Trust me, they deserve the price they ask for, if they deliver quality work.

• Words matter, especially if they are your own and make a great deal to you. So when mine was taken from me as far as my writing goes, it hurt. Even as something as simple as an about me or a quote, someone is still the artist of those words. To take them without permission is kind of like stealing words from someone else's essay or a book a famous author wrote and putting it in your paper without citing it. We should have this programmed in our brains by the amount of times we heard this growing up in school, plagiarizing is not tolerated in the school system, so it shouldn't be tolerated in real life either. Cite it. Cite it. Cite it.

Pros that I have had to deal with while blogging + making graphics for free:

• I have had an outlet - I am finally at my comfort zone where I can share my beliefs, outlooks, and opinions, even though not everyone will agree, it's still nice to be able to have a voice as a young woman.

•  I have 'met' so many awesome people just by making graphics and it getting so big, social media doesn't always have to be seen in a bad light, sometimes it gets you where you want to go as far as a blogger. So far so good.

• I am my own boss. If I want to blog Friday, I get to blog friday, if I want to do a giveaway, I will be able to do a giveaway. I am happy to be able to work on my own schedule.

• Even though I'm usually nail biting my way through math class on a daily basis, I get to be creative here, and this counts as my 'me time' . If you're not careful blog postings can become more like a chore instead of you enjoying it, but I don't feel that way, sometimes I don't always get to post because school is my number one priority, but I am trying to always keep an extra post at hand, just incase. I genuinelly enjoy sharing my ideas, tips, tricks, opinions, outlooks, and beliefs with y'all. I hope the feeling is mutual. :)

I hope y'all enjoy this weeks posting. I'll see y'all next week, have a great weekend! XO

New Year, New Start!

Today's blog is going to be some-what of an inspirational posting. So if you hate the Holidays, and honestly are just not a fan of reading, then turn back now. I'm hoping you'll stay despite them both. :)

And if you're not wanting to read or even try to make resolutions because of all the memes here let me help get them out of your system.

 

Now we got that out the way, lets move on people! Generally yes, sometimes we shoot for the moon and everything is not guaranteed that our resolutions will happen. A lot can happen in a year, so who is anyone to judge you whether you achieved your goal or not, you're the only one accountable for yourself and sometimes things just don't happen in year.

2015 will be my year. It's a gut feeling and a little of me restoring the faith that was a little broken. Usually for New Years I like to reflect on the year and put a little inspiration out there. This year made a year since I picked up everything and moved to Las Vegas with my husband. I've had a real hard time adjusting since South Carolina is all I really know. That's just the fact of it all, but I did it all for love. I got to see my marriage and my friendships and all my other relationships grow so much stronger. So I'd like to take this time to thank all those people.

I honestly am so blessed that this year I was able to make mistakes to pave my own path. This life always has it's days, sometimes weeks, but I always was able to bounce back no matter what. I think it's funny when I sit back and look at every person who laughed about "stealing my joy" whether it was a guy or a friend turning against me or just someone who didn't take the time to get to know me so they judged me. I cannot believe I encountered so many toxic people and still came out with such a pure heart and such a drive to be able to start living my dream and do what I love to do. I'm not perfect Lord knows, but he has blessed me beyond belief with the people that I am going into 2015 with. The fact that I had pretty much every door close on me in 2014 must mean I'm going to have something amazing happen to me in 2015 and I'm betting it's life changing. So go on roll your eyes about resolutions people are making, but those are the kind of people I want in my life. The kind that is not afraid of reaching for the stars because they know they'll land amongst the moon. Those are the kind of people I'm going to keep. Thank you so much to everyone who has let me become just this young woman I am, who continue to love me as myself, and treated me always like a family member or friend. You are the people who keep me going. Thank you a million and one M&M's.

And thank y'all to my readers. My supporters. I've been off/on social media and so far I'm building a blog I can finally be so proud of. I am so humbled by how much support I am getting. :)

Have a Happy New Year!

XO

My Christmas Playlist

It's that time of the year where everyone has either already put up their tree and decorated it, or are just getting to it. It's the time of year you sip hot cocoa and cuddle under warm blankets by the fire, and finally, it's the time of the year that's also known for giving. Yes, giving is what I said. So today I'm giving you the gift of a Christmas Playlist. These are some of my favorites, old and new. You can pretty much find all of these on iTunes, or you can even make a YouTube playlist and play it while you're doing all your Christmas festivities. Enjoy!

1. Santa Baby - Nashville Cast Feat. Clare Bowen - Christmas with Nashville (2014)
2. Candy Cane Christmas - Darius Rucker - Candy Cane Christmas - Single (2009)
3. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Carrie Underwood - Hear Something Country Christmas (2007)
4. I'll Be Home for Christmas - Rascal Flatts - Unwrapped EP (2009)
5. Country Christmas - Loretta Lynn - 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of Loretta Lynn (2005)
6. Silver Bells - Loretta Lynn - 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of Loretta Lynn (2005)
7. Let's Make a Little Christmas Tonight - Phil Vassar - Hear Something Country Christmas (2007)
8. O Come All Ye Faithful - Martina McBride - Hear Something Country Christmas (2007)
9. Christmas in Heaven - Scotty McCreery - Christmas With Scotty McCreery (2012)
10. Christmas Comin' Around Again - Scotty McCreery - Christmas With Scotty McCreery (2012)
11. Holly Jolly Christmas - Scotty McCreery - Christmas With Scotty McCreery (2012)
12. Jingle Bells - George Strait - Classic Christmas (2008)
13. Silent Night - George Strait - Classic Christmas (2008)
14. Joy to the World - George Strait - Classic Christmas (2008)
15. White Christmas - Nashville Cast Feat. Hayden Panettiere - Christmas with Nashville (2014)
16. Christmas Coming Home - Nashville Cast Feat. Lennon & Maisy - Christmas with Nashville (2014)

            

If the video won't play please go to here for the entire playlist on YouTube. :)