tailgating essentials

i love saturdays in the fall because i love all the college football that is on tv. i also love going to Clemson home games. however, i'm pretty excited that tomorrow i can just relax (just kidding, impossible to do when Clemson is playing) and watch the game on tv. I love a good tailgate and cheering in the stands, but  everyone needs a break. so, since i won't be getting all dressed up and screaming my heart out tomorrow night (actually kidding again, totally still will be doing that), i figured i'd show a few things that i consider to be essential to a college football Saturday.

food--seriously what's a tailgate without awesome food?

1. cheddar bacon ranch pulls [recipe here]

2. loaded baked potato dip [recipe here]

3. mini mac and cheese cupcakes [recipe here] LOVE these!

jeans: here     top: here     scarf: here     boots: here

dress: here     earrings: here     boots: here     cardigan: here

dress: here     sandals: here     cooler tote: here     monogram necklace: here

GO TIGERS!!

25 things about me

on facebook a few years ago (february 13 of 2009 to be exact) i jumped on the bandwagon and wrote a note of 25 things about me...and it recently appeared on the side of my facebook again. I really enjoyed reading them and thought I'd post them here...and add a few comments about things that have (or haven't) changed since then

(also I was in the spring of my junior year at Clemson at this time)

1. I'm easily addicted to teenage drama television shows....just to name a few: The O.C., One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl....
*i've moved along to different, but still smut, television shows. I now enjoy the real housewives of where   ever & most eligible dallas but I've upgraded and now watch How I Met your Mother, The Big Bang Theory and lots of others
2. I eat at Moe's 2-3 times a week while at Clemson but the idea of eating at Moe's while not at Clemson does not appeal to me at all.

*i don't eat at Moe's that often anymore, mostly because I'm not in Clemson. But I will always remember all the time I spent at the Moe's in Clemson

3. I'm very O.C.D. about random things.
*very true 
4. I really enjoy cleaning, especially the kitchen.
*still love cleaning and honestly I'd rather just clean the kitchen myself because I'm pretty sure that your way isn't sufficient for me...

5. Black and Brown are never okay to wear together.
 *duh-some things will NEVER be okay
6. There was a phase in my life where sheep were really important and if we ever sang the song 'I am a Sheep' at church I had to leave the room.
7. I love happy hour at Sonic....diet coke with cranberry is my current favorite.
 *.99 drinks early in the morning were clutch with Becker and studying for the CPA exam. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it without Sonic!
8. I really like cooking and especially baking but I rarely eat what I bake....

*still true, i miss having groups of people to bake for
9. My closet was organized by color all throughout high school and I can't wait for larger closet so I can so that again...in fact I'm probably gonna try as soon as I get done with this.
 *one of the things I'm most excited about in my new apartment (which will happen once I get a job) is organizing my closet....seriously like I can't WAIT!
10. I love Sharpies and have a jar of them on my desk...and a lot more in a box on my desk...

*my love of sharpies is still going strong
11. I've started going to the gym this year and I am really surprised that I have stuck with it for this long.
 *the gym lasted until March maybe...and it hasn't started back yet...one day...maybe when I have kids to take on a walk or something
12. I'm currently obsessed with tights....my favorite pair are hot pink....

 *still obsessed with tights...best thing about it getting colder is I get to pull out my box of tights
13. When the weather is nice outside and I'm walking around on campus I'm reminded of why I love Clemson...not that I ever forget...
14. I really want a tattoo but can't decide on the what and where of it....
*nope, I no longer have any desire to get a tattoo...AT ALL
15. I can't wait to get my class ring....April!
*i love wearing my Clemson ring and if I forget to wear it one day, I feel really awkward and wrong
16. I have random pieces of Rachael Ray cookware and can't wait until I can buy the entire set.
*got a complete set of cookware for undergrad graduation...and i LOVE it!! 
17. I sometimes worry that I won't be able to find a job when I graduate...next May....
*I pretty much always worry that 23 year old me with a Masters won't be able to find a job....
18. I had a pretty great childhood, which I definitely did not appreciate enough at the time.
19. I love Christmas time because wrapping gifts is one of my all time favorite things to do.
*gift wrapping = love (pinterest will only make this even better!)
20. I really enjoy reading The Message Remix version of the Bible but I don't take it to church because it's hard to read out loud in class due to the way the verses are split up.
21. I have a lot of music (mostly random) in itunes that I have never listened too and probably never will....
22. I actually like school and I'll be sad when I'm done.
*i definitely needed a break after grad school but I do miss it, especially the structure 
23. I use different shampoo and conditioner depending on if I'm straightening or curling my hair.
*okay doesn't everyone do this?!?
24. I think DVR might be one of the greatest inventions ever.
*obviously...and having netflix stream through the wii is also pretty clutch
25. I wrote this list out before I typed it in Facebook to make sure I included everything I wanted too and that I liked the order...O.C.D. I know...

So there you have it...now you know a little more about me. I find it amusing that all of these (except for the tattoo) are still completely true about me.  In place of the tattoo fact, I would just say that I really like sending cards in the actual US postal service. I think that people really like receiving an actual piece of mail, not just a facebook wall post. 

A Letter to me at 15

{I know some of this stuff may have already been discussed on my blog…but some things are just worth repeating}

So 15 years old…high school can be a not so great time. However I know that I loved it. The classes were challenging yet fun but more importantly I had the greatest friends. Don’t ever take those friends for granted. You have no idea how much you’re going to miss them and how much they have truly impacted you.

Youth group can be a difficult trip sometimes but you’ll always be glad that you went. It’s okay for you to have different opinions than the others; it’s even okay to have a differing opinion from your youth minister. However there are probably more tactful ways to explain your side. I’d like to say you’ve gotten a little better with this but that still remains to be seen.

At 15 you have all kinds of lofty dreams and expectations for your future. AND THAT IS AWESOME. A little ambition never hurt anyone. I will say that everything you thought you wanted for your future radically changes your freshman year in college. I’m pretty sure that this happens for most people but you, of course, thought you had it all figured out already. But that’s okay; you have learned to roll with the punches a little bit more. Oh but don’t worry, you definitely still want everything to happen according to your plan. Naturally this doesn’t happen that often and the unexpected still kinda (really) bothers you.

I’d like to tell you that everything is exactly like you pictured. That’s not the case but your life is still pretty cool. You have learned a little more to trust in God’s plan, rather than your own but that’s still a pretty tough thing for you to grasp most of the time.

Sometimes you might think that it would be SO MUCH easier to just do what everyone else is doing and forget everything you know in your heart. That’s never a good idea; by the way, to go against what you truly know is right. You might have more friends if you just went with the flow but keep in mind what kind of friends they would truly be. Also remember the type of boys that are attracted to those kinds of girls. You’ll never regret saving anything for the boy you marry (I heard this somewhere and I’m just assuming that it’s true…but I honestly think it is).

I wish I could tell you that you’ve got it all figured out but you so totally do not. And as much as it upsets 15 year old you to not understand, it bothers the 23 year old you EVEN MORE.

Are there things I wish 15 year old me could do differently when she gets to college. FOR SURE. Sometimes I’m certain I made the wrong choice about college. Like if I would have just gone to Harding (or somewhere else) everything would be different. And that’s true, things would be different but that doesn’t mean they would be a better-different. So no, I’m ultimately happy that I went to Clemson. It was a great 5 years of my life and I know that no other college experience could compare to what I had at Clemson. But there are things I would do differently at Clemson. Some of them relate to sticking with accounting (turns out dad did know best) and trying really hard for an internship (turns out they do normally turn into a full-time job offer). But I would super-duper encourage involvement in a church. I totally did this for 4 years but I would do it all differently if I could go back. I wouldn’t be so stuck in the type of church I wanted to attend but rather try and find a great girls Bible study. Try and be more involved in a variety of church and bible study activities. There are some great friendships to be found in those and I SO WISH that I had taken advantage of all of those opportunities.

So enough with the minor regrets…Enjoy high school because college is different (but still great) and one day you’ll so be wishing you could go back!

the accountant in me

I've mentioned here before that I recently received my Masters in Accounting and am in the process of sitting for all 4 parts of the CPA exam. If you would have told me 3 years ago that I'd be doing this I would be doing this, I would have laughed in your face. But, here I am. I feel like now would be a good time to mention that I'm pretty sure I'm quite different than what you would picture when you think of  CPA. I, naturally, have a pinterest board relating to accounting. I think that I might be the only person to have a board like that but that just makes me special :) Here are a few of my favorite pins from that board and hopefully you'll be able to see I'm really not the typical accountant.

[above images (and more) can be found on this pinboard]

Lyric Love {1}

I'm waiting 
I'm waiting on You, Lord 
And I am hopeful 
I'm waiting on You, Lord 
Though it is painful 
But patiently, I will wait 

I will move ahead, bold and confident 
Takeing every step in obedience 
While I'm waiting 
I will serve You 
While I'm waiting 
I will worship 
While I'm waiting 
I will not faint 
I'll be running the race 
Even while I wait 

I'm waiting 
I'm waiting on You, Lord 
And I am peaceful 
I'm waiting on You, Lord 
Though it's not easy 
But faithfully, I will wait 
Yes, I will wait 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve You while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting 
I will serve you while I'm waiting 
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

recent most-loved posts

i thought i'd share a few posts from various blogs that i have really enjoyed reading recently. hopefully you'll enjoy these posts and might even find a new blog read...


GraceAnna Castleberry: Texas Heart Part 31 found here {writing letters to your future husband and sharing them the night before you get married = love...and encourages me to keep going with my journal}


Summery Judgment: I Failed the Bar Exam Three Times (link) bad news, good news, encouragement and  contentment


Amy from Chapters: Forgiveness (link) started reading this blog about a week before this post....i can't even begin to understand this and i think we can all learn something about the art of forgiveness from Amy

C-L-E-M-S-O-N

Clemson is one of my most favorite places ever. I really am so lucky to have been able to attend Clemson for 5 years of college and receive 2 degrees from such a great university. Clemson has a beautiful campus that is a lot easier to enjoy when your not hiking up the steepest hill ever with a backpack on in 110 degree weather. Regardless, I LOVED my time at Clemson and I'm so lucky that my parents have season football tickets so I still get to experience some magic on Saturdays. I'm hoping that I'll get to attend a few baseball games this spring too. Go Tigers!!

There is something in these hills that brings together and binds together and holds together men and women of all persuasions, of all heights, sizes, weights, and cultural backgrounds - something that cuts across every difference, spans every gap, penetrates every wall - something that makes a man or a woman stand taller, feel better and say with a high pride to all within earshot, "I went to Clemson."

There's something in these hills that has touched every one of them, something that has rubbed off on them in varying degrees, something that has built within the breasts of all Clemson men and women an enduring spark akin to an eternal pride.

I have my names and I see once more the faces and feel again the beloved personalities that go with them. If you will but close your eyes and drift awhile you too will recall the names and faces and personalities of those who meant the most to you while the privilege of being among them was yours.

(above three quotes came from here)

"I love this place...I've got a spot already picked out where I want 'em to put me when I die, up there on that ole hill near the stadium. I want to be there so I can hear all them people cheering my Tigers on Saturdays. Then I won't have to go to heaven; I'll already be there." Frank Howard.

"I remember when I was coaching down at Florida, we would always lose kids in recruiting battles to Clemson. I would tell my coaches that we shouldn’t be losing kids to Clemson. Charlie Strong (his defensive coordinator at the time and now head coach at Louisville) responded ‘coach have you ever actually been to Clemson?’ I hadn’t but I’ll tell you what, I’ve been here now and I get it. This is an exceptional, special place.” -Urban Meyer after this weekend in Clemson

If you’re anything like me, you probably didn’t realize how many of these moments you took for granted until recently. Looking back, it’s strange to think about how many things I’ve become so easily accustomed to — and how many of those things won’t happen ever again. It won’t be long before the chimes from the Tillman bells no longer accompany my daily walk. Two weeks from now, it will be unacceptable to “take the day off” and spend it laying by the pool, or throwing a Frisbee, or hitting a volleyball around. Soon, Thursdays will be just another day of the week; no longer will they be spent at Loose Change celebrating the beginning of the weekend. And for the first time in four years, there won’t be those seven Saturdays this fall comprised of tailgates, The Rock, the Cadence Count or Death Valley. It’s these things — the simplest of memories — that make Clemson special. (found here)

as a virgo

My astrological sign is virgo and since it's the "end of virgo season", as the daily virgo on twitter keeps reminding me, i figured i would share some of their tweets that i related too most. (and obviously this required using a sentence with some of the worst grammar ever....)


Virgo is the notorious introvert and are very good at hiding emotions.
What Virgo finds to be fun may be bland or boring to others. Such as organizing their panty drawer.
        *okay while i have yet to organize my panty drawer i do love organizing closets...and kitchens....which i'm sure can sound pretty bland or boring...but i really find it fun
Virgo is seen as being cold, mean and arrogant. Rather, these people are sweet, kind and caring individuals.
         *i like to think this about myself :)
Virgos communicate in their heads and forget to verbalize it to others around them.
You can know a Virgo for years and never truly know them. They are hesitant with revealing their true self to others.

follow the daily virgo here if your interested


i really like following accounts like this on twitter. it's interesting to me just how many of their tweets i read and find myself saying "i do that ALL the time"
and while we're on this topic, i figured i'd include these as well. a few months ago my former roommate (amy) and i were bored (or avoiding studying i can't remember which one) and decided to look up characteristics of our astrological signs. we would read things to one another and below are some of the following that she found to be pretty dead-on for me. (we lived together for 5 years and have known each other for 11 so i'd like to think she knows me pretty well by now)

Some people might find them cold or emotionally detached because they live in their minds, not in their emotions and feelings. It might be hard to pin down how a Virgo friend is feeling because they easily live in denial. A person who is able to read deep into another person will notice when Virgo is not well but if they confront them about it, they would rather retreat then talk about it. It is best to keep your emotional distance from a Virgo friend unless they open up to you first. Virgo might try to analyze and control a friend's life but only with the idea that they will improve their life, not purely for the sake of controlling. Be patient with your Virgo friend and understand that their recommendations are only to make your life better.  

Before a Virgo plunges into anything, from a problem to a vacation idea, they need to analyze all the facts and know all the details before they plunge in and make a decision. This makes them seem indecisive and slow. Virgo's perception is their reality, more so then other astrology signs. What they believe is what will be, if they have a negative outlook on life, things will present themselves to be negative and they will be very moody and isolated/detached. If they are positive, the same events that occur will be held in a positive light and they will be a pleasant, well adjusted person. A Virgo mind is a very powerful mind and they must have the proper attitude for their life to be happy and successful. Virgo needs to get in touch with their feelings, this is why they usually seem cold or detached. They are very prone of living in denial. They will say the feel okay or everything is alright even when it's not. This is an easy way out, the one thing that Virgo does not like to analyze is their feelings so pretending everything is okay is a good defense mechanism for not having to take a closer look at their feelings.   [side note: i HATE not having a plan!]

Virgo's major life lesson is to learn to trust in and have faith in the unknown. They have to understand that things in life happen for a reason that is not always known to them, they do not have to always know everything. They need to learn to calm down and not over-analyze a situation or event. Deep inside, Virgo is very sensitive and they need to be appreciated for all the things they do. When is Virgo is offended or hurt, they may never show it.

we found to be hilarious because we looked at what other people signs said about this topic and it was pretty dead on as well:  These {virgo's} are not the type of people who will engage in a one night stand, they are too reserved and prudish for that. {AMEN!}

all of the above information can be found here

and now you know more about me than you ever wanted too!!

totally logical fear

Confession: I'm terrified of alligators/crocodiles

like I can't stand to look at them and had nightmares until I was like 15 that I was going to be eaten to death by one at night

(pinned here)

I don't stick my leg off this edge of my bed for this exact reason, it would totally be chomped off by an alligator. 

I have started watching Swamp People and I'm a little sad that new episodes are not currently airing. I watched it for the first time while at the beach (where alligators are EVERYWHERE) because my parents made me. They hoped that it would help me get over my fears. So now I can stand to watch them on this show but I still know that my tombstone is going to read "death by alligator"

(pinned here)

We took a trip to Florida (land of glitter (gross) and gators) in March and May of 2010. The trip in May of 2010 was to celebrate my graduation from Clemson. So naturally when my brother wanted to go to the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, we did. I stood at the entrance for 20 minutes unable to move and at this time my mom decided that maybe this wasn't such a good idea (ya think?)

this sign was everywhere. I decided any one who needed to be reminded that alligators can bite was stupid. and seriously I don't think this is a place to bring your children too, unless you want them to have nightmares.

see that long bridge...yup walked down and back with my mom. I thought FOR SURE that the water below me was definitely going to be my watery grave. While walking across the bridge, a bird landed near some alligators and they all moved super fast to attack it. I most definitely did not have a major panic attack on the bridge and have multiple people look at me like I was crazy. I'm also only slightly terrified while having my picture taken.

and the trainer girl who most certainly had a death wish. There is nothing in the world that is worth me standing where she is. Just looking at this picture makes me wonder if she's still alive.

So now you know that I'm pretty scared of alligators. I've gotten a lot better, which might seem hard to believe. Life lesson for parents: don't take your 5 year old daughter on a marsh walk where the guide talks about alligators and how fast they can move and to run in a zig-zag to make it. Also don't let her older cousins tell her that there all alligators in the lake and use every floating log off in the distance to persuade her. It might seem like a minor issue at the time but 15 years later you'll threaten her with therapy for her weird (to you) fear of alligators. 

Life Reminder {2}

i know i said i was going to stop with the posts on this topic...but i first read this last night and i've enjoyed reading it again today. i figured it was definitely worth a post, if for no other reason than i might need to read this yet again


the following article can be found here

Given some of the questions, I just want to address one additional thought from that post -- the tension between idolatry and desire. Here it is in a nutshell: It's not wrong to want a good thing, especially a good thing that God created and instituted from the beginning of creation! So desiring marriage is fine. It's the strength of that desire that we have to monitor. When that desire becomes so dominating that our worship of God is dented or diminished, we know right away that we have crossed the line into idolatry. We can't be satisfied with all of our other blessings, because we run everything through the growing demand for a husband. 

Here are some warning signs to consider. This is by no means exhaustive, but it could be helpful:

• You find it hard to pray because you think God doesn't want to bless you.
• You aren't thankful for all the other answered prayers and blessings in your life.
• You withdraw from others who are getting married or in relationships. (I do understand how hard it can be when someone else enters a relationship, especially with a man you are interested in. Being knocked off-balance by disappointment is common and it takes time to grieve lost hopes. But it should be temporary. If it becomes a permanent way of relating to others, then you've entered the place of bitterness and idolatry.)
• You go to church more aware of the human relationships around you (ones you envy, ones you want) than your relationship with God. 
• You think you have no purpose in the Kingdom because you are single, so therefore you don't serve others in the church or outside of it. You've begun to believe the Enemy's lie that nothing good can come out of this season of your life. 
• Any discussion of marriage or singleness is a sore spot for you, one that keeps bringing you back to the idea that God is withholding something good from you.

Like I said, this is not an exhaustive list, just something to consider. My main reason for posting this today is to encourage you not to lose the joy of your salvation as you wait on God. He may or may not answer your prayers the way you want, but you can be sure there is a wonderful purpose behind His plans for you.


the article referenced at the beginning, why pray for a husband, can be found here
I know this is slightly out of order but i also wanted to include a favorite paragraph from that article

To be honest, I have not always rejoiced at the weddings of others. At least not initially. But the more I’ve encountered the faithfulness of God, the easier it has become. Taking note of answered prayers is the best antidote I know for overcoming the forlorn assumption that your own prayers go unanswered. Soon you will see an abundance of prayers are answered every day, which balances out the long wait for other prayer requests.