Just Bri

Things That Make Me Uncomfortable

2013-05-03T22:23:00.001-04:00

It's only day three of the Blog Every Day in May challenge, and it's already getting tough. Today's topic was things that make us uncomfortable. Steph, my roomie, has a list of things that make her cringe, but I had a hard time coming up with any. I think my ability to handle uncomfortable situations like a champ is due to my incredibly awesome, but super awkward family.
It all started in middle school when my mom and dad picked me up from the "hottest guy" in school's house, and my dad showed up wearing a leopard cowboy hat (same one he's wearing below)! Back in those days I ran from anything that made me the least bit different, so I was mortified. I will forever be grateful for that day though because he taught me that life's a whole lot more fun when you're not worried about being anyone but yourself.

I love my parents, and even the awkward uncomfortable situations they put me through!

True story, when I was in high school my dad would answer the door in his boxers when dates would come pick me up! So you can imagine there aren't many situations that make me uncomfortable. My little brother is just as unafraid to be himself, and he makes most situations a little more fun.

The thing I've learned is that most people are a lot less concerned with what you're doing than you think, so why choose to be anything but yourself. Next time you're in an uncomfortable situation, the best thing to do is just smile and go with it!

How To Make The Most Of Your Internship

2013-05-02T18:18:00.000-04:00

Time for day two of the Blog Every Day in May Challenge. Today's prompt was to share something we're good at, or know a lot about.

Now, I won't pretend to know something about everything, but I do know a thing or two about a few topics. One of those is what I believe to be the key to landing a job after graduation, internships.

After five different internships throughout my college career, I consider myself a semi-professional in this space. Unfortunately, most of my expertise came from making a few mistakes along the way and learning the hard way.

Internships are a great way to gain hands on experience in your desired field, and make connections that can help you throughout your career. Here are a few pointers for how to make the most of your internship opportunity.

Where it all started, as an intern for NASCAR in the summer of '06

Show up for your internship - not just physically, but mentally. Most internships these days aren't paid, some don't even give you school credit, so you need to use all the great experience you're getting as motivation to show up. Don't just show up, but be there on time, dress the part, be ready to work, and take a good attitude with you!

My first experience with corporate events & hospitality. Instead of appreciating the fact that this involved a trip to Sonoma, Calif., I complained about having to tie balloons. Lesson learned the hard way.

Appreciate the perks & don't complain about the "boring" work - While I was interning I got a lot of cool perks, but I also got stuck doing jobs that I absolutely hated. The good wouldn't be there without the bad, and my career has benefited the most from some of these boring tasks. Take it all as a learning experience, and know that most people have to do some jobs they don't like, in order to get to that dream job.

As a brand ambassador for SPEED. Not an internship, but an opportunity that allowed me to network, and gain great event and hospitality experience. Think outside the box when looking for opportunities.

Network, Network, Network - If you don't remember anything else, remember this. If your internship is in the field you want to work, then you're more than likely going to be running into these individuals for the rest of your career. Send an email or "thank you" note to everyone you meet, it's a foolproof way to ensure that they remember you. If someone has your "dream job", ask them for a few minutes of their time, find out how they got there, and if they have any advice to offer. People love to talk about what they do, so they're never going to turn you down. Your most valuable resource during your internship is the people that you're surrounded by.

As an intern at Richard Petty Motorsports.
I'm thankful I kept in touch with this group after my internship ended because they've helped me more than once since I graduated.

Don't burn bridges - This goes back to the point above. During a job interview after college my prospective employer called a friend of his who worked at one of the companies I had listed on my resume. I hadn't listed this person as a reference, but when you work in a small industry it's very likely that someone you worked for knows someone you're interviewing with.

Getting good grades and earning a degree is important, but I'm a firm believer in the value of hands-on experience. Take advantage of these opportunities while you're in college, use the tips I've provided, and you'll be sure to stand out when the time comes to look for that real job.

Blog Every Day in May Challenge

2013-05-01T15:56:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I've had a bit of writers block lately. So, in an attempt to find my voice again, I've decided to join Jenni this month for her Blog Every Day in May challenge. Today's challenge? Write the story of your life in 250 words or less...

I was born in Houston, TX, spent my younger years in Mexico City, but did my “growing up” in the Carolina’s. I’ve always been a bit unique, although I haven’t always been willing to accept it. I’m that square peg who tries to fit into the round hole. I’m not your typical Texan, yes it’s a great state, but I don’t think all things are better or bigger in Texas. I should know, I’m a mere 5 foot 2.

My high school and middle school years were hard. I think I made my life a bit more difficult during these years with that whole “square peg round hole” deal, instead of embracing who I was. I was singled out a lot, but I think this experience gave me the huge heart that I have today.

If I had a life motto it would be “compassion”. Every single one of us was created the same, and thus deserve the same amount of respect. You never know what someone is going through, and you never know how much a little compassion and understanding can mean to someone else.

2012 was probably the hardest year of my life, but I survived. If I was asked to give someone who is struggling advice, it would be to know that there are always options (something my dad taught me). You can always build the life you imagine. All it takes is a little courage, a whole lot of faith, and you’ll land on your feet.

Praying for Boston

2013-04-16T12:42:00.000-04:00

I will never be able to explain why tragedies happen or why the world is filled with so much hate. I do know however that our God is the Prince of Peace. He offers us hope during our turmoil, and comfort during our struggles. Trust in Him in times of trouble and do not be afraid. His love is far greater than any challenges of this life.

The Day I Met My Oldest Brother

2013-04-12T13:50:00.001-04:00

Most people don't have a story about meeting their siblings, they've just been a part of their life for as long as they can remember. I wasn't fortunate enough however to always have older siblings (even though we've done a pretty good job at making up for lost time) so in honor of my oldest big bro turning the big 3-0 today I thought I'd share the story about the time we met.

My mom and Derek's dad started dating when I was in middle school and Derek was in college at UT Austin. We were living in Houston and even though our parents had been dating for some time, Derek and I had still never met.

We took a trip to Austin one weekend to visit Derek, and I was so excited because at the time college kids where the coolest people in the world to me. My mom and Dave spent the day doing all the things parents do when they visit their kid at school. We took Derek out to dinner, and made sure to stock his fridge with all the food he normally wouldn't dip into his "beer fund" to buy. Derek and I never said more than a few words to each other throughout the day, we were just trying to figure this whole new relationship out.

That night Dave and my mom were staying at a hotel nearby, and they were leaving me at Derek's apartment. THEY WERE MAKING ME SPEND THE NIGHT WITH A COLLEGE KID, WHO I BARELY KNEW, ALL BY MYSELF! I'm shy around strangers, he was a stranger, and this was weird.

I'll never forget what happened next. My parents walked out the apartment door and Derek and I were left standing in the doorway, face to face, looking at each other like we were aliens. Derek looked at me and said...

"So, where do you sleep? and do you need water or something like that?"

He made me a bed on the couch, showed me how to work the TV, and we managed to survive until our parents got there the next morning.

Little did we know, that weekend was the start of one of the best brother-sister relationships there is. After that first night we had the whole brother-sister thing down, we even tease each other and bicker like the best of 'em. I'm so thankful that God blessed me with such an amazing role-model, friend, and older brother. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST BIGGEST BROTHER A GIRL COULD ASK FOR. I LOVE YOU!

Loving Lately: Beauty Edition

2013-04-04T12:38:00.001-04:00

I've become a bit of a beauty product junky lately, buying any cool new item that catches my eye. I've been lucky with some of the things I've tried, but I also struck out once or twice with some products that I won't be purchasing again. Below are some of the beauty buys I'm loving lately.

Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel - I've been a little stressed lately and my face was definitely starting to show it. I tried a mask from Boscia before and really liked it so I decided to give the purifying cleansing gel a try. I love it! It smells fresh and clean and has significantly improved my face. It's a bit on the pricey side but well worth it in my opinion.

bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lip Color - Just like the name says, this product is pretty amazing. It's a highly pigmented lip gloss that leaves a pretty, non-sticky color behind when it dries. I like that it goes on like a gloss, but looks like a lipstick.

Nyx Cosmetics Powder Blush - Honestly the thing that drew me to this blush at first was the price, it's only $4.99 at Ulta. I've never used any Nyx brand products before but decided to try out two different colors of this blush. A little of this blush goes a long way, but I've been impressed at how long it stays on, and how many color options there are.

Fake Bake Flawless - I saved the best for last, the Fake Bake Flawless sunless tanner. I can't say enough things about this product. I like the idea of sunless tanner but have never found one that didn't leave a nasty smell behind. The Fake Bake Flawless version smells like the beach when you put it on, and it doesn't leave you orange or streaky! It's $25 at Ulta but I found it for $15 through Amazon.

The Best of "Just Bri"

2013-04-02T17:12:00.000-04:00

If you're new to "Just Bri", welcome! If you've been following along for a while, thanks for sticking around! I've been lacking blog inspiration lately, but that hasn't always been the case. Instead of coming up with some forced "loving lately" or "beauty bargain" post today, I decided I'd share the "best of the best" from my years of blogging...who doesn't love a walk down memory lane every once in a while? I love my family and in this post I wrote about What They've Taught Me... About a year ago I wrote this post about Starting a New Chapter & then later I wrote this post about The Most Important Lesson I've Learned from that decision. If you want to get to know me, just read this...What Do YOU Believe in? and I think it's safe to say that my crazy dating life has been one of my favorite things to blog about. Read any of these three if you need a good laugh. To The Guys Who Just Weren't It & On Dating and Blogging & So, You're 25ish and Single?

Paid to Write

2013-03-28T16:25:00.000-04:00

I love to write. Since I was young I've always felt it was easier to get my thoughts out on a piece of paper, that's why I fell in love with blogging. It's a blank canvas to express my thoughts, ideas and emotions, I was hooked. I've revealed secrets and expressed my most honest thoughts in blog posts, hitting "publish" without thinking twice. I've never been paid to write however, until now. A few weeks ago I started doing PR and marketing for a race team here in Charlotte. All of the sudden I have deadlines and topics I have to write about. My "stories" are being distributed to people, lots of people, and it makes me nervous. I find myself double checking every single word and sentence. Does it sound right? Did I miss anything? Are my facts correct? I love that I'm getting paid to do something that I love, and I'm learning and being challenged daily. I'm finally in a place in my career that I've always wanted to be, and because of that, work has been my number one priority. Learning balance is the next thing I'm working on, and I'll be back to blogging beauty finds and dating stories soon enough. For now though, I've got a few more press releases to focus on.

Grand Reopening Celebration at Apricot Lane

2013-03-22T13:01:00.000-04:00

If you're a fashion-loving gal living in the Charlotte-area, there's an event this weekend that you do not want to miss. It's the grand reopening celebration of the Birkdale Village boutique, Apricot Lane.

Apricot Lane is a women's boutique that has some of the latest trends, at an affordable price.

Their Grand Reopening Celebration is tomorrow, March 23rd, and they'll be offering some great perks just for stopping by, including...

Complimentary nail polish changes from a local spa company and a photo both for shoppers to capture fun photos from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Participation in the Birkdale Village fashion show beginning at 6 p.m.
Complimentary ApricoTinis at the store after the fashion show from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

If you can't make it to the celebration on Saturday don't worry. Everyone who visits the store from Thursday, March 21 through Sunday, March 24 will receive...

20% off storewide
A complimentary 3Strands Bracelet (an $18 value)
The chance to enter to win a $500 shopping spree
Gift bags with local coupons and goodies, while supplies last

I unfortunately won't be able to make it to the event on Saturday, but you can guarantee that I'll be stopping by on Sunday to check out all their cute stuff!

Apricot Lane is located in Birkdale Village between Dressler's Restaurant and Sunglass Hut on the corner of Lindholm Drive and Birkdale Commons Parkway.

(photo credits to George and Carol Toulas)

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In other news: my fabulous roomie is officially a blogger! Head on over to show her some love, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Pooch Party

2013-03-13T11:55:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty sure my pup had the day of her life this past weekend. The Charlotte Checkers (a minor league hockey team here in Charlotte) hosted a "Pooch Party", where you could take your dog with you to the game. There were probably over 300 dogs there, and Nina was in heaven!

I think it's safe to say that Nina is now a hockey fan. She couldn't take her eyes off the ice, and was just amazed with every single noise and thing going on around her. I loved it. I hope they do it again next season because we will definitely be going!

Color Crush: Mint.

2013-03-04T11:46:00.001-05:00

I woke up this morning to blue skies and the sun shinning, but was shocked when I walked outside and was greeted with 30 degree weather. I'm itching for spring to get here. I'm anxious to see the dogwood trees bloom, and for weather that's warm enough to take Nina to the dog park, or to enjoy lunch dates outside.

I'm ready to ditch the dark tones of fall, and to welcome all things bright and colorful! I'm currently in love with everything Mint. It's the perfect transition hue for spring, and I'm loving that you can find anything and everything in this cheerful shade.

Below are some of my favorites pieces...

Mint. by buzalibri featuring crossbody handbags

What are some things you're loving about spring?

The Daytona 500

2013-03-01T10:08:00.001-05:00

I've spent this past week recovering from a whirlwind trip down to Daytona for the Daytona 500. A friend of mine had two guests going down for the race, but he had a last minute emergency so I told him I'd go down to make sure they had a great Daytona 500 experience!

I spent the day with Karen and Len, they both work in USA Track and Field and were thrilled to go behind the scenes of a different kind of racing.

They got to sign the start/finish line (which I think was a great idea on the tracks part), and rode around in the pace car!

It was a great weekend, and I was able to spend some time catching up with old co-workers and friends. I even ran into some of the guys from the Drive for Diversity Crew Member Program, they make me look small!

I can't believe another race season is here, and I can't believe it's already March 1st! It's my birthday month, and I'm slightly panicking at the thought of turning 24...

My Dad

2013-02-22T11:47:00.002-05:00

God places certain people in our life to fill different needs. I know this to be true because God placed an amazing man in my life, to fill that father figure role. Although we're not blood related, we're bonded by the strongest father-daughter relationship a girl could ever want. My dad loves and supports me unconditionally (he's driven a UHaul cross-country for me TWICE). He's patient, understanding, and the best listener I know! Today I want to wish this super awesome dad of mine a very Happy Birthday! Love you!

Staying true to YOU.

2013-02-21T15:53:00.001-05:00

I want to thank everyone so much for your support of The Charlotte Social! The response I've gotten from my fellow Charlotte bloggers has been beyond what I expected, and I'm so excited to start planning our first meet-up.

I've talked about this on the blog before, but the years since I graduated college have been such a growing, and learning experience. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that immediately after graduation, I moved to a city where I knew no one. I had plenty of support from family and friends, but being somewhere new, where you're essentially alone, forces you to grow.

These years, however painful (a bit dramatic?) they might have been, have allowed me to figure out who I am, what I love, and what makes me happy. Want to know a secret? If you use these things you learn about yourself to make decisions, I can pretty much guarantee you'll be happy. It sounds selfish, but when you're happy, you'll be in a better position to help others.

So, what have I learned?

Professionally: I pride myself in my career and my accomplishments, I want to know I'm making a difference. Fulfillment to me isn't about a dollar sign, but rather the feeling that I'm having an impact in my industry.

Professionally & Personally: I'm nice, sometimes too nice, but don't mistake my kindness for weakness because "Nobody puts baby in a corner!" (name that movie). Knowing this about myself is helping me approach situations differently, I need to be a little more of a badass.

Personally: I have no respect for people who are closed-minded, lack humility, or have big egos. I'm all about helping others, rooting for the underdog, and keeping an open mind. I want these same qualities in a significant other.

I'm sure you're asking what the point of all of this is?
These past couple of years I've learned, that as long as you're staying true to your core, to who you are, and what you truly love, you will be happy. Quit worrying so much about what your friends, family, or society, say you should or shouldn't be doing. You're the only one who has to live with your decisions, so make sure they're the best for you. At the end of the day you'll realize that people worry a lot less about what you're doing than you think.

What choices are you making in life that help you stay true to YOU?

The Charlotte Social

2013-02-19T12:11:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about blogging has been the connections that I've made. It's so easy to form a friendship with other bloggers, because you share so many similar interests. What's even better with connecting with other bloggers is getting to meet them in real life!

In an effort to help connect bloggers in my area, I've created The Charlotte Social...

My hope is to build a directory where bloggers can find each other, and plan meet-ups for us to connect in person! If you're in the Charlotte-area I'd love for you to check it out! I'm a so excited about this new project.

Also, I wanted to give a big huge THANK YOU and shout-out to Laura from Our Life in the Queen City for designing such an awesome blog!

Valentine's Day Traditions

2013-02-14T14:39:00.000-05:00

Let me first start out by saying that I'm not a big fan of Valentine's day, not because I'm single, but because I don't feel like relationships should only be celebrated one day out of the year? Wouldn't it be way more special if your other half surprised you out of the blue, just to show you they care? That's the kind of relationship I want.

I am a fan however, of the most awesome Valentine's day tradition that my mom started way back when. Every morning since I can remember I've woken up on Valentine's day up to freshly made cinnamon rolls. I don't know how this tradition started, but I love it (and hope to do for my kids one day).

I couldn't be home this year for Valentine's day, but my mama made sure to send me pictures so I didn't feel like I was missing out!

My mom's little tradition has turned this holiday into one where I'm reminded of all the love that surrounds me.

So, if you're single today, just remember...

Who Doesn't Love A Good Beauty Find?

2013-02-13T14:59:00.001-05:00

I love beauty products. It's one of my favorite ways to ~~waste~~ invest my money. I love it even more when I find a great new product that I haven't tried before.

This product obsession of mine leads to frequent trips to Ulta. I love Ulta because they have a great rewards program, you earn points for every purchase you make, and can later redeem them in store. Simple.

I've been saving up my points, and decided to splurge a few weeks ago and use them to try out some new products. I wanted to share the best, and the worst of these with you!

On the favorites list is the Maybelline Color Whisper gel color. I bought two different shades, One Size Fits Pearl and Coral Ambition. I LOVE them. I'm a big fan of plain 'ole chapstick, but it's nice to have a little color, and this does the trick! It's not sticky like gloss, or dry like some lipsticks. I'll definitely be buying more shades!

Next on the favorites list is the boscia Luminizing Black Mask *note, it's not sold at Ulta.

I was going to post a picture but honestly the mask comes out the same color as the bottle, and it's not a pretty sight! My face felt SO GOOD afterwards though. It removed a lot of dead skin, and made my pores visibly smaller. I highly recommend it.

Now, on to my not-so-favorite product. I'm a big fan of the Cargo blu_ray mattifier primer. I've blogged about it before but it's the best at keeping my makeup in place for hours, and my oily face under control.

I decided that I'd give a new primer a try since I was using my rewards points and bought the LORAC POREfection mattifying face primer. You know the saying "if it aint broke, don't fix it"? Well I should have stuck with my trusty Cargo primer because I did not like the LORAC one at all. My face was really oily, and my makeup didn't even last until lunchtime! I wouldn't recommend it.

Have ya'll found any great beauty products lately that I should try? I'd love to hear about them!

I'm still here...

2013-02-06T16:14:00.002-05:00

My little brother came to visit me last weekend, and I took him to visit UT-Knoxville, and UNC-Charlotte. It was fun watching him get excited about this next chapter in his life, and I'm so happy to announce that he's going to The University of Tennessee in the fall!

I am one proud big sister, and super happy because it's not too far from me (which means I'll get to do plenty of tailgating once football season starts!)

***************************************************************** I haven't been blogging much lately, but I plan on stepping my blogging game up soon! I've been busy adjusting to life at my new job. I have been updating twitter and instagram though, and I'd love for you to follow all my shenanigans there... you'll find bachelor updates...

...the pranks my co-workers like to play...

..and a few NASCAR tweets here and there...

While my instagram account is typically filled with pictures of this fluff ball...

and fashion and beauty finds...

So, in case this little ole blog gets neglected, now you know where to find me!

I'm sure we'd be bff's

2013-01-23T14:02:00.001-05:00

You know those times when you're browsing the blog world and you stumble across a blog and think to yourself "she and I would totally be best friends in real life!". Well, that happened to me a few months ago when I found Kait's blog, Gridiron Lipstick...

See what I mean? We're two peas in a pod...

We're slightly obsessed with our dogs, and think that taking selfies in the car with them is totally normal...

and we both love football, and work in communications. She might be making a name for herself at a football field, and I might be at a race track, but I bet we could talk sports with the best of 'em.

So, miss Kait and I exchanged some emails way back in October and instantly bonded over all these things we had in common. I wanted to feature her on my blog (because that's what you do when you're excited about meeting a fabulous blogger) but I dropped the ball big time, and am just now getting around to it. Sorry Kait!

If you're looking for a blogger who is sweet and honest I suggest you hop on over and say hello!

so you're 25(ish) and single?

2013-01-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

First things first. Do y'all remember "The Cheater" from this post?

Well, apparently he didn't think the nickname I gave him appropriately described the situation. He's kindly asked me to change his pseudonym to "The Womanizer" or "The Player". So there you have it, you womanizer you, get on with your bad self.

Anyway, last night Steph (my roomie) and I were watching The Bachelor when one of the girls went into hysterics after being sent home. She was going on and on about never finding a husband and ending up alone, a bit melodramatic if you ask me. That's when Steph and I realized that homegirl was OUR AGE, which we believe is still pretty young.

Clearly girlfriend didn't realize all the perks that come with being 25(ish) and single. So, in honor of all my single ladies out there, we've decided to compile a list of all the reasons why it rocks to be 25(ish) and single...

+You're allowed to be selfish, about anything and everything (also known as, "I do what I want" syndrome = IDWIWS).

+You get the entire bed to yourself (and the puppies of course) every night. No fighting over the covers, or listening to snoring.

+You're free to stare at and flirt with as many guys as you want. On that same note, you can go on all the dates (good or bad) that you want!

+Not in the mood to be charming? No worries. You don't have to shave your legs or ditch the granny panties if you don't feel like it.

+Going to happy hour, having a drink (or five), and being home by 8pm is totally acceptable. No matter what day of the week it is. Blame it on the IDWIWS.

+Dinner time means you're free to cook/not cook, go out/stay in, wash dishes, or not wash dishes, as you please.

+You can pin as many "wedding ideas" on Pinterest as you want. Lucky for you, it's another milestone you still get to look forward to.

+Want a change of scenery? You can pack up, move, change jobs or cities without thinking twice. You're not tied down yet.

So, while we obviously don't want to be single forever, it's not so bad right now. Enjoy it, because we sure are, and have a drink (or three) for us!

and Steph!Follow my blog with Bloglovin

By the Porchlight giveaway

2013-01-21T09:07:00.000-05:00

Lesley, from By the Porchlight is hosting an awesome giveaway today! Check it out...

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the best Christmas surprise ever

2013-01-20T21:49:00.000-05:00

Last week the Charlotte news warned everyone about a "severe winter storm" that was supposed to hit, the schools even delayed their Friday start time in preparation for the dangerous conditions. So what did I do? I Made sure to stock up on enough wine to get me through the blizzard, but rain fell and fell and I never saw one single snow flake! I woke up Friday morning to beautiful, sunny, 50 degree weather, thankful to have survived the winter mess.

Anyway, the cold weather and threats of snowflakes inspired one (hopefully) last Christmas post of the winter season. The story of my favorite Christmas present, ever.

Meet Nina...

I've wanted a dog of my own forever, which is no exaggeration, I wasn't one of those kids who grew up with a dog and always envied the kids that did. As soon as I was living on my own I started "threatening" my parents with buying a dog, but they kept begging me to wait. Looking back now I realize I could have bought a dog, but it never felt right without their support.

Well, last Christmas they must have realized I was serious, and decided to intervene and make sure I got the right dog. They surprised me when I went home to visit, with Nina, the best Christmas present ever!

Y'all, I love this dog. She's been the best buddy, companion, and friend. I use her as a shoulder to cry on when I'm sad, and she's been there through my move from Daytona, to Houston, and now in Charlotte.

She's the perfect napping partner, and study buddy, and loves me unconditionally. She's brought so much joy to my life, and I really will never be able to thank my parents enough for such an awesome present.

What's been the best present you've ever received?

a Smoky Mountain Christmas

2013-01-14T14:24:00.001-05:00

I've been struggling to write this post, because no matter what words I use, I can't seem to describe how special this family tradition is to me.

Every four years, my ENTIRE family (aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, second cousins, etc.) spends Christmas in Gatlinburg, TN. It's a tradition that my family has had ever since my mom was young, and it's brought about some of my favorite holiday memories.

This year happened to be a Gatlinburg Christmas, and it's safe to say that it was my favorite one yet. Maybe because I'm older and can appreciate all the hard work and love that goes into coordinating all of it?

My grandma "Mrs. Clause" is the leader of the pack. She makes sure everyone knows the schedule for the week, and assigns everyone jobs (no, I'm not even joking). My job this year was T-Shirt's (because no family reunion is complete without matching shirts), and Christmas Eve dinner (with the rest of my fam).

We play the role of "secret angel" for the week to another family member and make them feel extra special. We have a talent show, frosty frenzy gift exchange (where the competitive nature in all of us comes out), trips to DollyWood and The Pancake Pantry, delicious homemade meals, and spend plenty of time just catching up with those relatives we don't get to see so often.

Honestly, I think our crazy traditions could be a Holiday special on TLC, because we go all out. First of all, we rent a cabin and all stay under one roof, this year there were 32 of us! That many people paired with the occasional cabin fever can lead to some interesting events, like my aunt leg wrestling, my great uncle shooting back Jack Daniels, or my uncle and cousin dressing up as cheerleaders. Planning meals for that many people is a whole other story, but we managed to survive.

I had so much fun this year, and cried my eyes out when I had to leave everyone. I'm already counting down the days until Gatlinburg 2016, and look forward to all the memories we'll create.

************************************************************* Don't forget, you can use code "halfoff" to get 50% off any ad on my blog this month. I would absolutely love to have you!

some updates for the new year

2013-01-13T21:48:00.001-05:00

Hey y'all! Yikes, I've been gone for a while, but I'm back with some new and exciting changes! Did y'all notice the facelift my lil blog got? I have the fabulous Mrs. Aubrey Kinch to thank, just love it.
Along with the facelift are some new additions...

First, I've started to accept sponsors, and this month you can receive half-off any size sponsorship if you use the code "halfoff". I'm excited to work with some amazing bloggers, to help grow your little space of the web.
Second, is the update I'm most excited about. It's no secret that I love Charlotte, so I've decided to share my favorite city with you! I'll be highlighting local Charlotte spots in the Charlotte Scene section of my blog.
Thanks for your patience, and for sticking around! I hope the first of the year is going great for y'all! Here's to an amazing 2013!

Oh what a year it's been...

2012-12-31T10:47:00.003-05:00

I think it's safe to say that 2012 has been one of the most eventful years of my life. I've lived in three different states, changed jobs twice, made some great memories with my family, and grown a lot along the way. In honor of the final day of the year, I wanted to share some highlights of my 2012... January: I took this munchkin back to Daytona with me, and I'm so thankful I've had her this year, she's been my buddy through it all.

February: Kicked off my second season working at NASCAR, with the first ever Monday night Daytona 500.

March: Celebrated my 23rd birthday in paradise (Captiva Island, FL) with my family.

April: Worked a bittersweet last day at NASCAR, and embarked on a new adventure with a new opportunity in Texas.

May: Watched my baby brother go to his first prom.

June: Celebrated the most amazing dad in the world on fathers day.

July: My best friend came to Texas and we went to my brothers "boat bash". He's a pretty awesome party planner!

August: Threw an awesome birthday party for the most amazing granddad in the world.

September: Met one of my country faves, Dierks Bentley, at the Toyota Texas Bass Classic.

October: Celebrated Halloween in Charlotte with my best friends.

November: Took a leap of faith. Packed up my apartment, quit my job, and moved to Charlotte. This wouldn't have been possible without my parents, and I love them so much for their support.

December: Spent Christmas in the Smoky Mountains with all of my family.

It was an amazing 2012, full of lots of surprises, and I'm ready to welcome 2013! Wishing you all a happy New Year filled with joy and love!