Friendship Series - Part I

I am going to embark a series of 3 posts about friendship. Friendship is something near and dear to my heart and I really pride myself on being a good friend to others. I also have some amazing friends I am very thankful for. I am also going to allow comments on these 3 posts - something I don't do often, but I would like your input and/or feedback. 

What has triggered me to do this is recently I went to a session at church called “Friend Me” and it was as amazing as I expected. Here was the description for the session I attended:

The Greek philosopher Aristotle was once quoted as saying, “The desire for friendship comes quickly. Friendship does not.” Wouldn’t he find it interesting to realize that maintaining friendships is still a struggle — even in the 21st century? Join us for this Women in the Workplace event focusing on practical steps to making friends and being a friend — at work, at home and every place in between. We’ll cover a lot of ground from the benefits of friendship, its biblical priority and even modern-day social connectors like Facebook and Twitter. Assistant Minister to Women Ashley Freer, a communications specialist, will chat with us about the soft spot we share: the need for friendship.

So after reading that of course I was hooked! I had to go!

Ashley Freer started off by saying that she was not a professional friend and I will do the same, I am not a professional friend, I just loved some of the things she shared and wanted to share them with yall. I am not in the business of judging (remember, God’s job ONLY) – but I do have some strong opinions about friendship I may share here and there.

*My 1st post on friendship is going to briefly talk about some interesting facts about friendship.
**My 2nd post will detail the benefits of friendship and how to work at maintaining good friendships.
***My 3rd and final post will talk about friendship within the Bible along with how social media has changed friendship.

Some interesting facts about friendship:

• Typically there are 3 types of friends – (1) sidekicks, (2) allies, (3) good girlfriends.
• The yellow rose symbolizes friendship.  (as seen above ^^^)
• Statistically most people have 2.03 close friends – not sure what that .03 is, but I find this to be generally true.
• 48% of people have 1 close friend
• 18% of people have 2 close friends
• 29% of people have 3 or more close friends
• 4% of people report they have 0 close friends – this makes me sad
• Men usually have “casual” relationships.
• Women usually have “emotionally wired” relationships.
• It has been proven that time with your friends, reduces stress levels and heart rate.

I think these are all things that we should consciously think about when we start thinking about what friendship is - how it affects us, what type of friend is this person or that person and hold them to those standards vs. higher ones or even lower ones. Truth is no one can love you or hurt you like a friend.

Post #2 coming soon!  ((my favorite of all 3 posts))

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

***Warning - if you haven't attended the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and plan to - this will be a total spoiler for you and you may not want to read it.***

This week we went to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo - well really, just the rodeo.  It is a tradition in Funky Town (116th year) and I really enjoy going - for the most part!  I already posted all my pics on facebook, so some of you may have seen them all already.  Keeton and I always bet on everything and I won the money this year!  I won every category we bet on except 1 - in turn I won $20!  AWESOME!   

Here is the low down on the rodeo....

Grand Entry - so awesome!  Anyone who is anyone in Funky Town rides on a horse around the arena, the 6 Flags Over TX are all on display, etc.  Always really pretty!

Bareback Bronc Riding was next - pretty cool, I guess - I am not crazy about this one or anything.

Calf Scramble - this one always cracks me up!!!  4H students running around trying to catch cattle - who thinks of these things?!?!  BUT - they do get scholarships - so I guess that is some good incentive to catch a calf!  And, there was someone from Athens 4H - WHOOP WHOOP!  Representing A-Town!  I didn't know who it was though.

Steer Wrestling - not a fan of this one... I don't like seeing those poor little calves getting slammed down on the ground and their neck all twisted and turned.  So no pics of this one.  And, for all you rodeo fans, I know this is just part of the game - but it doesn't mean I need to enjoy it.  =(

Wild West Express - this was pretty neat, except 1 flaw.  These are 4 siblings, the sister being the oldest and then 3 younger boys who ride around on horses and a pony doing tricks on them.  Pretty cool, Except the 10-12 year old boy pulled the horse too far down at one point and in turn the boy flew off and the horse literally did a somersault flip.  It was so scary!  Both were fine - but dang!  The whole time the father of the children stands in the middle of the ring yelling for the horses to go faster, etc.  Def. a different type of family life for this crew, but neat in some ways.  I couldn't capture any pictures b/c they go so fast!  I did get this one at the end though.

Team Roping - def. one of my fav's.  This is just really cool to me and you have to have some serious team work (obviously "team" roping) going on, communication, etc.  A few years of my child hood I grew up going to Booger Barter Team Ropings (RIP Booger) - he was a friend of my family, those were good times and good memories. I met George Strait at one of those rodeos and one of his horses.  I told him he could braid good for a "boy!"  HAHAHAHA!  That still makes me laugh out loud!

Saddle Bronc Riding - same thing as bare back minus the saddle - duh.... nothing new here.

Tie-Down Roping - my least fav. of all!  This again - just sad to watch those little calves getting slammed around.  And, I had the "joy" (sarcasm) of seeing a little calves leg roped on accident and it broke.  They had to bring the little cart out to pick him up b/c of course he couldn't walk.  Urgh.... he was prob. shot as soon as he got backstage.  =(  Again, I know its part of the game - but blah!  Don't like it.  My friends have seen worse - snapped necks and the little calf just died right there in front of them. So - no pics here either.

Barrel Racing - my most fav.!  My Mom used to barrel race, so I always think of her.  Those girls are fast and so fun to watch!!!! 

The Wild Child - terrible!  A clown and the announcer talking back and forth for like 10 minutes joking about him riding a dirt bike and doing ONE jump over a trailer.  Boring!

Chuck Wagon Races - always really fun to watch!  I am so surprised at those horses and drivers ability to keep everything from just falling over and crashing.  They always have the sponsors names on the wagons and most of the time PlainsCapital (Keeton's bank) has one, but they didn't this year.  They did sponsor the event though!  Oh well - still fun.  I liked the Dickies white horses the best.

And lastly, bull riding!  Always the main attraction and that's why they do it last, I guess.  I enjoy this when no one is hurt.  [[No one was hurt this year.]]  After the last bull rider went the clowns messed around with the bull and I got some funny pictures.  This bull was pissed and ready to pounce.  He was kicking dirt up with his legs and everything! 

Overall, we had a fun time - OF COURSE!  We are going back again 1 more time and I plan to wear my cowboy hat!  I bought this hat for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and wear it once a year!  Yall know I am no cowgirl - but it is so cute!  Ok...ok... last picture! 

B is for Blue Sushi....

Blue Sushi Sake Grill is my favorite sushi place here in Fort Worth, well any where!  I love it!!  Tonight, Keeton and I have a double date planned to go and I am super excited, as usual.  This place is literally blue all inside from the lights and the sushi is yummmm!  They have a great atmosphere, with good music, that you can actually hear.  I am firm believer music makes or breaks a party, bar or restaurant!  You do have to make a reservation to this place, but who cares - that just tells you how it awesome it is!
Their website states it this way - Blue Sushi gives traditional sushi an American attitude.  Love that.  They also have the Sake Bombers Lounge, which is pretty neat.  It is 1/2 of the building with a full bar that extends the length of the restaurant.  They have cool specials with a reverse happy hour starting at 10.30pm.  Something different - I like.  We usually just go for dinner - but all people have different interests, so I wanted to mention it.

Here is the website - check it out!  Blue Sushi Sake Grill

I have included some pictures below as usual.  =)  Next time you go out for dinner in Funky Town, you should totally try it!  Remember, make a reservation!  Oh and one last thing - they will not split checks!



No, this wasn't all mine!!



Black Tuna - a must have - like dessert - literally melts in your mouth!



Favorite roll - on the right - "Super Asparagus" 



B is for Ryan BINGHAM

I know most of you who have been following my blog have noticed the whole "B" theme and so now in my daily life I think of things that start with "B" that I would like to blog about.  This blog is one of the first "B's" I thought about!  Ryan Bingham is one of my all time favorite musicians... EVER!  I am a total music junkie and like lots of different kinds of music, but Ryan Bingham is just a bad ass, plain and simple.   
Currently, RB has no tour dates scheduled, but he will likely head to Funky Town when he does tour - fingers crossed, anyways!  Here is a pic last time he was in FW.  AHHHH!!  SO GOOD!

So here is some history on Ryan Bingham - yes, I did some research - I don't just have these facts coming out of my .... well, head I guess.....

• BIGGEST AND COOLEST ACCOMPLISHMENT -
Ryan Bingham collaborated with Grammy-winning producer T Bone Burnett on the soundtrack for the 2009 acclaimed film Crazy Heart, including notably co-penning & performing the film’s award-winning theme song "The Weary Kind". The title track earned Bingham an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Award for “Best Song” in 2010,as well as a Grammy Award for "Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media" in 2011.  As a result of his monumental year, the Americana Music Association honored Bingham with the organization's top award in 2010: “Artist of the Year”.
• He has released 3 albums - Mescalito (2007), Roadhouse Sun (2009) and Junky Star (2010) - my favorite is his first, Mescalito.  Check it out here - Mescalito
• Ryan Bingham was born in Hobbs, NM and grew up in Texas. He currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.  I really wouldn't consider him "TX Country" - but it is cool he grew up in TX though!!!  REPRESENT!
• Texas Music Magazine stated that "Bingham talks and sings with a whiskey-and-cigarette throat that screams hard living. Hard in a way that can make a 29-year-old sound like a 50-year-old."  He has such a cool voice - very raspy and different.  One of the main reasons I like him so much!
• Wikipedia refers to his genre as "rock"
• Ryan Bingham joined back up with his band The Dead Horses to release their third studio album Junky Star on August 31, 2010. The album debuted in the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 Chart & in the Top 10 on the Billboard Rock Album Chart, making Junky Star Bingham’s highest charting & most successful release to date.

Like that piping on that shirt - just saying!

Here are some of my favorite lyrics from some of RB's songs (he writes all of his songs - which is rare these days):
Ever Wonder Why ((Keeton's fav))
Everybody's troubled with the hustle and the bustle
The payment on the house is late
If I ever have a problem like that
I guess I'll be in pretty good shape

Hard Times ((sidenote- I think we can all relate with this one!  Looking for someone to blame - when the problem is really your own)) 
When I was young my daddy said, Son
Never be ashamed of where your from
There's nothin wrong with your last name
Don't be lookin for people to blame

Bread and Water
I've been to California and North Carolina,
Hung with the hippies in Austin and the cowboys of Mexico.
I've laid up in Fort Worth with beautiful ladies,
Hitch hiked on down 281 and hit the rodeo in San Anton...
In the back of a Ranchero, I rode down to Laredo,
Had a good time at the la posada, yea you know I was left alone.
On a rig out of El Paso, rainin' down in Houston,
Told the truck driver put the pedal to the metal cause Houston gets me down.
On down to Louisiana, Whiskey River Landing,
Crawfish pie and eat jambalaya with a big ole coon ass smile

Alot of his lyrics are pretty low and almost depressing, but I still love them - not like they all speak to me or anything!  HA!  But he does state this at the end of one of his songs and I like it alot:
And I hope everybody had a real good time
I hope I didn't bring you down
These ain't sad songs
So don't take 'em wrong

And lastly, I will leave you with a video CNN just posted about him.  He talks about developing his musical style and his unique, scratchy voice.  If CNN is talking about you - you must be pretty awesome! 

Wedding Album!!!!!

So I couldn't wait to post this blog!  Tonight we received our wedding album in the mail!  So exciting!  We got married a year and a half ago and it took me a long time to find the right album for the right price.

[[Side note: I always tell brides make sure your wedding album is included in your wedding photography package!  We didn't do this and figured we would purchase it after the wedding, well I have news!  You will not feel like spending any more money after the wedding is over... so in turn, we never purchased one.]]

Anyways, I was really skeptical ordering the album online and not being able to touch it or see it in person.  1st step - I figured out I wanted a "flush mount photo album" then googled that phrase.  I totally lucked out and found Nations Photo Lab - it was the #1 choice on the google search.  The website is a little overwhelming, I will admit.... and not so user friendly.  Nations Photo Lab Website  Once you are on the website, you actually have to download a program onto your computer to be able to upload the photos, etc.  At that point, you pick out your pictures and DESIGN ALL YOUR OWN PAGES!  That was a huge plus for me!  It took me a little time to do it, of course!  BUT SO SO WORTH IT!

So.... onto my photo album.  We choose a 12x12, 24 page album with an acrylic cover. I can not explain how nice it is!  The cover is amazing, it's almost like glass!  The pics are printed on thick pages (I chose white backgrounds) and the entire album has a 100 year guarantee - I think that will do for us.  The album probably weighs about 8 pounds - really good quality!  Now, I am no professional, but as long as I am happy, I think we are good here!  Ok... ok... so costs.... see this page - Pricing  The pricing is really reasonable!!!! 

Here are the pics I took of it, hopefully you can get the picture!

Acrylic cover

Trying to show you the thickness of the pages & cover

Inside front and back covers

Back and binding - black leather - really nice too!

B is for Boston Terrier

Hey everyone!  I have been researching like a crazy person about this whole dog thing and I have finally made a decision!  My first pick for a new dog is a Boston Terrier!  If you read my post, B is for Breed you will see all the factors that have gone into making my decision.  The one big thing that has changed is an indoor or outdoor dog.  Keeton all of the sudden [[OUT OF NO WHERE]] said he was re-thinking the whole "inside dog idea."  I was shocked!  I have always wanted an inside dog, but def. thought the idea was a no go!  I always grew up with inside dogs, some I liked and some I didn't, but that is what I am familiar with.  I worry about outside dogs barking too much or digging out.  Of course, these things are just concerns b/c I am unfamiliar with outside dogs, but still... it caused me some anxiety, not going to lie.  For an inside dog, I def. do not want a puppy.  I take great strides to make sure my house is clean, nice, neat, organized and smells good!  Likely hood - a puppy would destroy all of those things.  So I want to adopt a young, not puppy, Boston terrier.

Some other positive things about Bostons (for us):

• typically small, compactly built
• gentle breed that typically has a strong, happy-go-lucky and friendly personality
• generally eager to please their owner
• can easily be trained given a patient owner
• the modern Boston Terrier can be gentle, alert, expressive, creative, and well-mannered
• both females and males are generally quiet and bark only when necessary
• having been bred as a companion dog, they enjoy being around people, and if properly socialized, get along well with children, the elderly, other canines, and non-canine pets
• typically they do not shed much - something really big for me!!!!  I shed enough for my house!!!! 

My only concern about a dog is it interfering with my social life - of course!  But, I need and want to enjoy coming home to something that needs me to take care of it.  And not a baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Just kind of preparing for the whole baby idea, ya know??  I will be a great Mom to a dog and I will take care of it, love it, play with it, walk it, etc.  I REALLY JUST CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned for more updates on our doggie selection!!!! 

How cute is this?!?!?!  But, remember... no puppy for this girl!

Taking Compliments...

Today's post is going to be a quickie!  One of my professors in college once shared with our class something that stuck with me!  "If someone gives you a compliment, accept it, thank them, move on."  One of my pet peeves is when people don't accept it.  Are you calling me a liar????  Lol... well... really, they kinda are!  I have a co-worker that always gives compliments and I notice it.  It literally can make someones day brighter! 
I can't say I am not guilty of this on some occasions... like when I feel huge and Keeton tells me I look hot!  YEAH RIGHT!  How could he possibly think that?!?!  But apparently he does, I just try my hardest to keep my trap shut and thank him.  I try to compliment people on a daily basis and guess what... if they don't accept it, I don't compliment them again. 
So, remember if someone compliments you, they truly believe it themselves, so just accept it, thank them and don't disagree with them.  It's rude!