Is This A Trick???

Because getting this letter definitely wouldn't qualify as a treat!

I saw this letter yesterday, as it was making its social media rounds. Some people are saying the whole letter is a hoax, and I kind of hope so. Do I think childhood obesity is a serious epidemic? Yes. Do I think some families need wake-up calls that their children are in danger of real health problems? Yep. Do I think strangers should be the ones to give that wake-up call while simultaneously taking the fun out of a holiday? No way.

Since that letter is a bit of a downer, here are some classic Halloween pics from my spook-tacular childhood!

Little Bo Peep has lost her chocolate! Or maybe she just ate it...

My now-roomie and I bobbing for apples at my old house! PS: how hard am I workin' that Jasmine costume?!

Sunflower wasn't one of my favorite Halloween costumes at the time, but boy do I love it looking back!

I think even Linus would agree that this is a GREAT pumpkin!

Happy Halloween, and Happy End of 31 Days!!! We did it! Yay! Hope everyone has a safe, sweet, and treat-filled night!

Back On Track

One of the first moments I realized John was something special came early in our relationship, when he and my dad bonded over Dave Ramsey. For those of you who don't know, Dave Ramsey is an author and financial advisor who hosts his own radio show. In the past, my caring dad attempted to make road trips even more fun by popping in one of Dave's Financial Peace University CDs, attempting to ensure his children grasped the concept of saving at an early age. You can imagine how well that went over with 18 and 15 year olds... Don't get me wrong: when it comes to financial advice, Dave Ramsey is da man. He gives sound advice with a faith-based spin I can appreciate. However, I'm not exactly in love with him like John may be (it's one thing to read his books; it's a completely different thing to watch Youtube videos of him wakesurfing...). One of John's little stocking-stuffer-esque Christmas gifts from yours truly was a daily calendar with little tidbits of advice from Dave Ramsey himself, and one day, I saw a piece of advice that really hit home with me:

Wow. I think in any kind of rut, people can relate to that statement. After I saw that statement, I wrote it on a large index card and stuck it on my mirror. It serves as my daily reminder to check "Hey, how am I feeling about life right now? Am I loving it?" If the answer is "yes!" then good, and if the answer is "no," then why not? What can I do to fix that?

I'm not always good about doing a daily assessment, and sometimes, I let myself make decisions I'll regret later, like eating more ice cream in one day than I should have in one week.... Sometimes it does seem easier to ignore a couple of pounds creeping back on than it seems to sacrifice dessert and start doing push-ups. However, none of my dreams involve sitting lazily on a couch eating ice cream. Some of my dreams involve being fit, like my dream of running a half-marathon.

 

A Disney half marathon, to be exact.... I can't wait to be the one running in mouse ears!

So, what's a girl to do?! Take little steps towards my dream and away from the painful places of regret and shame. Here's my first step: go back to tracking my food and fitness with MyFitnessPal. This (free!) app was such a game-changer for me this summer. I loved how simple it was to log every bite I ate, but alas, I got a bit lazy once school started, quit logging everything, and it was all downhill from there. Since I've realized what a big difference accountability to myself makes, this week, my first goal isn't even to eat less; it's just to track what I eat more often.

This post may seem silly, but for me, it's good to re-focus every once in a while. I don't want to lose sight of what's important to me, and something I really value is my health. From experience, I can tell you that I am at least a hundred times happier when I feel good, physically. If I don't take the time to take care of myself, it is bad news bears. So here's to listening to Dave Ramsey and going after my dreams!

"Why didn't I think of that?!"

Yesterday, when I was browsing Living Social (dreaming of vay-cays I cannot afford time or money-wise), I saw these two items:

 

How great is this Beth Bender eye stencil? It has great reviews from people like me who need help applying eye makeup!

 

This probably seems really silly, but I remember the days in middle school when kids would write on their hands with pen, trying to remember to get their parents to sign their agendas. To be honest, I was always too OCD to write on my hands (I wrote on the back of my wrist to be discreet), but these scribble bracelets would be perfect for last minute messages! I think they'd also be helpful to put Mom or Dad's phone number on when in amusement parks, in case the kids got lost!

Seeing these two items triggered a "Why didn't I think of that?!" moment. How many slap-your-forehead-with-the-palm-of-your-hand, "Duh!" moments have you experienced? I've had a good number of those, and normally, it's because someone took something so simple and made it so useful, and therefore, popular.

Some "Why didn't I think of that?!"s are adorable, and I understand their appeal. Like, why didn't I think of Build-a-Bear? You literally pick out a teddy bear, fill it with fluff, kiss a little plush heart, spin around, make a wish, stuff the heart in your bear, and pick out $30 worth of clothes to accessorize said bear.

 

I loved this place as a child... I'd be lying if I told you my Build-a-Bear and I didn't have matching Limited Too tank tops....

Some "Why didn't I think of that?!"s are stupid, and I wouldn't have guessed in a million years they would have caught on. Example: the Snuggie. Like, how is that a thing? I mean, sure I would like a blanket with arms, but isn't that just a cheap robe worn backwards?

 

My all-time fave Snuggie commercial picture... Mom is shamelessly raising the roof in her Snuggie while holding a coffee mug... Priceless...

If you're starting to pity me and think "Poor Chelsea... She's losther mind, if this is what her blog content has come to...", fret not. Only two more days of blogging every day, which is pretty hard for me to do with high quality content when I've got other stuff going on... Hope everyone's having a happy Hallo-week so far!

I Hope You Have A Monday This Awesome...

Please go watch this video.

It's short, I promise. And has a cute little girl tappin' her heart out.

Now how great was that? Fun fact: I once did a tap dance to "Broadway Baby" myself. However, I was in second grade, so I was a wee bit less spazzy and adorable. Plus, my routine included the use of a snazzy black cane, and I'm not even sure if the world could handle that little diva dancing with props!

I think the best part of this video was the fact that this little girl had absolutely no inhibitions, and you could tell she wasn't just trying to get laughs. That little girl was crazy-dancing for no other reason than because she felt like it.

Life lesson: ignore inhibitions, dance to your own beat, for your own happiness, and steal the show. 

Happy Monday, guys!

Blackfish, Blackfish, Blackfish!

If you've been reading my blog for a while (first of all, thanks!), you might remember my obsession with seeing the documentary "Blackfish."

Well, long story short, I never got around to seeing the movie while it was in the theater in Charlotte, and I thought I'd have to patiently wait to somehow find it online... By some miracle, when I turned on my TV one night last week, it flipped on to CNN. Now I can't remember why I had CNN on in the first place (I'm more of an NBC girl when it comes to news), but I'm soooo glad I did, because when I turned my TV on, Blackfish was playing!

As a girl who can't stand to start a movie right in the middle, I frantically looked to see if it was playing again later so I could watch it start-to-finish. Thankfully, it was! Fast-forward to tonight at 9 pm, when I started watching this riveting film.

The most powerful testimony, to me, was that of the former SeaWorld trainers, who once adored their jobs training captive whales. Some people (cough, John, cough) may be skeptical about the film's intentions and think it's propaganda (for what, I don't know). All I can say is that it's worth a watch, no matter what your position on animal rights may be right now. Here are a few things I'll admit about myself:

1. I don't consider myself to be an "animal person" per se (sorry), but I am certainly someone who has empathy for all creatures, which is partially why I became a vegetarian for a year or so. However, that's a different story for a different day. I guess I just mean that I don't have a hard time believing that whales are better off in the wild, AKA, their natural habitat. That's pretty much the premise of Blackfish, giving an explanation for all the incidents that have happened in the past with orcas in captivity. Just because a person is a "highly experienced" whale trainer, that does not make them an ideal candidate for hanging out with a 6 ton whale with super sharp teefies in what is (to the whale) an oversized bathtub.

2. I used to really like SeaWorld. My family and I first visited SeaWorld's Orlando, FL park when I was seven years old, back in the care-free 90s. Now, I'll admit, I thought it was awesome. I remember during one whale show, they even let a kid get by the perimeter of the pool with one of the trainers and jokingly asked the kid to jump in. I remember the kid willingly bent her knees and the trainer grabbed her. Everyone in the arena went from a collective gasp to laughter, and I remember thinking, "Wow, that girl is brave!"

 

Speaking of brave, notice my three-and-a-half year old brother climbed to the top of that whale statue while I cower to the back...

Now times have change, and the last time my family went to SeaWorld was a few years ago. The trainers weren't allowed to really swim with the whales, and with good reason, obviously, but to be honest, what's the fun in watching a show like that? It'd be much cooler to watch the whales swimming out in the wild. Yes, that'd probably be much more expensive, but if you want to see whales that badly, don't you think it would be much more gratifying to see them where they're free and happy?

 

Don't be fooled by that smile- Shamu ain't happy in SeaWorld.

I enjoy seeing gorgeous aquatic creatures, but let's face it: they' weren't born just to entertain us. They're meant to live, and it's not much of a life swimming around in glass, doing tricks for survival. I don't think I'll be paying SeaWorld another visit, simply because to me, it's not worth the lives of the trainers who are injured or killed.

 

Now that is beautiful, don't you think?

Moral of the blogpost: I found Blackfish to be an eye-opener, but you'll have to watch for yourself to form your own opinion!

High Time for Highlands

This week, John told me we were going to take a day trip to Highlands on Saturday. I'd never heard of the North Carolina town, but I'm so glad he was familiar with it, because it was adorable! Only an hour and a half-ish from Clemson, Highlands was the perfect place to spend the afternoon. John and I are both fans of scenic backroads- John especially loves driving the winding curves up the mountains- and our little journey was filled with those!

 

Of course we stopped at a pretty lookout or two on the side of the road!

I must admit, I was worried when I saw the very few signs of civilization on the way to Highlands, such as rundown gas stations and dilapidated (John's word choice, not mine) shacks, but once we got there, I understood why John thought I'd like it....

Because it was exactly the kind of place I'd like. Precious white chapels, lots of cute stores, multiple yummy-looking dining options... If I had to use one word to describe Highlands, I'd use charming. And I live for charming, so this place was right up my alley! What a perfect way to spend a fall day; I'm already looking forward to our next visit!

Five on Friday: Hey Pumpkin!

Happy Friday, y'all! Courtesy of Christina of Carolina Charm, Darci of The Good Life, April of A. Liz Adventures, and Natasha of Hello! Happiness.

Guys, on one hand, I'm running low on steam when it comes to this whole daily blogging thing, but on the other hand, I'm like, How is October almost over already?! Seriously, doesn't it feel like the month just started?

I thought this picture Natasha of Hello! Happiness posted summed my feelings about October pretty well:

Since today's the last Friday of the month, I figured I'd use my last October Five on Friday to share my favorite ideas for decorating pumpkins...

1. Pumpkins with paint. 

 

Want an intricate, delicate look to your pumpkin? Just use a doily stencil! Just another "Duh! Why didn't I think of that?!" Pinterest moment.

 

Aren't these chalk paint pumpkins gorgeous?!

2. Pumpkins with glue. 

 

Cover a pumpkin with glue and epsom salt for a sparkle that looks more classic than glitter.

Sequins. Need I say more?

3. Pumpkins with Carvings. 

 

Using cookie cutters and mallets to get intricate designs in the pumpkins is a genius idea for people lacking hand-eye coordination, like yours truly.

 

Don't you just love these coastal carvings?

4. Pumpkins with purpose.

What a cute way to put pumpkins to use- in a pumpkin toss, perfect for Halloween parties!

5. Pumpkins with tacks. 

 

These pumpkins are tacky in the best way possible!

 

There's Something in These Hills...

“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." 

-Joe Sherman

After tonight, not only can I proudly say I go to Clemson, but I can also show them with my beautiful new class ring!

 

Ta-da! Here it is, in all its glory!

I am so thankful I have people who are wonderful enough to support me through a two and a half hour long ring ceremony... Yikes. Although it was dreadfully long, I guess I would have seen that coming if I'd known in advance that approximately 1300 people planned on getting their rings tonight! I'm glad my parents made the two and a half hour drive here and back home all for a couple of hours in our basketball coliseum. That's love! Even though Corey and Morgan didn't have a super long drive post-ceremony, I was still so thankful to have them there.

 

My family is the biggest blessing.

 

Notice a pattern with the pose?!

 

Super thankful Mowgie suggested an "admire the ring" picture (even though she's the only one remotely interested in the pic).

Hands down, the most special part of the ceremony was hearing from Colonel Ben Skardon, from the class of 1938. Colonel Skardon makes it a priority to speak at the Clemson class ring ceremonies and talk about the sentimental value the Clemson ring has to him, thanks to some amazing sacrifices.

I couldn't possibly do his story justice, so here it is in his own words, from the Clemson Alumni site:

"During the months that followed the fall of Bataan to Japanese Army Troops [WWII] and the subsequent imprisonment of captured American troops at the large POW camp at Cabanatuan in Central Luzon (the main island of the Philippines), the physical condition of many POWs deteriorated. Hundreds died from lack of sufficient food, medicine and medical care. At this time, I was fortunate to have teamed up with two fellow officers who were Clemson graduates: Henry Leitner ’37 and Otis Morgan ’38.

As conditions worsened, I became a victim of beriberi, malaria, diarrhea, and an eye infection. I had no appetite, and I could hardly swallow. Henry and Otis took turns spoon-feeding me, cleaning my eyes, carrying me piggyback to an open latrine, washing me and carrying me back to our nipa shack.

Most of our personal possessions had disappeared; however, I had managed to keep my Clemson class ring hidden. Otis, who worked on “the farm” as an “in-charge” (an American who could understand enough Japanese to pass on the instructions to the POW work details), let it be known that he knew of a gold ring available for trade to the Japanese for food.

A deal was made, and one evening Otis came in from the farm with a small can of potted ham and a live pullet-sized chicken. Henry borrowed a tin pail, built a fire and boiled the chicken. They fed me hot chicken soup, chicken with rice and rice with chicken. Nothing was left except the bones, which by that time, were gleaming white. They broke the bones and retrieved the marrow with a piece of wire. Nothing edible remained. The little can of potted ham was used to make highly flavored rice-balls. These delectable little nuggets seemed to restore my appetite, and my physical condition improved.

My debt to Henry Leitner and Otis Morgan is heavy – it cannot be repaid. Otis was killed aboard an unmarked ship carrying POWs to Japan. Henry died in early 1945 at a POW camp in Japan. [Skardon was eventually freed from a POW camp in Manchuria after Japan’s surrender.]

Hardly a day goes by that I do not remember the selflessness and the personal sacrifice of Henry and Otis and the role my Clemson class ring played in keeping me alive."

— Colonel Ben Skardon ‘38

How incredible is that?! Definitely the coolest part of the ceremony. Sharing something as simple, beautiful, and powerfully symbolic as a ring with men like Colonel Skardon and women like my mom make me feel like the luckiest girl alive!  So proud of my school!

Go Tigers! Mom and me proudly sporting our rings.

"There is something in these hills that you and I can't define and others can't understand. A wave of warmth always surges through me when "outsiders" say, "I don't know what it is about you Clemson people, but your undying love for Clemson is admired by everyone I know. There's something in these hills and I suspect that's what it is - the ability of an institution through the unending dedication and greatness of its people - its administration, its faculty, its staff, its students and alumni - to impart to all it touches a respect, an admiration, an affection that stands firm in disquieting times when things around it give impressions of coming unglued. Yes, there's something in these hills where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness.” 

-Joe Sherman

Cue the Waterworks...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnG3MKos87A

I have to give a shout-out to my uncle for posting this video on Facebook yesterday. This video takes Katy Perry's song "Roar" to a whole. new. level.

At the risk of sounding like an overly-emotional baby, I have to say this video made me cry. Although several comments I read on Youtube declared the video was "so sad :(" I'd have to disagree. My tears were not tears of sadness; they were tears of awe, admiration, and gratefulness.

The spirit the kids show in this video is incredible. The song's lyrics are already so plucky and optimistic, so to watch kids perform this with their super-awesome nurses and doctors was just the coolest thing. That video was more inspirational and encouraging than anything I've seen in a long time. If kids with serious illnesses living in a hospital can show that kind of joy, I can too.

Seeing this video pulled at my heartstrings for other reasons, too. Although I've never felt like being a healthcare professional, I've definitely thought about how I could spread cheer in hospitals, and this video rekindled that urge. How cool would it be to tutor or teach in pediatric wings?! I don't know, just a thought... A girl can dream!

It's a Special Day....

And I'm not trying to do the whole inspirational, "seize each day, because each day is beautiful in its own way!" thing, today. Although I still believe that's true, today is super special, because one year ago today, my sweet second cousin Charlotte was born.

 

Snapshots of my times with Charlotte in her first year!

Charlotte's mama, Jana, and I have always had a special bond. My brother and I are a good bit younger than the rest of our cousins on my dad's side of the fam, who all live north of the Mason-Dixon line (I'm not sure I could last through one of those frigid northern winters!). No matter our differences, Jana always devoted her spring breaks in grade school visiting her baby cousins in SC.

 

Lookin' good! One of the many things Jana was never "too cool" to do: play dress up with her baby cousin!

Even though I only saw her a couple times a year, for a week at a time, she was certainly the closest thing I had to a sister growing up. She was, and still is, an incredible role model, showing me what it looks like to be a smart, strong, funny, sassy, and beautiful person, who can be independent but still thrive in a relationship, like the one she has with her husband Brian. A year ago today, she added a new role to her already-long list of titles (wife, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, assistant-dean): Mom.

Jana and me last December at Detroit's Eastern Market!

Jana and Brian's daughter Charlotte Sue is the cutest baby, hands down. She has bright, blue eyes, the complexion and round cheeks of a China-doll, and the smile of an angel! Now, yes, I may be a bit biased, but even as an outsider, I know I'd still think she was so precious. In the past year, I've seen Charlotte go from just laying around, hanging out, to sitting up and babbling, to crawling and pointing... It's amazing how much a baby can change in a year, and it's seriously crazy how much said baby can change lives in a year! I cannot wait to see Charlotte grow up even more in the years to come, and I hope I can be there for her as much as her mom was there for me growing up.

My State of Mind Today

When I woke up today, I knew I had a choice. It's the same choice I have every day, but on Mondays, the first day of a new week, this choice seems even more crucial. It's the choice to say "It's going to be a good day." Let's face it- as Honest Abe put it....

Sometimes, my mind doesn't make up a good decision, and other times, it does. Today, I was happy, despite the impending geometry test that may or may not kick my butt tomorrow. However the test goes tomorrow, I will still choose to be happy, because geometry is oh-so-temporary in this wonderful life (thank goodness!).

Have a terrific Tuesday, everybody! Can't believe I'm three weeks into my 31 Days challenge to myself and still going strong (okay, maybe not strong, but hey, I'm still going!).

No Matter What Happens...

I'm someone who doesn't really "enjoy" watching football, per-say, unless I'm watching Clemson play. Sadly, the Tigers that showed up yesterday were not the same team that won all of our games so far this season! Even though yesterday's game was cringe-worthy, horrendous, embarrassing, ugly, etc., I still look back on yesterday with happy thoughts and memories! I got to spend the entire day mingling with my brother Corey and his girlfriend Morgan, John, our friends, and John's family (immediate and extended)!

John took this panoramic with about 30 minutes to go before kick-off... It was a packed stadium!

It was such a unique experience to have GameDay visit Clemson for the second time in one season, and I even got to high-five a couple players as they ran down the hill! Side-note: having a front-row view for the pre-game hoopla was pretty much where the fun ended sitting on the hill, which I will from now on refer to as "The Hell".... yuck!

 

John and me before the game, making the best of our seating sitch!

Even though we won't go undefeated this season, I'm going to keep cheering for the Tigers, because I'm no fair-weather fan! I'm super excited knowing that by the time the next home game rolls around, I'll be sporting my class ring! Yay!

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and starts the week with a mah-velous Monday!