Skiing is for Athletes

I'm 32 years old (wait, 33? no, 32. Idk...) and I can really only recall two "most embarrassing" moments in my life. I mean I have a horrible, terrible, no-good memory so I doubt two is an accurate number of embarrassing moments in my lifetime but it's all I can recall.

It's been about {sidenote - I just stopped to calculate my age. Yes, on a calculator. I'm not 32, or 33. I'm 31. Oh dang.} 16 years since the most vivid embarrassing moment and I still cringe when I see pictures of ski slopes/skis/snow in the form of a slope/etc.

My friend Brandon posted a picture on Facebook this week of his daughter and him skiing. Of course my first reaction was I'm so sorry. To that I had to follow-up with "I'm not a grinch. I just had a horrible experience skiing and I can't imagine that anyone actually enjoys such a chore."

So, I'm here to share this embarrassing experience with you because that's what embarrassments are for, right? To share. Yes.

I was 15 years old, give or take and I signed up for the church youth group ski trip. I had never been skiing before because I just didn't come from that kind of family. Our version of a family vacation was going to Charleston for a weekend twice a year. Heeyyyy Holiday Inn!

Fifteen year olds are just odd, aren't they? So strange. I was going on this ski trip with teenagers from my gigantic church (equals tons of teenagers on trip) and in the whole group I had no friends. Why I wanted to go on this trip, I have no idea. I still remember the uncomfortable bus ride and the awkwardness of trying to fit in glances I threw in any normal looking girls' direction, because talking to get to know someone was just weird. Keep in mind these were kids that I went to Sunday School with every week, Wednesday night youth group, and summer beach trips for years. I was just a very socially awkward teenager and didn't make friends easily. I had a lot of acquaintances, I guess.

So anyway, that's important for this story because you need to get the full picture. Awkward 15 year old me, trying to keep up with the "cool" kids and make them be my friend while going skiing for the first time. Skiing is not glamorous y'all. I envy the girls who get out there and don't look like a giant marshmallow flying down a hill. How do you do it?!! Anyway. I followed a group of girls around and eventually graduated from the kiddie slope. Yes, I did that. Moving on - I took the ski lift up (I'm a real skier now! Look out! No, really...) to the bunny slope. I was more nervous about getting OFF the ski lift than actually going down the hill but I digress.

I made it down the hill with only a few tumbles. Wait. I don't know - I don't remember that part. I just remember the good part so for the sake of the story, let's pretend it's true. After going down the slope like a good 'ol first time skier I went back up for more.

Hold up - Important detail I forgot to mention. The snow was fake. It wasn't snowing. There was a bottom layer of real snow but the majority of it was fake snow from a snow machine.

Hold released - Picture me, a little more confident this time (with going down the slope; NOT getting off the ski lift). I was at the top of the slope with other people but somehow they zoomed on down before me and got back in line for the lift. So I push off, marshmallow fluff for arms and all, and glide down that bunny slope like I own it. I'm getting close to the bottom and trying to make that dang pizza slice. WHO CAME UP WITH THAT ANYWAY??? I'm at the bottom of the slope now and hey I see my friends girls who tolerate me (G.W.T.M.) and oh crap, the freaking pizza slices crossed over each other. This isn't going to end well. I slammed into one of the G.W.T.M. Skis flew, marshmallow fluff flew, G.W.T.M. yelled some not so nice words, and there we landed smack in a huge puddle of mud. I tried to get up as fast as possible but I guess all skis didn't fly because I had one still on and you know, trying to get up with two skis on is tough, but one? Even tougher. I got up and then fell right back down again - and yep, I pulled G.W.T.M. back down with me. Her friends, yeah she had those, helped her up. The mud and I had some more bonding time and when I finally got up I didn't even stick around to see how girl who no longer tolerates me (G.W.N.L.T.M.) was doing, out of complete mortification, naturally. You think the embarrassment is over now right? Wrong.

Here I am, now this huge chocolate mud-covered (COVERED) marshmallow girl, all alone with tears streaming down my face. I still had to find the stupid ski because they are rentals and I certainly didn't have hundreds of dollars to pay for those. If I did have that kind of money I would have absolutely ditched that other ski, but alas, I'm the girl whose family vacations at the Holiday Inn. Found my ski. Took the devil-sticks off and had to parade myself through the ski lodge to the bathroom. This ski lodge was packed y'all. I'm talking every teenager in America was here. No snow but still, every youth group was at Winter Place in West Virginia. I eventually made it to the bathroom where I attempted to wipe off my mud covered jacket/bibs/face/hair all while avoiding eye contact with anyone who walked in the bathroom. Once I was somewhat less of a hazard to the janitorial staff I planted myself in a corner of the ski lodge near greasy food and there I stayed for the remainder of the trip. Oh didn't I mention, this was the first day of the 4-day trip. Money well spent, parents. You should have gotten me ski lessons when I was two like the rest of upper-class America. Who am I kidding? I have the coordination of a drunk insertclumsyanimalhere.

Well there you have it. My #1 most embarrassing moment hours. Skiing is like a four-letter word to me. I cringe when I hear it and feel sorry for you when you say it. Ooooo. That's a good analogy. Is that an analogy? Whatever. Skiing is for athletes, or people with friends who will pick you up out of the mud.

Oh and snap. I think I'm "friends" with some of those girls on Facebook now. I can't remember who I crashed into but if it was you, I do apologize. I have refrained from skiing as to never cause such tragedy to another victim. You are welcome.

16.5 hours of sleep later...

Well, I did go to Target over the weekend. Turns out, when your best friend becomes a mom & you have girl's night it's spent at Buy Buy Baby & Target. I'm not complaining though. We bought some things we desperately NEEDED. 

See?

We also bought make-up and other exciting things like a shower curtain liner & lotion. :) 

We were really excited about our lotion actually. We got the Jergens Natural Glow Firming lotion. I know the glow part works because I've used it for years. I'm anxious to see if the firming part work. It's supposed to reduce the look of cellulite. Not that I, a mother, have any of that. Ha.

I stayed at Carrie's house Saturday night. I needed extra W time.

Sunday morning Carrie, baby W & I went to church at NewSpring. I absolutely love that I can go to my church almost anywhere in SC. I got this awesome shirt there. I'm pretty excited about it.

After church Carrie & I got our nails done and then she had to go to work. We had a great weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing time with my BFF! 

Oh and did I forget to mention that on Friday evening I went to bed at 5:30 and didn't get up until 2:30PM on Saturday? 

Yep. 

Birthday Weekend - 29!

My birthday weekend was pretty amazing. For real. I spent it with my favorite adult (I have a favorite kid and a favorite adult). We will call this person A because, well, I just watched some PLL and that's what's on my mind.

Anywho, A had many surprises planned for me this past weekend. Friday night A gave me my birthday present. I LOVE it and will actually do a separate post on it soon. I got a super shiny & pretty SodaStream!!

A cooked me a fabulous dinner of salad, chicken alfredo, & garlic knots. Do y'all know what garlic knots are?? It was the first time I'd ever even heard of them but they were really good! 

Saturday was the day of surprises. That morning A surprised me with a jet ski rental! It was a BEAUTIFUL day on Lake Murray. We had the jet ski for two hours which was the perfect amount of time. We had so so so much fun! Can't really describe it with another word. It was just lots of FUN! I wasn't going to drive it but A convinced me to try driving and let me tell you, I liked having that power! I didn't want to go back to just riding! I'm definitely going to have to get a jet ski one day. I've lived 10 minutes from the lake all my life. It's ridiculous that I don't have one, really. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of this. I didn't take my phone for obvious reasons! 

After fun on the lake I treated myself to a much needed pedicure. There is just something about having someone else massage and clean your feet that is so soothing. Am I right? If you've never had a pedicure, this makes me sad. Go get one. I got my toenails painted a color I saw on Pinterest recently and I LOVE it.

That evening A took me to one of my favorite restaurants, Copper River Grille in Irmo. To my surprise, my best friend & her family along with my cousin Morgan joined us! They all live in Greenville so I wasn't expecting to see them on my birthday. I was very excited and loved that A coordinated it so they could be a part of my birthday! We had a great time at dinner! Seeing Carrie's sweet baby was a huge plus too! I just love me some Weston!!

Love his cheeks!!!

  

Ignore my wrinkled dress. I promise it was ironed!

Morgan gave me this shirt & the earrings! Standard southern girl requirements! 

Sunday morning A & I watched church online (I heart my church! - NewSpring) and A made me a DELICIOUS breakfast of grits & bacon. Those grits were to.die.for. Sunday evening my sweet girl came home and we had some fun playing the Wii together!

Best. Birthday Celebration. EVER. 

29 is going to be a good age! 

WILW: Food, mostly

There are so many things I'm LOVING this week! 

• I'm LOVING that I'm officially going to Kenya on March 14, 2013!!!!!!! 

• I'm loving oranges again. I don't know why but I go through these crazy obsessions with oranges. I would pick the one fruit that's not great for me...

• I'm loving this weather lately. It's slowly getting a bit cooler and it's just fabulous. 

• I'm loving Here Comes Honey Boo Boo! Come on, don't say you don't watch it! 

• I'm LOVING that the new iPhone will be announced today!!!!! Although, I'm only getting it if I can get an even trade from one of the online sites taking old phones. :-/ Gotta save for Kenya!!

• I'm loving my church! For real, that place is awesome!

• I'm loving the coffee-free Double Chocolatey Chip drink a friend introduced me to at Starbucks! Now I finally have a need for those giftcards y'all are always giving away! ;) Just don't tell me how many calories are in those drinks...

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What are you loving today?

Weekend Recap

Friday night Justin and I went to our church's Night of Worship at the Colonial Life Arena. It was amazing how many people came out to worship and pray for 3,000 salvations this weekend! We had a wonderful time.

Saturday we took Madi to Monkey Joe's. She made a friend very quickly and they were just too cute. The little girl tried to help Madi up into the bouncy house and they played constantly after that! It was too cute. I wish I had gotten a picture of them!

I was so proud of her for doing that by herself!

After, we went to Target to do a little shopping and then hung out at home the rest of the evening. Sunday we drove up to Greenville to go to NewSpring's campus there with our friends Carrie & Josh. Morgan met us there too. It was a great service and lunch after was fun too! 

This weekend was busy but so great and I can't wait to find out how many salvations there are after tonight's last service! God is good!

WILW!

Well good morning blog world! Nope, this is not a scheduled post. I'm actually typing this at 5:19am. Miss M wet the bed so she is wide awake, which means I am too. ;) That's okay, I oddly don't mind it. Gives me time to do things like blog and clean the kitchen!

Anyway, WILW:

I'm loving Jergens Natural Glow Express! I first heard about it on another blog and immediately (okay, maybe not immediately) went out and got it. I have a wedding to go to on Saturday and desperately need a tan. I could tell a noticeable difference the day after using this lotion!! No streaking (except a tiny bit on my wrists) and it's not very expensive either. 

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I'm loving that we get to wear jeans at work today and they are providing breakfast! It's the little things y'all! 

I'm loving Army Wives!! I did not need another show to get hooked on but I'm glad it's this one. It is such an emotional show. As an Air Force wife I really enjoy seeing how they portray the military and love recognizing military terms. It seems to be a really good representation of military life (despite the obvious television drama). Check it out - all of the seasons are on Netflix instant!!

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I'm loving these new Toms!

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I'm loving my church's Easter services promo! 

Mirror Mirror Promo from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

I'm loving that this Thursday is date night! Hunger Games & hubby's restaurant of choice but hopefully he'll pick Olive Garden!! :)

What are you loving this last Wednesday in March?