#TBT

Me, Mady & one of our friends Emily celebrating my 18th Birthday at Texas Roadhouse. 

Meeting my high school crush/eye candy storm chaser Reed Timmer

Summer 2009--my favorite senior picture

All of the Gray grandkids as of July 2001 or 2002.  

My daddy and I fourwheeling at my Grandma's house when I was probably 2 or 3, possibly 4?

Riding Bruno-my aunt and uncle's dog that I absolutely loved.  

This #TBT post brought to you by Blog Everyday in July with Allie.

Cheating.

Totally cheating and using this prompt from last Monday & doing it today, because honestly, I'm so not in the mood to work on a GIF-filled post, thank you to my Dad for that one.

When I open the fridge, I always hope I find... cookie dough and Dew. I'm easily pleased.  

My favorite article of clothing is... right now? My gray and pink athletic shorts because it's hotter than hades in MN today.  

Last week I was really pissed when... I found out I was getting stabbed in the back.  

One thing nobody understands about me is... how much my co-workers mean to me, which is something I never thought would happen when I was hired four years ago.  

One thing I don't understand is... why people harp on you for the same things they have issues with. 

The world would be a better place if... people treated each other better.  

If I had a million dollars, I'd... become a Garth Brooks groupie for his world tour.  

If I knew I'd die next week, this week I'd.... quit my job and spend as much time with my family and friends as I could.

If I could change one thing about myself, it would be... the way I worry about stupid crap.  

Something that can always make me happy is... my nightly chat with Karen.  

Something I'll never blog about is... too many specifics about my job.  

If I could go anywhere I would go...  visit Texas, I would love to live there one day.  

If I were an animal I would be a ... a dog. Seriously guys. Who wouldn't wanna live that kinda life? Keeping Allie's answer here! 

A job I've always wanted is... a writer. 

My idea of a perfect day is... one where I get to sleep in and read all day.  

linking up with Allie for blog everyday in July & Meg for Mingle Monday! 

Favorites.

I'm so indecisive, so it's really really hard for me to pick a favorite anything, I do these every so often and make myself laugh by what I thought was my favorite.

But anywho, here are some random favorites of yours truly.

My favorite way to fall asleep? After playing my 5 candy crush lives, playing a round of temple run 2 and my nightly facebook chat with Karen.  I fall asleep listening to my Pandora station, which is still on the shuffle of Terri Clark, 90s country and If I Know Me.

My favorite alcoholic drink? Chuck Norris shots and Sex on the Beach, I would love to try different drinks though!

My favorite quote? The one above!

My favorite singer? Brantley Gilbert, Garth, George & I love seeing Dierks Bentley live.

My favorite lyrics? Let the sinless man cast the first stone and may the judgment in my life belong to God alone. If you can't live it down, might as well live it up, yeah forgiveness is yours in the hands of the Lord. Which is from BG's song Live it Up.

My favorite way to spend a day off? Usually will walk over and have lunch with Karen, catch up on my favorite blogs, read a chunk or the remainder of my current book & write some.

My favorite book? The Ryan White story, which I really need to read again, I just finished all of the With You in Seattle series by Kristen Proby and they were amazing as well!

linking up with Allie for Blog Every Day in July & Helene/Sarah for #favtotalsocial

Beaver Hoodie.

Dear Bemidji Beavers hoodie,

To 99.99999% of the population, you're just an old ratty sweatshirt.  To me though, you are carry so much sentimental value though.

You see, I grew up from the time I was 3 or 4 to the time I was 18, spending at least a week with my grandma and grandpa, and after my grandpa passed away when I was 14, just my grandma up North every summer.

It was the summer after my Grandpa passed away, so it would be the summer of 2007, and I really wanted a Beavers hoodie(all Bemidji State teams are the Beavers!), so my Grandma and I went in search of one.  We found one on campus and you were it.

When you were new, you were the warmest, most comfortable and bright sweatshirt I had.  Now that you've been worn for the last 7 years, you are still the most comfortable hoodie, but your sleeves are torn and you are looking very worn, you are my favorite hoodie, not because you're the newest hoodie in my closet, but because you have the most sentimental value, one of the few tangible things I have from my Granny.

Love,

Meghan.

Drunk on a Plane.

Ugh.  My Monday morning did  not start out very nicely! My Keurig has decided that it's going on strike and I am so not okay with that!

Good thing I had a pretty nice weekend, which this week I'm including Thursday in my weekend recap, because I can!

I took Wednesday through Friday off because my cousin Stephanie and I were going to go see Dierks Bentley and Sara Evans in concert up in Duluth.

At first, I was just going to take a bus by myself, but instead, my mom and sister and I decided to take a road trip up there.

But first let me take a selfie.

My mom came and picked me up from my apartment around noon or so & we were on the road by 1 or 1:30 & we got to Duluth about 4:15 or so & met my aunt and cousins at the mall.  

Steph and I had ants in our pants because the rest of our entourage couldn't care less that gates opened at 5 and it was 4:50 and we were still not on our way to the park, but never fear, we made it & we got front row in general admission, because we're badasses, probably not, but let's pretend okay? 

Whiskey River opened and both Steph and I were not fans.  They were in like their 70s & not Willie Nelson awesomeness 70s either, more like crotchety Aunt Ethel 70s.  

So of course, we had to document that we were actually seeing Sara Evans and for a second time in less than a year Dierks Bentley, so we were about to take a selfie, but then one of the nice security guards said he'd take a picture of us, so we let him.  

favorite concert buddy! 

After Whiskey River, we waited about ten to fifteen minutes & then the Miss Sara Evans came out and totally rocked her set!  Let me say that I've been a Sara Evans fan for years, all the way from You'll Always Be My Baby up to Stronger & Slow Me Down, and she did not disappoint.  She waved at me at least three times and was just an amazing performer.  

Performing Stronger

After about an hour or so, she says, this is when we'd normally walk off and then come back and do our encore, but y'all, have you seen these heels I'm wearing?!? I'll just stay right here.  For her encore, she covered three songs, Give Me a Reason by P!NK & I'm drawing a blank at the other two.  I think it's so cool her older brother Matt is part of her band.  

Once she was done, it took about a half hour of prep, but then Steph and I start freaking out when Dierks' 5-1-5-0 starts playing.  My phone died right before he came out, so I don't have any pictures of him, Steph told me she'd send them to me, but I don't have them yet! 

I'm honestly surprised we had voices come Friday morning, because we screamed-sang each song right along with him.  I loved his whole set, but my four favorites were Drunk On a Plane, I Hold On, Home and What Was I Thinking.  

If you are a Dierks Bentley fan, you know that in What Was I Thinking, he sings about a girl in a white tank top.  Well wouldn't you know, I had a white tank top.  So I told Steph to hold my hoodie, and I took my tank straps off and slid it down my legs and threw it at the stage, first time, it hit the bottom of the stage, second time it hit a little higher, but still missed the stage and the security guy who gave it back to me the first time wasn't going to give it back, but Dierks wanted it so the guard  gave it to him! We were the loudest crowd to sing Drunk on A Plane so far and I think that's so cool as well.  

Love me some DB! 

We both got guitar picks from his guitarist, bought matching shirts once again & have decided we will be seeing him at the very least annually.  Because Dierks Bentley is the bomb.com.  Obviously.  

This picture sums up the concert pretty well actually!

#memoriesmade

Next up in the concert line-up is Firefest, which features Thomas Rhett, Jake Owen, Montgomery Gentry, Chris Hawkey & Old Dominion, I could be missing someone, but I don't feel like double checking at the moment with Stephanie & then October 23rd, me and my bestest are meeting my husband, Brantley Gilbert.  

Friday, Steph, Andrea and I had plans to go to Valleyfair once we made it back to the cities, but the weather didn't want to cooperate, so we ended up at the mall and Target, with another selfie thrown in for good measure.  

sitting in the book aisle of Target because #YOLO

We are going to try Valleyfair again on Wednesday & then outlet mall shopping on Thursday! Hope your week/weekend was as awesome as mine was! 

linking up with Rachael for the weekly wrap up here

& Meg for Mingle Monday here

Wedding Dress Shopping.

"Lynn, you know where you should go wedding dress shopping?" 

"Where?"

"Victoria's Secret!"

Why yes, I really did tell my lovely stepmom that she should go look for a wedding dress at Victoria's Secret. In my defense, I was 8 at the time and Victoria's Secret was beyond my level of maturity at the time obviously.  

Foot meet mouth.  

One of many embarrassing tales that I could regale you with.  

No Pants, No Problem!

What do I do when I'm alone? Well seeing as I moved out into my first apartment a couple months ago, I do must everything by myself #foreveralone #jokes 

But here's some of my things that I love doing when no one is around. 

-drinking milk straight out of the jug, but let's get real, I did that living at home too. (Lynn does it too, drives my dad nuts!)

-have one woman dance parties to whichever song brings out my inner stripper at that given moment. 

-spraying cool whip directly into my mouth.  

-NO PANTS! I thought people were crazy who said they took off their pants as soon as they got home and then I moved out and I'm like OH MY GOSH! NO PANTS! 

-watching way too much Netflix.  Hello binge-watching TV shows!

What is something you like doing when no one else is around? 

Currently.

As part of my 101 in 1001 list, I wanted to do a currently post monthly, just to be able to look back on in the years ahead, so here we go!

(written Sunday night)

current book(s): 

I am planning on starting The Longest Ride today.    

current playlist: 
My Pandora is on shuffle between 90s country, Terri Clark, and If I Know Me by George Strait.  

current color: 

The wonderful color of my bruise from work, paint bucket-1 Meghan-0.  

current food/drink: 

I may have had a few squirts of  redi-whip before getting into bed just now.  

current favorite show(s): 
I'm binging on One Tree HIll and my co-worker is bringing me Boy Meets World tomorrow. 

current needs: 
For it to be Wednesday so I can have three days off.   

current banes of my existence: 
money.  

current celebrity crush:
Brantley Gilbert. 

current #1 blessing: 
my friends and family  

current indulgence:
the aforementioned redi-whip straight from the can.  

current outfit: 

sofee U of M shorts and a tank top.  

current excitement: 
getting to see Dierks Bentley and Sara Evans perform on Thursday.

current mood: 
content. 

current favorite quote or verse: 

though she be little, she be mighty.    

current wishlist item: 
I think a new laptop is in my future.  

current favorite product(s):

I'm loving my Pandora app.  

linking up with Meg for Mingle Monday! 

Out of my Comfort Zone.

Day 3: Tell Us Something You've Done in 2014 out of your comfort zone. 

Well in February, I admitted that I had been lying to my family about school and a job, that was one of the biggest things I've done outside of my comfort zone.  

& in May, I moved out on my own for the first time 

What was something you've done outside of your comfort zone this year? 

Guilty as Charged.

So I totally missed the first day of the blog every day in July challenge, but I'm in it for the long haul now!

The prompt for today is: Share Your Guilty Pleasures...

-staying up till way too late finishing a book that I love.

-binge watching TV shows on Netflix.

-eating raw cookie dough.

-Chuck Norris shots

-snaughling; that would be snorting and laughing at the same time.

Eleven Cubed

Oh hey there blog world, how's it hanging? I've been meaning to get this post up for the last week and a half & my laziness has kept getting the best of me.  But I'm incredibly honored to say that Morgan from The True Life of KMK nominated me for the Sunshine Award! I feel so loved!

Here's what I get to do now...

List 11 facts about myself...

One//I definitely fit into that saying sassy, classy and a little bit smart-assy.  I always have some sort of sarcastic comeback, but it's always done in love, promise!

Two//My first born daughter will be sharing her middle name with that of a famous singer, but not because of that singer. My work momma's middle name is the name of a famous singer.

Three//Going to a Garth Brooks concert is at the top of my bucket list right now.  I really wish he'd hurry up and announce more information on his world tour!

Four//My dog Cooper is my baby.  I have two other dogs, but Cooper is the one who's my baby and who I spoil.

Five//I love reading and writing.   My all-time favorite book is Ryan White's autobiography.

Six//I love love. I have high standards when it comes to it, because my dad and grandpas have shown me how you should treat the woman in your life.

Seven//Country music is my jam. I grew up on country music mixed with a little 80's thanks to my stepmom's influence.

Eight//I don't drive. I just never have had the desire to get my license.

Nine//My mom wanted to name me Anna Marie. But my Grandma said Anna was too old fashioned for a baby, so instead I'm Meghan Anna.

Ten//My grandparents are my favorite people.  If I can be where they are in 50 years, I'll be a very happy and blessed person!

Eleven//I'm thinking about going back to school. I want to go back and get my Vet Tech degree!

& then answer the questions from Morgan...

Favorite candy//Peanut Butter M&Ms.

Dream travel//Atlantis, Jamaica & Australia.

Dream Job or Goal//I would love to be an author.

Dog, cat or other//How is this even a question.  Dogs of course!

my favorite coop picture I've taken.  

Favorite form of exercise//I love to ride bike, but I really want to try kickboxing!

One item in your closet that means the most to you// I have a Bemidji State Beavers hoodie that my grandma bought me right after my grandpa died in 2006 and I refuse to get rid of it and still wear it, even though the sleeves are mostly ripped now.

Favorite TV show//Nashville, Chicago Fire & Grey's Anatomy are my top 3.

How did you come up with the name of your blog//It was my way of putting my mark on the world.  I thought it sounded cool, and it reminded me that I'm more than just someone's sister or daughter.

Favorite book//I already mentioned my favorite book above, so I'll tell you I'm re-reading Harry Potter and I'm in love!

Tattoos or Nah//Yes! I am tattooless as of right now, hoping to change that within the next month or so, I have 3 or 4 in mind!

Alcoholic Drink of Choice//If I'm at home it's a Mike's Hard Black Cherry, going out, it's a Sex on the Beach or a Chuck Norris shot.

Then I get to nominate 11 lovely ladies...

Lora from Heart of Life
Jessa from the Jessa Olson blog
Erin from Love, Fun & Football
Kayla from My Kind Of Yellow
Karla from Forever Newly Wedded
Amanda from Keeping Up with the Haneys
Brianna from Endlessly Beloved
Ashley from Ashley Lately
Kym from Travel Babbles
Lora from Raising Steppe Sisters
Lauren from 34 Magnolia Street

& then 11 questions for the ladies to answer...

Song that reminds you of your significant other or your favorite song
Would you rather take the bullet for someone or have someone take the bullet for you.
Describe your perfect date.
Favorite sports team.
Show me one of your favorite pins.
Do you have a mentor
What's your favorite season
What's a movie you could watch over and over again
What's something you'd tell your younger self
How long have you been blogging
If you could switch lives with someone for a day who would it be