Here's to you, 2015!!

Alternatively titled: Reasons why 2015 is one of my favorite years to date.

For some reason today I'm feeling all inspired and lovey-dovey. I've had two cups of coffee and studied for two hours so far. I've always just given Mr. Gus Gus a bath. In other words, I'm feeling decently productive after a week of feeling like I would never catch up with anything. This post is probably going to jump all over the place, but that's my personality..so love me, and bear with me.

This year kicked off with a smashing New Year's Eve party! NOT. My then roomie, Lauren, and I sat on the couch and watched an old movie in our comfiest pjs. I cannot even remember the movie except that it had the marvelous Cary Grant. I embraced my chill. No trying to go out to keep up appearances and hang out with people I probably didn't really want to be around. No pointless drinking because it felt like the norm. No, I was just deliciously me and quite happy. That has set the tone for my entire year so far.

For my 26th birthday I took myself on a vacation to New Orleans. There were many dissenters, mostly just nice people worried about my well being and safety. I even felt like not going for a hot minute and was considering cancelling the trip altogether. I'm so glad I didn't. Going on a vacation by myself (well, Gus was there too, but he only nods wisely for conversation) was a grand experience that I recommend for anyone trying to better figure out who they are and what they're all about. I used to think I always needed to be around people or have someone (romantically) to be happy. I have blast that idea completely to pieces this year. On what turned out to be an extremely long drive to the Big Easy (never driving in Texas ever again if I can avoid it), I came to have a better opinion of myself and realized I really like hanging out with just me. This has changed so much for me.

Last year was just a crapshoot in the dating game. I let myself be confused and assaulted by people on Tinder and OkCupid in the name of finding someone and not being alone. I went on second and more dates with people I wasn't even remotely into and basically just tried to find connections that were not there. (I'm not hating all of you! I've actually made at least one good friend out of all of it) This year I'm much more in tune with myself and completely okay with being single (for the most part..I have had my yelling at God, crying in the bathtub moments, but I'm only human!). I've chosen to only say yes to dates I actually care about. I'm not forcing connections anymore, I'm just feeling them and following my heart. I don't want to waste my time or anyone else's.

This year I've also taken myself back to school. (Darn Tulane campus being so beautiful and inspiring) I've been struggling recently between history and psychology. History is what I came back for. It is my one true love, but psychology is so attractive haha. I'm having self doubt here and there, but ultimately I'm just trying to live in the moment and learn everything that I can. To life and knowledge!!

There are so many more things I look forward to in the last few months of this year (it's insane how quickly it's gone by). Oh my goodness, next month is my big sister-niece trip to Florida!! We've been preparing for it all year and yet I still feel so unprepared. Before I know it this year is going to be over. I hope the rest of it brings great things for me, and for all of you!!

Much love,
Leah

Lobsterfest

Ahoy there, landlubbers! This week I marked another item off my 30 Before 30 list: Eat Lobster! This week I had a girl date with my guurrrl Lauren. We went to Red Lobster (and then Barnes and Noble, ending the night in books is my favorite!) and I got a collectible souvenir tumbler glass right out the gate! The atmosphere of Red Lobster was nice. The lighting was good and their music was totally on point. Now, I am not someone who likes seafood pretty much at all. I expressed this to our waiter (who totally reminded me at Michael Ealy--so cute!!) and told him that the only requirement I had was to eat lobster.He steered me in the direction of Surf N Turf, a good plan!

My meal came with a salad (I got Caesar), a stuffed lobster tail, steak, mashed potatoes, and a side (broccoli, all the way!) Everything tasted really good and was very pretty. I will say about my lobster that it did not taste fishy at all, it tasted like the butter sauce that was put on it which is what I need seafood to do for me so I'll eat it. BUT it was totally squishy in my mouth. I cannot abide the texture. I am glad to say that I've tried it, but I will probably not be eating it again. And I know I could never eat crab. Their legs are so beautiful and so real..it makes me sad.

Update on the rest of my 30 Before 30, here are the items I can cross off:
--Go on a date with someone over 50 (I am counting my Daddy and our movie date!)
--Eat lobster
--Volunteer (in, fact I reached out to my Disney family to volunteer more soon!!)
--Climb a mountain (with my bestie, Lauren)
--Give Blood

Next weekend I can cross two more things off! Stay tuned for my updates on my trip to NOLA!!

Top Ten Disney Villains

Sooooooooooo I love collecting all things Disney Villain. I thought I would do a breakdown of the worst of the worst ( in my humble opinion). Let me know who you think is the worst! Or who is your favorite. Here's the Top Ten Badies:

 

 

10) Maleficent- My girl, Mistress of All Evil. She is wickedly cool in her spell casting. She seems so smooth and unbreakable in her badness and she looks so very poised and high class while doing it. You go girl, work that thing.

9) Oogie Boogie- This dude is seriously creepy. He wants to do mean things to Santa Claus and that's just not cool. I can't really look at him without freaking out. Just this picture right now..I have to move on!

 

8) Doctor Facilier (Shadowman)- First of all, this man has a pretty dope wardrobe. He is definitely one of the darker of the villains with his "friends on the other side". I would not mess with him!

7) Cruella de Vil- If she doesn't scare you no evil thing will. I was just singing her theme song today. Those poor puppies! Like everyone has hobbies, Cruella, but why must you feel the need to murder innocent little creatures to wear as fashion? And she is an insane driver.

 








 


 6) Percial McLeach- This dirty, mean poacher! He's trying to capture a golden eagle which is one of earth's most beautiful creatures. He also wanted to let his creepy lizard eat the eagle's babies! He's a mean one for sure.

 

5) Jafar- This bad guy likes to use his sorcery to control people and turn situations to his favor. He tries to make a poor 18 year old girl marry him and that's just gross. He's gross. He could use some hygiene...

4) Shan Yu- I am so glad that he gets taken down by an awesome girl! Girl power! He wants to destroy entire civilizations and that is not at all nice. That scene where they stumble upon a village he had just murdered is still one of the saddest scenes of any Disney movie to me.

 

3) Governor Ratcliffe- All this greedy guy wants is gold and he won't listen to anyone when they tell him he hasn't found it. He is not very nice to the native people at all and they try to share their crops with him. It hurts my feelings.

2) Scar- Scar actually kills someone, his own brother! And he tries to have his nephew killed! He's pretty low down. He is not even nice to the only "friends" he has. I kind of feel bad for him being so alone. He should try being nice sometime.

 

 
1) Judge Claude Frollo- This guy rounds out my top ten. He is pretty evil. In the beginning of the movie he kills a young woman and then ends up taking in her hunchbacked son. Rather than actually showing him any kind of love growing up, he locks him away and forces him to work for him while belittling him. He later tries to force a young gypsy to be with him, threating her life and her clan. Someone beat him up.









 

Roomie Love

This month marks one year of living with Ms. Lauren. Or as I like to call her, Lorelai. I will admit I was a little nervous about moving in together at first, but overall this has been one of my happiest years. I would not have survived these past months without her. I love you, Lorelai!! Reasons why I love living with Lauren:

1. Staying at home and doing nothing and having a blast doing it. I love coming home and just having someone to talk to who has an interest in what's going on in my life. We have goofy evenings like Mary Kate & Ashley night, roommate cooking nights, Wii Game nights. We unsuccessfully tried to watch a weekly TV show together. And in the crazy crazy world of dating, it's really great to be able to come vent to her about what's going on.

  

2. Borrowing clothes, shoes, accessories. I do not do this all the time. For a long time I was hesitant to even go in her room if she wasn't there. But the other day she was out of town and I didn't have any shoes that went with my dress so I looked at her shoes and sure enough, she had something for me! And I got tons of compliments on them. :-D When she is here she likes to dress me up sometimes. And mess with my hair. It's like having a sister. (I still love you real sister)

3. Fun outings! What I have loved the most is all of our little fun outings to random festivals and awesome things in Oklahoma. Last year we went to Oktoberfest, a Cheese Festival, Christmas light scavenger hunt, Rocky Horror at the Boom, and many other shenanigans. Also, we just sing "Do you wanna go to Sonic?" or "Do you wanna go to Petty's" (to the tune of "Do you wanna build a snowman") if we want a drink or some ice cream so we never have to go alone! Last Saturday when neither of us really had plans she just asked if I wanted to get Katie's for breakfast since we both got up at like 7 (we're old). It's just really nice to live with your best friend. 

4. Built in Snow Buddy! The only thing I ever wanted as a child was someone to play with me on a snow day. Last Christmas Santa gave me my wish (he was obviously the real Santa) and granted me a snow day! And Lauren played with me in the snow! We found the old sled and sledded whilst being chased by the dogs, and drank hot chocolate after. She played board games with me and introduced me to the train game. It was fantastic. 

5. Emotional Support. This year I had my heart broken. Like into infinity pieces, no oxygen, don't want  to exist broken. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her. She has the really inspirational book and she would come into my room every morning and read me that day's passage. They were all about loving yourself and being strong no matter what you have faced in your life. Some days I still need it and I just ask her to please read to me from the book and she asks no questions. She completely put up with my up and down moods and my often tear filled face because she understands. 

Here's to one year of fun-filled, uplifting times and general awesomesauce. 

When You Just Smile

Today I went to the dentist. As I was laying in the chair trying not to fall asleep, I did some thinking about smiles. As I love making pointless lists of things I like, here is a list of celebrities who have great smiles! (In my opinion)

1. Julia Roberts. Her smile has to literally light up a room. Also, I really like her laugh. I don't get people who are judgey about her largish mouth. They're just jelly.

2. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I mean, I just fell in love a little bit! One minute you're thinking hey this man could swing me around like a rag doll and the next dude, he's so cool! 

3. Kristen Stewart. I know, I know. I may be alone on this one. But look!! She CAN smile. Her face is doing a thing!

4. James McAvoy. I love when he smiles his full watt smile. Today I discovered that I LOVE the beautiful laugh wrinkles on everyone. He has fantastic happy crinkles.

5. Emmy Rossum. She has another one of those big smiles like Julia. I'm kind of jealous that my smile doesn't take up a good half of my face. I feel less happy than they are somehow.

6. Paul Rudd. Look at this face. I kind of feel like that's all I need to say. Look. At. This. Face.

7. Jack Nicholson. Wow. He's not always grumpy, sinister, creepy, etc. He has a fun smile.












Well there you have it my lovelies! Whose smile do you love?? Let me know! Now it's way past my bedtime so I must get some zzzzzz's.

Odd Crushes

Last night I did some thinking on my taste in men and how varied it is. I decided to make a list of my Top Five Oddest Crushes for your reading enjoyment. {If you're a close friend you know one in particular that I am leaving out and I do that on purpose, he would be number one}

5. Tim Curry

My first memory of Tim Curry is from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. I don't remember if I thought he was handsome back then, but I definitely do now. Even all done up in Rocky Horror I adore him. And his voice!! There are not enough words to talk about his amazing voice. 

4. Stellan Skarsgard

One year for my birthday I got a VHS of The Glass House and that is where I discovering this brooding beauty. He's all sinister and awful in that movie, but I thought he was so cute! And I just found out when searching for a picture that today is his 63rd birthday! So here's to you, Mr. Skarsgard! 

3. Joe Walsh

Ah, Joe Walsh. This is a recent addition to the crush list. He is 66 years old. That is nearly 70! I like his music, though. When I took my dad to see the Eagles that year I was sold. I kind of think he looks like a Muppet, but when he's playing a guitar it does not matter. 

2. Sam Rockwell

He's not necessarily an "odd" one, I would put him on any list, but I'm putting him on this list specifically in reference to the character in this picture. This is him as Eric Knox in Charlie's Angels. It is the first movie I can recall seeing him in and it has led to watching many more movies with him, each more quirky than the last. 

1. Dr. Facilier- Shadowman

I know, I know. He's an animated character. And he's seriously terrifying to boot! There's just something about his swagger that I find terribly attractive. And it certainly doesn't hurt that the guys who play him at the Parks are super attractive and in great shape...

I can has beach body?

I feel like it has been FOREVER since I've posted anything, but that's because I've been a busy lady! Recently over the past month I tried the 21 Day Fix program by Beach Body because I'm trying to reinvent myself (basically I want Black Widow's body and you gotta start somewhere!). I thought it might be fun to share my thoughts and triumphs with you!

The thing I enjoyed the most about this program is that it has different workouts for each day of the week so I was never bored (although I dreaded Wednesday because it was lower body day and owww). Also the workouts are only 30 minutes long and given that I get up at 510 to complete them before work I really appreciate this. The food program was also very simple! It comes with little containers to help you measure and track what you eat according to your weight, etc.

I definitely killed the workouts by going into #beastmode (yes I'm being sarcastic with my hashtagging). But really, I only missed one workout in the entire 21 days and that is because I was at a concert dancing for four hours the night before and my body was done with me. I wish I could say I was a champion at my eating plan, but I so was not. I will just say 2 yellows (carbs) is not enough for this girl! For the first week I followed the eating plan perfectly and lost 6 pounds (ahmazing) and over the 21 days I only lost 7 pounds so if I'd honestly stuck to the eating plan...magic could have happened. However! I lost 13 inches all around (5in from my waist boooyahhh) so I'm not at all disappointed. At one point I told some friends that the muscles in my back felt like this:

Thankfully I did not go full Bane, but I am noticing the nice presence of muscles I didn't know existed. I am now into my first week of Insanity so maybe I'll have another crazy update in 60 days, and maybe I will look like Bane (hopefully not though..i'm petite and supposed to be curvy..) I can tell you that I really hope I catch up to Insanity soon because coming home after work every day and going straight to bed really kills one's social life. Here is a funny post that is too true not to share: 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/madnessmultiplied/24-things-that-happen-when-you-decide-to-do-the-in-9ryi