Retreat...

-Much Love-

Bethany

Wrapping Paper is Everywhere...

Not be one of those bloggers... but I'd like to tell you how this morning has started off, detail by detail. Even though I've only been up for a single hour (christmas break=I'm allowed to sleep in), I feel the morning has already been great. First thing, I started brewing enough for a couple cups of that wonderful Maxwell House coffee. Yum! As that was filling the apartment with a delicious aroma, I put on a Christmas pandora station... purely wonderful. Next, I started... drumroll please.... WRAPPING CHRISTMAS PRESENTS! I'm so excited for Christmas. Can it just be here already? I maybe should have wrapped sooner, so our tree could look like Santa came early, but I'm wrapping today so I can enjoy our little Charlie Brown tree before I get to take all of the presents HOME! I'm so ready to see my family. Anyway. After I wrapped about half of the gifts, I started looking through some blogs I normally follow, like this one. Chelsea Rose's blog... If you don't know it, you should. She's great. Then, I figured I should probably blog my own weekend events! The coffee mug got topped off, and now here we are...

We got to go spend a couple of days with my room mate (and about nine others) at her family's ranch in the middle of nowhere! I loved it! We rode four-wheelers around and explored. Got nine people on the top of one hay bale (pictures later). Cut down a couple of trees (I watched) so that my new friend, Brian could make a chair. Brilliant. Ate some taco soup. Watched the sunset. Built a fire and made s'mores. And talked all through the night. I was sad to leave. 

Lauren, myself and Mary.

I believe that is the very hay that we all stood on? Possibly. It was beautiful.

More pictures to come soon, these are only the ones I could snap with my little camera. Mary and Colin both have a ton of pictures on their legit cameras. 'Til next time!

-Much Love-
Bethany

p.s. Back to wrapping! Make sure and do all of your last minute Christmas shopping! I know I will.

Fall Semester Blues...

Ok kids, we've officially reached the point where school is no longer a walk in the park like high school. College is really kicking my behind this semester... not gonna lie. I know that Jesus has a plan and that everything will work out just wonderfully, but right now isn't the time that I feel that I know what the next step is. If anyone would like to share words of wisdom, feel free to do so. In the midst of my fall semester blues, I'd like to blog about the wonderful components of this semester... Remember the good times I always say.

Making wonderful new friends with the pledgies of Phi Lamb this semester.

Homecoming! (This is what "pomping" results in...)

Dressing up for Halloween with my littles.. Love these girls.

Surprise trip to Arlington with my mom and Ben for the Yankees playoff game. 

They won the game, lost the series.

Still worth it.

BYX date party with my BF. First, got some pop at Pops.

Then went to the round barn for a fabulous dance.

Even though classes are kind of stinky this semester, look at all of the amazing stuff I've done. Trying to focus on these things... We'll see!

-Much Love-

Bethany

California Girls ((yes it's late))...

As much as I tried to keep up with the blogging, the last couple of days in California I got a little bit lazy. I'm back to wonderful, humid Oklahoma now. I will definitely miss California, but being back is good too. So as I eat my bowl of mac & cheese and catch up on some laundry, I thought I would share some pictures of the last couple of days with you.

Something that I had only done once before going to Cali was getting a pedicure. Some girls can't go two weeks without getting one, I see why. It was so good just being with the girls and getting all prettied up! After we got our toenails done and walked around a little bit, we met up with the guys and ate at probably the best little burger joint around called Knockout Burger. It was such a good atmosphere! Right off of the beach, so as the song says "... daisy dukes bikinis on top..." were definitely the style.


The last day we spent in California, we went to old town San Diego and walked around. It reminded me of a mini Silver Dollar City, except for it was real. If that makes sense. Lots of old houses and cool things to look at. There was a mini market with little trinkets to buy. See for yourself!



I bought a couple of little souvenirs at the market for a few very special people, so once the secret is out, I'll post pictures. Can't ruin those surprises!!!! Life is back to normal now though, back to good ol' work! Until next time!

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day five))...

Take me out too the ball game! Today, we all loaded up and headed for San Diego to watch the Padres play Arizona. The weather was a little bit chilly in the stadium, but once the sun came out, it was wonderful! Chelsea and I sported our Padres shirts for good reason! We won!!! Six runs to three. And of course it wouldn't be a baseball game without a huge hot dog and a large coke. Delicious.



Sometimes, I like to be a little bit goofy. When I try to tell Chelsea that she is weird, she always tells me that I'm weirder. So... It's true. I can't judge her. Here's a couple of silly pictures with an ambitious guy working out, some tropical mentos (my favorite), and a military "stand up" man.


After the game, we drove the scenic route to La Jolla beach. Yes, it is spanish. I thought that it was spelled "Lahoya" which is the way it is pronounced. Wrong. It was a beautiful beach. Seals like to lay out on the sand, even though people swim around them all the time! There was even a baby seal! It was so cute!!!


What a wonderful day! Now, I'm hearing talk of some yummy pie, and we're gonna hot tub later and watch Shutter Island! It's going to be a long night. Two more days on the west coast. Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds! Until then.

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day four))...

One of the best days yet! Not that we did anything crazy out of the ordinary, but I'll be honest with you... shopping and food... that's the way to a girl's heart. This morning, we woke up and ate a great breakfast and then got all prettied up for the day! Shopping in California is the best. It's all really upscale, but I think that is what makes it fun. We shopped until we dropped, and then we shopped some more! We found this really cute little boutique called Papaya that I fell in love with pretty quickly. My kind of store. Shall I show you some of my finds? I'm going to anyway.




When we got home, we were starving!!! We had the best dinner yet. Yes, I was lame and took a picture of it because it was just that good. More homemade tortillas, salsa, guacamole, spanish rice and beans, carne asada, pollo asada, and grilled onions. The watermelon is still calling my name, but after trip number two to the Kincade/Thompson buffet, I'm stuffed... Gotta rest for a while before heading back to the kitchen. Doesn't it look amazing though? I'm loving being part of those Mexican roots. Italians can cook too (aka my family), but it's a whole new realm that I'm finding myself in. And I love it.



The only complaint about the day is my phone pooped out on me. So for those of you who may be trying to get a hold of me, it's a lost cause. Maybe when I get back to the place I call home I'll try and get it fixed. Or not. We'll see. Going to the Padres game tomorrow!!! So excited for some baseball. Until then!

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day three))...

The beach! The beach! The beach! What an amazing day. Everything was just so chill. Literally. The water was freezing. But, I loved it. I only got knocked over one time... but at least Chelsea went first. There's not much to say about it other than "wow". I could live on the beach and be the happiest person in the world I'm pretty sure. I was pretty proud of myself too for not burning, until we went shopping and I realized I'm a shade of red that I'm pretty sure isn't normal. Guess the sun takes a few hours to catch up with you! Still... here are some pics!



And this next one is a little something special for someone who I miss very much... Maybe I'll actually give you a copy this time...



Well, shopping at The Forum and a day at the beach was almost as good as our home made dinner. Roast, mac & cheese, rice, and tortillas (from scratch thank you!) Uh-mazing. Well worth waiting for. Can't wait for tomorrow! Until then!

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day two))...

Have you ever been told not to make a plan? Because if you make a plan, then nothing goes how you thought it would. So yesterday, I thought that we were probably going shopping or to the beach... Wrong. We did something so different than that today. And I loved every minute of it. Today, I went to the San Diego zoo with my amazing room mate Chelsea and her family! It was the most incredible zoo I have ever been to in my life. Visuals...

:: This section should probably be titled "Introduction Slash Being Silly" ::



:: Now... For some animals. ::



:: My all time favorite animal is a giraffe... And yes, I got to feed one with my bare hands. Be jealous. ::



Pretty cool, huh? Story time. While we were waiting to feed the giraffes, a lady that worked at the zoo told us that she had worked there for over twenty years, and her first job was taking care of the giraffes. So she knew all about them. Random fact: Did you know that however tall a giraffe is, that is how long (in inches) their tongue is also? CRAZY!!! The giraffe's name that I fed was Bahati and she was seventeen feet tall!

A lot of firsts today. Feeding a giraffe. Check. Eating my first churro. Check. Delicious by the way. Eating at "That Pizza Place" (yes, it really is called that). Check. Here's a few pictures of some cool stuff I found today. I love to appreciate the little things that make me laugh and the amazing things that make me smile.



Well folks, that's all for today. The hot tub called my name as soon as we got back, and now the bed calls. Until next time!

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day one))...

There is nothing more amazing than spending the first day in California just relaxing by the pool, hanging out at the house, and eating some amazing homemade mexican food. Day one in Cali has been sooo good! The very first thing I noticed was the WEATHER!!! Going from hot, humid, 99.98798 degree weather to nothing but sunshine and a light breeze is beautiful. I didn't get to California without some craziness though! Two plane rides with the Thompson family. Need I say more? I love them so much.

1. My beautiful room mate Chelsea and I waiting for our final flight to Cali...

2. We're here! California!

3. My newest place of residence (I could definitely get used to this)...

What will tomorrow hold you might ask? I think maybe a trip to the beach, shopping, or a pedicure? Possibly even all of the above. I'm so excited! Until then...

-Much Love-
Bethany