Sunday Confessions Linky Party!

Hey everyone!!

Just in case you missed it, yesterday I was over here talking about the pros and cons of living in Europe. Check it out!


And... I really should start writing these up ahead of time and just having them scheduled, but alas, I am not that organized. Forgive me? Great, thanks. 
As always, feel free to grab a button and link up! 

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If you haven't already entered the giveaway, there's still time! Go here. Okay, now for the Confessions. 
1. Some mornings when I wake up, I think to myself, Can I call in sick today? This has gotten better since I've contacted Fulbright and spoken with the people at my school - I'm starting to enjoy myself a lot more because I feel needed. I'm not going to lie, though - it still happens every Thursday. 

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2. I have started to sort of like chocolate. Oh my gosh. I don't know what's happening to me. Maybe it's the fact that I live in Europe where the chocolate is superior. I don't know, but dark chocolate is starting to be my favorite. 

3. I hate mustard and pickles, and I'm afraid of the day that I become pregnant and start liking these two food items. No, I don't know it will happen, but it seems like it happens to everyone else. 

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4. I haven't actually put effort into doing my hair in approximately 5.5 months. I discovered that the humidity of Germany would automatically ruin anything I tried to do, so I gave up. Now I just wear it curly or up all the time. 

5. I hate the smell of fish. That is why it is a choice insult of mine. Ha. 

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Random. Me. You Smell Like Fish. Showers.

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to blog I go... err, come? I don't know, but for some reason when I was about to type "Hi," my brain just started singing, because I'm a weirdo like that. 

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If you have not already entered, you can go here to enter the giveaway for a super awesome Hope Necklace. It closes on Wednesday, and that's when I'll announce the winner.
Also... don't forget to link up for tomorrow's Sunday Confessions! 
Anyway. I was thinking today (and a lot of this past week, actually), and I realized some crazy stuff about myself. I'm here to share some of that with you, provided you don't take it and use it against me or think I'm smokin' crack or something else crazy like that. 
1. I like lists. Ha. Bet you hadn't noticed. I'm not a list person in real life, just on the blog. I mean, I've tried to write up a pretty little list to take to the grocery store with me, but have yet to succeed. Once I see all the yummy goodness, I just go crazy and start throwing stuff in the shopping cart (word vlog rant here). If you're a list person, though... here's a cute little template I made. Click the link under the picture to download or print. It fits to a standard piece of paper. 

Click here to download or print2. I am a total German nerd. I believe this is self-explanatory. Or selbsterklärend, if you wanna get all fancy and learn a German word. 

3. I can be sensitive. Especially when people try to tell me to do things I already know how to do. I know they are just trying to help, but some flip in me automatically switches, and I assume they think I don't know what I'm doing or that I'm an idiot. I'm working on this. It usually doesn't bother me when it's someone I don't know very well, but it happens with friends or family (or people I can't stand). 
4. I have to do lists in groups of 5. I have weird little OCD quirks. Don't believe me? Go here and read about my weird shower thing (it's #2 on the list). 

5. I like to come up with weird insults for people. "You smell like fish" and "You are a poopy-headed monster-breath-face" are two of my favorite. Others include, but are not limited to: "poop-eater," "fish-face," "fart-sniffer," etc., etc. Yes, I'm incredibly mature, and I could probably win a name-calling contest against a 5-year-old. Thank you for noticing. 

Favorite Things Friday [& a Giveaway]

A-Dizzle is in the Hizzle fer Shizzle!!! 


Hey guys! Just a little fun fact: Hubby and I have officially been married a year and a half! 

Today is Friday, and as per usual, I have my favorite things for you! 


1. The Hunger Games. Guys, I almost cried when I called the library and they told me that they still didn't have the second book. It's now a week overdue. I'm tempted to go all Hunger Games on that person and hunt them down and give them some poisonous berries so that I can have that book. 

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2. Beaches. The colder it gets here in Germany, the more I realize I'm happy that a) faces don't really fall off when it's cold and b) I'm not a dude, because those things (we all know what I'm talkin' bout) would freeze and fall off (no, that's not scientifically proven, just a guess). I also realize that I was made for sunshine and beaches. Oh, Dominican Republic... Can I come visit you again??

3. Anne. You know, the fiery redhead from Green Gables? I love that girl. Those books are fabulous. I feel like I would also be the type of person who would accidentally sell my neighbor's cow. Can you tell I've been reading a lot? Ooh, and in the movies - when Anne and Gilbert finally kiss! I haven't seen that movie in years, but I still remember the kiss! 

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4. Monkeys. I read Jane Goodall's book about living among chimps when I was like, 10. I had a slight obsession with chimps and monkeys, but can you blame me? They're freakin' cute. I used to be obsessed with the Aeropostale monkey. I would draw that thing everywhere. Ooh, the Paul Frank monkey is super cute, too. 

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5. Giveaways! Guys, I love a good giveaway, and Ashley has so graciously offered to host one for you people! 

hope.

verb: to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.  

i decided that hope was going to be my motto for the year 2012.

to have hope in all things.

to keep this as a reminder, i decided to get a piece of jewelry that exemplifies this.

i've already given away a hope necklace on my blog, but i wanted to share the wealth with you lovely readers of Every Day Is A New Adventure.

hope is lookin good on you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What It's Like. (Awkward and Awesome Part Two)

Greetings, Bloglings! 


Remember that one time I told you about all the awkward stuff you would see if you were a creepy stalker fly on our wall?
Well, this is part two of that post, which means this is all the awesome stuff you would see/hear. Oh, and sorry for the crappy webcam pics. Mikey-poo is taking a nap, and I don't want to bother him to take my picture. 
1. Little love notes left on computers because we're too lazy to use a pencil and paper. 

2. Hubby singing at the top of his lungs. Dude has an amazing voice. I find it comparable to Josh Groban's. He hasn't ever had any professional training (hard to believe, right?), but he is fantastic. 3. Lots of diet coke, poured into jars instead of glasses. I realize our obsession with this beverage is probably borderline unhealthy, but I think it's awesome that our fridge is always stocked, and that I can offer guests a nice big jar of cold diet coke. Mmmm, refreshing. 

4. Laundry waiting to be folded. I like to think of this as awesome because it makes me feel better about myself. No, I didn't take a pic of my awesome piles of laundry... I don't want to be judged. :)
5. PRETZELS!!! I freakin' love pretzels. Mmmmm. Add a little PB and you have my favorite snack! 

WIWW Purple People Eater. And All Things Ashley.

YO!!! So.. let me just tell you how freaking cold it was outside. I was shivering hardcore, and when I zoomed in on these photos I had goosebumps. 
All this purple makes me feel like a grape. Or a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater. 
Anyway.... I'm busy playing cards with Hubby, so I have something special for you guys. Let me introduce you to one of my lovely sponsors, Ashley. She's got a great post all written up, and I hope you guys stop by her blog and give her some love!! **********************************************************************************
hello to all the dear readers of Every Day Is a New Adventure.

i am so happy that Alyx invited me to be a guest blogger.

now, before you start reading more into the guest blog post, i should introduce myself.

my name is ashley & i blog over at All Things Ashley

my blog is a mixture of all the craziness that my life is.

i don't really have a "themed" blog.

i just blog about what i love to listen to, clothes i buy, projects i make, places i've visited, my friends, family, working out, etc.

today though, i wanted to take a different approach and write about something i've become really interested/passionate about as of late.

that is: traveling.

i recently went on two trips within the past month.

i must admit, i've caught the traveling bug.

while i was in california, i visited balboa pier (near longbeach).

it was the absolute dreamiest little beach-front community.

i decided that i want to travel more.

i am a single lady, therefore i don't have a spouse to take care of.

children to fuss over.

i am a free woman in that regard.

so i've made a bucket list of places i'd like to visit before 2012 comes to a close.

i'll share a FEW of the places i'm interested in going.

- zion national park

- my family cabin (heaven)

- disneyworld (yes, WORLD)

- virginia beach

- seattle

yeah, i would love to visit all of those places so very soon.

the world is a big place and i can't wait to be able to explore and see

all the marvelous things each individual place has to offer.

who knows, maybe i'll stop by germany and visit my dear friend alyx!

i would love for you to come stop by and visit me sometime.

come and say hi, you're always welcome over at my blog.

xo ashley

Dear Parents.

What's crackin' mah homie G's? I know... I should probably just channel inner valley girl and be like, "Hey girl, hey!!" But I just can't do it. 
Warning: this is kind of a long post, so if you don't read the whole thing - I won't hate you. Or blame you. 
Anyway, I was looking through some pics of the cruise that my parents just went on, and I realized that I really miss those two lovebirds. I mean, how could I not? See how cute and lovable and missable they are?? 

Dear Parents, 
I'm gonna start off with the mushy gushy stuff so that it's over fast - like ripping off a band-aid, only instead of hurting, I'm sure it'll make you smile and feel all nice inside. You guys are the bee's knees. You're sunshine on a cloudy day. You're like big strong Amazon people (<-- Okay, I realize that's not mushy, but I thought it had a nice ring to it). You are two of the most amazing, talented, loving, caring, and patient people that I have ever met. I love you guys. Oh, and you're weird. I like that you're weird, because now I know where I get it! 

DUDE, MOM (we always joked that that should have been her name, because half the time us kids would greet her that way). Thank you for putting up with my witchy 13-14-15-16-17-18-year-old self. I commend you for your patience and love. I would have probably smacked my smart-butt face more than once. You have a lot of self-control. I know we butted heads a lot as I was growing up, but I am so thankful to have you now not only as a mother, but as a friend. 

Thank you for acting as a chauffeur until I got my license. Thank you for allowing me to drive, even though it probably scared the living daylights out of you. Thank you for supporting me in all of my endeavors - even the ridiculous ones. You knew I would be too gangly and giraffe-like to ever be a gymnast, but you bought me that leotard anyway, because 5-year-old Alyx was convinced that gymnastics was for her. Thank you for believing in me, and encouraging me to get an education. Thank you for setting that example for me - you are smart, beautiful, strong, successful, and the best mom ever. PS: what the heck is this fuzzy thing you're wearing??? I forgive for this fashion mishap, because I'm sure in the early 80's, this was hip/cool/rad/awesome/whatever word they were using back then. 

DADDY!! To this day I am a daddy's girl, and I am proud of it. I get my competitive nature from you (which, let's be honest - it can get a little extreme, but I like it), and I think I get my freakish height from you, too. Thanks for that - because of you, I can always reach the cookie jar. Seriously, though. 

Thank you for teaching me how to drive (even though one time you were asleep and I almost hit a deer and slammed on the breaks and you woke up thinking that you were going to die - sorry about that). Thank you for helping me with my math homework, thank you for encouraging me to go to college and get an education. Thank you for humoring my 5-year-old leotard-clad self and teaching me how to do a cartwheel. Thank you for serving your country for 25+ years. 

Thank you for loving me no matter what, thank you for the snuggles, and the bear hugs. Thank you for never letting me settle for less than I deserved. Thank you for putting up with the phone call a day for the first three years I was away from home, and the 4 phone calls (at least!) a week after I got married. Thank you for being a great father and a great husband to my mother. Because of you, I knew what kind of man I wanted to marry (obviously the kind that tries to throw his wife off of the cruise ship).

You guys have shown me that marriage isn't always easy, it isn't always fun, and there are plenty of struggles, but it is so worth it. You are still in love after almost 28 years and 4 kids. You are awesome, and I can only hope to be like you someday. 

The Random and Ridiculous.

Hey, hey, hey! (Please read that like Fat Albert.)
Hubby: HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAMe: What's so funny?Hubby: I just watched a GIF of a cat eating spaghetti. 
Hubby: So I watched the new Footloose last night. Me: Ummm... the dancing one? Isn't that a girl movie? Hubby: Ummm no. It's not some stupid movie like Step Up. Me: You've seen Step Up? Hubby: Psh. No... that's not the point anyway. It's not a girl movie! Me: Yes, it is. And you watched it alone. Hubby: Well... whatever. I watched it because there was a hot girl in it. 
Me: Wanna play another game of Catan?Hubby: No, I'm tired of winning all the time. 
And... a vlog that contains information that will change your life. For the better.