Note to eyes, STAY OPEN!

My reason for the title, I'm so incredibly exhausted! Thank goodness that I was given the week off, and tomorrow is the only day I have classes! Woo hoo! Technically, tomorrow is my Friday! 

I've got a ton of pictures to share very soon, but I've recently had a little bit of photo overload so I need to clean up my computer memory a little bit prior to downloading the 1000 pictures I've taken over the past 4 days. Crazy right?!

Today, I had the honor of being featured on a lovely blog, Vintech! She has such an adorable blog and she's a great writer! Now, in order to continue on the relay of friendship I must tag 3 people to continue the race :)

So here they are, my 3 that I pass the torch to:

1. Kristen! at Just When You Thought...

Kristen is a former photography classmate & one of my new favorite friends! Her blog is adorable and her pictures are amazing!

2. Eday! at Daily Eday

Her posts are always fun filled! She's one of my favorites to follow.

3. Sam! at Love Never Fails

Sam has great style and is great at sharing it! 

Okay ladies, don't let me down! 

Now, I have to answer the following questions and so do you!

1.   What did you first want to be when you grew up?

A singer! In K5 for career day, I put on my cowgirl boots, Momma teased up my bangs, made me a microphone out of a paper towel roll and tin foil and sure enough, I was country singer material! After that, I decided I was going to be a fashion designer in the first grade, and then a marine biologist because I loved manatees. Some days I wanted to be a teacher and some days I wanted to run a restaurant. Now, I want to be an event planner when I "grow up". 

2.   Favorite childhood game?

Growing up, my sister and I were very much into playing pretend. We once set up my closet to be a library. We glued index cards in the back of all of my books. When we weren't playing library, we were playing school or like we were a cashier at a grocery store. So, yes pretend was my childhood game of choice :)

3.   Most favorite birthday?

My most favorite birthday probably took place this year for my 20th. Justin surprised me with a date. He wouldn't tell me where we were going or what we were doing. I didn't know what to wear since he wouldn't tell me a thing. So he came to my house and picked out an outfit for me to wear. He picked me up at 6 wearing an outfit that matched me exactly. It was like prom sort of in a way (you may think its cheesy, but it was so cute). The whole ride there, he kept giving me hints. He was a complete gentlemen, opened doors for me, etc. We finally got to this sweet little italian restaurant called Bella Luna on St. Helena's Island. It's light with candles and they had the best food. I loved it. Every year gets better it seems. 

4.   Something you've always wanted to do and haven't done yet?

Travel more. I want to go to New York , Paris, Texas, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, & EVERYWHERE! One day, when the time and money is right, I will do this! I've gone to some wonderful places, but it's left this taste in my mouth and I just want more.

5.   What was your first love?

My guitar. Oh, was I obsessed! When I was 13, I picked up my great-grandfather's acoustic Alvarez guitar. My dad played guitar at the time, and I sat down one day and grabbed the chord diagram book and taught myself the chords G, D, E, and A. I played and played until I understood switching chords. The more I played, the better I got. It didn't take very long until I started playing songs. My dad realized that I was learning very quickly and he took me to a music store in Savannah to buy my first guitar. He bought me an electric blue Fender Stratocaster. I remember the first time I broke a string on that baby, and I cried and cried. I felt like I did something so wrong. Today, I own about 6 guitars (between my dad and I). He bought me one for every Christmas for a while. I used to spend about 5 hours a day playing my heart out. I wish I had more time to devote to playing music these days.  

7.    First musical idol?

Oh where do I begin? Back to my K5 career day, I was in love with country music. Reba, Leanne Rhymes, Lila McCann, Shania Twain. I remember one day after school I was at my great-grandma's house and they had a microphone stand and I'd sing in front of the mirror at the top of my lungs. I would turn up the radio and dance on the bed and sing until I didn't have a voice anymore. 

8.   Favorite gift?

It's a tie, but it's similar gifts: 

Two Christmas' ago, I begged and pleaded for a David Yurman bracelet. It was all I wanted. I didn't want anything in my stocking or anything else. I woke up Christmas morning to find the most beautiful simple silver box under the tree with a red Levy Jewelers bow tied on top. It couldn't be, could it? Surely enough, inside that box lay the most beautiful sterling silver bracelet with pearls on the end. I swear I almost cried. To follow up to this my birthday the next year, Justin told me that he was taking me to buy clothes for my birthday, or so he wanted me to think! He took me to Levy Jewelers to just try on this beautiful aquamarine David Yurman necklace. Oh boy it was pretty. I thought he was being funny and just teasing me. NOPE! He said, I'll take it as I was staring in the mirror. Jaw dropped. I was so excited. I love my DY so much. But the way these pieces were given is what means the most. 

9.    If a theme song played for you everywhere you went, what would it be?

10.    Favorite city to visit?

Boy are these questions hard! Probably Charleston. It's got this charm about it. It's such a neat place. It has everything you could want: a beach, great shopping, quaint little restaurants, and everything in between. 

Wow. That was a lot harder to do than I expected! Thanks for including me in your friend relay Courtney! It was fun :D

Continuing on with my "thankful" posts. I'm thankful for my pets. Yesterday morning, Daisy came and jumped up in my bed and cuddled with me after she practically gave me a bath. Animals are so comforting. They can always make me happy no matter how bad things are. My pets have so much character and loyalty. Daisy, Duke, and Princess always make me smile. How could they not?

Princess Puddy Tat!

Daisy Mae

Duke