Hola Hola Heyyyy! I have updates! :)

HAPPY WEDNESDAY Y'ALL! :)

I just wanted say HELLO annnnnnd let you know that there are a couple of small updates in my life! :)

For starters, you will notice that my domain is now www.soshayblog.com. FINALLY! (I'm going to pretend you are giving me virtual high fives mk!?) I've been needing to do this for FOREVER but I just left it on the to-do list month after month. Welp! Guess what TO DO LIST!? I'm conquering you and you're beginning to think I'm actually accountable! How about that!? BAM!

If you still type in my old url (www.thenelsondiaries.blogspot.com) you will be directed straight to www.soshayblog.com. I'm happy about it, but a little peeved at the lady who won't let me have www.soshay.com. Haha. OH well. She doesn't even utilize the domain so maybe one day I'll get lucky and she will surrender it, but until then, www.soshayblog.com will do! :)

Another thing: I finally updated the Q&A link over there on the left hand side. It's about time right? I get repetitive questions from time to time, so have a look if you're interested! :) I'll continue to update it as I get the same questions, etc. etc. Another thing off the To Do List? CHECK!

ALSO...if you're in the COOL club and follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that over the past year, DDHP's hair has been growing and growing and growwwwing. Y'all, it's been 1 year and 1 week since his last haircut and let me tell you something...I have NEVER been a 'long hair' girl. The whole long mysterious messy shag, the pony tails, all that...SO not my thing. UNTIL I saw Ashton Kutcher with his shaggy do on That 70's Show back in the day and I was meltingggg like the wicked witch of the west!

Back in January last year I told Drew that it would be cool to see what he would look like with long hair, and well he was totally up for the challenge! :) It definitely hit about 3 awkward stages lol (poor guy) but he dealt with it and managed to still look like a hot tamale (in my eyes anyway)! He got a lot of crap from dudes about it but a lot of ladies seemed to like it. (Way to be babe!)

It goes without saying that I fell in love with his long locks, but lately, it's been getting on his nerves BIG time. I wanted to wait until we had our photos done this year for our website and continue to stroke my hands through it on the daily, but he didn't want to wait, so I bit my tongue, got watery eyes and made the man a hair appointment.

It was a really emotional experience.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

 (I swear I'm never dramatic about his hair cuts, but if you knew how much I loved his hair long, then you'd maybe understand!? Okay, I'm being dramatic. Fair enough! :)

The first snip.

Me looking at the first snip on the ground.

Me holding his LONG precious curl.

LOL (Just so you know, as I'm typing this out, I'm laughing out loud. I'm not REALLY THAT crazy...just a little bit. WHY THE HECK AM I BLOGGING ABOUT MY HUSBAND'S HAIR CUT!? Muhahahaw!)

The hair dresser thought it would be funny to say, "ALL DONE!" in the middle of the cut.

[I nick name that bushy curl on the side of his head Slick Willy.]

THEN once she got to actually cutting the remaining length...I then realized how stinkin' HOT DDHP looked with short hair.

"Okay, okayyy, so you look really good...OKAY...REALLY REALLY GOOD! *Whistle*"

It was super cute though seeing him smile when his hair started to take shape. His neck could breathe again and he looked like his old self. Sometimes change is good...and changing things up is fun...but when all is said and done...you gotta just suck it up and let your husband have his way sometimes! ;)

I mean...it's not like I'm that upset about it (anymore). Precious, right?

 I LOVE this man.

I am sorry I keep being so goo goo ga ga over my husband and yelling it to the world because I know how that can get annoying QUICK, but it's BIRTHDAY WEEK Y'ALL! :)

Yesterday was Drew's birthday (his twin sister's too, naturally) and I decorated our home with some birthday flare. I think he liked it...at least he better have! :) I made his favorite cake and we went to dinner with his sister and her friend. It was small, and sweet and we had a gift card to the restaurant as well (Gotta love those Christmas stocking stuffers!) ;)

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who wished Drew a Happy Birthday. Seriously, though. He doesn't have a Facebook so he doesn't get the excitement of his phone blowing up all day long with Happy Birthday notifications, so to those of you who took the time (strangers and friends) to say Happy Birthday on Instagram and this blog, THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH! :)

I wish I could give this man so many things...and hope to spoil him rotten with fun surprise trips and fancy dinners and really awesome gifts...but for now, sweet little dinners at chain restaurants will do. Haha! :)

Love you babe!

AND before I end my post, THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOOOOO MUCH to everyone who commented on My Office. Just...WOW. The response has been overwhelming and just incredibly wonderful. I haven't been able to sit down and respond to about 90% of those e-mails, but I promise I will get back to you very soon! :) Y'all rock my socks off!!! <---- br="br" truth.="truth."> Make today a good one! :)

My 26th birthday in iphone pictures.

Thank you guys so much for all the sweet comments. I promise I will be writing you back. PROMISE!

That said, my 26th birthday was wonderful. Laid back, full of friends and sweet messages from all of you. What can be better than that?

Drew started off my morning with smiley face toast. Is that not the cutest thing ever? The boy got up at 6, ran to the store, got bread, butter and jelly...along with some flowers (I only allow him to buy cheap flowers IF he ever feels like getting me flowers because they are so $$$$) and I wake up to him kissing my forhead saying, "Good Morning Sweetie. Happy Birthday!!!!!"

He then handed me my toast like the sweetheart he is. When I went in the kitchen he had flowers and a super sweet card waiting for me. I love this man.



1. Me on my way to work. It's my birthdayyyyyy! Haha.
2. My smiley toast.
3. Drew made me a cake...and I added the blue candles to it so we could make it OUR cake.
4. The boys at work all ended up wearing plaid. I had to laugh and blame it on my awesome birthday! Ha!

Work wasn't bad. My team at work made it enjoyable and even took me out to lunch and had ice-cream cake waiting for me at the end of the day. Everyone clapped at 4:11 p.m. (when yours truly came out smiling and said, "What up world!") and I said..."Guys! I officially made it! I'm alive" and they all sarcastically cheered and laughed. Yeahhhh baby! Hahaha!



1. Kelly and I at lunch :) I love her!
2. The whole gang from work eating at Momji (SOOO good!)
3. My hibachi chicken. Seriously love this plate.
4. The banana tempera the restaurant gave me! YUMMO!



1. Birthday cake from my team at work. #gonnaneedacranetopickmeup
2. Opening the MOST amazing gift ever from Erica...Love you so much!
3. Steak dinnaaaa...This totally trumps the Top Ramen I had the night before.
4. Me with wine mouth (gross) and my handsome husband.

When I got home, Drew and I got dressed up and went to dinner at Salt Grass (one of my favorite steakhouses ever!). We put away our phones (mostly for the benefit of him) and enjoyed ourselves. It had been awhile since we had been on a date so I was loving every minute of it. We had a lot of fun and flirted like two crazy kids. When we got home the goober had two blank canvas', three primary colored paints, paint brushes, and said, "Okay babe...we have to paint a picture and we have to hang it in our house."



What was I to paint? Ohhh, I know. A camera!

WRONG.

He then said, "It has to be something that reminds you of us."

Great. I was brain dead. I could have easily drawn hearts everywhere...and I am artistic...but by this painting. You'd never guess it haha. I was tired...and I went blank. The good news? We had a blast. We painted in silence....until Piper decided to try and paint too. And then we laughed and finished up our paintings.

His cracks me up. It's a canon...that has a camera (me), an xbox remote control (him), a heart (us), and a softball (the sport we play together). I couldn't stop laughing. That boy is hilarious I tell you.

I was unoriginal. I just decided to mix all my paints together and go for black. What do you do when you have no idea what you want to paint and are limited to colors? YOU write stuff.

Duh.

We ended the night by blowing out my candles.



I love birthdays...and I love you guys. Thank you again for all the birthday wishes. 26 is going to be a good year. I can feel it.

P.s.) I think we are going to hang the pictures in the garage. HAHA.

<3

The year of 25.

This post has been a really hard one to sit down and write. I think I've tried to start this about 10 times, and then I'd erase it because it's not a story I was sure I wanted to share. I'm not really sure how to even approach this because it sounds soooo crazy...and in reality...it really is freaking crazy. So, instead of dragging this out any longer, I'll just go ahead and tell you.

I thought I was going to (*gulp*) die this year.

Pretty melodramatic I know. I'm certain you're thinking I'm insane. It's totally okay to think that because I totally agree with you. I realize that this seems a bit over the top and crazy...because in fact, it is.

Today is my 26th birthday...and well, I feel old. I feel REALLY old. I'm closer to 30 than I am 20, I'm noticing fine lines and wrinkles making their way onto my face and even though it would be really easy to sit here and dwell on that (ha ha) I wanted to share a story with you that has really affected my life.

Now, you may be thinking WHAT THE HECK IS SHE TALKING ABOUT!? It's a funny story I tell ya. It's something I have had a hard time admitting to my closest friends and loved ones because either 1) I knew they'd think it was ridiculous. or 2) because it showed weakness in my Faith for Him. Ridiculous is something I can handle (Pshhh Ridiculous is my middle name!)...but my Faith? That is something I hold near and dear to my heart. Admitting that I thought that the year of "25" was my year to die? Yeah, it made me sick. But as much as I tried not to think about it...it haunted the back of my mind in a way I never want to experience again.

When I was 15 years old, my Mom and I moved to Northern California. My Mom was engaged to be married and one day we went to San Francisco to explore the city. Here I was, a small town Texas girl who had just moved from everything I'd ever known and smack dad in the middle of a huge, beautiful and brilliant city. On this day, we were walking around Pier 39 and I was just minding my own business. I remember exactly where I was, and the feeling that came over me. We were just coming back from seeing the seals, and my Mom was calling me to come out of this goofy hat store. I started walking by her and I felt an eerie feeling that someone was just staring at me.

Now, let me rewind a minute.

Have you ever had that feeling? You know, one that is incredibly unpleasant and makes you feel like you're being watched? That feeling that gives you the heebie jeebies?

I had had this feeling one time before when I was 13 years old. I was changing in my room in the back of my home after a shower, and my blinds were open. It was the summer and it was around midnight, and we live in an area where there were NO houses around me. I was getting dressed and I remember feeling really weird. I felt like someone was spying on me, so I went to my windows and I closed my blinds trying to ignore this so called "feeling." I walked into my Mom's room and said, "Mom, I feel like I'm being watched." Mind you, my Mom is asleep and I remember her mumbling something like, "Mhmmm sweetie,...gargle gargle gargle...go to bed."

I go back to my room and I laid in bed watching that late night Jerry Springer (hey, it was the only thing on) until about 5 minutes later I heard a HUGE crash coming from our kitchen. I jumped up and ran to my Mom's room as fast as I could and I could see my Mom putting her finger over her mouth to silence me, bright eyed and raised in bed, punching the lime green dials on the cordless phone as fast as she could.

We heard more commotion and next thing I know my Uncle's cop car is at our house and my Papaw is walking over to our house in his underwear with a shot gun. My Mom and I went outside and stood on the porch and my Uncle Larry told us to move to the side as he shined his flashlight to the side of our house. There laid a man...a very drunk man...with his pants unzipped and next to a broken air conditioner that had fell off of our house. He had tried to break in our house by climbing up on the lawn mower, and onto the air conditioning unit by the kitchen window (which is right by my room). My Uncle arrested him and I later found out that his shirt was on the back steps to my room. Ever since that day, I've always been thankful to have a "6th sense" as I say. I always know when someone is watching me. And to this day, I will argue with you until I'm blue in the face about it. I seriously KNOW.

So, on to my story. Sorry about that, but I just wanted to fill you in on this "feeling" I got that day on Pier 39. So, there we are...walking and I felt it. Redundant? Haha, I know. I sped up a little to get closer to my Mom and then I saw this tall man in dark clothes in the corner of my eye staring at me from across the Pier. S-T-A-R-I-N-G in a way that literally gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. I tried to look away thinking the man was staring at something else, but everytime I glanced up, there he was...staring. Next thing I know, the man starts to walk up to me very briskly. My Mom and soon to be step Dad have no idea that this is going on in my head, and I'm trying to convince myself that I'm just imagining things. The man got closer and closer and then before I know it...the man is right beside me. He gets right up to my face. So close I could smell his breath...The look in his eyes was so intense. I can't even begin to describe it. He looks deep into my eyes and says:

"You're going to die when your 25."

I'm sure terror flashed across my face as he said this with a snarky, intense smile. My step dad yelled at the man and he walked away...just like that. I didn't look back...and I just remember feeling awkwardly weird.

But, I mean, heck, I was 15. 25 seemed SO far away. No BIG deal right? Dude was out of his mind.

Until, last year...when I turned 25.

It has been a really, really trying year for me. Everywhere I went, I was cautious. I was always thinking of the worst case scenario and counting down the months until I was 26 because I just wanted to put this all behind me. When I found out that my chloesterol was high, I think I started freaking out even more because I was sure I was going to die of a heart attack. Especially with the amount of stress that has been havocking my body. Fear was taking over my life to the point I'd just cry because I couldn't get this man and his statement out of my head. And y'all, 25 was a great year but I can't help but think how scared I was ALL. THE. TIME. Driving to work, driving to photo shoots, roller coasters, airplanes...any way you could think of dying...I was thinking about it. I was letting it control my life.

I've prayed to God a zillion times this year to help me get rid of this demon in my mind. Some days I did great, and others, not so much. I've lived in fear for a whole year because of some random lunatic of a stranger. I mean, WHO does that!?!? What an evil man! But, sadly, I am the idiot who actually let it get to me. I am ashamed...but at the same time...I'm so so so releived this is over. If something happens today, or tomorrow, or years from now...OKAY. It's God's plan. But, thankfully, 25 was not in the plan like this stranger predicted.

To this day, I'll never know why this man did this to me. I never really thought about it until I approached the age. I think getting older makes people more emotional, and in my case, it has made me worry a lot.

I have more Faith today than I'll ever need. I am so happy I can put all of this behind me and hopefully not feel like some crazy person. As much as people told me, "Shay! It's not gonna happen!" I still couldn't get the small chance that this man could be right.

I'm feeling relieved today...and probably for the rest of my life. I'd like to celebrate this birthday in a way like I haven't before. Please promise me you won't do what I did and live your life in fear. It isn't worth it. All I know is that your life is in His hands, and that he is the only one that knows when it's your time to go.

CRAZY STORY THOUGH, RIGHT!? AHHHHHHHHH! It feels good to share this with you guys.

It's already been one of the best birthdays ever too. This lady right here brought tears to my eyes. Sweetest post EVER.

I love y'all! XOXOXOXOXOXO!

DDHP turns 26.

This stud muffin turned the BIG 2-6 on Saturday. Naturally, our weekend was full of fun festivities with family and friends.
>
On Friday, Andrew's parents and my Mom drove to Austin to meet us and we had dinner at OG (Olive Garden). Breadsticks, OG Salad and Lasagna rolls danced marvelously into our stomachs, and chocolate cake greeted us at Andrew's twin sister Ashley's apartment afterwards. My Mom, Andrew's two best friends Will and Cody, and Cody's girlfriend Jill also met us at our house later that night. We woke up on Saturday to boys who had been up until 6 a.m. playing Call of Duty.

They pretty much played it ALLLLLLLLLL day long and the ladies went shopping, #duh. Jill got me some PRECIOUS Guess bracelets for my birthday, Madi got me bag full of goodies (wine from Trader Joe's, a to-do list pad for my desk, a 52 dates book for drew and me, a scarf, a picture frame, and tons of other goodies!) & my Mom bought me a purse that I'm totally in love with. I think they might love me or something? :) One thing for sure is that I LOVE THEM! :)

When we got back from shopping...I came home to TWO TV's and TWO games of COD going on. I wish I could say I was lying, but I'm not. Talk about a total sausage fest.

We later had dinner at a local Mexican Restaraunt (love me some chips and salsa) and mexican martini's.

and thanks to my friend, Brian...we had a shot of patron. As you can see from this video below...this was not something I was too thrilled about. Alcohol and I don't mix well. HAHA.

After dinner, we went bowling and had a blast! Can you say dance party!?

The lady on the far end by me...that'd be my Mom. Yep, she rocks.


Today we got up, went to Cracker Barrel, back to IKEA, came home, said goodbye to my Mom and friends, took a quick nap, went grocery shopping, had ice cream and now I'm getting ready for a veryyyy busy week.

Did I mention DDHP and I are only three days apart? Yes...my birthday is tomorrow (the 17th)...and I'm pretty sure you will want to read my post tomorrow. It's not your typical birthday post. See you here tomorrow.

XOXOXO!

LOVE YOU GUYS!

NOLA #

This past weekend was so much fun.

We set off on a 9 hour road trip to New Orleans on Friday for my friend Jenni's 25th birthday.



Thank you Sabrina for leaving your energy drink in my fridge. ;)



We drove to The Woodlands first and met up with Jenni and Brady. We hopped in Brady's truck and began our drive to Lake Charles, LA. We got to the L'AuBerge hotel and casino at about midnight and spent the early morning hours playing craps and chillaxin' in the hotel room.



I thought I'd be a high roller and sadly lost 10 whole buckaroos on a slot machine. There were so many mean and serious people in that casino. Lighten up people! I may or may not have cheered really loud (on accident) when the guy at the craps table rolled a 7 and 10 men lost A LOT of money. #oops #mybad


We slept in and left for NOLA around 11. Traffic, pictures, and music pretty much summed up the stretch across LA.



Cupcakes made by yours truly.

We finally made it to NOLA and checked into our hotel room. We threw our bags in our room and walked to Canal Street and Bourbon Street.




After a few hurricanes, hand granades, and parades, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for the night.



We went to dinner (there were 12 of us) and then hit up Bourbon street for Round 2. The Florida vs. LSU game was this past weekend so Bourbon street was full of college students getting wasted, making out, fighting, and acting like tools. Bourbon street is THE.BEST.PLACE.TO.PEOPLE.WATCH. I was in heaven. I don't think I've ever seen so much randomness in my life. Ohmylanta.

For example:

One couple was pretty much going to TOWN in the middle of the street. Full on making out, boob grabbin, butt grabbin...It was hard to look away.

One couple was SUPER drunk. You know what I'm talking about...that drunk couple who can barely mutter words so they spent about 30 minutes pushing each other, screaming at each other but their faces were super close to one another making drunk gibberish.

Jenni and I started mocking them and pretended to say what they were saying.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!"
"BABE, IT WASN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL! SHE'S MY FRIEND!"
"BULL! YOU WERE ALL OVER HER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!"
"YOU'RE OVERREACTING!"
"NO, YOU'RE OVERREACTING!"
"WHATEVER, I'M DONE WITH THIS."
"I'M DONE! YOU'RE SUCH A LIAR. I'M OVER IT!"
"Drunk gibberishhhhhhhhhsfkjsaljfaslkfjsalkf"
"NO! YOU DRUNKgibberishfskfjsfksajflsakf"

Then they walk away and then drunk walk back to each other and keep repeating the same thing.

Young College Love. SO entertaining. I wanted to walk up to them and say, "Make Love, Not War. It's not worth it honey."

GOOD thing Andrew held me back. Because a couple minutes later, a girl that the guy knew walked up to him in the middle of the fight and hugged him right in front of his raging girlfriend. The raging girlfriend pulled her off and started swinging at her.

Soooo stinkin' hilarious. I really dodged THAT bullet.

Hahahaha.

We saw boobs. We saw parades. We saw thongs. We saw brides. We saw crazies. We saw a girl drop her hot dog on BOURBON street, pick it up and EAT it. #sickmeout... We literally saw everything under the sun. Let me tell you...

After a fun night of dancing, singing, balcony hopping, throwing beads, & laughing we threw the towel in and went back to the hotel and went to bed.

The next morning we had breakfast at Mother's Restaurant and grabbed some Beingets from Cafe Du Monde. I worked my magic and only had to wait 10 minutes for those powdered sugar heaven in my mouth beingets. You read that right. The line was SO long too. Whoop whoop! It pays to be nice people...pays to be nice.

We went to a few shops and then headed back home.

It was a very long drive, but I was surrounded with great friends. It was such a great weekend! I already can't wait to go back.

Blogger meet up in Nawlins anyone? :)