Do you have SMAD? [Social Media Anxiety Disorder]

Last weekend on my drive home from a wedding with Drew, I found myself on my phone any minute that there was "nothing to do." Being a passenger in the car, I believe you can all agree with me, that it's just an instinct and so "natural" to do this. Let's face it...it's an ugly habit and you'd be lying to yourself if you said that you don't do this. Well, if you're a guy...you're probably least likely to have this, but I bet there are some of you that will nod and agree with me in just a minute. I started to notice this instinct a long time ago, especially since I started blogging, instagramming, facebooking, and being more active in social media. I'm on twitter, but I can honestly say that I am not on it daily. I don't know why, but it isn't something I think, "OH I need to check that right now!" Some days I do, and some days I don't. Anyway, to get back to business...I will say that I HAVE made improvements...however, I can't stop THINKING about it. WHY is it so hard for me to just put my phone away and not feel like I'm missing something? It's just stupid and sick, really. I should just put my phone down, and just listen to the music and just watch the road with Drew and engage in conversation...like the we used to do back before social media took over our lives. But then, I found myself reaching over to grab my phone yet again. Then I'd put it down and say, "GOSH, why do I do this all the time!? I am so annoyed with myself!"

Ironically enough, when I had this thought I saw a link that was posted by a guy I went to college with  on my Facebook feed. He is now a news anchor in Austin, and posts some interesting articles from time to time. When I read it, I couldn't help but think, "OH MY GOSH. I HAVE THIS!" It was just crazy to read, and I thought I'd share the article with y'all.

This is word for word from the link that he posted. I repeat, I did not write this (I wish) but it is SO worth sharing. You can also find the article here. 

"Social media has captivated the lives of millions of individuals around the world. Although the convenience and other advantages it offers are worth the time you put in the internet each day, there are also drawbacks to watch out for.

Social media anxiety disorder is one of the problems that can arise if you allow social media to dominate many aspects of your life. In fact, it can go so bad that you develop an addiction, which eventually results in mental problems.

You need to create a proper balance to adequately attend to your needs, as well as have a healthy routine outside the internet.

Signs That You Might Have SMAD

1. You’re inseparable from your mobile phone or device.

Many people today cannot spend more than 30 minutes away from their smart phone or tablet. They constantly check their mobile devices or simply play social media site games when there’s nothing else to do just to use social media. You might find yourself bringing the device with you in the bathroom, the dining table or in other unusual places.

2. You constantly post or send messages.

Some individuals are constantly tweeting, posting messages and chatting with others online. They send shout-outs constantly just for the sake of posting. They also get worried if they haven’t posted anything in the past 3 to 6 hours. And you don’t have to tweet about everywhere you are and whatever you eat.

3. You get upset over lost followers or online friends.

If you constantly monitor how many people are following you each day and then get overly excited if someone adds or follows you, you might have social media anxiety disorder. Worse, you might get depressed when you discover that someone chose to unfriend or unfollow you online.

4. Constantly checking for updates.

Getting updates is a good thing on social media. However, if you constantly log in your account every 5 to 10 minutes just to check if someone has responded or liked your post, you might be suffering from SMAD.

5. Failing relationships.

Some people are too engrossed with social media that they no longer have time to fulfill other obligations and promises. You might be leaving out important people in your life in exchange for social media time. Some individuals have experienced breaking up with their boyfriend or girlfriend because they no longer have time for the relationship.

6. Spending too much time.

You might have social media anxiety disorder if you’ve been sitting in front of the computer for several hours and no longer remember if you have eaten lunch or taken a bath. You might have a problem if you forgot what else you need to do for the day after spending too much time online.

7. The outdoors doesn’t matter.

Even if you’re out at the beach with family, taking a hike in the forest or taking a run at the park and you constantly stop to check on your mobile phone or device every now and then, you might have SMAD. You should learn how to balance non-internet activities with your social media time.

8. Fear of logging in after a long break.

Some individuals are scared of opening their accounts after they’ve been out for several hours or a day. They fear that there will be too many messages and posts to reply to and items to upload or update.

Social media anxiety disorder may seem silly at first; but when someone you know starts showing signs of a severe problem, it is no longer a laughing matter. It is possible for an individual to get hooked on his or her social accounts so much that any form of face-to-face interaction becomes painful. Seek professional help right away."

--- 

Crazy right!? Well, not really. It actually makes me scratch my head and go "WHOA! It's actually a real thing!" Sadly, a lot of these apply to me. I hate it. I won't lie. But sometimes the truth hurts. 

I'd like to know, do any of these apply to you!?

I am going to continue to make an effort to work on these things. I started making small changes a couple of months ago, and I will say that I am better at putting my phone in the other room for a couple of hours at a time so I can get work done, and surprisingly this has helped a lot.

I love it when I get a text that says, "Shay! I know that phone is glued to your hand! Write me back!" And then I get to actually surprise them and say, "Actually...Now that I am self-employed, I HAVE to put my phone in a drawer, or in the other room for hours at a time so I can train myself and GET WORK DONE lol." Naturally, they are proud of me most of the time. But, sadly, I can see why some people are annoyed when I don't respond right away, because that's how I used to be. I just can't be glued to my phone anymore though y'all. It's a lot of work. It stresses me out. My phone OWNED me (and some days, it still does!) and I am just missing out on the life that is RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. It's crazy to type this out, but it's so important that I be in the moment more. LISTEN to those who are talking to me. Not scroll through my phone and only hear half of what someone says to me. 

I don't know how many times Drew will start talking to me and I'll be staring at my phone. He will say, "So today this happened and then this guy wanted to know if we could help him tomorrow night...and I told him I'd ask you..."

Cricket. Cricket. I'd nodd my head and he'd say, "So it's okay if I move to Africa for 10 months!" JUST to get my attention. 

Man had a point. I'd look at him and go, "I'm sorry babe! I'm listening!"

Then he'd test me and I'd say, "Yeah, we are not moving to Africa!" Drew would then either laugh, or just be plain annoyed and said, "THAT had nothing to do with anything I said. I just wanted to get your attention..."

Then I'd say I'm sorry again, put my phone down, and listen. That is NOT okay. NOT okay. As Michelle Tanner would say..."HOW RUDE!" My husband, my family, my friends...they deserve my attention if they want it. My phone can wait. That text message can wait. I don't know how many times I would say, "Sorry babe! Let me just write her back real quick and I'll put the phone down!" 

It's selfish. It's silly. It needs/has to change. 

I have also found that I have had to set boundaries with my phone when it comes to business. I have to pretend that when it comes 5:00 (closing time), that I am no longer at my desk. I am no longer on the phone. I have shut down and gone home just like everyone else gets to do. If I didn't do this, then I would be working, ALL. THE. TIME. and it isn't healthy. Trust me, I've been there, done that...and I was proof of the word, "EXHAUSTED. DRAINED. WOOF!" No joke.  I have to have "off" time or I will get burned out again and hello, I'm human. I need time at home, cooking dinner, hanging out with my husband just like everyone else. Right!? ;) 

Anyway, I encourage you to start being more in the moment. Get away from your phone more. I promise that we can do it y'all! :) It's hard, I get it. It's a work in progress, but I am starting to feel like I have LESS of these symptoms above. We aren't going to miss anything, I promise you. 

I am going to start trying to only check my e-mails twice a day. I am going to only log-on to social media 3 times a day, knock out my likes, my love, my comments, my support, all that jazz at set times. The other day I counted how many times I opened my phone to browse social media...and I am embarrassed. SO embarrassed. Are you ready for this? 

52. 

THAT is ridiculous. I wanted to bang my head on a desk. I will say, that this isn't the case every day...really, it isn't. BUT, when I have my phone near me, and I hear a "ding" or just have a minute to look...I do. SELF control people. SELF control. 

Who wants to be my accountability partner with this!? Anyone? Anyone!? :) 

Obviously, I'm ALL for documenting things...but once you do. PUT it down for a bit. Go enjoy the moment.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the article as much as I did.  Start being aware TODAY! Start making changes. Life is fun y'all...go out and live it! 

:) 

Life Lately.

Thank y'all SO much for all the sweet comments about my new look! I am so happy with it I could just eat a whole bag of bon bon's and smile the whole time! :)

Life has been hectic lately. I'm learning balance and have a long way to go, but I am making progress, so I guess that's a good thing! :)

 Let's SUM of my past week, shall we?

1. Monday: Drew went to the deer lease to see his family and work on feeders, and do the whole clean-up "camp" thing. I opted out and decided to stay behind to catch up on work and get ready for the week. Labor Day for both of us was in fact LABOR day. That's okay though, we're just getting things done, right?

2. Tuesday: My first day with Hey, Sweet Pea. It was SO weird waking up, making myself an omelet, and ENJOYING my coffee awaiting my Skype meeting with Scott. It was THE coolest feeling, ever. No more commute to work and dealing with traffic every morning. No more cubicle walls. No more phone calls with mean people yelling at me. No more walking to the printer to get papers. No more OFFICE SPACE. I got teary eyed a couple of times and texted Drew a million times saying, "Thank you for letting me do this" and "Is this real life? Thank you for being the most supportive husband on the planet. I'm so lucky." As soon as Drew got home, I wrapped up my day with Hey, Sweet Pea and left to go to meet KETRIN. The sweetheart got us tickets to see Def Leppard and it was AMAZING. Poison opened and we saw Brett Michaels. Silly me even said, "Hey, that looks like Brett Michaels!?" and then later realized I was an idiot and that he actually was the leadman for Poison, & not Guns & Roses like I had originally thought. HAHA. DUMB I know. Don't hate me. I'm just an 80's baby. I didn't ACTUALLY listen to music in the "80's" okay!? ;) I knew my Mom would hate me the next day when I told her she lost her chance at love. She pretty much would have Brett Michaels babies...at 57. NO joke. ;) The best part of the night was that Ketrin and I looked like shiny disco balls in a crowd of blackness. EVERYONE wore black. Not us...we wore sparkles cause we're cool like that. We also found our friend Leah who had BALLER seats and Ketrin and I MIGHT have shared a seat...or just stood the whole time so nobody knew our section was on the other side farther away from the stage. Muahahahaw. I got home after midnight, and crashed out like a light.

3. Wednesday I woke up to a quick kiss on the forehead from Drew saying, "I love you, have a safe trip to Dallas!" After he left I woke up in a panic and realized I had an hour to shower, AND pack, AND get gas in order to make it to Lewisville by noon. Surprisingly, I did it and I made it to Dallas in time for my SECOND day with Elise and Scott. Y'all...they are probably THE cutest couple EVER and they were so welcoming. I learned so so so much and I can honestly say, I LOVE MY JOB. We finished out our day and I ended up staying with KRISTEN downtown at her boyfriend Wylie's house. We watched the Cowboys play at Dick's Last Resort, caught up on each other's lives, and just hung out. It was so much fun. Also, Chris has the most bada$$ place too. It's an apartment that feels like a hotel on crack and his view from his shower is literally THE Dallas skyline. I had one of those, "I'm a grown-up moments" while washing my hair that morning getting ready the next day.

4. Thursday: I headed back to Lewisville for my THIRD day with Hey, Sweet Pea and learned even more. I had so much fun getting to know Elise and Scott and sharing our stories. Let's just say the Lord really meant for us to meet. I just love them. I ended up staying the night with Kristen again since I wasn't done with work and visiting until around 7:30 and I absolutely HATE I-35...especially at night. As much as I wanted to get home to see Drew and kiss his face off, we both decided that since he had class until 10:30, and I was exhausted, that it would be best for me to come home early in the morning. So, Kristen insisted I stay (duh) and we had ourselves a GIRL'S NIGHT complete with Yogurtland and The Lucky One. Can I just say, Zac Efron has some purdy eyeballs. I'm just sayinnnn.

5. Friday: I woke up and headed home in my P.J.'s. I ended up waiting in TRAFFIC for 2 hours between Waco and Belton which SUCKEDDDDDD so so so bad...and I ended up getting home at 1. I walked in the house, greeted my baby boys, and set up shop on the couch ready to start my day with HSP. As I was about to start answering e-mails...THEEEE LOUDEST NOISE came from upstairs and I literally froze. It sounded like SOMEONE was up there and knocked over something. The dogs froze and then started barking their heads off so I called Drew and said, "I think someone is in the house!?!?!?!? or something fell over upstairs and I'm too freaking scared to go up there!" He said, "GET OUT NOW" and so then I called my friend AJ who is a cop in the area, and he said, "Shay, seriously call 911." I then argued that I was only 25% sure a person was in my house and he still said to call. SO I did. And like 6 cop cars and cops with HUGE freaking guns showed up at my house. I even told the lady on the phone that I didn't think it was a person but I wasn't sure and that I didn't think it was an emergency but there def. was a LOUD noise that happened upstairs. After about 30 minutes or so, the cops came out and said, "All is clear. Have a nice day and SWEET wall upstairs!?" I about died. "Thank y'all. Sorry to inconvenience you, I just wasn't sure what to do!" THEN, I go back inside, and started my work day. Crazy, right!?

This weekend has been busy, but we've been home trying to knock out things on our TO DO list. I don't have a free weekend until NOVEMBER now so it was nice to get editing done, cleaning done, and I even actually, dare I say it, "RELAXED" for a couple of hours and watched some football.

TOMORROW, be sure to stop by the blog. I am going to show you one of the prettiest places I've ever been. :)

I hope y'all are having an awesome week so far! :) Make it great!

Oh, hello!

Remember me? Yeah, probably not. & I don't really blame you.

But, let me re-introduce myself.

My name is Shalyn, but a lot of people usually can't pronounce it right and end up just calling me Shay...and that's cool too.

I eat a lot of sour patch kids and I suck at blogging.

The end.

But really...I miss blogging. I miss it so much. I can't even put into words how crazy my schedule is right now. I barely have time to take showers. Okay, I make time for that...but trust me...I have to literally make the time for it. I've been working OT at my 8-5 job the last two weeks and it's been really stressful. I'm having a really hard time juggling life, work, play, family, and hardships. It's been quite a journey this year I'm tellin' ya.

On that note...here's a little rundown of my last couple of weekends.

TWO weekends ago, I had a girls weekend in downtown Austin. My sister-in-law rang me up and told me she needed girl time...so I called my Mom and BAM. There we were staying the night at The Driskell and eating an amazing meal at The W. We went dancing and I got hit on my 50 year old rich dudes. It was awesome haha.

The next day we went shopping and had brunch at a swanky little cafe on Congress.

On Sunday, Drew and I "celebrated" our three year anniversary by going to a Young the Giant and GroupLove concert downtown at Stubb's.

It was seriously soooo fun! We met up with my friend Nikki and her husband. We danced and sang and had ourselves a great time.

Wednesday, we really celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary. Sadly, I had a volleyball game, Drew had homework, and I had pictures to edit so we didn't do a whole lot. We plan on going to dinner soon and doing the whole wine and dine thing, but what made me happy is that I still fit in my wedding dress. Holla! Drew brought home some sweet flowers and the most precious handmade card I've ever seen. He wouldn't let me show you but I pretty much melted. I went to check on him while I was editing a wedding, and I walked in on this.

Too cute am I right or am I right? I love him. He works so hard and I admire that. I can only hope and pray all of our hard work will pay off one day.

Drew and I have been trying to live a healthier lifestyle. I still will eat my macaroni and cheese and endulge in grease from time to time because that's only what the cool kids do. However, we have been wogging (jogging+walking) a lot lately. It's been fun getting in shape together and eating better. I feel A LOT better that is for sure.


This past week I got to meet my muffin Kelly downtown at Max's Wine Dive for the Emerging Leader's Cocktail Benefit. I seriously love this girl.


Then on Thursday night we went to the airport to pick up Shawn for an epic birthday surprise weekend that I will post allllll about tomorrow.

Until then, Happy Hump Day!

Oh, and here's something I found sort of hilarious.

REALLY Living Social? REALLY!?



That picture was just too funny not to post.

Peace out homies.

Why I haven't blogged in awhile. #realtalk

I know it's been awhile. I took the day off from work today because I have a photography seminar in Dallas tonight which I will share more about tomorrow. For right now, I have the morning to myself...and gosh this sure is niceeeeee. (Insert Borat voice) I can't tell you the last time I felt like I had "time" to just sit and blog. My window is open, the steam on my coffee is dancing around my nose and even though the clouds are heavy this morning, and the air is damp; it almost kind of reflects the way I've felt about blogging lately.


Clearly I need to wash my windows...

I've been away, distant, and have pretty much just SUCKED at reading and commenting. I really do have excuses, but at the same time...I want to be honest. Blogging for me lately has just been down right depressing. I feel that people have transformed so much from who they were when they first started their blogs and that it's just become a populartity contest. Blog posts are more shallow and snotty to a point, I feel. Don't worry...I don't feel this way about 95% of the blogs I follow. Hence the reason I follow. However, I do feel that people have forgot what it's like to just be REAL and to just blog for themselves.

This is actually REALLY hard for me to write. I'm not someone who likes to address or confront people or stir up any drama...so most of the time, I keep my head high and just go along with my day, and if needed, I'll vent to Andrew. I'll "brush my shoulders" off most days...but sometimes I feel like people here in blog world find it almost funny to get under your skin and indirectly try and do this. Do you feel this way? It could easily be resentment, anger, betrayal, jealousy, annoyance...and sometimes it is. However, when I don't allow those feelings to consume me...I'm left with the thought, "Seriously?" I'm mad at myself for letting little petty and catty things get to me...but I know I can't be alone when it comes to feeling this way. People are downright decieving sometimes here in this blogland. It's the truth...And you just can't allow it to get you down.

I'm a very happy person. I try to see the best in everything. You know, I see the glass half full in almost every situation. Things can get me down, but I always always find a way to get back up stronger than I was before. It's all about the way you look at things. It's an attitude I feel you have to have in order to get through life as happy as you can. You can't let people bring you down...because trust me...they will try, and they will try HARD.

My advice?



I feel like some people are perceiving themselves in a certain light here on the world wide web because THEY CAN. They can pretty much tell you what they want, show you what they want, and you are victim to wanting to read more and more about a life that they want you to think they have. It's powerful for them. But I think this is just a sore subject for me for a reason I will not pronounce here on this blog. I'm just going to continue to DO ME. That's all I can do is just be the best version of myself that I can be and stop analyzing small, petty things. Life is too short.

Writing to me is fun. I'm no professional, obviously. I acutally don't try to write like an English major because well, I'm not an English major haha. Most of the time I have typo's and I don't proof read my posts. (Sorry to all of you who get annoyed by this.) But y'all, I'm NOT perfect. Hell, I don't have the TIME to make this blog perfect. Or the money to make it perfect. I'm busting my ass to put food in my pantry right now and gas in my tank...No joke. I work for my money and NOTHING is EVER handed to me on a silver platter. EVER. AND I am proud of that because everything that I've worked for, slaved for, sacraficed for...has all been because I WORKED HARD. I DID IT. And nobody else.

I just feel like the internet is kind of funny and today I just felt like expressing this...ya feel me?

I've had lots to share with y'all. Purchases, Business ventures, Real life woes and WHOAS...and well, I just haven't shared them...yet I don't really know why...but I think I was just in a place where I needed a break.

Time has flown lately, and I feel terrible for neglecting this blog. I wish I had the time to devote to it, but I'm working near 70-80 hours a week...And that my friends, is NO.LIE. I've been going to bed at 2, 3, and 4 in the morning and then getting up at 7 to work from 8 to 5, just to come home, eat, and work until the wee hours in the morning. Guys, I'm exhausted.

The good news is...I know that 95% of you are who you say you are. The relationships I've made through this blog have been nothing short of wonderful and I honestly don't even know what I'd do without the support so many of you generously offer. It's unreal how supportive this blogging community is, and that's why I refuse to quit.

Besides, I blog for me. That's something I will always do. I promise you that. One thing I've decided is that I'm going to let you in a little more into my life. The more REAL side. The deck of cards my life has been delt here lately. It's kind of crazy...but I think it could help you relate to me and well...I want to be honest. And REAL. Just wait...I'll address this very soon.

I've received random e-mails and messages from sweet "strangers" and to those few people...you guys have made my days so much brighter. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to write me and tell me you appreciate me and this blog. You will never know how thankful I am to have received those e-mails. It really warmed and touched my heart.

This is a random out of the blue post for me, I know. I'm behind and this is just something I felt like addressing today. My life lately has been so crazy... I can't wait to share it with you...even though I'm months late to the party.

Thank you guys who have stayed real on your blogs. It's refreshing to read...and it's something that has made me feel like I'm back at home.

I love you guys...and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. When I read your tweets, and blogs (when time allows) I just want to reach through the screen and hug all of you. I really mean that.

Cheers to being back. I can't wait to catch up.

Xoxoxo.

Update.

I'm back from my snowboarding trip and it was SO. MUCH. FUN. I loveeee snowboarding. It's seriously one of my favorite hobbies in this world. I'm so thankful my best friends in high school got me hooked. I loveee it! AND this time, I got better (as in more comfortable) with toe side. Good news, there were no broken bones! I only came back with a couple of bruises on my bum. Whoop whoop!

I will be doing a recap of my trip shortly, but right now I have a zillion and a half pictures to edit. I did happen to run across a quote today that seriously rocked my socks off.

"Once upon a time, we believed the world was flat – that beyond a certain point, there would be nowhere to go, And though we now know the world is round, we still fear falling off imaginary edges, too often thinking there’s only so far we can stretch, so hard we can push. The most dangerous limits are those in our own head. When you feel you’re at your edge, look again. You can go farther."

Love it. Love it. Love it.

I'll be back asap!

My fake heart attack.

It's been awhile guys...I know. Life is testing me in more ways than I can comprehend. I'll be completely honest for a minute and tell you that I'm struggling with words lately. I'm not able to focus. Stress has taken it's toll and quite frankly, I'm at the bottom of the barrell with my emotions scraping what faith I have in the phrase, "It will get better!" Don't you worry though...I do have my Faith and I am certain that I will get through this series of trials and tribulations happening in my life.

Before I could really appreciate the true meaning of Thanks this past weekend, I had something seriously scary happen to me last Wednesday afternoon.

I got off work and met Drew at the house. I was in a good mood, all was good in the neighborhood and I was so happy that I was going to get to go home to see my Mom that night.

Before we left town, we had to go pick up Drew's truck at the mechanic. When we left, Drew told me he wanted to run by Lowes to get some supplies because he was going to be helping my Mom put up some backsplash, and I decided to drive home to finish up our packing. So, there I was. I was rapping to a song on the radio, being that crazy lady you see driving down the road singing like a fool. Then I thought to myself, "Wow, it's really hot in here." I then rolled down my windows wicked fast, and then tried to crank up my AC (which doesn't work btw) and it kept getting hotter and hotter. At this point, I realized I couldn't breathe. At. All.

It felt as if there were 100 bricks on my chest and I was getting less and less oxygen. My chest hurt so bad. I immediately thought, "What the heck dude!?" I tried to keep calm, and then my vision went blurred and I broke out in a sweat. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see. I couldn't believe I was driving and then went into freak out mode when my hands and feet went numb and tingly. My nose went tingly.

I started crying thinking, "OMG, OMG, I think I'm having a heart attack. OMG!"

I promise you from the bottom of my heart...I thought I was dying.

I went to grab my phone to call Drew and when I did, I realized I was in the middle lane about to hit another car. I swerved and went pulled into an Auto Parts store where I saw a middle aged man opening up his car door. I rolled down my window with one hand on my chest, and the other hand frantically waving my phone at him begging him to call Drew.

I saw his face go white when he saw me, and he immediately ran over and opened my door. He felt my head and my neck and said "Dear, can I call 911? I need to call 911."

He called Drew first, I thought and before I knew it there was an wambulance and a fire truck blaring their sirens right next to me. I think I blacked out at this point thinking, "Andrew, Mom, TURKEY!?" Haha, not really the turkey part but I know ya feel me.

At this point in the story, I'm sure you're thinking, "You're 25. You're a weirdo. Why the heck do you think you were having a heart attack!?"

That would be because I found out a year ago that I have INCREDIBLY high cholesterol. Like, try, 303. It shouldn't be over 200. Just sayin'.

Am I on cholesterol medicine? Well NO. I know, don't yell at me. I know. I tried two cholesterol medicines and both made me sick and both made me tingle and I couldn't stand it, so I quit. I've been trying to lower it with vitamins and eating better...which I can't say I'm successfully doing all the time.

Okay, where was I?

The EMS man came up to me and was talking to me and for awhile I could barely even make out what he was saying.

He calmed me down, took my pulse (wholy crap it was high) and the determining factor to my health was my PERFECT blood pressure (THANK YOU LORD!).

Ladies, I had my first full blown anxiety attack.

NEVER in my life have I experienced anything like this.

EMS man told me he gets this call a million times a day because it really does feel like a heart attack. Except for the actual heart attack part. ;) THANK GOD. THANK GOD.

But really...it was so scary. I came home looking like a red lobster, and took a 20 minute nap. Woke up feeling like a champ! Haha.

We packed up, hit the road, made it to my Mom's house and had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. :) I was thankful for family, Drew, friends, downtime, food, and of course, the true meaning of LIFE. Regardless of how "testy" it's been with me lately. Just truly Thankful...


Isn't my Papaw the cutest haha.

My melt your heart cute as a button, Mamaw.

Football. Ignore my nasty feet. I apologize to those of you with a foot fetish. Muahahaw.

Now if this doesn't make you smile...haha. This would be my Uncle Larry. My Mom's brother. He's a retired Houston Police Officer. He grew his hair out because he can...and well, he'd thought it would be funny to wear pig tails all day and act like a little girl. Hysterical, I know.


I honestly feel slightly embarrassed about what happened to me. But I guess all the stress I've been under lately set it off when I was probably the least stressed (rapping in my car like a fool) than I have been in the past couple of weeks. Drew keeps joking with me and said it was the rap music that set it off. Ha. Rap music just fuels my soul y'all. Please sense the sarcasm.

Anyway, I don't plan on taking anxiety medicine simply because I'm stubborn and I HATE putting things into my body. However, I am curious to know if any of you have anxiety? Do y'all have an recommendations? Suggestions? I'm all ears.

XO!