I'm just a simple girl who loves the summertime and being with friends and family. I love my life!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Long Days...

...are made when these three are crabby as can be.





Like today.

With love,
Ali

Monday, May 14, 2012

Really?

I had a whole blog post written.

Almost complete with pictures.

And then I tried to load said pictures.

And then the whole post deleted itself.

It's Monday.

And now I'm crabby.

With love,
Ali

Friday, May 4, 2012

As we speak I am on my way to my way to my old stomping grounds! Good ol' Jamestown, ND and boy is this drive filled with nostalgia.

As I was driving I remembered when I used to make this drive after the weekend spent at my boyfriend's.

I thought about all the tear-filled drives I would make because I didn't want to go back.

I thought about many a car ride up here where I could just drive and think and jam.

And now that I've been thinking, I thought about the drive I made up here the night my boyfriend told me he didn't think he felt the same about us anymore.

BUT...there is always a but. This weekend is about FUN and CELEBRATING. I cannot wait to see my old friends.

And being back in that town? That, my friends, will be the ultimate nostalgia. I just want to wrap that town in my arms and not have to say goodbye this time.

There are sure to be a few good times and pictures so I'll see you back here on Monday!

Have a good weekend, lovers.

With love,
Ali



Location:Nostalgia

Saturday, April 28, 2012

One Year.

Oofta I was busy yesterday I didn't even realize it was the 27th! Which means I have had this little blog for one whole year.

I've posted about nonsense and I've posted about things that really have affected me in someway. Regardless, I love how I can let my heart out on here ad it doesn't matter.

So whoever reads this little space of mine, thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time. :)

With love,
Ali



Sunday, April 22, 2012

One Week Left.

Hi.

Yes, I have been away from my little blog for a while, but soon enough I will be back. I have been so busy with school and work and more school and more work. But it will all be done in TWO weeks! Really it's only one week of school left and then next week I have two finals, but one is extra credit. Easy peasy.

So here we go...one more week of hell and then I'll be back with lots to talk about..promise!

With love,
Ali

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Real Time

Real time...

I am way too tired to be awake right now yet I can't find the motivation to put on some jammies and crawl under my covers into my nice clean sheets.

I spent far too much money at Walmart today. :( Spending that amount of money is no fun unless it's on new clothes. And let me tell you...I did not spend an arm and a leg on new clothes at Walmart.

My roommate is being ridiculous. My other roommate moved out (so that makes two of us left) and so now we don't have a couch...or any furniture for that matter. I bought a kitchen table today and she won't even ask her grandparents (who live in this town) to bring over the couch she has at their house. How is that right?? It's not.

I get to see my dad and younger brothers tomorrow for a split second! My car was being poopy so it's been home with my parents getting fixed and I need to meet them tomorrow to pick it back up...she is healthy again!

I miss my niece. Like, unbelievable amounts. She is such a little doll and I canNOT wait until they move closer. Whenever that will be...sigh.

Not to jinx it *knocks on wood* but I started talking to a boy. A very cute boy, for that matter. Actually, he started talking to me...I'll keep you updated. He's from Canada, eh?!

Hope you loves are having a great weekend.

With love,
Ali

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Instagram Sunday--Yesterday was my BIRTHDAY!!

1. Oh, heeyyyy.




2. On our way to see Jodi Picoult. Author of My Sister's Keeper, etc.




3. Jodi signing my book!!




4. Good hair day.




5. OBSESSED with this jacket.




6. Sweatin' like a champ.




7. Sure, get comfy!




8. Birthday bling!




9. Birthday drank with my best friend.




10. Happy birthday to me. :)




Hope you all had a great weekend! My spring break is now over and I have to go back to school today for classes tomorrow. Sad day. :(

With love,
Ali

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Instagram Sunday!

1. New workout gear!



2. Class artwork.



3. Creepy guy at the mall today.



4. Braided Top-Knot. :)



5. Not Instagrammed but the largest dog I have ever seen.



6. Last but not least, my beautiful niece.



With love,
Ali

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Lucky Guy #2

And boyfriend #2 goes to....Peter!

Peter and I met while on a choir/band trip to a show when I was in 10th grade. Personally, I thought he was kind of an ass, but as the night went on, he eased up.

Somewhere in between that we exchanged numbers and kept talking and soon enough we had our very first date at Perkins. The date went really well and he asked me to be his prom date. Of course, as a little sophomore who was barely allowed to go to prom, I said yes.

Shortly after that we were dating, etc. After his graduation that year we hung out all the time during the summer where he lived on the river. So we went boating and canoeing all the time.

After the summer had ended he moved to college--4 hours away. We talked all the time and he came home to visit and I had gone there a time or two with his family.

Come February apparently he'd had enough of the distance and broke up with me. I was absolutely heart broken. I'd never had my heart broken like that before and obviously the feeling sucked.

Soon enough I had gained interest in another boy--my brother's best friend. Well, as timing had it, Peter wanted me back. But I couldn't just drop everything for him because I was talking to another boy.

Peter and I had met up a couple times and I kinda wanted to go back to him, but I couldn't bear to break the heart of the boy I did end up start dating. So that was the end of Peter and me--in a very short explanation.

On to boyfriend #3 (hopefully) tomorrow!

With love,
Ali



Wednesday, February 29, 2012

20 to 20--Day ???

Oh woe is me. I quit this 20 to 20 stuff. You know how hard it is to blog err'day when you have classes and homework and work?? It's not easy y'all. So I'm just taking each day as it comes. But today you're in for a treat.

Let's talk about boyfriends. Past boyfriends, obviously.

My first "serious" boyfriend (as serious as you can get in 8th/9th grade) was the first boy I kissed. His name was Alex and he's not cute. Did I just say that? Oops. We spent tons of time talking on the phone and I even went ice fishing with him and his dad one day. How romantic. I also remember going to his homecoming dance--and BEGGING my parents to let me go. It took a lot.

When I broke up with him--over the phone, of course--he cried. Like a little baby he cried and begged for me back. But I wasn't having any of it! It's not that he was a bad boyfriend, he was just weird and I was bored. Lol. He also wanted to be a lot more physical than I wanted to be. He was also two years older than me. I mean, come on, I was in 9th grade! And I wasn't someone who slept around at that age.

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of him on my phone. I'm sure I could dig one up from the computer but I'd rather not go there.

So I'll leave you with this short post about boyfriend #1 and I'll get to #2 tomorrow!

Happy hump day!

With love,
Ali





Sunday, February 26, 2012

20 to 20--Day 7

Skipped day 6--gosh I am really bad at this! But, life gets in the way sometimes and there's nothing you can do. So, on to day 7!

I figured I'd just do a short post tonight and write about blogging.

I started blogging last April after I needed something else to occupy my time after a really tough breakup. I don't have many followers, but honestly, I don't care. I mean, I would love if more people read what I wrote, but blogging to me is more of an online diary.

I never knew I could actually meet people and become friends with them through blogging. I now have more friends through blogging and one in particular, Christie, who I am so thankful for. I cannot wait to plan that race--and hopefully be able to help you plan something else!!!--with you, Christie!! :)

Blogging has been a place where I can express myself and it's also a place for me that I can go back to and see what I was doing a year or so ago.

So--thanks blogger!

With love,
Ali



Friday, February 24, 2012

20 to 20--Day 5.

Faith.

I was and still am a born and raised catholic girl. If you ask me, it's not the most exciting faith to be a part of. Masses are repetitive and sometimes boring, and you better get a good priest for said mass or you'll be mind wandering for an hour.

When I was growing up we went to the same church almost every Sunday. I hated going to church and religion. Absolutely hated.

If you ask me how I feel about it now? I am so glad to be a catholic girl. I can't wait to get married in a huge catholic church. Specifically, the church I grew up going to with the same priest I grew up listening to.

I do have one complaint. Just recently the catholic church decided to change words to "modernize" the prayers more. It's awful. There was absolutely no reason to do so. AND...I went to church for Ash Wednesday in Mankato just this week and the priest...well...let's just say that if I had never been to church before, I wouldn't have been able to understand him. That ruins it for me. Looks like I'll be finding a new church.

Lately, I haven't been going to mass. Let's face it, while I'm here at school I don't go to mass. If I go home on the weekend I go with my family but I usually don't go here. But I find myself CRAVING a good church service.

So even though I could barely understand the priest on Wednesday, I still went.

Proof:




For lent I gave up candy, chips, and pop. So far so good, but it's only been 3 days. Ugh.

Have a great weekend!

With love,
Ali

Thursday, February 23, 2012

20 to 20--Day 4.

I missed day 3. Oops. Oh well. On to day 4!

Hobbies.

Over the last 20 years I have acquired a few hobbies.

-Singing. For as long as I can remember I have been singing. From my first karaoke machine to auditioning to large roles in musicals and singing in church to singing at weddings--I absolutely love to sing.

-Running. I haven't been running for long, maybe seriously for 2 years, but I love every part of it. Especially the way I feel after a race or any run in general.

-TV Shows. Reality shows are my favorite!

-Watching Sports. I loooove sports. Baseball is my favorite to watch but I also love basketball and football. I also love watching gymnastics.

-Teaching. I love the satisfaction I get when someone learns from me. Good thing I'm going to be an elementary teacher!

-Spending time with family and friends.

-Shopping. I have a really, really bad addiction.

-Tanning. I know it's bad for me, but I just love the feeling of tanning. It's even better when it's winter like it is now and I can go tanning all the time!

-Reading. I love losing myself in a book.

I am so lucky I have the type of parents who put me in multiple activities when I was little so I could see what I liked and disliked.

With love,
Ali



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

20 to 20--Day 2.

Friends. I love them--who doesn't? I have made some great friends in the past two decades...take a look.

This is Leah. We were best friends in elementary school but NEVER had the same teacher. When we were really little our families actual lived together and that's how we met. She is the type of friend you don't talk to for weeks but pick up right where you left off when you see eachother again.



Christina. She is one ahhhmazing pianist and always accompanies me when I am singing.



Emily. She's a super fun, spunky girl. We taught gymnastics together for multiple years. :)



These are a bunch of girl friends of mine. We haven't kept in touch very well, but I know they'll always be friends.



We've had some pretty great summers together. All of us together. All the time.



This is Ethan. Better known as Efan. A true, best friend if I've ever seen one.



Courtney lit up my life last year. Jamestown was definitely a better experience because of her.



And ohhhh Beth. Your craziness was awesome. Still is!



Corrie! My very first "neighboro."



Samantha. Such a reliable girl. We have so, so, so much fun whenever we are together and the laughs are endless.



Ash. A true down to earth girl and the best running buddy a girl could have! I can't wait to see what running shenanigans we get into this summer! Perhaps in Sicily?? ;)



My choir girls!



Nick! A great friend here at school. :)



Hope. Sadly this is the only picture I have of you! We met last semester and have kind of lost touch, but she is an amazing person.



Even though she's family, we'll be best friends someday. Love you baby girl.



Nan. I had much more embarrassing pictures I could have put on here but I thought I'd be nice. You are truly an amazing friend and I don't know what I would do without you. I love how I can persuade you to do almost anything. There is never a dull moment with you. I love how we can send eachother inappropriate pictures just to show our sunburns. I love absolutely everything about you and wish we could see eachother more.



I have more friends. Really, I do. There is one friend in particular I am forgetting but that is only because I have no picture on my phone with her. Maria, is my ex-boyfriend's sister is one extraordinary person. She was so easy to talk to and relate to. We still keep in tough some but she will always be the person who helped mend my shattered heart.

And Cali. I don't have a picture of your beautiful face but you are one of the most fun, sweet girls I have ever met. I think you were my first true friend in Jamestown. I can't wait for our outings this summer!

I have met so many other wonderful, indescribable people through my 20 years of life. And each and everyone of them has impacted me in a different way. I love all of you guys to bits!

With love,
Ali

Monday, February 20, 2012

20 to 20--Day 1.

On the first day of my 20 to 20, I want to take the time and thank my parents for giving me life and raising me to be the person I am today.  Every part of the way I have turned out is thanks to them and I honestly love every part of it.  Including the fact that I am a hopeless romantic who wears her heart on her sleeve like my dad and the stubborn, hot-tempered side of me that I can thank my mom for. 
Today I reflect on this because of the news I received last night.  As I was perusing Facebook, I kept seeing statuses such as "Thoughts and prayers going out to _______'s family tonight. Stay strong!" And other statuses of the like.  So I texted a few people and got the "whole" scoop, which was as much as you can get from word of mouth. 
As it turns out, an acquaintance of mine from high school tried to kill himself yesterday.  In all honesty, I have no idea what was going through his head during that time.  He does not have a rough life--and I know this because I know their family.  All I know is he had gotten into some trouble with the law (nothing as bad as killing another person or anything) and figured his life and career stood no chance anymore (he was also going for law enforcement) so he did what he thought was the necessary step.  He is now in the Fargo hospital and in a coma.  From what I heard this morning he had no brain activity so the family decided it was time to let go. 
I will honestly never know what goes through people's minds when they decide to go to such a low level that the only way to get out is from leaving this world.  To me it is the most selfish thing anyone could ever do.  Putting your family through something so unfathomable to me is, I don't even know.  I really am at a loss for words.  His girlfriend is in the military and is in Georgia right now but was flying back to be with him and the family.  This past week his mom was vacationing (luckily in the States) and flew back last night early so she could be with her son. Her 21 year old son. Twenty-one. That's how old this boy was.
Shawn, I have talked to you as many times as I have fingers on my right hand but I know there are others out there who love you so, so much and have no closure as to the reasoning you would choose to do this.  You were living such a great, fun-filled life with amazing potential ahead of you. I hope you can look down on your friends and family with happiness in your heart.  I hope you enjoy your new life--I know you'll be reunited with your dad in Heaven and I hope that gives you all the joy in the world. <3
I know this is such a somber post for a Monday morning, but there was really nothing else I could say. I want my parents to know I am so grateful for life and I love them so much. Thank you so much Mom and Dad!





With love,
Ali

Sunday, February 19, 2012

A New Countdown

Tomorrow will begin the 20 day countdown until I turn 20. Not such a significant age, but I thought I'd make the best of it.

So starting tomorrow I'm going to do a countdown of 20 "things." One on each day of the countdown. Hopefully I can keep up!

I'm not sure what the 20 things are going to be but I think it's going to be anything.

If anyone has any tips or questions I should do for a day please ask away!

Hope you all had a great weekend. :)

With love,
Ali



Saturday, February 18, 2012

Prayers Please!

This is a silly thing to ask for prayers for, because there are people out there who really, really need prayers, but I need them.

I had an audition today. Singing and dancing. You see, singing? I'm really good at. Dancing? Not so much. The people who I auditioned against were so good. I mean, I have rhythm and I can shake it, but we had to learn an intense dance in 20 minutes.

It is what it is and I did how I did, but I just hope they saw the potential. I hope my singing is enough to get the gig.

What is the gig you ask? Well here in MN we have an amusement park called Valleyfair. Kind of like Six Flags but not. Anyway, I auditioned to be a performer. And I REALLY want to do it.

So I'm asking, no--begging, for you to keep me in your thoughts and pray I get the job!

Please and thank you in advance.

With love,
Ali



Sunday, February 12, 2012

Let me introduce myself...

Rissy from Carissa Explains It All is reintroducing herself! So I figured after almost a year of blogging I could do the same. :)






Hi!

-My name is Alissa, but here I go by Ali.

-I'm basically 20.

-I absolutely love my family and am very close with them.

-I am a sophomore in college studying elementary education but my all time dream is to be a stay at home mom.

-I love watching tv. Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Glee, The Good Wife, American Idol, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Make it or Break it, Kardashians, Say Yes to the Dress, Teen Mom, Dance Moms...really I could probably go on it's ridiculous.

-I love to sing.

-Sleep gets priority over almost everything.

-I am single.
-My iPhone 4S keeps me sane.

-Reading is a getaway.

-Beer and wine are some great drinks but I would choose milk 9/10 times.

-I run races--and enjoy it.

-I love driving.

-I hate paying for gas.

-I'm obsessed with socks but nothing is better than being barefoot.

-I am always always always cold.

-Sarcasm is my number one attribute.

-Junk food gets the best of me.

-I'm a proud republican.

-Sports, sports, sports.

-I wish I could spend every day in the HOT sun.

-Blogging has been my little diary and I LOVE it!

Who are you??

With love,
Ali

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Thoughts

Last night I caught up on one of my shows and watched Grey's Anatomy. Love that show. Anyway...

It was themed around Valentine's Day which got me thinking...

I really hate Valentine's Day. Honestly, it's a day to make girls, who don't have boyfriends, feel miserable.

Las year I had a boyfriend when it was v-day. And I guess we had fun. But it's really not all that necessary. There should not be one specific day to celebrate your love--it should be every day. Girls want to be sent flowers on random days, not just one day because it's the "norm."

I guess I'm just saying that V-day makes me sad. It always reminds me that I'm single and that I really hate it. I try to embrace it as much as I can but a girl can only be lonely for so long. ;)

Besides, doesn't everyone know why Valentine's Day is actually Valentine's Day? Has anyone ever heard of the Valentine's Day Massacre??

Look it up. :)

Have a great weekend, lovebirds.

With love,
Ali



Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Weekend

My weekend in pictures...
















Whole lotta baby, whole lotta love.

With love,
Ali