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

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

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

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

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

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

Weekend

My weekend in pictures...

Whole lotta baby, whole lotta love.

With love,

Ali