My Summer Time Bucket List

Yep - it's been a while since I've sat down to write... Given that it's mid-June, I thought, "What do I want to do this summer?"

And a lot has already been accomplished!

Everyone loves a good wedding - and no worries, I've been there, done that already... so that's one check off of my summer time bucket list! My bestie Hannah got married on June 8th!! I felt so blessed to share the special day with her as her maid of honor. Here we are before the rehearsal dinner:

We sure have come a long way, haven't we??

Going back to good ole Abingdon, VA for the wedding reminded me of all the good times growing up. I got to see a ton of people I grew up with and it made me realize just how fast time flies. I mean my best friend is MARRIED! AHHHH

Next on my bucket list: Visit a fun, new city

Well that's a check too because I headed to Nashville, Tennessee for the CMT Awards and CMA Fest!! Let me tell ya, that place is the BEST! I definitely plan to make my way back South eventually, and Nashville is the place for me. Talk about everything you could ask for - cute guys, great food, and country music! It doesn't get any better than that!

I had an absolute blast going to the award show and interviewing different country artists for SpotlightCountry.com. Who wouldn't want to go to a bar and see Zac Brown playing the guitar? Or Kip Moore just chillin' and chatting with people? That's the life!

Then of course, when it comes to summer time, a great tan is a must!

That's my next goal...so I'm heading to Charleston, SC on a redeye flight TONIGHT! You may think why would you leave California and go to a beach in South Carolina?! Well...don't judge me, but I'm not gonna lie.. sometimes I really do miss the humidity. I've been spoiled with the Cali weather and I'm ready to sweat haha!

What else...

One of my summer musts is... a trip to VEGAS!!!

If you only live a 4 hour drive away, then there's no excuse not to go! Now it's time for some planning!


Of course I'll be celebrating the good ole USA. Can't wait for the 4th of July! Fireworks, friends and fun... and a bonfire would be a nice touch! Let's see if this year is better than last year...

That's about all I've got on my summer time bucket list so far...

I'm sure I'll think of many more things I'd like to check off my list soon. Until then, I'll be listening to country music and dreaming about my future ;)

What are y'alls summer plans?!


Until next time...


Always have faith!!

The stages of life... and where do I fit in?!

A LOT has been happening lately...

News of engagements and upcoming nuptials, babies-a-comin, and college spring breaks.

It all made me take a step back and think about the stages of life. Oh how things change!

My sister just had her college spring break and her and a friend made the trek out to Southern California for a few days! What a blast! We went to the beach in March - 80 degree weather. You can't beat that! We also went on a Starline tour to check out all of the celeb's homes...talk about inspiration! Shew...those houses were GORGEOUS!

It was a fun trip for sure and made me experience other parts of LA I had yet to see - like Saddle Ranch Steakhouse with the mechanical bull and Hollywood hotspot and eatery, The Ivy.

The whole trip made me think about my spring breaks and how different life was back then. We sure did have a blast in Cozumel and Cancun... I remember complaining about school work and worrying about grades. Now, I look back and think, "Man, I had it good back then." Good friends and a fun college atmosphere. Next thing you know, you're living in a big city chasing your dreams and making plans to celebrate your friend's weddings!!

And boy, am I a sucker for a good wedding, that's for sure!! I just flew home to throw my bestie her bridal shower! - Southern style!

We had a blast! I was in my element, hosting a party! I just can't even describe how happy I am to share in this special time with Hannah (see pic below...weren't we just livin' the dream)! And with all of my other friends who are in the same stage in life...

The news just gets better and better too!

Yay for another baby coming into the family!! My Godsister found out she's preggers! WOOHOO!!! Who doesn't love babies?! It's going to be one packed house come holiday time!!


When I was younger...
(all fresh faced and youthful)

...I definitely had no clue what life would be like at 24. But you realize you're so much more aware of what's going on with friends and family and you're mature enough to see the stages of life in all their glory! Boy, it puts things in perspective.

I definitely used to think - "Wow, when I'm 24 years old, I'll have my life together - I'll be settled and stable and married..." haha WHAT?!?

What you assume you'll be doing at a certain age when you're a young girl never really turns out the way you thought it would. And that's what life's all about!


It's an adventure!

It can't be planned. That's when you realize the stage of life you're in right now, is exactly where you're meant to be! Sure - I'd love to have my dream job and dream man right now ;), but if I had everything figured out, then I wouldn't be learning so much about myself on this wild ride to find my purpose in life.

So now, I vow to enjoy the present! It's time to sit back and enjoy this roller coaster called LIFE.

As my Momma always told me..."Patience is a virtue." And that's one virtue I've got to work hard at upholding! ;)

Who knows what's in store tomorrow or a year from now... but isn't that what's exciting?!?

The best thing you can do is:


Always have faith!!

Vow to be spontaneous in 2013!

Well y'all...since it's a new year, my roomie and I decided we're going to get off the couch and be more spontaneous!

Yeah, we've lived in LA for over a year, but there is SO much we have yet to experience. So we have vowed to do something new and adventurous each week.

I must say we're doing pretty well so far!

We started out 2013 pretty darn strong if you ask me. Our first weekend, we brought out our inner child and headed to the LA Zoo!

It was a great day! We saw all the animals and definitely got our exercise for the day. You should definitely go once!

And later that night, even though we were tired ladies, we headed to Santa Monica to The Wilshire. It was a new bar we hadn't tried yet, and we'll definitely be going back!

Later that week, I interviewed an up-and-coming country artist named Chris Janson! Check out my blog here:

http://spotlightcountry.com/spot-on-chris-janson/

Also, I got to work the ABC Press Tour. Talk about a blast - and not to mention, lots of celebs! We got to help with different panels like for Pretty Little Liars and other shows. And later that night, we escorted the celebs to the red carpet! Obviously, I fell in love with Sean Lowe (The Bachelor). What a hunk! But I also saw stars from Revenge, Happy Endings, Nashville and Scandal. You name an ABC show, and I bet I saw somebody from it! It was such a cool experience and made me want to be a correspondent so much more! Basically television critics and bloggers come to the press tour and interview show producers and actors, and then go back and write reviews. What a cool job!

Let's see - we're in day 22 of January, so there's definitely been a lot going on...

Guess this will be a long blog so I can catch y'all up with my LA adventures!

Last weekend, I went to brunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel. You've gotta try this place out at least once. It's such an experience and feels so 'Old Hollywood,' which is cool! I had the Maine Lobster salad. Talk about good food!

And this past weekend was the best! My bestie from New York came to visit, and boy were we spontaneous! When you have someone coming to visit, it's an excuse to do things you haven't done before!

Plus, she must have been our good luck charm because we literally saw at least one celeb each day she was in LA! Crazy!

We went out for a nice lunch in Beverly Hills on Friday and saw Derek Hough!

Then on Saturday, we headed to the beach! We went to Santa Monica for a day in the sun, and we even went to the pier and rode some rides! Here's the gorgeous view from the top of the ferris wheel:

I felt like a kid again. I don't know what it is, but my friends can tell you...I act like a crazy person when it comes to riding roller coasters haha!

After our excursion, we decided to go to a dive bar to relax and chat. And guess who's there?! None other than Mr. Legally Blonde, Luke Wilson. He was just chillin' with the guys.

Then on Sunday, we decided to hike up to the Hollywood sign. It's seriously been the most beautiful weather in LA. 80 degrees in January! Is this real life?!

It was so pretty! And after such a hike, we were hungry ladies, so we headed off to Sunday brunch at BLD. We wanted to try something new, and it was a great place! We even saw Chuck Bass dining at the same restaurant. Let me tell ya...the dude has swag haha!

Our goal was to try as many new places as possible, so next stop was MILK! Yummy ice cream and milkshakes, and since we felt like we were on vacation the entire weekend, we said why not?!

You can see I enjoyed it... Tasted like heaven to me haha!

We were so sad when the weekend came to an end and we had to take Nina back to the airport. But before she left, we took her to experience The Grove - one of my favorite places in LA. We were just enjoying our lunch as Scott Speedman walked by. Now, I mentioned a while back that my roommate and I literally record like 20 shows a week on our DVR (probably a lot of random ones that y'all don't watch). This guy was the main actor on Last Resort, but it got cancelled. I literally just glanced up and there he was crossing the street. It didn't end there...we walked through the Farmer's Market and saw Joe Manganiello enjoying his lunch. Can we say Magic Mike?! Like what?! We obviously need to get out more on the weekends haha!

Overall - January has definitely been a successful month. And it's not even over yet!

I can only imagine what other adventures 2013 will bring, and I can't wait to share!! :)


Always have faith!!

Ahhh it's 2013!

Happy New Year, y'all!!

Can you believe it's time for a brand new year? That means we can start fresh - put the past in the past and move forward with excitement and determination for a great year.

It's the time for new year's resolutions. Make a list of what you want in 2013 and go for it!

I, for one, would like to learn how to cook more. I don't need to be a Paula Dean ;), but it would be nice to be able to whip up some simple and yummy meals. Plus, cooking at home saves money and can be a great way to eat healthy.

I also plan to make 2013 a time to grow in my faith. I have new devotionals for the year, and I plan to grow in Christ, knowing that He's the One who will lead me down the true path for my life. How exciting!

Not only that, but I just know that 2013 will be a year of growth in so many ways. It's the year to move forward in my career and relationships. It's going to be year of big changes...I can just feel it, y'all!

I've always been a list type of girl. For the new year, I've made quite a few lists already. Places to travel, 2013 goals, and of course my new year's resolutions are all lists I've made in my brand new 2013 notebook (nerd, I know). I can't help it...these lists just inspire me to live a year of fun and fulfilling experiences!

Speaking of places to travel... Who would have thought that good ole Abingdon, VA would be one of the Top 13 places to visit in 2013. Check out the article here:

http://news.menshealth.com/13-places-to-visit-in-2013/2012/12/27/

I'm so proud of my little hometown. It really is a special place. And so glad I can check it off my list! :)

And now...the moment we've all been waiting for...what could possibly be the catchphrase that can sum up the year of 2013?!

For me, this is it:

"2013 - THE YEAR TO BE SEEN, THE YEAR TO BE LEAN, THE YEAR TO DREAM!!!"

It's the year to get out there. Go forward with all of your big dreams (which you should have every new year), and show yourself that you can do what it takes to accomplish your goals. Take that risk and find ways to be seen. Tell everybody just what it is that's important in your life.

It's also the year to be lean. This phrase can span many areas of your life. 2013 is going to be a year of healthy eating (since I'm going to be cooking more), finding fun ways to exercise and taking better care of myself. I mentioned that 2012 was a tough year when it came to health issues in my family. Now's the time to take better care of myself! The year to be lean also reaches to many other aspects of your life. Take this year to focus on what and who is most important to you. The new year is no time to hold on to past issues, relationships, old hopes and dreams. It's the time to become a lean, mean, fighting machine in all areas of your life! :)

I pray that 2013 will be all this and more for y'all. New year, new you, new experiences!

Make it the best year yet! :)


Always have faith!!

The Holidays and Looking Back at 2012

Wow how time flies!!

I remember when I was growing up and adults would always say, "you've gotten so big," or "you're so grown up." I told myself back then that I would never become one of those people.

Well, guess what?

I've become one of those people.

I don't know what it is about coming home for the holidays, but you see so many familiar faces, yet manage to associate those people with certain times in your own life. Like for me...I went to church and saw the "kids" I used to watch in the nursery or play with as babies. Now - they're in high school and driving! Ahhhh is this real life?

I can't believe how fast time goes by. It forces you to look back and remember your past, which can be both good and bad. Regardless, there are plenty of memories when you return to the place that you lived for the majority of life.

This holiday season was no exception. One of the best parts of my trip home was seeing all of my friends from high school. What I realized was how at this point in life, it doesn't matter what year you graduated or even if you really hung out with these people all the time in high school. You all end up hanging out together now and acting like you've always been friends and known everything that's going on in their lives. I hung out with people that were seniors in high school when I was in 8th grade. When I was that young, I only knew names, but never hung out with the seniors. Now it's like we all know each other and we've always been friends. I guess it's just the small town of Abingdon that brings us to the same places where we can chat and catch up for hours!

The holidays are the best. It's the perfect time to relax with family, see people you haven't seen in what feels like years, and reminisce about the past year.

2012 was a tough year. It brought a lot of adversity and really made me put things into perspective. It's hard when people close to you go through trying times. Cancer, deaths in the family, and other worries plagued this year. That's when you start to think about what other families are going through when it hits your own. You never know what's happening in people's lives or how they handle disappointments, but it sure does make you appreciate a lot that's taken for granted sometimes.

Although 2012 was a tough one, I grew a lot. My faith in the Lord became an even bigger part of my life. When people close to you are going through tough times, how can you not believe that God will help you get through it. Without my faith, I don't know how I could have handled everything this year. And it gives me hope for a better 2013.

A year is a long time. Even though it was a tough one, there were still a lot of great things that happened in 2012.

If we look back to this time last year, there was so much excitement surrounding the new year. It was deemed 2012 - they year to delve...into what you love! (Me and my catchphrases...get excited for 2013's!)

The year flew by, but a lot of positives resulted. I started my job at Paramount in 2012, and I met SO many amazing people. I know I'll have friends that last a lifetime from this job. I also started writing for Spotlight Country and realized my passion for wanting to be a country host/correspondent. And, I also began hosting at AfterbuzzTV, which has been an amazing experience as well. I've gotten to meet even more great people and even managed to interview some pretty cool celebs!

Let's see...I went to Vegas for the first time this year. And then I went two more times after that! ;)

Three of my besties married the loves of their lives and I got to celebrate that with them. And a bunch more of my friends got engaged, so we know what that means for 2013!

I can't forget all the fun and new experiences I've gotten to have in the big ole city of Los Angeles. New restaurants, new people, celeb spotting, sightseeing, beaches and more. It's definitely been a year of firsts for me! We can't forget that I also turned 24 - the year to soar!

I'm thinking there's gonna be a lot in store for 2013! Watch out for my new year's blog. Shoot...there's not much time left!

Make the rest of 2012 the best it can be!!!

I hope y'all had a great holiday season and are ringing in the new year in style! :)


Always have faith!!

Life...you never know what's gonna happen!

Shew it sure has been a while! And so much has happened since I turned 24 (the year to soar, for those of you who may have forgotten)!

Thanksgiving has come and gone...

PS...I met Wilson Bethel in the airport. What a hunk! ;) He was on my flight on the way home for Thanksgiving, and wouldn't you know he's supposed to come on our after show for Hart of Dixie - great segueway into a conversation I must say. Also, the Dean from Community was on my flight. I see him around the Paramount lot occasionally, so that was kind of random as well. This is the FIRST time ever that I've had some celebs on my flight, so that was a pretty eventful redeye for me!

It was great to be at home for Thanksgiving and to catch up with family and friends. But as I titled this blog post, you just never know what may happen. My precious Meme passed away while I was home. How blessed I am to have gotten to spend an amazing Thanksgiving with her. She was the best grandma a girl could ask for and I will strive to be like her everyday of my life. It's nice to know there's someone looking down on me from heaven. Like I said, life is unexpected sometimes. That's why friends and family are so important. You never know what may happen, so take advantage of every moment life has to offer.

After I got back from home (and I can't believe I'm heading back there in like 6 days!!!), it's been a whirlwind of working, birthday parties, holiday parties and more! We had an awesome holiday party at AfterbuzzTV with Maria Menounos and another one with the UVA Entertainment LA alumni group last night. So much fun! And there are many more to come this weekend. Can't wait to celebrate! Slash it's about time I go Christmas shopping, huh?!

Happy Holidays everybody!!


Always have faith!!

Birthday extravaganza!!

What an amazing weekend!

I can't even believe it...another year has flown by and now I'm 24!!! AHHHHH

But every birthday I like to make up a catchphrase for the upcoming year. This time it's (drum roll please):

24...THE YEAR TO SOAR!!!

And I really believe it. It's the year to accomplish goals! To dream big and pray bold (thanks to Oprah's Lifeclass).

I feel truly blessed to have made it another year in this crazy world! I have an amazing family and awesome friends who have been there to celebrate with me along the way.

This was an exciting birthday too because I finally feel like LA is a big part of me, and I've met so many amazing people who were with me this weekend!

We did a birthday dinner at Don Antonio's. Some of y'all might remember this restaurant from The Hills as it was a regular hot spot for Spencer and Heidi haha. Not even kidding...there's a menu item called Spencer's Steak Tacos (see below). Really people?!

And Saturday night was the big birthday extravaganza. My roomie and I threw a birthday party at our apartment, and it was a BLAST!! I loved every second of it and got to see lots of good friends!

Of course I made a speech - "To love, life and happiness and to 24...the year to soar!" Good times!

I don't care what people say...I still like getting sung to on my bday haha!

Sunday was an awesome day too! On my actual birthday, I went to an event (courtesy of Nina Shamloo) where I got to watch an advanced screening of Happy Endings and then there was a Q&A session with the cast! AHHHH

It was so cool! I absolutely LOVED the Thanksgiving episode of the show and I literally couldn't stop laughing when the cast was talking. Plus...I got to meet Damon Wayans Jr.! Who wouldn't think that was the best birthday present EVER?!?

So overall...it was a great start to year 24! I'll never forget it! Now let's get ready to SOAR y'all! :)


Always have faith!!